128 ENGLISH MEN OF SCIENCE. [CHAP. 



show that no class in the community are more 

 active as philanthropists than scientific men. But 

 these tendencies do not cover the meaning of 

 the phrase, " religious bias " in its technical sense. 

 So far as I understand that sense, it comprises 

 three elements : 



1 . Great prevalence of the intuitive sentiments ; 

 so much so, that conflicting matters of observa- 

 tion are apt to be laid aside, out of sight and 

 mind. The intuitive sense of a supreme God, 

 who communes with our hearts and directs us. 

 2. A sense of extreme sin and weakness, as ex- 

 pressed by the liturgical phrases, " No power of 

 ourselves to help ourselves," " Through the weak- 

 ness of our mortal nature we can do no good 

 thing without Thee," &c. 3. Revelation of a 

 future life and of other matters variously in- 

 terpreted by different sects, which, more or less, 

 satisfy the intuitive sentiments. 



I did not enter into these details in framing 

 my questions, but simply asked in general terms 

 whether or no my correspondents had a strong 

 religious bias. The interpretation I put on the 

 answers which are subjoined, is that religion, in 



