15 
perhaps only some races are in that condition. Sir John very 
sensibly questions some of the modem testimony on this sub- 
ject (and I may observe all the ancient testimony is the other 
way*) ; but then, why first cite it as testimony ? He frankly 
lets out, however, how he feels the evidence ouqht to go ! for 
he adds : — 
“ Yet I feel it difficult to believe that any people, which once possessed 
a religion, would ever entirely lose it.” 
All religions, it is to be observed, are here merely put on a 
level ; and he continues : — 
“ Religion appeals so strongly to the hopes and fears of men, it takes so 
deep a hold on most minds, it is so great a consolation in times of sorrow 
and sickness, that I can hardly think any nation would ever abandon it 
altogether. Moreover, it produces a race of men who are interested in 
maintaining its influence and authority. Where, therefore, we find a race 
which is now ignorant of religion, I cannot but assume that it has always 
been so.” 
I have not time upon this occasion to argue against this 
astounding assumption. I believe it will be felt to be contrary 
to the experience of all who hear me, even as regards true reli- 
gion, whether respecting themselves, their children, or their 
less-instructed neighbours. If Sir John Lubbock's experience is 
otherwise, and as he argues, he is certainly to be envied, unless he 
is under some strange delusion. He does not seem even to 
know of a “ party 33 in our day who are eager to exclude the 
teaching of religion from the rising generation. 
24. But I must ask, Are all religions alike ? Do corrupt 
religions afford “ consolation in times of sorrow and sickness 33 ? 
Do they appeal “ to the hopes of men 33 ? And do all even who 
have been taught Christian doctrine, which does all this, desire 
to maintain it? Has Sir John Lubbock not heard of M. 
Comte, and the u Positive Philosophy 33 ? Here, in this Institute, 
we have heard Mr. Austin Holyoake declare that he was taught 
Christianity by a pious Calvinistic mother. He is now an 
Atheist. Were he and his brother and Mr. Bradlaugh to 
migrate to some unoccupied region, would they not endeavour 
to abandon all teaching of religion ? And what of its abandon- 
ment through sheer ignorance ? What was discovered by 
Parliamentary inquiry about thirty years ago in our mining 
districts? What, in short, is in every man’s experience round 
about, who studies his fellow-men ? Does it justify Sir John 
Lubbock’s assumption, or utterly refute it ? I am sure I need 
* Tide Cicero, De Nat. Deor i. 23 j and Plutarch, Adv. Colot., in loc. 
