160 
given tis the benefit of their experience and wisdom. Probably the 
third chapter of the book is the best. There we have brought before us, in 
a most interesting and clear way, the' fact that energy is an objective reality, 
existing in this visible universe ; that it does not, although invisible, 
belong of necessity to the invisible universe. Energy is said to be contained 
in matter as its vehicle : matter, then, being the vehicle of energy, is de- 
clared to be both potential and kinetic, and there is a third form in which 
it is called heat. These facts however are put together so as to leave out 
entirely the idea of the origin of force ; and it would not be too much to say 
that the existence of force is practially denied in the third chapter of this 
book ; and I do not suppose the writers of the book would question this. 
Of course it is a subject of the most intense importance, and I did 
intend to have prepared something fit for you to listen to upon this subject 
to-night, but I have already stated why, during the last few days, this has 
been impossible. I think it would best become me now to thank you 
for giving so much attention to my paper, and to assure you that it still 
shall have all the care I can give it to make it worthy of this Institute ; 
and when you receive it in your own homes, I hope you will study it with the 
knowledge that it has the approval of the writers of “ The Unseen Universe,” 
in so far that there is nothing in it misrepresenting the sentiments given in 
their book. The point I shall elaborate more fully is that which I have just 
glanced at— the doctrine of force. Allow me to point out one instance in 
which I have made a mistake, at all events in my judgment, of Professor 
Tait. I have said in sec. 66,— “Our authors’ half-avowed primary con- 
ception of a miracle really seems to be, that it is on purely physical prin- 
ciples a breach of continuity.” The word “ conception ” ought to have been 
in italics ; what I meant was that it was the latent conception. Although 
they believed that the cause of a miracle was in the unseen universe, the 
force coming from without, yet in their idea it was the same kind of in- 
terruption which is assumed by almost all the modern writers on miracles ; 
namely, that a miracle is something unaccountable on the ground of natural 
law. I think the writers would say, if they read the whole passage, that 
it is a full representation of the conception which underlies their whole 
treatment of the question of miracles ; but if they prefer that I should ex- 
press it differently, it shall certainly be done. I have to thank you very 
much for your attention. (Hear, hear.) 
Rev. T. M. Gorman. — * 
The Chairman. — I have only one or two words to say. I think that all 
present must be glad that this discussion has taken place. The impression 
* This speakers remarks have not been returned to me ; they were to the 
effect that in three instances at least, the authors of “The Unseen Universe,” 
having relied upon a work by one of his biographers, had been betrayed 
into imputing views to Swedenborg, which were not to be found in his own 
writings. — E d. 
