ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT. cxlv 



adopt theories which appear to us absurd, sometimes only frjm our 

 own inferiority ; and above all, let us avoid that fatal error of con- 

 necting the results of scientific inquiry with the articles of religious 

 belief. In attempting to discuss two widely different subjects at 

 the same time, we must necessarily stumble. The speculation of a 

 plurality of inhabited worlds, for example, is to the philosopher 

 a proper mental exercise, though incapable of any positive solution ; 

 for, even supposing organic life to be compatible with every pos- 

 sible variation of physical conditions — a postulate at variance with 

 the conditions of existence present on the earth, where life is 

 limited on the one hand by the increase of pressure under the 

 water, and on the other by its decrease in the air, — what more 

 can we do than guess or speculate in the dark ? Why then should 

 we rashly connect such a speculation with the creed of the philoso- 

 pher and the faith of the Christian, or assume the dream of the phi- 

 losopher to be a proper measure of the Creator's wisdom ? Let us 

 then continue, as we have hitherto done, to pursue our investigations 

 into the history of the earth, under all its various stages, unbiassed 

 by any preconceived opinions, and unshackled by the dread of 

 offending those who will not study the works of creation, but, remain- 

 ing ignorant of them, consider that they are thereby the better fitted 

 for discussing the Divine attributes. At all events, let us make 

 truth, and truth alone, our aim, supporting our own appreciations of 

 it when we have reason for so doing, but treating with calmness and 

 forbearance the opinions of others who may differ from us : it is 

 from such differences of opinion that we may expect ultimately to 

 discover truth, jublimed from the dross of error which must ever 

 be mingled with it in all those reasonings of man which cannot be 

 actually based on rnatliematical principles, or reduced to positive 

 demonstration. " 



VOL. XIII. 



