IN MEMORIAM— DR HARDY 357 



Theistic and Christian basis. At the same time he did 

 not hold rigidly to the old theories where they were 

 seen to be obviously too narrow and inelastic to fit or 

 explain ascertained facts. He was too clear sighted 

 not to perceive the immense mischief that has resulted 

 from attempts to prejudge a priori, from a dogmatic 

 or ecclesiastical standpoint, hypotheses resting on 

 deductions from purely scientific observations ; and in 

 his later years, at least, he had no sympathy with that 

 rapidly diminishing school of thought which regards 

 the evolutionary conception of the universe as anti- 

 theistic. In the great verities of the Christian Revelation 

 he was a convinced believer on independent grounds, 

 and he was content to wait with confidence until fuller 

 light should dispel the apparent contradictions between 

 the manifestations of the Divine in external Nature, 

 and in Man's History. Nature was to him everywhere 

 interpenetrated by Spirit, and pervaded by intimations 

 of an intelligent purpose ; and I have fancied that I 

 could discern in him a growing appreciation of the modern 

 idea — so fruitful in its practical applications on all side.s — 

 which recognises the essential kinship of all branches 

 and departments of knowledge — a kinship clearly betoken- 

 ing their origin in One Sole Mind. 



But those who knew Dr Hardy only from his writings, 

 or as the scientific observer or historical student, 

 knew him but imperfectly. To the inner circle of his 

 intimate friends he revealed features of character which 

 were never presented to the casual acquaintance. His 

 wide knowledge, his modesty, his readiness to make 

 available his accumulated stores of information, were 

 visible to all; but the loyal devotion to truth and principle, 

 the steady recoil from everything base and selfish, the 

 kindly humour which overflowed in jest and anecdote, 

 and the quiet sarcasm which, without bitterness or 

 malevolence, pricked many a wind-bag of vanity and 



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