LIFE AND LETTERS OF FARADAY 441 



his investigations so filled his mind as to leave no room 

 for sceptical questionings, thus shielding from the assaults 

 of philosophy the creed of his youth. His religion was 

 constitutional and hereditary. It was implied in the ed- 

 dies of his blood and in the tremors of his brain; and, 

 however its outward and visible form might have changed, 

 Faraday would still have possessed its elemental constitu- 

 ents awe, reverence, truth, and love. 



It is worth inquiring how so profoundly religious a 

 mind, and so great a teacher, would be likely to regard 

 our present discussions on the subject of education. Far- 

 aday would be a "secularist" were he now alive. He had 

 no sympathy with those who contemn knowledge unless 

 it be accompanied by dogma. A lecture delivered before 

 the City Philosophical Society in 1818, when he was 

 twenty-six years of age, expresses the views regarding 

 education which he entertained to the end of his life. 

 "First, then," he says, "all theological considerations are 

 banished from the society, and of course from my re- 

 marks; and whatever I may say has no reference to a 

 future state, or to the means which are to be adopted in 

 this world in anticipation of it. Next, I have no inten- 

 tion of substituting anything for religion, but I wish to take 

 that part of human nature which is independent of it. 

 Morality, philosophy, commerce, the various institutions 

 and habits of society, are independent of religion, and 

 may exist either with or without it. They are always the 

 same, and can dwell alike in the breasts of those who, 

 from opinion, are entirely opposed in the set of principles 

 they include in the term religion, or in those who have 

 none. 



"To discriminate more closely, if possible, I will ob- 



