336 
life, while the individual vitality of the muscles yet re- 
mains ; but that is the narrow limit of his power. The 
preceding is a good illustration of the inconclusive and un- 
satisfactory nature of arguments of this sort, and of the 
readiness with which they may be met if fairly investigated. 
The general tendency of the argument of materialism may 
be summed up thus : if we can have any kind of spontaneous 
generation, — any spontaneous production of a living being, 
whether plant or animal, — then by a succession of changes and 
by what is called in the Darwinian theory the principle of 
selection, by degrees we shall get a higher organization, and 
then a higher still, until we arrive at the highest forms of life. 
And that is tantamount to saying that we depose the Creator 
from His throne, and set up the thing created in His place. 
I think I have said enough to show that all the results of 
modern scientific investigation, and the facts with which we 
are acquainted, render it necessary that we should ascend from 
effect to cause. We must necessarily ascend from existing 
individuals and existing causes to the Great First Cause, 
whom we must assume to be independent of matter and of 
material existence. (Cheers.) 
Eev. W. Mitchell. — I beg to move a vote of thanks to Mr. Brooke for 
his valuable address, and to express a hope that he will follow up the subject 
at some future time, by giving us a paper on the distinctions existing 
between organic and inorganic structures — an important subject, on which 
Mr. Brooke would no doubt be able to throw a good deal of light. Chemists 
had lately been boasting that they could produce organic matter ; but though 
they might be able to unite carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, &c., in 
certain proportions, so as to resemble certain organic substances, the result, 
after all, was only dead matter, for the chemist was not able to impart to 
it the vivifying principle. Mr. Brooke had referred to some of the wonders 
of crystallization. There was, no doubt, an apparent analogy between certain 
crystalline forms and certain ferns, and it had been assumed that those 
ferns were produced in a similar manner to the crystals ; but there was no 
real analogy. In the crystalline formations obeying the crystallographic 
laws of inorganic matter, there was not one particle of organic structure. 
It would be better if philosophers would remember that their highest office 
was to convey to others the wisdom which they saw manifested around them in 
God’s works, and exhibited as much in the inorganic as in the organic world. 
The crystal was as wonderful in its place, and as evidently the work of God, 
as was man himself. 
Mr. Reddie (who entered the room at the close of Mr. Brooke’s address) 
briefly seconded the motion, which was carried by acclamation. 
Mr. Brooke having acknowledged the compliment, the proceedings 
terminated. 
