66 Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters. 



NATURE AND THE SUPERNATURAL. 



J. J. Elmendoef, S. T. T). 



I am somewhat afraid that the subject of my paper may lead 

 some to suppose that I am introducing theological discussion into 

 the transactions of the Academy. If I should fall into this error 

 it will be unintentional on my part, and I beg pardon in advance. 

 Concerning my own views of the truth and meaning of certain 

 wonderful events recorded in documents which profess to be his- 

 torical, there need be no question. But I do not see that my 

 views on these points need affect the philosophical and scientific 

 problem which I submit for investigation. I propose it in the 

 same spirit as far as is possible, as if the question concerned the 

 history of India, and a narrative of Buddha. Philosophy and 

 science cannot ignore what is immediately around them, viz : a 

 very general reception of certain extraordinary narratives of 

 various kinds; and it is a question to be considered whether 

 there is any case to come before the bar of philosophy or science, 

 or whether these must relegate the matter to another tribunal, 

 since they are incompetent to decide it. 



The problem, briefly stated, is this : Inasmuch as nature with 

 its rigid mechanical laws is not inconsistent with the freedom of 

 man, does the admission of the supernatural as an element in the 

 facts which come under our notice conflict with scientific laws, so 

 that it must be rejected at once? or is the sphere of the super- 

 natural, so called, a different one, like that of man's will and 

 reason, so that inductive science may pursue its work undisturbed 

 in its own sphere, leaving the other to its own special students, 

 but accepting conclusions in the moral sphere, as mankind in gen- 

 eral accept those of the scientific expert. 



From the oldest historical records down to the contemporary 

 witness of some leaders in natural science, concerning wonderful 

 events occurring in England or the United States, we find a series 

 of such marvels recorded, some having a very high degree of 



