8 4 



[Proc. B.N.F.C. 



placed, as, in a sense, one of the high priesthood of science. 

 Unquestionably a chemist handling a highly explosive substance 

 ought to be careful lest he might produce an explosion. Standing 

 as he then was at the entrance of the temple, and in view, as it 

 were, of the altar whereat so many around him who believed in the 

 religion of Revelation stood, was it wise, was it generous, was it 

 safe, even according to his own showing, to discredit that religion 

 by not only ignoring it, but by virtually offering as its substitute the 

 vague and unsubstantial dreams of Democritus, Epicurus, and 

 Lucretius ? That this charge is not a groundless one will appear, 

 I venture to hope, before my present address is concluded. 



In point of fact, Professor Tyndall appears to have deliberately 

 adopted the line now questioned, in the very face of the religious 

 difficulty. This he admits when he tells his auditory (p. 33), "I 

 have touched on debatable questions and led you over dangerous 

 ground." That this ground was deliberately chosen is further 

 made plain when he thus states : — " I thought you ought to know 

 the environment which, with or without your consent, is rapidly 

 surrounding you, and in relation to which, some adjustment on 

 your part may be necessary." Might not any one possessed of 

 half the intelligence of the speaker have foreseen the inevitable 

 consequences of the very basis of the religious faith professed by 

 his auditory being assaulted as he assaulted itl Assuredly he 

 might, and that such anticipations were not vain, the event has 

 fully proved. I know perfectly well that Professor Tyndall has, 

 since the delivery of his address, taken pains to disavow his belief 

 of gross Materialism, as well as to repudiate the charge of Atheism. 

 But such disavowal and repudiation do not amount to disproof of 

 these charges. The person accused before a legal tribunal does 

 not substantiate his innocency of the charge made against him by 

 the mere plea of "not guilty." The outspoken words of the ad- 

 dress are there, together with the indisputable fact, which presents 

 the truest possible comment on these words, that they have been 

 understood as advocating both Materialistic and Atheistic opinions 



