ADDRESS BY LORD HALSBURY^ P.C. 



19 



see involved the eternity, the omniscience, the omnipresence 

 of the Divine Being. 



What relation has the scalpel or the microscope to such 

 conceptions, or what experimental research is here applicable? 

 Sm-ely the very thought is as philosophically inappropriate 

 as it is profane in its bare suggestion. 



AVe have been boldly assured within the last year or two 

 that we have all lost our faith. 



I do not know what mandate Mr. Porter received, and 

 who are supposed to be represented by " all," but I do not 

 believe that it is true. 



The Rock of that faith has received an assurance which 

 will not let us doubt that that faith will long survive the 

 cavils of each succeeding wave of imbelief. 



Not for the first time in the history of Christendom heresies 

 have for a time seemed to prevail. 



A period of great intellectual activity will naturally give 

 rise to many varieties of thought, the iiimia suhtilitas of some 

 intellects may again, as they did in the earlier ages of the 

 Church, refine very plain statement into meaningless 

 mysticism, but now, as then, we may look for help where 

 help may be found. 



The darkness of one period may be but the precursor of a 

 brighter dawn to succeed. 



These oscillations will probably continue to the end. 



Then, and not till then, will the darkness be dissipated, 

 and when the true and everlasting light shall shine, we 

 shall know even as we are known. Here and now we see, 

 and can only see in a glass darkly or in a riddle, but then 

 face to face. 



