42 
MODERN C HEM ICO-PHYSICAL THEORIES. 
the dead were separate and distinct. Having established 
this much, the lecturer then showed that there was not a 
living thing which did not contain the simple element of life. 
Protoplasm and the protoplasmic spherule or germ from 
which ultimately the simple sponge was evolved, differed 
in no way at present perceptible to the senses from that 
which constituted the germ of man. He then entered fully 
into the characteristics and properties of protoplasm, and 
the manner in which the organism and structure of life was 
built up from it, and then asked whether, when they knew 
and could realise that men and animals and all their organs 
and structures resulted entirely from a series of changes seen 
to commence in simple portions of matter, too minute to 
be weighed, could they still refer such results to the modern 
tendencies of thought? He believed they would not, but 
that they must see that unintelligent matter and unintelligent 
force could not by any possibility create and bring about 
such marvels. 
What, he would ask, gave to man a capacity to investigate 
the laws of matter and mould it to his will ? What pro¬ 
duced the discursive power of fancy, the corrective principle 
of reason, the ruling and judging power of understanding, 
the impulsive power of will, and that wonderful capacity of 
discernment? What called forth consciousness? Modern 
philosophy answered “ Matter and force/’ But how could 
blind unintelligent matter impart a property it never pos¬ 
sessed ? Whence could reason or intelligence proceed 
without the pre-existence of intelligence to impart it ? Che¬ 
mical and physical force can do much, but in themselves 
cannot create life. No, they must look upward to Him, "in 
whom we live and move and have our being.” 
The lecture was frequently applauded, and at the close the 
Chairman expressed the pleasure he had enjoyed, feeling sure 
he might say the same on behalf of the audience ; all present 
would look forward with interest to the second lecture to be 
given that day fortnight.—After some remarks from Mr. 
Johnson and Dr. Eyton-Jones, the proceedings closed.— 
Wrexham Advertiser . 
