Dr. Barnes. i^^i 



ness of some organs of the brain to others, producing 

 a mistaken induction, when charity and tenderness are the 

 consequences of an atavism which another line of develop- 

 ment may teach us to despise, is it wonderful that we should 

 cease to have respect for the body, especially if it is not 

 our own ; and is it, after all, any better than a galvanised 

 carcase, excited by a fine spark which has no meaning, but 

 runs off to perform a similar service to the nearest dog or 

 reptile ; and why not ? Is not the reptile's life as important 

 as our own ? For what cares heaven about us or about 

 itself either — the great unconscious, wandering, meaning- 

 less heaven that spins round, for ever the same, always at 

 a new beginning, always at a new end, that would weary 

 of its own existence if it only had feeling enough to weary, 

 or sense enough to know how empty is its life ? This is 

 the dreary religion of to-day. Why teach our children 

 morality? — let them get the best they can of the world. 

 If they take from others, what matters it — these others are 

 but for a day ! But at least let us teach them the physical 

 morality of science, let us teach them to take care of their 

 health. Why } What matter how long they live, mere 

 masses of tingling fibres — there are plenty more to take 

 their place } 



However, society advances by steps, and after a time of 

 mere aesthetic selfishness, or that * most beautiful ' refine- 

 ment with which people make a kind of satanic drawing- 

 room for heaven where poetry of earth and sense displaces 

 religion, we shall some day throw it all aside as trifling, 

 and shall again say, * My very heart and soul cry out, 

 O living God, for Thee.' 



Dr. Barnes returned to the education of Manchester in 

 1783, and read three papers on the subject, one of them 



M 2 



