622 FRAGMENTS 0V SCIENCE. 
formed so dominant a factor in Faraday's life. I allude 
to Mr. Charles Darwin, the Abraham of scientific men a 
searcher as obedient to the command of truth as was the 
patriarch to the command of God. I cannot therefore, as 
so many desire, look upon Faraday's religious belief as the 
exclusive source of qualities shared so conspicuously by 
one uninfluenced by that belief. To a deeper virtue 
belonging to human nature in its purer forms I am dis- 
posed to refer the excellence of both. 
Superstition may be defined as constructive religion 
which has grown incongruous with intelligence. AVe may 
admit, with Fichte, " that superstition has unquestionably 
constrained its subjects to abandon many pernicious prac- 
tices and to adopt many useful ones;" the real loss accom- 
panying its decay at the present day has been thus clearly 
stated by the same philosopher: " In so far as these 
lamentations do not proceed from the priests themselves 
whose grief at the loss of their dominion over the human 
mind we can well understand but from the politicians, 
the whole matter resolves itself into this, that government 
has thereby become more difficult and expensive. The 
judge was spared the exercise of his own sagacity and pene- 
tration when, by threats of relentless damnation, lie could 
compel the accused to make confession. The evil spirit 
formerly performed without reward services for which in 
later times judges and policemen have to be paid." 
No man ever felt the need of a high and ennobling 
religion more thoroughly than this powerful and fervid 
teacher, who, by the way, did not escape the brand of 
"atheist." But Fichte asserted emphatically the power 
and sufficiency of morality in its own sphere. " Let us 
consider," he says, " the highest which man can possess in 
the absence of religion I mean pure morality. The 
moral man obeys the law of duty in his breast absolutely, 
because it is a law unto him; and he does whatever reveals 
itself to him as his duty simply because it is duty. Let 
not the impudent assertion be repeated that such an 
obedience, without regard for consequences, and without 
desire for consequences, is in itself impossible and opposed 
to human nature." So much for Fichte. Faraday was 
equally distinct. "I have no intention," he says, "of 
substituting anything for religion, but I wish to take that 
part of human nature which is independent of it. Moral- 
