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EEV. G. F. WHIDBOKNE^ M.A., F.G.S., ON 



to find its centre or centres — its foci — its " origin." Only thus 

 can its intricacy be reduced to order, and its properties be 

 understood. Even so, if we want to learn what nature means 

 and whence it comes, the first step must be to find its origin, to 

 get back to its real starting point, to get down to its very 

 centre. 



1. Only Actual Facts reliable as Evidence. 

 And for equipment for this search we must start with this 

 assumption — that the ascertained facts of Nature are true facts. 

 Appearances may be delusive ; things, which are only fancies, 

 may be mistaken for facts. But what we claim is, that, where 

 we do get down to actual fact, there we have so much that is 

 solid and reliable, and that must be counted by us as a self- 

 consistent truth, whatever its relation with other facts may 

 be. 



This opens to us at once a vast storehouse oF data for use in 

 our inquiry. All natural facts become available, and these are 

 innumerable, every sided, and infallible. Some are so simple 

 and intelligible that the smallest child can grasp them ; but 

 others are so abstruse, so inscrutable, so recondite, that the 

 attempts to understand them strain and overstrain the master- 

 minds of science. But of them all only this one thing must be 

 said — whatever data are used in such inquiries must be actual 

 facts — undoubted facts. We must ever be on our guard against 

 the fascinating temptation to read off facts from, theories, or to 

 take explanations as if they were as authoritative as the under- 

 lying facts, which they purport to explain. 



Another storehouse, indeed, is sometimes drawn upon for data 

 in such inquiries ; but it must at once be closed with a caution. 

 Imagination is not a good source for data. It may be most 

 useful in its province ; it may guide in the search for facts ; 

 but it must bear no part in their production. The not 

 infrequent sequence, " it may be, therefore it must be, 

 therefore it is," is very useful for arriving at preconceived 

 conclusions ; that is, for results, which are as secure as the 

 image that rested on feet of iron and clay. 



2. Siqjcrstitious use of Scientific Phrases. 

 Before proceeding farther it is well to clear the ground by 

 observing a common custom, or habit of expression, in science, 

 which, innocent enough or even helpful in itself, has yet often 

 led to dangerous, and sometimes little realized, confusion of 

 thoughts. Even for scientific students the Ten Conmiandments 



