VII AGNOSTICISM 253 



thousand unwilling porters were once launched 

 down the steep slopes of the fatal shore of 

 Gennesaret. 



The question of the place of religion as an element of human 

 nature, as a force of human society, its origin, analysis, and 

 functions, has never been considered at all from an agnostic 

 point of view (p. 152). 



I doubt not that Mr. Harrison knows vastly 

 more about history than I do ; in fact, he tells the 

 public that some of my friends and I have had 

 no opportunity of occupying ourselves with that 

 subject. I do not like to contradict any state- 

 ment which Mr. Harrison makes on his own 

 authority ; only, if I may be true to my agnostic 

 principles, I humbly ask how he has obtained 

 assurance on this head. I do not profess to know 

 anything about the range of Mr. Harrison's 

 studies ; but as he has thought it fitting to start 

 the subject, I may venture to point out that, on 

 evidence adduced, it might be equally permis- 

 sible to draw the conclusion that Mr. Harrison's 

 other labours have not allowed him to acquire 

 that acquaintance with the methods and results 

 of physical science, or with the history of philo- 

 sophy, or of philological and historical criticism, 

 which is essential to any one who desires to 

 obtain a right understanding of agnosticism. 

 Incompetence in philosophy, and in all branches 

 of science except mathematics, is the well-known 



