New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-09
HERBERT SPENCER.

The death OF Herbert Spencer at the age OF
much more than fourscore years depriVes the
world of of its greatest intelects. we
should not say, as some are rashly doing, that
be was the last of the great thinkers OF the Vic
torian age He was not. There were giants
in those days" and he was one of them. But
there are others of that mighty company, worthy
10 be named with him, who still remain with
us What we may with confidence say is that
he was one of the greatest members OF the
greatest group of thinkers and writer's not only
in the greatest reign of English history but
also in that whole century which was one OF
the greatest centuries of recorded time
We are elsewhere in this paper relating the
story of his career and critically considering his
work and his relationship TO the intellectual
life of the age, and it would be superfuous to
enter upon detailed discussion of those topics
in this place. 1t may here be recorded simply
that he seemed to be greatest as a teacher in
the best sense of that word. We do not mean
that his own ideas were widely learned and
accepted. although beyond doubt he had and
has an innumerable multitude of disciples
perhaps most in this country, where his work
first found appreciation. We mean, rather, that
he taught people to think, and stimulated them
10 think He did that even when people least
agreed with him or least understood him. his
definition of evolution has been quoted thou
sands of times: An Indignation of matter and
"concOmtant dissipation of motion; during
(which the matter passes from an indefinite
''incOherent hOmOgeneity TO a dcnnite, cohe-
rent heterOgeneity; and during which the re-
"tained motion undergOes parallel transforma-
'tion." 1t has been quoted, we say, sometimes
with appreciation and admiration, sometimes
with ignorant ridcule. But it has made thou
Of npTlanG
would have thought without it. Again, when
he said: Il discern in matter the promise and
potency of every form and quality Of life," he
reused a worldwide storm of protest But
again he set people TO thinking, and to do that
is to perform one of the greatest of services to
mankind.
His work was manifold. Much of it was given
10 pure philosophy, to considerations Of alb
stract principles and of those things which, if
concrete are at any rate beyond the ken of ma
terial sense Much of it was given 10 what we
NAV call applied philosophy, co-Ordnated with
that of his great colleagues, Darwin, Huxley
and Tyndall; dealing with the tangible phenom-
ena of matter and life. Much of it, again, was
given to the social and political relations of
| men: and this last, we are convinced, was not
| the least valuable the least permanent OF
| his services TO his fellows In every depart
| ment of his strenuous and long maintained ac-
tivity he did much for the promotion Of protita-
| BILE thought for the elevating and broadening
/ OF intellectual vision, and for the advancement
! of the mental and moral welfare of the human
race There was not one Of his colleagues who
was not personally better known to the world
| than this lifelong recluse. There was not one
whose name and work became more widely
| known. There was not one who aroused
! stronger antagonism or inspired more loyal dis
! cipeship There was not one more clearly en-
| titled to the grateful esteem of his contempt
raries and TO the honor and fame of all future
| time.