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REV. S. B. MCCORMICK, D.D., ON 



Now I think the greatest compliment that one can pay such a 

 paper as we have listened to is to give it careful consideration and 

 well-weighed criticism. I will not therefore further apologise for 

 asking for some fuller justification of the existence of a "law " of 

 this kind than the statement that it exists. The author tells us that 

 it is only in such a country as the United States of America that it is 

 possible to observe and carefully study this law. Further, since his 

 historical summary shows us that until 1880 the nation was fairly 

 homogeneous, it is only during the last thirty-four years, and chiefly 

 during the latter part of that period, that any circumstances can 

 have arisen that could test the enduring validity of the law laid 

 down. Stated in this way the " law " described looks rather 

 dangerously like a wide generalisation from a single instance. ISo 

 doubt the Chancellor will be able to show that this is not really the 

 case. 



The author speaks of the conflict between the intense and domi- 

 nant individualism of the past in the United States and the impact 

 of the social idea of nationality. We, too, are in the midst of that 

 struggle, and it is encouraging to learn that the final result is not in 

 doubt and to gather that that final result will be the cessation of 

 all class and racial hatred and the final extinction of war. It is not 

 wonderful that the author should identify the nation in which all 

 this has taken place with — The Kingdom of God. It is a magnificent 

 and alluring ideal. Let us hope with the author that it is certain 

 to be realised. 



I have spoken of the wide sweep of the paper and the multitude 

 of questions discussed in it. Not the least interesting is the 

 author's description and forecast of the future of religious thought 

 in the United States, in which the spirit of democracy together with 

 scientific method is to result in the purifying and socialising of the 

 faith of to-day. However tempting this theme may be I must not 

 occupy more of the time left for discussion. Doubtless other 

 speakers will take this point into consideration. 



Lieut.-Col. Alves noted that the lecturer had omitted to consider 

 the eff'ect of the Indian, Negro and Oriental elements on the popula- 

 tion of the United States. In England this was an easy-chair 

 problem ; in the States it was serious and very actual. He thought 

 that the lecturer's first law held good, as the original settlers were 

 of the Anglo-Saxon race, which alone showed real genius for self- 



