DISCUSSION 209 



CLOSING SPEECH BY FATHER WASMANN, S.J., 

 11.30 P.M. 1 



LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, 



When it was first suggested to me to deliver 

 these lectures, I expressed a wish to be permitted 

 to speak at a discussion which should follow them. 

 As to the special form which to-night s debate has 

 taken, my thanks are due to Professor Plate for 

 the proposals that he made with regard to it. My 

 hopes that the discussion would be kept within 

 the limits of a purely scientific treatment of our 

 subject were to some extent realised in the case of 

 Professor Plate himself, if I may except the con 

 clusion of his speech, in which he pronounced me 

 to be no true scientist. As to the other speakers 

 it is impossible for me to express any such general 

 opinion ; I shall perhaps be able to comment upon 

 one or two remarks made by them individually. 



You will allow that it is very difficult for me to 

 answer such a number of objections in a short time. 

 I do not intend to speak for more than half an hour, 

 for it is already close upon midnight. I must 

 certainly answer Professor Plate first of all, as I 



1 In my closing speech I did not allude to the fact that the regulations 

 for the debate, which I had accepted, had been altered without my know 

 ledge and consent. (See the preliminary remarks on the evening discussion, 

 p. 85.) At that time I was not aware who had formed the majority that 

 authorised this alteration. For details, see p. 87. 



O 



