1863 SCIENCE AND THEOLOGY 345 



more I learn the more hopeless to my mind becomes the 

 contradiction between the theory of the universe as under- 

 stood and expounded by Jewish and Christian theologians, 

 and the theory of the universe which is every day and 

 every year growing out of the application of scientific 

 methods to its phenomena 



Whether astronomy and geology can or cannot be 

 made to agree with the statements as to the matters of 

 fact laid down in Genesis whether the Gospels are 

 historically true or not are matters of comparatively 

 small moment in the face of the impassable gulf between 

 the anthropomorphism (however refined) of theology and 

 the passionless impersonality of the unknown and un- 

 knowable which science shows everywhere underlying 

 the thin veil of phenomena. 



Here seems to me to be the great gulf fixed between 

 science and theology beside which all Colenso con- 

 troversies, reconcilements of Scripture a la Pye Smith, 

 etc., cut a very small figure. 



You must have thought over all this long ago ; but 

 steeped as I am in scientific thought from morning till 

 night, the contrast has perhaps a greater vividness to me. 

 I go into society, and except among two or three of my 

 scientific colleagues I find myself alone on these subjects, 

 and as hopelessly at variance with the majority of my 

 fellow -men as they would be with their neighbours if 

 they were set down among the Ashantees. I don't like 

 this state of things for myself least of all do I see how 

 it will work out for my children. But as my mind is 

 constituted, there is no way out of it, and I can only envy 

 you if you can see things differently. Ever yours very 

 faithfully, T. H. HUXLEY. 



JEIIMYN STREET, May 5, 1863. 



MY DEAR KINGSLEY My wife and children are away 

 at Felixstow on the Suffolk coast, and as I run down on 

 Saturday and come back on Monday your MS. has been 



