Religioiis Feelings. 875 



lessly shaking off those doctrines of her early creed which 

 seemed to her incompatible with the unutterable goodness 

 and greatness of God ; and through life she adhered to 

 her simple faith, holding quietly and resolutely to the 

 ultimate truths of religion, regardless alike of the censure 

 of bigots or the smiles of sceptics. The theories of 

 modem science she welcomed as quite in accordance 

 with her religious opinions. She rejected the notion 

 of occasional interference by the Creator with His 

 work, and believed that from the first and invariably 

 He has acted according to a system of harmonious laws, 

 some of which we are beginning faintly to recognise, 

 others of which will be discovered in course of time, while 

 many must remain a mystery to man while he inhabits this 

 world. It was in her early life that the controversy 

 raged respecting the incompatibility of the Mosaic ac- 

 count of Creation, the Deluge, &c., with the revelations 

 of geology. My mother very soon accepted the modern 

 theories, seeing in them nothing in any way hostile to 

 true religious belief. It is singular to recall that her 

 candid avowal of views now so common, caused her 

 to be publicly censured by name from the pulpit of 

 York Cathedral. She foresaw the great modifications 

 in opinion which further discoveries will inevitably 

 produce; but she foresaw them without doubt or fear. 

 Her constant prayer was for light and truth, and 

 its full accomplishment she looked for confidently in 

 the life beyond the grave. My mother never discussed 

 religious subjects in general society; she considered them 

 far too solemn to be talked of lightly; but with those 

 near and dear to her, and with very intimate friends, 

 whose opinion agreed with her own, she spoke freely 

 and willingly. Her mind was constantly occupied with 



