90 SCIENCE IN " BOND AGE" 



tion, invoked the behaviour of certain chemical 

 substances known as colloids in favour of his 

 anti-vitalistic conclusions. At once he was 

 answered by a number of equally eminent chemists 

 that the attitude he had adopted was quite in- 

 compatible with facts as known to them ; in a 

 word, that chemistry disagreed with his ideas as 

 to colloids. Everybody admitted that the 

 chemists must have the final word on this subject : 

 are you now claiming that religion or theology, 

 or whatever you choose to call it, is also entitled 

 to a say in a matter of that kind ? " This sup- 

 posititious conversation illustrates the confusion 

 which exists in many minds as to the point at 

 issue. One science is entitled to contradict 

 another, just as one scientific man is entitled to 

 contradict another on a question of fact. But 

 on a question of fact a theologian is not entitled 

 qua theologian nor would he be expected to 

 claim to be entitled, to contradict a man of science. 

 It ought to be widely known, though it is not, 

 that the idea that theologians can or wish to 

 intrude again qua theologians in scientific dis- 

 putes as to chemical, biological, or other facts, is 

 a fantastic idea without real foundation save 

 that of the one mistake of the kind made in the 

 case of Galileo and never repeated a mistake, let 

 us hasten to add, made by a disciplinary authority 

 and as all parties admit in no way involving 

 questions of infallibility. To this case we will 

 revert shortly. Meanwhile it may be briefly 

 stated that the claim made by the Church is in 

 connection with some few some very few of 



