New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-01-12

graduating classes, until able to
comprehend any peculiar phase OF
mind almost by intuition. He had
discovered that the effect of Buffers
Analogy on some minds was to make
the student more atheistic than when
the study was commenced, and had
supplemented the book with series
of lectures of his own, which generally
had the desired effect of gaining the
object Butler had in view. But l was
not convinced. | told the doctor that
the argument did not appear conclu-
sive to me-that there was nothing in
the whole argument that proved the
existence of an intelligence akin to
mans intelligence-that l could not
perceive anything in nature which
combination of blind forces, cO-existent
with matter, could not effect-that
light, heat, moisture, and nutriment
caused plants to live and grow-that
there vas no intelligence in these
fOrces-that plants were propagated
according to well-known botanical
laws if the seed should fall in un-
favorable places they would not ger
inmate, and it seemed to be purely &C
cidental whether q seed was deposited
on favorable or unfavorable ground
if we had early warm weather in
spring, the buds would swell and the
trees blossom only to be destroyed by
the frost-that an intelligence akin to
mans would not permit such things !;
our intelligence would teach us that a
frost would kill the fruit-that animals
seemed to be governed by instinct,
which many times appeared very un-
worthy the thought or invention of an
intelligent creatOr-in fact, that all
nature seemed to be the result of blind
forces acting according to the laws of
matter. Two substances brought to-
gether would produce electricity two
substances having chemical affinity
would unite when brought together;
light, heat, electricity, gravitation,
and the powers of nature seemed to
make the world what it is-in other
words, not an intelligence but blind
forces made the world and what was in
it. The doctor heard me through pa
tiently, and said he would think over
my case and talk with me again.
On passing his study few days sub
sequently he called me in. He said he
had considered my state of mind, and
thong hit he could assist me in coming to
a conclusion-that there was some
plausibility in the argument l had
used in regard TO blind forces making
the universe-that he could conceive
how forces might aggregate matter,
and form stone, for instance, and so
perhaps OF many other material sub
stances; but, said he, turning alb
ruptly to me, do you believe that you
have mind, @ thinking principle, OF
whatever else you may call it, within
you! answered in the affirmative.
Well, can you conceive how q COM
binatiOn of blind forces could form or
produce mind, an active intelligence!
l hesitated q moment and replied no.
He left me to my reflections a few
minutes, and | comprehended the full
force of his question. He then pro-
ceeded. Does it not seem to you that
it requires an intelligence at least
equal to mans to form that of man
If there be such thing as mind in
man, does it not seem to be necessary
that a combination of forces equal at
least to it, should form it! He went
on-mind indicates a centre of CON
seriousness. A centre of consciousness
is neither more nor less than a being.
l listened in amazement. My conYic-
tons were settled.
Fred. Mine are settled, too, uncle.
l thank you, and feel more grateful
than l can express.-Methodist Home
Journal.