FARADAY. 419 



tions so filled his mind as to leave no room for sceptical 

 questionings, thus shielding from the assaults of phi- 

 losophy the creed of his youth. His religion was con- 

 stitutional and hereditary. It was implied in the 

 eddies 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 ele- 

 mental constituents awe, reverence, truth, and love.. 



It is worth enquiring how so profoundly religious a 

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

 our present discussions on the subject of education. 

 Faraday would be a 'secularist' were he now alive. 

 He had no sympathy with those who contemn knowl- 

 edge 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, f all theo- 

 logical considerations are banished from the society, 

 and of course from my remarks; 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 intention of substituting anything 

 for religion, but I wish to take that part of human 

 nature which is independent of it. Morality, phi- 

 losophy, 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 

 observe that we have no right to judge religious opin- 

 ions; but the human nature of this evening is that 



