1 24 General influence of Science upon the public. 



produce an influence upon it. Whilst great deep- 

 seated truths make a powerful impression on the 

 minds of philosophers, the great practical effects of 

 science in inventions, &c., profoundly impress the 

 mass of mankind. One of the chief influences of the 

 discovery of important scientific truths and of their 

 practical application in some wonderful way, such as 

 in the telescope and microscope, phosphorus matches, 

 photography, electro-plating, the electric light, the 

 spectroscope, microphone, telephone, &c , is to produce 

 a profound and wide-spread impression of the ex- 

 istence of a great and mysterious influence, which 

 produces (or enables us to produce) such striking 

 effects. 



Whilst also the novelty of the practical effects of 

 new scientific truths in inventions, astonish persons 

 in general ; the definiteness of scientific phenomena, 

 and the certainty with which they may be reproduced 

 convince all competent persons who examine them, 

 that they are rigidly subject to definite laws. In this 

 way the antique belief that natural phenomena are 

 'produced by supernatural agencies, is gradually 

 being abandoned, and" the more moral conviction of 

 the omnipresence and universality of law has been 

 largely established in its stead. Every new scientific 

 fact and invention thus becomes a new proof of the 

 universality of law. Belief in the supernatural has 

 diminished in proportion as scientific knowledge has 

 advanced ; instead of natural phenomena being 

 erroneously ascribed to demons, spirits, supernatural 



