Science and Philosophy 5 



of dogmatic theology, and exponents of 

 practical religion, to a keener sense of their 

 opportunities and responsibility. A view 

 of their position from outside, by an able 

 and unsparing critic, cannot but be illum- 

 inating and helpful, however unpleasant. 



Moreover, the comprehensive survey of 

 existence which can be taken by a modern 

 man of science is almost sure to be interesting 

 and instructive, when properly interpreted 

 with the necessary restrictions and expan- 

 sions ; and if it be found that the helpful 

 portions are unhappily accompanied by over- 

 confident negations and supercilious denials 

 of facts at present outside the range of 

 orthodox science, these natural blemishes 

 must be discounted and estimated at their 

 proper worth ; for it would be foolish to 

 imagine that even a diligent student of 

 Nature has special access to the kind of 

 truths which have been hidden from the 

 nominally " wise and prudent " of all time. 



So far as Professor Haeckel's writings are 

 read by the thoroughly educated and well- 



