in THE SCIENTIFIC MIND 39 



tribunal of science he dare not offer false testimony. 

 His observations must be exact if they are to stand 

 the test of cross-examination ; his evidence must be 

 impartial if it is to have any weight ; and his loyalty 

 should be to truth alone, as understood by him, if it is 

 to influence the verdict. 



But the scientific man is a judge as well as a witness ; 

 his own investigations provide him with the evidence 

 upon which he himself passes judgment ; and when he 

 is asked to accept conclusions or subscribe to convictions 

 in support of which no facts are forthcoming, he 

 declines to derogate his reason to his desire. As an 

 example of this attribute of a scientific mind, which 

 asks for evidence when earthly matters or historical 

 records are under consideration, the view taken by 

 Huxley in regard to the former narrow interpretation 

 put upon the Mosaic record of creation is typical. 



I find no difficulty in conceiving that, at some former period, 

 this universe was not in existence ; and that it made its appear- 

 ance in six days (or instantaneously if that be preferred), in 

 consequence of the volition of some pre-existent Being . . . 

 Far be it from me to say that it is untrue because it is impossible. 

 I confine myself to what must be regarded as a modest and 

 reasonable request for some particle of evidence that the existing 

 species of animals and plants did originate in that way, as a 

 condition of my belief in a statement which appears to me to be 

 highly improbable. Huxley. 



How can the mind which is continually working for 

 exact knowledge, and is ready to reject any belief or 

 revise any opinion when shown to be opposed to fact, 

 occupy a different position ? When facts are not avail- 

 able it is equally permissible to believe or to doubt. 

 Nothing is impossible : but in the court of natural 

 knowledge nothing is acceptable without proof. The 

 duty of science is to obtain trustworthy evidence from 



