HI ON THE PHYSICAL BASIS OF LIFE 155 



undoubtedly, the terms of the propositions are 

 distinctly materialistic. Nevertheless two things 

 are certain ; the one, that I hold the statements 

 to be substantially true; the other, that I, in- 

 dividually, am no materialist, but, on the contrary, 

 believe materialism to involve grave philosophical 

 error. 



This union of materialistic terminology with the 

 repudiation of materialistic philosophy I share 

 with some of the most thoughtful men with whom 

 I am acquainted. And, when I first undertook to 

 deliver the present discourse, it appeared to me 

 to be a fitting opportunity to explain how such a 

 union is not only consistent with, but necessitated 

 by, sound logic. I purposed to lead you through the 

 territory of vital phenomena to the materialistic 

 slough in which you find yourselves now plunged, 

 and then to point out to you the sole path by 

 which, in my judgment, extrication is possible. 



An occurrence of which I was unaware until my 

 arrival here last night renders this line of argu- 

 ment singularly opportune. I found in your papers 

 the eloquent address " On the Limits of Philo- 

 sophical Inquiry," which a distinguished prelate of 

 the English Church delivered before the members 

 of the Philosophical Institution on the previous 

 day. My argument, also, turns upon this very 

 point of the limits of philosphical inquiry ; and I 

 cannot bring out my own views better than by 

 contrasting them with those so plainly and, in 



