214 PACTS AND THEORIES. 



and contain therefore mucli more danger for the 

 development of our intelligence, which will not and can- 

 not be stopped at all. The idea that the world was good 

 in the beginning, that the man of to-day is a degenerated 

 being, sunk down from his former perfection and god- 

 likeness and perished through sin ; this idea is a phan- 

 tom, such as only priests could invent and philosophers 

 defend. But even if the balance were wavering, we may 

 boldly put the question : Which turns to the greater 

 honor of our race, having sunk down into sin, or having 

 worked up through our own force to the wonderful 

 being which has bridged time and space, which climbs 

 the heavens, which measures the universe, and which 

 begins to conceive himself ? 



At the conclusion of the paper it was discussed by Dr. 

 C. B. Warring and Mr. Edward Burgess. 



Mr. S. J. Robinson was elected to membership in the 

 Section. 



JANUARY 17, 1893— SECOND REGULAR MEETING. 



Dr. Warring read a very interesting paper entitled : 

 FACTS AND THEORIES. 



BT OHABLES B. WARBINO, PH.D. 



Perhaps nothing marks more clearly the change — shall 

 I say progress ? in the public mind, than its attitude 

 towards science. Not many years ago, scientist was to 

 most people synonymous with infidel, and infidel meant 

 atheist, and the fate of our first parents was gravely 

 held up as a warning to those who would pry too deeply 

 into the mysteries of nature. To-day the pendulum has 

 swung to the opposite end of the arc, and the same per- 

 sons, or rather their successors, now stand more than 

 ready to accept all that is offered in the name of science. 



170 



