60 G. F. C. SEARLE, M.A., F.R.S., ON THE 
rebound against the mechanical theory of the universe, which 
held imperious sway during the thirty years that followed 
Darwin’s first great attempt at systematisation. The influence 
of Darwin, and Spencer, and perhaps even more, of Huxley and 
Tyndall, of Haeckel and Weismann, had led to a belief that 
physics and physiology between them solved everything. Now 
a good many people go to the other extreme, and assert that 
they have solved nothing. And the scientists themselves, 
though they have not abandoned the nineteenth century 
conceptions of force, matter, and development, are anxious 
to supplement them by pushing their enquiries into the 
psychie region. Science itself cannot deal with the facts it has 
discovered without travellmg beyond force and matter and 
development. It has to postulate something else, something in 
the nature of mind, and something beyond that ; something 
which is not matter nor force, and yet can act upon both. So 
it begins to join hands with religion, and reluctantly suggests 
that there may be such a thing as a spiritual power, operating 
outside the limits of space and time.” 
Before we proceed, let us pause to do honour to those men 
and women who, though ignorant of the facts of science, had 
heard what science was supposed to have proved and yet held 
steadfastly to their faith through years of storm. They were 
not dismayed at the supposed results of scientific progress 
because they had faith, and faith is so far above intellect that, 
unlike the latter, it never suffers confusion. We are not, 
however, now concerned to discover what information can be 
gained from the lives of saintly people; our business is to 
discuss what may be learned from scientific investigation. 
§ 2. Purpose of the Paper—In discussing the modern con- 
ception of the universe, I shall endeavour to examine how far 
that conception leads to or is consistent with the idea of an 
almighty Creator having a just claim to the obedience and 
worship of men. We must not expect that the testimony of 
science, unaided by spiritual insight, can lead to anything more 
than the simplest ‘form of religion, but if it does go so far the 
testimony is of immense value. If men grasped no more than 
the idea of the existence of an almighty Creator and allowed its 
significance to have a place in their lives, the gain would be 
very great. 
But this paper is not intended to be in any way an apology 
for religion. I shall merely endeavour to set down, as simply 
as possible, some of the conclusions to which modern scientific 
investigation unhesitatingly points. The survey will, however, 
