96 



WALTER AUBREY KIDD, M.D.^ M.R.C.S., i!\Z.S._, ON 



What are the characters which distinguish Keligion and 

 Science from one another ? 



1. Science deals mainly with phenomena which are open to 



the senses of man. Eeligion with spiritual and moral 

 phenomena. 



2. Science proceeds by inductive methods and by experiment 



when it is possible. Eeligion makes no experiments 

 with definitely arranged conditions, but observes the 

 undesigned experiments in the sphere of moral law. 



3. Science postulates, without attempting to prove, the 



universal uniformity of Nature, whereas Eeligion claims 

 two exceptions, the Divine will and the human will. 



When these few characters, which join, and the fewer still 

 which divide Eeligion and Science, are looked at, it is difficult 

 to see where at the present time serious disagreement can 

 arise. 



Is Science Bankrupt ? 



There are certain preliminaries which must always be 

 observed by individuals or nations, formerly unknown to one 

 another or estranged, if any partnership, treaty, or common 

 undertaking is to last. From the time of the ill-fated and 

 hasty compact between the Israelites and the Gibeonites, 

 history is full of the dangers which arise from a failure to base 

 friendship, treaty, or co-operation upon sound lines. This 

 remark applies with special force to the modern reconciliation 

 between Eelioion and Science and their drawino- together for 

 practical purposes in the betterment of man. Eeligion as the 

 older of the two friends is entitled to ask of her younger 

 auxiliary before anything in the nature of a partnership be 

 entered upon — " Is Science bankrupt " ? We need hardly apolo- 

 gise for the form of this question. It cannot be imagined that 

 the great house of Eolhschild would propose to take into equal 

 partnership a younger, great, energetic, and wealthy banking 

 firm without the most searching inquiries. Indeed the question 

 has been asked in this very form for some years in France * 

 and elsewhere, and that in no spirit of impertinence or 

 condescension. Eelic^ion as a business concerned with the 

 whole welfare of mankind, and especially with the highest part 

 of man, is entitled to ask this question, " Is Science bankrupt" ? 

 Has Science outstanding liabilities to the world in which she 



* Revue des deux Mondes, tome cxxvii, 1895, p 98. 



