Auckland Institute. 421 
Vol. L., page 188 :— In all parts of Europe, as far east as Greece; in 
Palestine, India, Japan, New Zealand, and Africa, including Egypt, flint 
(stone ?) tools have been discovered in abundance ; and of their use the 
existing inhabitants retain no tradition.” So far as the above statement 
relates to New Zealand, the learned author is mistaken as to the actual 
fact. For not only are there traditions of the use of stone tools in New 
Zealand ; but there are now living New Zealanders (Maoris) who have used 
these stone tools. The earlier settlers of this Colony may even be said to 
have themselves lived in the stone age. 
I shall not occupy your time by citing any further instances of the 
strange, curious, and indeed, grotesque assumptions which characterise 
the materialistic school of Philosophy, because, I apprehend, you are 
probably familiar with them. But, in the interests of science and morals, 
it is necessary to direct your attention to that singular phase of this revived 
philosophy, represented—I think better than by any other term—by that of 
the Idolatry of Law. | 
Now what is law, at whose shrine some of our philosophers appear to 
pay an idolatrous devotion? Is it not the opposite of chaos, chance, or 
accident ? Is it not the embodiment of order and design ; a regulated and 
regulating force potent to develope certain results from certain causes known 
or unknown? Evolution and atomic combination are laws, or the results 
of law. What, then, I repeat is law? Is it not a definite, intelligent 
arrangement, involving, by its very existence, the prior existence of an in- 
telligence superior to itself? In a word, does not the existence of a law 
involve the certain and prior existence and potent action of an intelligent, 
forceful, dominant Lawarver? It is the practical ignoring of such a Law- 
giver which deprives the admirable investigations of the school of philosophy 
under review of their chief value and crowning virtue, and which, in so 
doing, relegates us to the cheerless domains of a materialism as degrading 
to man as it is inimical to his true welfare. For who can doubt, if it be 
Possible to reason the Creator and Controller of the universe out of the 
minds of men, that what to-day may be but the fantastic dogma of the 
philosophic few, may become the popular belief of to-morrow, and so 
strike at that great principle of responsibility which lies at the foundation 
of the well-being and the happiness of mankind. 
The want of the age is undoubtedly the right interpretation of scientific 
discovery. Without the acknowledgment of a Supreme Creator and Con- 
troller such an interpretation is impossible, and mystery must continue to 
be written on all the wonderful phenomena by which we are surrounded. 
What have the so called definitions of the school-men of seience given us 
more than a nomenclature. For, after all, wuar 1s the subtle essence of 
