301 
which their predecessors in the faith have previously taught 
the world, and that not merely by precept and profession, but 
also in their persons by example, as confessors and martyrs for 
truth. Even if it be urged that there has sometimes been an 
unworthy exception, it may also be replied, there has been a 
glorious self-revenge, — as, for instance, in the case of Arch- 
bishop Cranmer, who thrust into the fire the hand that had 
signed a temporary recantation of what he had been persuaded 
was true. All men must admire such a spirit of self-immola- 
tion, whether holding Cranmer’s opinions or not. On the 
scientific side, I must say, I neither know of such an “ army 
of martyrs,” nor of any such penitent heroism. Galileo, who 
is perhaps the most popular of the “ martyrs of science,” pre- 
ferred “tolie” rather than to suffer or to die; and — unfortunately 
for his reputation — he preferred “to lie” most consciously, by 
profession and act and deed, for he did it the very moment 
before he meanly whispered to his friend, his notorious E pur 
si muove ! On the other hand, Copernicus, who never thus 
disgraced himself, was an ecclesiastic ; and his great work 
which propounded what he considered to be the truth relating 
to the universe, was, after he had suffered much on account of 
his opinions, and after he had been satirized upon the stage, 
actually given to the world at the instigation, and by the 
encouragement, of a cardinal of the Church of Rome. 
But, in truth, to die for one’s convictions, when that dire 
issue is forced upon men in the face of their fellow-men and 
before the world, is not the rarest of virtues ; but whatever 
be its value, it is one of which “ men of science ” have had 
little or no experience. In this country absolutely none. 
There have been minor persecutions, no doubt, for the sake 
of science. I know those who have suffered them in England, 
even in these enlightened days ; but they have not, so far 
as I remember, been encountered by the recognized pro- 
fessors of science. Davy, in his early days, and when 
opposing some scientific doctrines, was considered “ a very 
troublesome fellow,” and snubbed ; not by the general public, 
however, or even by the clergy, but by a “ professor ” of 
chemistry. 
I must not omit to notice here the once despised philo- 
sopher Socrates, a genuine martyr for truth and for freedom 
of thought. And who were his persecutors ? The professors 
of his day, who pretended to know everything, and went 
about giving lectures and teaching for profit their deleterious 
sophisms. I trust such a state of things is not in store for us ! 
Should it come, be assured we shall want our Socrates 
Redivivus ! 
