1G5 
Professor Kirk.— The power of self-movement when you think of it poten- 
tially, and self-movement when you think of it actually. I merely say this 
to show that it is in a great measure about the meaning of a word on which 
we shall be occupied if we enter into a discussion on that point. The same 
with regard to the word “ mind.” I hesitate to use, or to ask others to use, 
the word “ mind ” as expressive of that entity in which the faculty of seif-move- 
ment exists, just because we are so accustomed to use the word “ mind ” in 
another sense. I should hesitate to use the word “ spirit ” in that way, 
because we are accustomed to it in a more limited sense. Yet we know that 
in the Scriptures the word “spirit” is used to describe that which is gene- 
rally described by us by the mere negative term “ immaterial,” which says 
nothing, but merely expresses a negative condition. 
Mr. Row. — Would not the word “ soul ” suit you ? 
Professor Kirk. — That is in the same position, as being used for the im- 
mortal spirit of man which God implanted. But in my paper I felt the 
necessity of leaving every one to use his own word, which should mean some- 
thing quite different from matter, only which should be as real as matter, at 
least in having the faculty of self-movement. There are some of the points 
to which Mr. Brooke alluded on which perhaps I might have made one or 
two remarks, but still they seemed to me to have grouped themselves under 
this head, that they convinced me that if I had had the paper to write over 
again, and plenty of time to write it and to re-write it, I should be able 
perhaps to bring it into a form in which it would be less accessible to the 
hostile criticism of those who oppose my view. Mr. Reddie has said that for 
the first time I have to-night been able to give you a short paper. I am 
afraid I made a virtue of necessity in writing a short paper, and, indeed, too 
hurried a paper j but I am very glad that, so far as my efforts have gone, you 
are agreed as to the validity of the great conclusion. (Cheers.) It is a con- 
clusion which leads us to have before our minds the real world of spirit, as 
truly as we have before our minds the real — I may even say with Mr. Reddie, 
the less real, world of matter. (Cheers.) 
The meeting was then adjourned. 
