DISCOURSE OF DR. J. C. WELLING. 20."> 



of this niueteenth century, <f do we do much otherwise," if regard 

 be had to the quality of our petitions? Professor Henry held 

 that it was both the duty ami privilege of enlightened Christians to 

 "do much otherwise," by praying pre-eminently, if not exclusively, 

 for spiritual blessings. And hence he held that the highest natural 

 philosophy combines with the highest Christian "aitli to transfer the 

 religious thoughts, feelings, and aspirations of man more and mure 

 from things seen to things unseen, and from things temporal to 

 things eternal. This view of Ms had nothing of quietism or of 

 mysticism in it. Still less was it the expression of an apathetic 

 stoicism. It was only the philosopher's way of [ raying to the great 

 All-Father, in the spirit of St. Augustine, "Da quod jubes, etjube 

 quod vis." 



I have made this reference to the opinions of Professor Henry 

 on the relations of science to religion, as also on the relations of 

 natural philosophy to prayer, not only lor the light they shed on the 

 character of the man, lint also for a reason which is peculiar to this 

 Society, and which it may be a matter of interest for you to know. 

 Immediately after his last unanimous election as the President of 

 our Society, he communicated to me his purpose to make the rela- 

 tions of science and religion, as also the true import of prayer, the 

 subject of his annual presidential address. He gave me an outline 

 of the views he intended to submit, and I have here given but a 

 brief resume of them, according to my recollections of the colloquy, 



which was only one of many similai nferences previously had on 



the same high themes. He said that it would be, perhaps, the last time 

 he .should ever be called to deliver a presidential address before the 

 Society he so much loved, and that he wished to speak as became 

 an humble patron of science, believing fully in her high mission, 

 and at the same time as an humble Christian, believing fully in the 

 fundamental truths of Revelation. That hi was not able to fulfil 

 this purpose will be as much a source of regret to you as it is to me; 

 but when we compare the valediction which it was in his heart to 

 utter, with the peaceful end which came a few months later to crown 

 his days with the halo of a finished life, we may console ourselves 

 with the thought that no last words of his were needed to seal on 

 our hearts the lesson taught by his long and splendid career. Being 

 dead he yet speaketh. 



