APOLOGY FOR THE BELFAST ADDRESS 



53 



consciousness, interposed between the 

 molecules of the brain, and influencing 

 the transference of motion among the 

 molecules. The thought " eludes all 

 mental presentation "; and hence the 

 logic seems of iron strength which claims 

 for the brain an automatic action, unin- 

 fluenced by states of consciousness. 

 But it is, I believe, admitted by those 

 who hold the automaton-theory, that 

 states of consciousness are produced by 

 the marshalling of the molecules of the 

 brain : and this production of conscious- 

 ness by molecular motion is to me quite 

 as inconceivable on mechanical princi- 

 ples as the production of molecular 

 motion by consciousness. If, therefore, 

 I reject one result, I must reject both. 

 I, however, reject neither, and thus stand 

 in the presence of two Incomprehensibles, 

 instead of one Incomprehensible. While 

 accepting fearlessly the facts of mate- 

 rialism dwelt upon in these pages, I bow 

 my head in the dust before that mystery 

 of mind which has hitherto defied its 

 own penetrative power, and which may 

 ultimately resolve itself into a demon- 

 strable impossibility of self-penetration. 



But the secret is an open one the 

 practical monitions are plain enough, 

 which declare that on our dealings with 

 matter depend our weal and woe, phy- 

 sical and moral. The state of mind 

 which rebels against the recognition of 

 the claims of " materialism " is not un- 

 known to me. I can remember a time 

 when I regarded my body as a weed, so 

 much more highly did I prize the 



conscious strength and pleasure derived 

 from moral and religious feeling which, 

 I may add, was mine without the inter- 

 vention of dogma. The error was not 

 an ignoble one, but this did not save it 

 from the penalty attached to error. 

 Saner knowledge taught me that the 

 body is no weed, and that, treated as 

 such, it would infallibly avenge itself. 

 Am I personally lowered by this change 

 of front ? Not so. Give me their health, 

 and there is no spiritual experience of 

 those earlier years no resolve of duty, 

 or work of mercy, no work of self- 

 renouncement, no solemnity of thought, 

 no joy in the life and aspects of nature 

 that would not still be mine ; and this 

 without the least reference or regard to 

 any purely personal reward or punish- 

 ment looming in the future. 



And now I have to utter a " farewell " 

 free from bitterness to all my readers ; 

 thanking my friends for a sympathy 

 more steadfast, I would fain believe, if 

 less noisy, than the antipathy of my foes ; 

 and commending to these a passage 

 from Bishop Butler, which they have 

 either not read or failed to lay to heart. 

 " It seems," saith the Bishop, "that men 

 would be strangely headstrong and self- 

 willed, and disposed to exert themselves 

 with an impetuosity which would render 

 society insupportable, and the living in 

 it impracticable, were it not for some 

 acquired moderation and self-govern- 

 ment, some aptitude and readiness in 

 restraining themselves, and concealing 

 their sense of things." 



