Section IL, 1894. [ 135 ] Trans. Eoy. Soc. Canada. 



IV. — The Su^eniaiural in Nature considered Iji the H<jht of Metaphysical Science. 

 By the Most Reverend Cornelius O'Brien, D.D., Arelibisliop of Halifax. 



(Bead May 23rd, 1894.) 



This is ail age of inquiry ; an age in whioh thinking men do not wish to accept as facts 

 events which run counter to the usual order of things, unless unimpeachable evidence can be 

 adduced in their support. It is an age in which many old time theories, social, political and 

 physical, have been disproved, and many veneralde l^eliefs shown to be groundless, by the accur- 

 ate researches of some patient investigator. In truth it is an age not overcharged with rever- 

 ence for traditions, either sacred or profane ; it lives in itself ; it is self-sufficing as well as 

 self-sufficient, and, consequently-, it accepts such conclusions only as stand the test of its well 

 meant, if sceptical, criticism. 



It must be admitted by even the most devoted admirer of our age and its peculiar char- 

 acteristics, that its methods of criticism are not always free from bias, and that not unfre- 

 quently preconceived notions, unconsciously no doubt, yet eftectively, leave this criticism 

 open to the charge of being merely destructive in its aim, when it should be calmly judicial 

 in treatment, and strictly impartial in its consideration of arguments. ISo truth can suifer 

 by an impartial statement of facts, and by a loyal acceptance of their logical conclusions ; 

 and no opinion that is not true should be upheld by an honourable man simply because he 

 had adopted it at some period of his mental development. Theoretically our age recognizes 

 this ; and whilst it has not hesitated to shatter many popular, though false, idols, it has set 

 up others cast down by a former generation. The Society of " Psychic Research " may serve 

 as an illustration of this. The wise ones, in the early days of this generation, laughed out of 

 court ghost stories, premonitions, and other kindred phenomena. Quite recently the above 

 mentioned society has been formed to inquire into and to investigate these alleged happen- 

 ings. This is surely rational ; there is a widespread belief in their reality ; is this belief 

 utterly devoid of foundation ? Or is there really more in " Heaven and on earth than is 

 dreamed of " in our philosophy ? We may be pardoned the seeming egotism of referring 

 those interested in this question to a work of ours, published years before the formation of 

 this society, in which some of these points are touched upon.' 



Now the human mind which naturally longs after, and passionately seeks for knowledge 

 must be fitted to attain it, in a measure adapted to its capacity, and its honesty in reasoning. 

 No sane man pretends that we cannot have certainty on any subject. Granted then that we 

 can have an invincible certainty of some things, and that the intellect perceiving is the prin- 

 ciple of certitude, it follows that in order to acquire trutli our intellect must be honest and 

 unbiassed in its consideration of an alleged fact, and intent solely on perceiving whether 



' Philosopliy of tlie Bible vindicated, p. 158. 



