38 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



appearances in nature which were once devoutly believed to hs 

 supernatural in their origin. 



Let us not forget that it is only two centuries and a half since 

 a King of England wrote a book against " demonology," in which 

 he declared that the " fearful abounding in his time in England 

 of those detestable slaves of the devil, the enchanters, moved him 

 to haste in writing this treatise; to resolve thereby the doubting 

 hearts of many; both that such assaults of Satan are certainly 

 practised, and that the instruments thereof ought most severely 

 to be punished." 



To the slow progress of the physical sciences during the past 

 two centuries must be referred the negation of the aphorism of 

 Bacon, that " Knowledge is Power," or why would a distorted 

 conception of the divine command and of human duty have con- 

 signed, even in this country, hundreds of trembling, ignorant and 

 imbecile old women to the doom of witchcraft. Their conscien- 

 tious judges, even with their limited capacity and knowledge, 

 more truly deserving to be hanged or drowned than they. Yes, 

 Knowledge is Power; and, if knowledge be not identical with 

 goodness, it yet stands so immediately related to goodness that 

 inspiration itself has asserted that for the soul to be without 

 knowledge is " not good." Knowledge is power, and both must 

 sink or rise together, and if knowledge be not goodness — igno- 

 rance and crime (such is the unfailing experience of mankind in 

 all ages) have been ever found inseparable. 



If there be no necessary connection between the study of the 

 physical sciences and our highest interests, then, every wider 

 view that astronomy discloses respecting the extent of this mag- 

 nificent universe, would serve only to tantalize with fruitless 

 curiosity the beings that have been endowed with intellects able 

 needlessly to glance at such glories, and then — to lie down in 

 darkness forever. Not astronomy alone, but every department of 

 human investigation impresses upon humanity the conviction, 

 " 'Tis but a part we see, and not the whole." 



And do not such studies irresistibly lead to the conclusion that 

 faculties so susceptible of improvement, will liereafter find more 

 enlarged and fitting scope for their permanent rather than their 



