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of literature and science, and therefore of societies which are based upon 

 them, that they tend to correct some of the sjiecial defects of our age and 

 country ; and I will go further than the consideration of utilitarianism, 

 and the evils directly or indirectly connected with it, and I will say that 

 oven with regard to religious questions I look for help and not for hin- 

 drance fi'om well conducted literary and scientific societies. It would be 

 most improper and undesirable that I should make this address the 

 occasion of overstepping the bounds which good sense and good taste 

 dictate, and of dragging you, along with your president, into the hot 

 atmosphere of religious controversy ; but I think I may say without 

 offence, and without fear of contradiction, that such an atmosphere does 

 exist, and that it is very unpleasant, and that some good people find it 

 hard to breathe it. In the proximity, then, of such an atmosphere, I can 

 scarcely do wrong in eulogizing the influence of literature and science as 

 valuably prophylactic, and as having a tonic and embracing tendency. 

 The more carefully and deeply men read, and the more they think, and 

 the more they really know, the more tolerant will they be of views dif- 

 ferent from their own, and the more disposed will they be to live in 

 charity with those who differ from them. And if the literary and scienti- 

 fic society in a country town be little more than the common ground upon 

 which we can meet and exchange thoughts, and, at the same time, learn 

 something of what is being done in the world of literature and science, 

 and be led to appreciate to some extent there own ignorance, it may not 

 have discharged its highest functions, but it certainly will have produced 

 a result not altogether to be despised. Nay, I would venture to say that 

 even in softening down political asperities — in causing Yellows and Blues 

 to coalesce upon many subjects in a common colour- — and generally in pro- 

 ducing neighbourly feeling and goodfellowship in the best sense of the 

 term, a literary and scientific society may do a work — humble it may be, 

 V)ut not to be disregarded, not to be altogether put aside. So long as it is 

 true that "Blessed are the peacemakers," and so long as the differences of 

 opinion, and contrariety of interests, and the miscellaneous jostling of 

 one against another in this busy world tend to give rise to feelings opposed 

 to peace aiid good-will, so long may a society which brings men together 



