Auckland iTistitute, 443 



deductions or theflries. Theories are often, indeed, of the greatest service ; but they are 

 not to be made into dogmas. We may avail ourselves even of an erroneous theory (as, 

 for instance, that of two opposite kinds of fluid in electricity) without suffering any great 

 harm, if we hold ourselves ready to abandon it when found to be erroneous. A theory is 

 not an object of faith, but a subject for discussion. In every part of the domain of science 

 the facts which have been ascertained are of the first importance, and form the basis of 

 all true teaching. But a knowledge of the general laws deduced from these facts, and 

 estabhshed, as we may say, by consent of all who are capable of forming a correct judg- 

 ment concerning them, must necessarily be communicated to the learner, and the more 

 our knowledge of facts is increased and extended, the wider will our view become, and the 

 better shall we be able to grasp the general law by which the phenomena may be compre- 

 hended. The student may be compared to a traveller exploring an island having a moun- 

 tain in the centre, from the top of which a full general view can be obtained of the whole, 

 and a correct idea can be formed of its shape and features. The higher he climbs the 

 more he can see ; and though with much labour he may gain the summit, his view will 

 still be hmited by the horizon, and even within the narrow bounds of his domain there 

 will be a multitude of objects with which he can only become acquainted by separate 

 examination of each distinct locality. The theory of Evolution, if it could be absolutely 

 proved to be true, would give us such a general view of the progressive work of creation. 

 But the proof has not yet been given, and perhaps may be unattainable ; therefore, no 

 one has a right to insist upon the acceptance of the theory, much less to make it (as 

 Haeckel and his friends would force mankind to do) a sort of new religion, or, rather, a 

 substitute for aU religion. It may be that this theory is true. It certainly appears to be 

 supported by a large number of facts of very great interest, collected from nearly every 

 part of the field of observation ; and, if proved to be true, it is to be welcomed by everyone 

 who loves the truth. But, like the view of our island explorer, the range is still bounded 

 by the inevitable horizon. Our theory apphes only to the things of time and sense. 

 Within these bounds all knowledge seems to point to continual progress and unceasing 

 change. Every form of existence with which we are acquainted doubtless has a history, 

 though we may not be able to scan it. Not only each atom and molecule, — not 

 only every individual of the countless myriads of living things, — but every mass of 

 heterogeneous materials, from the smallest pebble of the earth or the cosmic dust of the 

 heavens, to the mightiest sun of the universe, has its past, present, and future, upon 

 which we may exercise our powers of thought, and by means of various processes of 

 observation and examination may gain some knowledge of their nature and history. The 

 terms "new" and "old" apply to all material things. Even the vast masses of revolving 

 matter, of which the stars consist, are subject to the apparently universal law of change 

 of condition. Not only the planets — the comparatively insignificant attendant stars of 

 each solar system— but the very suns themselves are growing old ; — no new truth, as you 

 will justly say, since it was familiar to an ancient poet, who thus addressed the Creator of 

 all : " Of old hast Thou laid the foundation of the earth ; and the heavens are the work 

 of Thy hands. They shall perish, but Thou shalt endure ; yea, all of them shall wax old 



like a garment But Thou art the same, and Thy years shall have 



no end."* Of this truth, so long ago perceived and acknowledged by man, a striking 

 illustration has been afforded by the results of recent investigations in a new branch of 

 science, which has been called " stellar chemistry." A few years only have elapsed since 

 the invention of the spectroscope, but marvellous, indeed, are the revelations obtained by 



* Paalm cii., 25-27. 



