252 GEOEGE JOHN EOMANES 1889- 



sion of what we understand by a mechanical necessity ? 

 In short, is it original or derived — final, and therefore 

 inexplicable, because self-existing ; or is it the effect 

 of a higher cause in the existence of a disposing Mind ? 

 Although I cannot wait to argue this, the ulti- 

 mate question which we have met to consider, I may 

 briefly state my own view with regard to it. This is 

 the same view that the originator of the doctrine of 

 natural selection himself used habitually to express 

 to me in conversation — viz. to use his own words, ' I 

 have long ago come to the conclusion that it is a 

 question far beyond the reach of the human mind.' 

 Such, of course, is the position of pure agnosticism. 



At the end of this paper, Mr. Aubrey Moore re- 

 marked that he agreed with all Mr. Alexander's argu- 

 ments, but disagreed with all his conclusions, and 

 that he disagreed with all Mr. Gildea's arguments 

 but agreed with his conclusions ; and as for Mr. 

 Eomanes, he could only leave him out, after the kind 

 and flattering terms in which he had spoken of the 

 essay in 'Lux Mundi.' At the end of his httle 

 speech he said aside to a friend, ' What a fellow 

 Eomanes is ! " Lux Mundi " has been out about three 

 weeks, and he knows all about it.' 



The friends are lying almost side by side in Holy- 

 well,^ and it is impossible not to feel that their deaths 

 have left places hard to fill. About Aubrey Moore, Mr. 

 Eomanes wrote some touching words in the ' Guar- 

 dian ' (he was never afraid to express his admiration, to 

 wear his heart upon his sleeve). The little notice has 

 now been reprinted with two others as a Preface to 

 the volume of Mr. Moore's Essays ' Science and the 

 Faith.' 



' The beautiful cemetery adjoining Holywell Church, Oxford. 



