122 
The Chairman (Rev. R. Thornton, D.D., V.P.). — It seems unnecessary to 
ask the meeting to allow me to tender their thanks for the exceedingly able 
and interesting paper which has just been read. (Applause.) I hope we shall 
now have a good discussion upon the subject.* 
Rev. Prebendary Row, M.A. — The difficulty I feel in dealing with the 
paper before us is, that I do not think it contains five lines as to which 
I have to express disapprobation. In fact, I cordially hail this paper as one 
of the best I have ever seen ; and so strong is my opinion of its excellence, 
that I would certainly recommend the Council of the Institute, if they do 
this year publish a People’s Edition, to take care that it shall contain this 
identical paper. The reason why I recommend such a course is this : I was 
talking last Saturday with my publisher, who is acquainted with Mr. Herbert 
Spencer, and he told me, to my great surprise, that among the artisan class 
there is a considerable circulation of Mr. Spencer’s works. I was the more sur- 
prised to hear this when I remembered that Mr. Spencer’s books are full of 
hard words and technical phrases ; and I should not have thought that they 
were likely to be read by men of the class referred to. Of course, I cannot 
gainsay what I was told, but there seems to be little doubt that such works 
are the main cause of the unbelief which exists at the present moment in 
this country. There is no doubt that an unbelief founded on his system 
has obtained possession of the minds of large numbers of the upper classes ; 
and the inferior minds readily accept the doctrines put before them, not 
so much because they are able to understand the principles on which they 
are based, as because they follow the example set them by their superiors. 
(Hear, hear.) I think I may say that there are no books now published which 
are doing more mischief to the cause of religion than the books of Mr. H. 
Spencer. (Hear, hear.) This is the more remarkable because, I think that, 
although the books themselves are large, they do not require a very large 
amount of reasoning and argument to crumble their conclusions to the dust. 
There are a great many books that necessarily require large books to 
answer them ; but Mr. Spencer can be effectually answered without the 
necessity of writing a thick volume. I may say, with regard to what Mr. Lias 
has put forward relative to Dean Mansel’s work, that I cordially endorse what 
he says. I was acquamted with Dean Mansel, yet cannot but feel that 
his work has been attended by most serious consequences to the cause of 
religious truth, although it was undoubtedly published with the intention 
of defending truth. This is a most remarkable fact. Dean Mansel, doubtless, 
thought that he could use the weapons of unbelief in order to crush unbelief, 
but he forgot that, in using a weapon of this kind, it could be wielded 
with equal effect against Revelation as against Atheism. I admit that 
Herbert Spencer does not deny, abstractedly, the existence of a being which 
* Previously to the commencement of the discussion the Hon. Secretary read 
several letters from leading members expressing approval of the paper, and 
trusting it will be widely useful. Amongst those since received is one from 
Bishop Harold Browne, saying, “ I think it very able and good,” and adding 
the expression of his wish to become a supporter of the Institute. — Ed. 
