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phenomena^ either of sentiency or intellect. The attempt to 
reform the hypothesis so as to supply at the beginning a 
cause adequate to all that is finally developed in the result, 
can only end in that very supposition of a Divine Oiiginal 
which Materialism repudiates. Nothing less than God can 
be the adequate cause of Man. It has, indeed, latterly been 
attempted to evade this conclusion in a strange way. To 
secure the sufficiency of a mechanic force as the origin of 
things, Man, as the supreme effect, is degraded to the level of 
an automaton. There is a sort of consistency in thus com- 
pletely banishing mind from the universe ; yet it is strange 
to think of the trouble these acute intellects are taking to 
persuade us that we and they alike are mere magnetic 
mockeries, — the ephemeral result of unstable combinations of 
matter. By first giving the lie to our perceptive constitution, 
and then inviting us to confide in suicidal conclusions founded 
upon data furnished by this discredited witness, they involve 
themselves in a tissue of contradictions, and we may safely 
leave their refutation to the common sense of mankind. 
The secret sources of disbelief, as of belief, often lie beyond 
the reach of logic, deep in men^s character and history. What 
appears to me convincing argument may find no way to the 
recesses of another's mind, may fail to break through the 
crust of inveterate mental habit, or prove futile in presence 
of deficiencies which are organic. Yet I hope that to few, 
to whom the argument may not have been familiar, and who 
may have been drawn in what seems to me the wrong 
direction by prevailing tendencies, I may, perhaps, have 
succeeded in showing that the difficulties of the question are 
in reality enormous ; and that it is at least utterly unwise to 
draw from Materialistic premises conclusions which are 
repugnant to practical good sense, or, what is still worse, 
which seem to liberate us from obligations hitherto deemed 
sacred. 
The Chairman tendered the thanks of the meeting to Mr. Justice 
Richmond, and to Mr. David Howard, V.P.I.C., and then read the follow- 
ing communication from the Rev. Canon Saumarez Smith, D.D., Principal of 
St. Aidants College ; — 
Birkenhead, March 30. 
Sir, 
Mr. Richmond’s paper seems to me to be an admirable one in tone, 
in style, in argument. He is careful to avoid all personal censoriousness, 
whilst he plainly condemns Materialism, and shows it to be an inadequate 
