106 The American Geologest. February, 1892 
the general methods of Tyndall. He came to the conclusion that 
when an infusion is completely sterilized and exposed only to 
sterilized air, no living organisms come into existence, even after 
the lapse of eight months, «and, hence, that the so-called. 
“spontaneous generation,’ or archeegenesis is purely imaginary. 
In 1877 was published a work entitled Reconciliation of Setence 
and Religion. It embodied the six lectures delivered before the 
Boston Theological School, the two Baccalaureate addresses deliv- 
ered at Syracuse, a paper entitled Some Thoughts on Causality, 
read before the Albany Institute, reviews of Dr. B. F. Cocker’s. 
two works, and the series of articles written for the Swaday School 
Journal, Nothing, in reality, was written specially for this vol- 
ume, but everything had been prepared originally for an ulterior 
use, and every investigation was tributary to the great work which 
was resting dormant, but not forgotten, on his hands. It was : 
volume of chips,” as Max Muller would say; but some of the 
investigations were fuller than he could with propriety introduce 
into his main work, and he thought the publication of them due 
both to himself and to those who had been awaiting the results of 
his studies. Toward the close of an extended review of this work 
the critic of the New York Tribune said: 
Without dwelling on other points discussed in this suggestive volume, 
We may venture to thank the author for an original and fruitful contri- 
bution to the questions which now engage the attention of so many of 
the profoundest thinkers ofthe day. This work is of a critical character, 
commenting freely on opinions and systems which have found a place 
in the history of philosophy; but it also presents the mature fruits of in- 
dependent research and reflection. It betrays an intimate acquaintance 
with the development of thought in the best ages of scientific culture; but 
its principles are not the result of sympathy and adoption. The author 
acknowledges no man as his master; he admits no conclusions which he 
has not made his own by processes of thought and study similar to those 
in which they had their origin. The materials which he has obtained by 
scholarly labors, have been thoroughly fused in his own mind, and are re- 
produced in forms which bear its image and superscription. He is. 
evidently embarrassed by the fertility of his conceptions. * * * The 
rare intellectual fairness which marks the volume is a feature of no less 
interest than the philosophical ability with which its discussions are 
conducted. 
The Northern Christian Advocate stated: 
We do not remember ever to have read a work which more impressed 
us. * * * Tt is a book for the believer and the doubter, for the student 
and the theologian. It is both comforting and disquieting. It solves 
