Year: 1870

Thp collection
ON various topics of physical science which form the
contents of this admirable volume have received a
singularly appropriate title from their eminent
author Not that he sets forth any claim TO the pos
session of priestly JUNCTION, asserts for his Lay
Sermons" the infalhblity of q Gospel, announces
his convictions with the dogmatism of the pulpit; (;
but that he is an emphatic preacher of righteous
ness in the domain of the physical universe ana
heralds great scientific evangel with the earnest
ness and zeal of religious inspiration.


As popular expounder of natural laws, Professor
Huxley exhibits the qualities which are 40
manded, but not always found, IN d'SoV'' -.
from the pulpit II is not TOO nu'n nnd
apply the epithet religion to tho P'ds P'o
reverence which pervades his writings n' % ST., .ha
in awe before the wonderful phenomena Vi '"o
- ar ,ho s;mnlicity of child In explor-
;. a. ,,,.s,or;es of life he evnces none OF the


5o;,, of s,,ctessf,rl research his boldneSs Is


Io,s hammered with modesty and clrcunlspectioh;
be ;s never fippant concerted, OF dogmauoi ni'
;n,nressions Of the grandeur OF existence ana INC


hI;vn;,v of its laws are too deep and vivid to
,ernit the indulgence of frivolous or an arrogant
tboneht In his view the germs of religion are
eoeyal with the dawn of science. From the very
commencement of observing the bright procession
of nature the brief gladness awakened by the con-
temptation was followed by certain feeling of





nessd in period of the highest cultivation no less
than among tle shepherds who watched the courses
of the stars in the Orient The faint light that shines
upen the mind aroused 10 thought and self-con-
sciousness is but mere spark IN the abyss OF the
unknown and the unknowable. Man thus arrives at
the sense of his limitations and in the sadness
engendered by the secret which he cannot penetrate
according TO Professor Huxley, lies the essence of all
religion. With the progress of science the primitive
germ Of religion assumes new forms. AT the present
day men have acquired the idea of the practical
infinity and eternity Of the universe; they are
familiar with the conception that earth is but
speck in the immensity of space; and that man is
but one of the nDumerable forms of life now exist
ing on the globe all of which are but the last of a
countless series of predecessors. The religious seni
ment has advanced in parallel line with scientific
truth. The theology of the present is of more en-
hghtoned character than that of the past 1t has not
only renOunced the idols of wood aud idols of stone
which were once the chief objects of human wor
ship but il begins to leave behind the cOncep
tions of ruder age and 10 cherish the noblest and
most human of mans emotions by worship "for the
most part of the silent sort at the altar of
ence before the solemn mystery of the Universe.


The love of truth is no less remarkable in the
writings of Professor Huxley than his spirit of
reverence and scientific humility. Without accept
ing the conclusions of Auguse Comte he plants his
foot as firmly the domain of facts any adherent
of the Positive Philosophy. He has no favorite
theories to which he is welded; no cherished tradi-
tions which he feels himself bound to sustain; no
personal bases TO which the evidence of the senses
must yield no fOregone conclusions which per-
mitted to vitiate the eXactness of investigation.
With him, these conditions not mere matters
of course. He does not regard them as the
empty repetition of vain words They COM
L. G., ,f So
teaching. Truth to him is the fair ideal of all
intellectual endeavor, the supreme object of all sci
entife inquiry, the essential element of all human
progress. He who does not make it paramount in
the pursuit of knowledge is a charlatan and i'm
posor by whatever dignifed names he may be called.
He who substitutes his fancies, or his own inter
ests or his prejudces for the majesty of truth,
defes the temple of the SOUL and presumes to offer
10 the Lord the unclean sacrifice of lie" Such
the convictions which seem to be always present
10 the mind of Huxley in his explorations of Nature
Other scientists of course, acknowledge their valid
ity and Importance but we rarely find man wh'
writes under such living sense of their presence
who offers, in his example, such q nObl
illustration of their power. When he touches on thi
theme. his usually grave discourse rises to high elo
quence. For instance, speaking of the religious big
otry which loves to visit with such petty thunder
bolts it's half fparalyzed hands can hurl." all who
refuse to submit to its degrading authority he says
PHILOSOPHERS, the other hand, have such
aggressive tendencies With eyes fixed on the noble
goal TO which per aspera ct ardua they tend, they
may now and then be stirred TO momentary wrath
by the unnecessary obstacles with which the ignO
rant the malicious, incumber, if they cannot bar
the difficult path; but why should their souls be
deeply vexedf The majesty of Fact is on their side
and the elemental forces of Nature working fol
them. Not star comes to the meridian at its cal
tulated time but testiies TO the justice of their
nethOds-ther beliefs one with the falling rain
and with the growing cOrn' BY doubt they are
established, and open inquiry is their bosom friend
Such men have no fear of traditions however vener-
Able, and no respect for them when they become
mschieyous and obstructive; but they have better
than mere antiquarian business in hand and if
iognas which ought to be fossil but not, are not
forced upon their notice. they too happy to treat
them a. nOn-exstent."


Among the variety of subjects that are treated of
In this volume, the papers liberal and scientific
education on the physical basis of life and on Oar
wins theory of the "Origin of Species" will proba-
bly, command the most general attention. With
regard to education, the views of Professor Huxley
are liberal and comprehensive While he is strenu
bns advocate for the introduction of the physical
sciences into the curriculum of academic study he
fully appreciates the significance and value of classi
tal learning. He has no bigOted attachment 10 any
exclusive He is too well trained in scholarly
discipline himself to underrate the value of scholar
ship as means of culture and key to the acqui
Stion OF important knowledge. But he eloquenty
nrges the necessity of enlargng the usual course of
study as TO admit the physical sciences as mart
Of the routine of education and his elo0uence some
times becomes hot and indignant at their neglect
His opinions of the main objects to be aimed at in
fomplete and generOug education ara foro;lI.. -