320 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY CHAP. XVI 



the care befitting the momentous nature of the problems 

 involved. 



And I write this the more readily to you, because it 

 is clear to me that if that great and powerful instrument 

 for good or evil, the Church of England, is to be saved 

 from being shivered into fragments by the advancing tide 

 of science an event I should be very sorry to witness, 

 but which will infallibly occur if men like Samuel of 

 Oxford are to have the guidance of her destinies it 

 must be by the efforts of men who, like yourself, see 

 your way to the combination of the practice of the Church 

 with the spirit of science. Understand that all the 

 younger men of science whom I know intimately are 

 essentially of my way of thinking. (I know not a scoffer 

 or an irreligious or an immoral man among them, but 

 they all regard orthodoxy as you do Brahmanism.) 

 Understand that this new school of the prophets is the 

 only one that can work miracles, the only one that can 

 constantly appeal to nature for evidence that it is right, 

 and you will comprehend that it is of no use to try to 

 barricade us with shovel hats and aprons, or to talk about 

 our doctrines being " shocking." 



I don't profess to understand the logic of yourself, 

 Maurice, and the rest of your school, but I have always 

 said I would swear by your truthfulness and sincerity, 

 and that good must come of your efforts. The more 

 plain this was to me, however, the more obvious the 

 necessity to let you see where the men of science are 

 driving, and it has often been in my mind to write to 

 you before. 



If I have spoken too plainly anywhere, or too abruptly, 

 pardon me, and do the like to me. 



My wife thanks you very much for your volume of 

 sermons. Ever yours very faithfully, 



T. H. HUXLEY. 



A letter written in reply to the suggestion that he 



