v.] "Modern Symposium." 57 



two attitudes, wide as it is, is still a purely intellectual 

 difference. It has its root in differently blended 

 capacities of judgment and insight, and in no wise 

 fundamentally affects the religious character. 



It will be well for the world when this lesson has 

 been thoroughly learned, so as to leave no further 

 room for misapprehension. That great progress has 

 already been made in learning it, we need no other 

 proof than the mere existence of this " Modern Sym- 

 posium " on the subject of a future hfe. Three cen- 

 turies ago it would have been in strict accordance 

 with propriety for the ten disputants to have ad- 

 journed their symposium to some ecclesiastical court, 

 preparatory to a final settlement at Smithfield. One 

 century ago there would have been wholesale vitupera- 

 tion, attended with more or less imputation of un- 

 worthy motives, and very likely there would have 

 been some Jesuitical paltering with truth. To-day, 

 however, the tremendous question is discussed on all 

 sides — alike by Protestant and Catholic, by transcen- 

 dentahst, sceptic, and positivist — with evident candour 

 and praiseworthy courtesy ; for, in spite of Professor 

 Huxley's keen-edged wit and Mr. Harrison's fervent 

 heat, there is no one so fortunate as to know these 

 gentlemen who does not know that manly tenderness 

 and good feeling are by no means incompatible with 



