207 
Let me beg of you not to allow the mind to be diverted by 
fanciful comparisons and asserted resemblances of tbe living 
to the non-living^ from the careful consideration of the real 
differences between that which is alive and that which is not 
alive. This question of difference or resemblance between 
vital and physical will be found to underlie some of the most 
important speculations of our time,, and I cannot too earnestly 
draw your attention to the very great importance of insisting 
that the facts and arguments advanced by materialists should 
be clearly stated so that they may be thoroughly sifted^ and 
fairly discussed, instead of vague assertions in favour of wide 
generalisations being accepted without examination or inquiry. 
If examined, not a few of the conclusions will, I am sure, be 
dissipated at once, for they will not stand the test of careful 
analytical exposition. 
It is not to the credit of the science, or the philosophy, or 
even the common-sense of our day, that broad and far-reaching 
doctrines of the kind alluded to, and which involve inferences 
of transcendent consequence concerning the present, past, and 
fature of all things, should be accepted without examination, 
taught far and wide even to babes, and presented in a clever 
and inviting guise, and made to appear as if they were actual 
and generally received truths, to be accepted by all who wisb 
to be considered to be progressing with the times, while in 
reality the doctrines in question are mere conjectural opinions 
founded on vague and insufficient data, with nothing whatever 
to recommend them save authoritative assertion. Such doc- 
trines would have little chance, were it not for love of extrava- 
gant novelty and the decline of thought. 
It must, I think, be admitted that in science, as well as in 
some other departments of human endeavour, there is at this 
time far less freedom of thought as well as of discussion than 
is necessary for intellectual progress. Real advance is in these 
days too often thwarted by cliques and caucuses whose chief 
business it seems to be to manufacture public opinion,'’"’ to 
create tendencies of though t,^^ and thus prevent, or render 
nugatory, the intelligent examination and criticism of the 
doctrines established and spread. Besides this, the prejudices 
of the unlearned are sometimes flattered, and the applause and 
indolent acquiescence of mere numbers eagerly sought for. 
Many of those who support materialistic doctrines, are too 
lazy to think over the principles upon which the doctrines 
they are persuaded to accept are based, nor are they able to 
estimate the consequences which the general adoption of such 
speculations would involve. The exercise of a sort of terror- 
ism has led to people being frightened into a sort of confession 
