Preface 



I WISH to record that the thoughts and ideas ex- 

 pressed in this work owe their origin largely to 

 the stimulation and encouragement received through 

 association with the fine intellectual vigour and acumen 

 of the minds of the Shakespeare Club of Melrose (where 

 I practised for many years the profession of medicine) 

 from the year of its origin in 1884-85 until I ceased 

 active membership in 191 2. It is not intended to 

 convey the impression that all the members did or 

 do agree with the general trend of this book, or with 

 individual expressions of opinion contained in it. What 

 I do wish to convey is that but for association with 

 such minds it would never have been possible for 

 me to produce this volume, and that if there is 

 any merit in it I desire to express my grateful thanks 

 to one and all of the members past and present. 

 I desire to thank especially the Rev. John L. King, 

 m.a., for a long time the able Secretary, for his views 

 on " good and evil," " punishment," and " im- 

 prisonment." 



My indebtedness to Paulin is apparent throughout. 

 His masterly attack on the Darwinian hypothesis 

 7 



