The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-02-23

ment of the interior will not be less OBJ
vioue. But the effect of huge bastile
will be relieved. A large amount of
beautiful arabesque work in stone has
been added to the stairways since we
last looked the building over. On the
scale on which the ornamentation is pro-
ceediug, we should guess that the Com
missioners guess will prove to have been
wide of the mark And the great tower
is yet invisible.
The appendix to Prof. Dolbear's ad-
dress states explicitly what the address
contained implicitly. 1t makes little
clearer, perhaps, that the professor gets
his physics from his metaphysics. APP
parently he thinks that he derives his the
ory OF mind and matter from observation
of their phenomena. On the contrary,
we should sa, that he obtains their phe-
nomena by an q pTiOri process, from his
theory. We do not complain of this it
is what all the philosophers and theo-
logians have done. But Prof. Dolbear
should get rid of the delusion that his
method is different. He may know more
about the phenomena of matter than
some other spectators; but it is not his
knowledge that affects his theory; it is
his theory that colors his knowledge.
Prof Dolbear tells us that physic-
lists and biologists now hold that life be-
longs to atoms in degree as much as to
any com ,inations of them, ''else we are
getting out of our mechanism what is
not in it," We take his word for what
the physicists and biologists hold. But
if they so hold, for the reason given. it
is plain that this conclusion is compelled
by this theory The point at issue is,
what is in the mechanism" and how
did it get there? To say that whatever
appears is a property of the atom, is to
replace assumption by assumption. 1t
may be so; but no one can know it. The
fact that physicist or biologist holds
to an "unfathomed mystery" renders it
no more probable than when held to by a
philosopher or a theologian. In either
case it is not science but faith. But
when he adds. that psychologists have
concluded that mind and matter are not
two different somewhats, but are funda-
mentally IDENTICAL we inquire, what
psychologists? A few SO conclude" but
many more hold that matter and mind
are fundamentally different.
From intimations given out else
where we had coniectured that Prof
Dolbear might hold the opinion that
there is but one ultimate reality-spirit.
This, sort of "monism" seems to us
natural. if not inevitable goal of thinking.
1t is encumbered with serious obstacles,
to be sure. But so are all conclusions
on this deep and mysterious subject.
This, like all others, is not matter of
knowledge, but may be res ting place
of reasonable faith. Perhaps, after all
this is the underlying assumption in the
professors scheme. Ii so it would make
Ineligible some of his othel wise dark
sayings.
We improved the enforced leisure
of recent prolonged by Sc
rious blockade-to read Mr.. Hamiltons
little book of lectures on "The Church
and Secular Life" We found the book
fresh and interesting. as books that have
a real motive usually are. The thought
is vital and vigorous throughout. and
the diction is generally clear and strong.
At most points we found ourselves in
agreement with the lecturer. The first
lecture is least satisfactory, both as TO
matter and style. In that the author
seems not to have thought bis way
clearly out. But in subsequent essays
he moves with more assured step.
His book is an earnest, thoughtful, rev.
erent and helpful study of living
question.