190 Original Articles. [April, 



the only one that strictly relates to Science, No. 12, is literally 

 correct. Who will deny it to be an " error " that " the decrees of the 

 Apostolic See, and of the Koman congregations, fetter the free pro- 

 gress of Science ? " Whatever they may have been two hundred years 

 since, such "decrees" are innocent enough at present; and what is 

 more, Catholics themselves who care about Science at all, are really 

 more liberal in their views than many who profess to belong to a more 

 tolerant faith. But whilst a few designing persons, or those sincere 

 but unreflecting men who constitute the extremes of religious and 

 political denominations, may applaud attacks upon Science, or sanction 

 the attempt to cast stumbling-blocks in her way, the more moderate 

 members of every section of the community, Protestants and 

 Catholics, Liberals and Conservatives, all, indeed, whose support and 

 approbation are likely to benefit scientific movements, will not fail to 

 deprecate such an attitude on the part of the uninformed, and to share 

 with scientific men their contempt of these unmeaning explosions of 

 noisy ignorance. It is almost needless to say that the real tendencies 

 of the age are towards unfettered thought, free inquiry, and an open 

 opposition to priestly or clerical interference in scientific or secular 

 affairs. 



But it is not enough that we should point the finger of scorn at 

 those who deride the exertions of scientific men, or that we should pro- 

 test against the injustice of their assailants ; it behoves us to inquire 

 whether these attacks and sneers are justified by any apathy or indis- 

 cretion on the part of scientific investigators and professors. Are 

 they performing their part in the great work of civilization ? Do 

 scientific tenets deserve to be branded as atheistical ? (for that is the 

 concealed inference intended to be conveyed by most of those who 

 protest against modern theories). Are inquiries into the operations 

 of natural forces calculated to elevate or to degrade the human mind ? 

 These are the interrogatories which scientific men should put to them- 

 selves, and they are the topics we now propose briefly to consider. 



In regard to the first inquiry, it will be found that here, as in 

 every other human pursuit, the fields before us are so immense, when 

 compared with the plot over which we have passed, that the zealous 

 practical philosopher cannot help feeling how slow is his progress and 

 how great are his shortcomings. Of this truth we will adduce one or 

 two illustrations. 



It is but as yesterday that the streets of our great cities were 

 illuminated at night by dismal oil lamps, few and far between, whose 

 feeble light served the ends of the footpad, but afforded little aid to 

 passengers or to the guardians of the night. Now there is gas and 

 petroleum, and we shall probably be told that the world will shortly 

 be favoured with the magnesium and electric lights for all purposes of 

 illumination, and that we shall then have no more cause to dread the 

 darkest night than the broad light of day. It is impossible to deny that, 

 theoretically, great strides have been made in the art or science of illu- 

 mination, and we should be deeply grateful to the students of physical 

 science for the additional light that has been afforded to us, more 

 especially for the promised improvement in the character of those 



