139 
vidual a feeling of unity with, all the rest; which, if perfect, 
would make him never think of, or desire, any beneficial con- 
dition for himself, in the benefits of which they are not included. 
If we now suppose this feeling of unity to he taught as a refo- 
qion, and the whole force of education, of institutions, and of 
opinion, directed, as it once was in the case of religion, to 
make every person grow up from infancy surrounded ^ on all 
sides both by the profession and practice of it, I think that no 
one who can realize this conception will feel any misgiving 
about the sufficiency of the ultimate sanction for the Happi- 
ness morality.” I really know not what to call this kind of 
thing. We know what plagiarism is, and literary piracy. But 
what name can we give to a “ moral” system that seizes upon 
the grand distinctive principle and peculiar characteristic of 
Christianity, and puts it forth as a new thing, to be “ now 
taught as a religion,” in order to prove the sufficiency “ of the 
Happiness morality/' which goes by the name of Utilitarian- 
ism ! What follows is, if possible, yet more startling “ To 
any ethical student who finds the realization difficult, I recom- 
mend, as a means of facilitating it, the second of M. Comte's 
two principal works, the Traite de Politique Positive. . I enter- 
tain the strongest objections to the system of politics and 
morals set forth in that treatise ; but I think it has super- 
abundantly shown the possibility of giving to the service of 
humanity, even without the aid of hehef in a Providence, . both 
the psychological power and the social efficacy of a religion, 
making it take hold of human life, and colour all thought, 
feeling, and action, in a manner of which the greatest ascend- 
ancy ever exercised by any religion may be but a type and 
foretaste, and of which the danger is, not that it should be in- 
sufficient, but that it should be so excessive as to interfere un- 
duly with human freedom and individuality." 
I need not comment upon this. I can, however, fully agree 
with Mr. Mill as to the probable effect of “ a religion " that 
dispenses with a God! When, also, any system full of “contra- 
dictions, fallacies, and insufficiently-proved conclusions," 
comes to be credulously accepted by men, their real freedom 
and individuality must not only be unduly interfered with and 
ultimately perish; but in my opinion they must already have 
become mental slaves, and have ceased to be independent 
thinkers. 
Rev. Dr. Thornton. — I shall take the liberty of offering a few remarks upon 
the paper of Mr. Reddie ; not that I presume to add anything of my own, 
but as a mere appendix, I think one may be able to say something which 
may confirm those conclusions to which he has come, to the satisfaction 
