Tuomson.—On Frankland’s Paper on Mind-Stuff. 109 
ignorance. In the same way as I see myself in a glass, I see myself in 
others ; but it is an error to think that what I see is not my face but that 
of another. Father and mother are non-entities ; I am the infant and the 
old man, the wise man and the fool, the male and female, etc. 
Thus we have the old adage exemplified, that there is nothing new under 
the sun, however unexpected be the quarter in which we find it. But we 
have nothing to do with the peculiar persuasions of the Cliffords, Frank- 
lands, Satnamis, and Sunyavadis in their religious aspect, it is only in their 
scientific phase that this society, by its constitution, permits discussion. I 
shall, therefore, address myself to this portion. 
According to Mr. Frankland, ‘the universe of matter” is ‘a complex 
of possibilities of feeling,” and again “feelings or mental states, com- 
prising comparatively vivid ones known as sensations and emotions, the 
Jainter copies of these, sometimes called ‘ideas,’ constitute the material 
of which thought is woven, and certain unique states of mind which form 
integral parts of volition and belief—states of mind which assimilate most 
nearly to emotions, but which may be described as somewhat too colourless, 
if the term be allowable, to be fairly classed with these.” 
Here almost at the commencement of his paper I find myself at issue 
with the author, my view going only so far as to say that the universe of 
matter may be a complex of possibilities of feeling, but to which I must add 
that these same feelings are either no guide or doubtful and very erring 
indicators in comprehending such matter of the universe. 
Thus we stand on the surface of this world, and feel that the sun, moon, 
and stars traverse the heavens above us. Our feelings lead us to the belief 
that we stand stable, and the universe revolves round us. But a higher 
faculty informs us to the contrary. This faculty we call reason, and which 
is seldom at one with our feelings, but more often at variance ; further, 
Sometimes in diametrical opposition, such as in the case above recited. 
How frequently do not our feelings impel us to do that which is wrong, 
and how often would we do wrong had we not reason to stay us? Indeed, 
our feelings are astray in almost every direction, that it is a wonder to me 
to see men with enquiring minds building up a theory of empty existence 
on them. Thus, in the physical world, our feelings tell us that the sun has 
risen ; our educated reason tells us it has not, for it only appears to have 
risen ; the truth being that it has not, atmospheric refraction creating the 
deception, Many such illustrations might be entered into, but this would 
be tedious 
Again, in the moral world, how often our feelings would deceive us by 
impelling us to retort the angry word, and how well it is when reason comes 
‘to our aid and directs the opposite course, which is the true one, 
