153 
not seem perfectly clear, and on which I think that all of us might profitably 
receive another word or two of counsel. It was partially with reference to 
prayer being opposed to the theory of Professor Tyndall, and to a fact which 
he is alleged to have ignored. The fact referred to was that David prayed, 
that all men have prayed, that we pray, and that in all time prayer has been 
an aspiration of the human heart, and it was said that these facts kicked 
against Professor Tyndall’s theory, and that he had consequently ignored 
them. I have read the “ Fragments of Science ” pretty assiduously, and 
have arrived at much the same convictions and conclusions as those 
announced by the lecturer ; but I do not remember that in any part of those 
“Fragments” Professor Tyndall either kicks against or ignores the facts 
alluded to by the lecturer. It is not that Professor Tyndall has disbelieved, 
or disallowed, or ignored the fact that men have prayed in all time ; but 
that he disbelieves and ignores the statement of fact that those prayers -have 
been answered. As far as I have understood Professor Tyndall, he has 
looked upon those who have prayed as persons who have prayed in vain, — 
as having been engaged in idle effort, so far as practical results are con- 
cerned. I should like to hear whether I am mistaken upon this point, or 
whether it is that there are some other facts in connection with prayer which 
Professor Tyndall may be rightly said to have ignored or disallowed. 
Rev. J. Manners. — Some time ago, when the British Association met 
at Norwich, Professor Tyndall gave a very interesting address in his 
section, and alluded to crystallization, showing that there must be an 
external intelligence by which crystals were formed. I stated to him 
at the time that I thought all true science, dealing with causes and origin, 
had its basis in the spiritual, just as Egypt had its place in history ; and to 
this Professor Tyndall seemed to assent most heartily. He stated that there 
was a great deal to be said upon the subject, but there were certain phe- 
nomena which he did not understand, but was convinced that there was a 
power or a principle which must be the causa causarum of those phenomena. 
I also gathered from the conversation I had with him that his mind w T as 
open to conviction, or rather it was open to inquiry, really, truly, and 
honestly, into the various causes of the phenomena, apart from what we 
ordinarily term mere materialism. For instance, I said, in reference to the 
formation of crystals — “ These little particles do not arrange themselves of 
their own accord : there must be an intelligence, not in themselves, per se, 
but belonging to some superior power, which causes them to move or to be 
brought into certain conditions.” I have not read his book, and do not know 
what he has stated with regard to prayer, and am not here as an apologist 
for him, but I do feel that if we rightly understood each other, and if 
he were here this evening, he might be able to show that his views of true 
science, and the cause of certain manifestations, would be in harmony and not 
in any sense discordant with the truth of the Holy Scriptures. I may just 
say another word ; I think that if people would only be content to wait a 
little, and deal with phenomena as such, and with facts as facts, it would be 
much better. I once asked a gentleman of high scientific attainments and 
VOL. VII. M 
