356 



PHILOSOPHICAL THOUGHT. 



partially successful but mostly quite unsuccessful older 

 or modern schemes and attempts towards the establish- 

 ment of a new Order of society, it is striking to see 

 what importance they have attached to the foundation 

 and maintenance of some form of cult or worship in 

 which the feeling of duty and obligation could be in- 

 corporated and find some definite expression ; how they 

 have sought and how little they have been able to find 

 this centre of reference and appeal, any Highest, truly 

 real, object of Reverence. This has notably been the 

 case in the later developments of Comte's Positivism as 

 contained in the ' Politique Positive ' and in . the insti- 

 tutions of some of his disciples. But this is not of 

 special interest to us in the present connection, as we 

 have to do not with practical applications but with the 

 purely philosophical aspect of the problem of the Spirit, 

 the religious problem. 



III. 



49. The mention of the illustrious names of Goethe and 



Carlyle and 



Goethe. Carlyle affords us a welcome opportunity for passing 

 away from German speculation on this problem to what 



nothing ; at certain seasons of the 

 year only are our pupils admitted 

 here, to be taught in their various 

 degrees of culture, &c. . . . Well- 

 formed, healthy children bring 

 much into the world along with 

 them ! Nature has given to each 

 whatever he requires for time and 

 duration ; to unfold this is our 

 duty : often it unfolds better of its 

 own accord. One thing there is, 

 however, which no child brings 



into the world with him ; and yet 

 it is on this one thing that all 

 depends for making man in every 

 point a man. If you can discover 

 it yourself, speak it out ! ' Wilhelm 

 thought a little while, then shook 

 his head. The Three, after a suit- 

 able pause, exclaimed : Reverence ! 

 Wilhelm seemed to hesitate. Rever- 

 ence, cried they a second time. All 

 want it, perhaps you yourself." 



