212 Notes and Comments, 
fine defence for an animal which in these days could not speak 
for itself. In relieving the serpent of responsibility for a share: 
in Adam’s fall it was urged that man’s first disobedience did 
not bring death into the world, because as palaeontologists are 
assured, death was there long before man made his appearance, 
and zoologists are well aware that the serpent is no more 
accursed than any other wild animal. But supposing no 
weight were allowed to the crushing scientific evidence that 
the early chapters of Genesis are not a Divine revelation, there 
still remains the tremendous point that the Church bases its 
faith on the record of Adam’s fall. 
THE DELUGE. 
The President next passed under review the Biblical 
account of the Deluge and the Tower of Babel, and the pre- 
datory campaigns of the Israelites. In every direction the 
advance of science makes it clear that men of old had no 
more communication with the Most High than we have. In 
their writings of reputed inspiration, noble thoughts and lofty 
ideals are mixed up with atrocities unworthy of a barbarian. 
In these days we may be excused for asking how Christianity 
fulfilled its earliest promise of bringing glad tiding to the 
human race. What-he had been saying was not to be regarded 
as a perverse and presumptous challenge, but an appeal for 
vital changes in the laws of the Church and State which conflict 
with the traditional faith of millions. 
SUPERSTITION. 
To this last point he invited attention, not only for its 
intrinsic importance, but because of the misunderstanding 
which attended it. Those who were immovably sure of being 
among the chosen few must have the disquieting suspicion that 
their confidence may be misplaced, and generous minds would 
be haunted by the probability that the majority of their friends 
may not share their bliss. The dreadful arithmetic of the 
Athanasian Creed was appalling. Mr. Stebbing quoted the 
terrors fulminated by last century divines, including the 
description of the infernal regions by good Bishop. Berridge, 
and remarked that poets and preachers seemed seldom to 
reflect that this riot of divine vengeance has left the world 
indifferent. It is surely time for men of science and theologians 
to join hands in revolt against superstition masquerading as 
piety. Ifa tree can be known by its fruits, the history of the 
world proclaims that there must be something wrong in the 
traditional teaching of Christianity which needs a thorough 
purging. Statements founded on fable and supported by 
false logic must be withdrawn. When the dross has been 
cleared away, the pure gold of true inspiration will have a 
chance of shining. The noblest thoughts which in different 
ages have found expression will win their way into the general 
Naturalist, 
