474 ^^^ POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY, 



enumeration it is like nothing, which is also innumerable. Once more 

 when implying that the Infinite and Eternal Energy manifested alike 

 within us and without us, and to which we must ascribe not only the 

 manifestations themselves but the law of their order, will hereafter 

 continue to be, under its transfigured form, an object of religious sen- 

 timent ; I have implied that whatever components of this sentiment 

 disappear, there must ever survive those which are appropriate to the 

 consciousness of a Mystery that can not be fathomed and a Power 

 that is omnipresent. Mr. Harrison and Sir James Stephen have said 

 nothing to invalidate this position. Lastly, let me point out that I 

 am not concerned to show what effect religious sentiment, as hereafter 

 thus modified, will have as a moral agent ; though Mr. Harrison, by 

 ridiculing the supposition that it will make good men and women, 

 seems to imply that I have argued, or am bound to argue, that it will 

 do this. If he will refer to the " Data of Ethics " and other books of 

 mine, he will find that modification of human nature, past and future, I 

 ascribe in the main to the continuous operation of surrounding social 

 conditions and entailed habits of life ; though past forms of the reli- 

 gious consciousness have exercised, and future forms will I believe ex- 

 ercise, co-operative influences.* 



How, then, does the case stand ? Under " Retrospect," I aimed to 

 show how the religious consciousness arose ; and under " Prospect " 

 what of this consciousness must remain when criticism has done its ut- 

 most. My opponents would have succeeded had they shown (1) that 

 it did not arise as alleged ; or (2) that some other consciousness would 

 remain ; or (3) that no consciousness would remain. They have done 

 none of these things. Looking at the general results, it seems to me 

 that while the things I have said have not been disproved, the things 

 which have been disproved are things I have not said. 



SOME EAMBLES OF A :N'ATUEALIST.t 



By CHAELES C. ABBOTT, M. D. 



WHEN I happen out for a stroll, the difficulty that besets me is 

 not what to seek — for to ramble without an object is an abom- 

 ination — but what to choose of the endless variety of objects worthy 

 of attention. I do not like to determine this after I have started, but 

 prefer saying to myself, " I will watch the birds to-day," or, " I will 

 hunt up the meadow-mice." To do this at once gives an additional 

 interest to a contemplated ramble ; and, in all my experience, I have 



* " Data of Ethics," § 62. 



f From the author's " Rambles about Home," in the press of D. Appleton & Ca 



