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mankind；have they been able to confine their vision more
absolutely to the strictly useful？ I fear they are the worst
offenders of all。 For if the astronomer has set before us the
infinite magnitude of space； and the practical eternity of the
duration of the universe； if the physical and chemical philosophers
have demonstrated the infinite minuteness of its constituent parts；
and the practical eternity of matter and of force； and if both have
alike proclaimed the universality of a definite and predicable
order and succession of events； the workers in biology have not
only accepted all these； but have added more startling theses of
their own。 For； as the astronomers discover in the earth no centre
of the universe； but an eccentric ＇48＇ speck； so the naturalists find
man to be no centre of the living world； but one amidst endless
modifications of life； and as the astronomers observe the mark of
practically endless time set upon the arrangements of the solar
system so the student of life finds the records of ancient forms of
existence peopling the world for ages； which； in relation to human
experience； are infinite。
Furthermore； the physiologist finds life to be as dependent for its
manifestation of particular molecular arrangements as any physical
or chemical phenomenon； and wherever he extends his researches；
fixed order and unchanging causation reveal themselves； as plainly
as in the rest of Nature。
Nor can I find that any other fate has awaited the germ of
Religion。 Arising； like all other kinds of knowledge； out of the
action and interaction of man's mind； with that which is not man's
mind； it has taken the intellectual coverings of Fetishism or
Polytheism； of Theism or Atheism； of Superstition or Rationalism。
With these； and their relative merits and demerits； I have nothing
to do； but this it is needful for my purpose to say； that if the
religion of the present differs from that of the past； it is
because the theology of the present has become more scientific than
that of the past； because it has not only renounced idols of wood
and idols of stone； but begins to see the necessity of breaking in
pieces the idols built up of books and traditions and fine…spun
ecclesiastical cobwebs： and of cherishing the noblest and most
human of man's emotions； by worship 〃for the most part of the
silent sort〃 at the Altar of the Unknown。
Such are a few of the new conceptions implanted in our minds by the
improvement of natural knowledge。 Men have acquired the ideas of
the practically infinite extent of the universe and of its
practical eternity； they are familiar with the conception that our
earth is but an infinitesimal fragment of that part of the universe
which can be seen； and that； nevertheless； its duration is； as
compared with our standards of time； infinite。 They have further
acquired the idea that man is but one of innumerable forms of life
now existing on the globe； and that the present existences are but
the last of an immeasurable series of predecessors。 Moreover；
every step they have made in natural knowledge has tended to extend
and rivet in their minds the conception of a definite order of the
universewhich is embodied in what are called； by an unhappy
metaphor； the laws of Natureand to narrow the range and loosen
the force of men's belief in spontaneity； or in changes other than
such as arise out of that definite order itself。
Whether these ideas are well or ill founded is not the question。
No one can deny that they exist； and have been the inevitable
outgrowth of the improvement of natural knowledge。 And if so； it
cannot be doubted that they are changing the form of men's most
cherished and most important convictions。
And as regards the second pointthe extent to which the
improvement of natural knowledge has remodelled and altered what
may be termed the intellectual ethics of men；what are among the
moral convictions most fondly held by barbarous and semi…barbarous
people？
They are the convictions that authority is the soundest basis of
belief； that merit attaches to a readiness to believe； that the
doubting disposition is a bad one； and scepticism a sin； that when
good authority has pronounced what is to be believed； and faith has
accepted it； reason has no further duty。 There are many excellent
persons who yet hold by these principles； and it is not my present
business； or intention； to discuss their views。 All I wish to
bring clearly before your minds is the unquestionable fact； that
the improvement of natural knowledge is effected by methods which
directly give the lie to all these convictions； and assume the
exact reverse of each to be true。
The improver of natural knowledge absolutely refuses to acknowledge
authority； as such。 For him； scepticism is the highest of duties；
blind faith the one unpardonable sin。 And it cannot be otherwise；
for every great advance in natural knowledge has involved the
absolute rejection of authority； the cherishing of the keenest
scepticism； the annihilation of the spirit of blind faith； and the
most ardent votary of science holds his firmest convictions； not
because the men he most venerates hold them； not because their
verity is testified by portents and wonders； but because his
experience teaches him that whenever he chooses to bring these
convictions into contact with their primary source； Nature
whenever he thinks fit to test them by appealing to experiment and
to observationNature will confirm them。 The man of science has
learned to believe in justification； not by faith； but by
verification。
Thus； without for a moment pretending to despise the practical
results of the improvement of natural knowledge； and its beneficial
influence on material civilisation； it must； I think； be admitted
that the great ideas； some of which I have indicated； and the
ethical spirit which I have endeavoured to sketch； in the few
moments which remained at my disposal； constitute the real and
permanent significance of natural knowledge。
If these ideas be destined； as I believe they are； to be more and
more firmly established as the world grows older； if that spirit be
fated； as I believe it is； to extend itself into all departments of
human thought； and to become co…extensive with the range of
knowledge； if； as our race approaches its maturity； it discovers；
as I believe it will； that there is but one kind of knowledge and
but one method of acquiring it； then we； who are still children；
may justly feel it our highest duty to recognise the advisableness
of improving natural knowledge； and so to aid ourselves and our
successors in our course towards the noble goal which lies before
mankind。
A LIBERAL EDUCATION ＇49＇
The business which the South London Working Men's College has
undertaken is a great work； indeed； I might say； that Education；
with which that college proposes to grapple； is the greatest work
of all those which lie ready to a man's hand just at present。
And； at length； this fact is becoming generally recognised。 You
cannot go anywhere without hearing a buzz of more or less confused
and contradictory talk on this subjectnor can you fail to notice
that； in one point at any rate； there is a very decided advance
upon like discussions in former days。 Nobody outside the
agricultural interest now dares to say that education is a bad
thing。 If any representative of the once large and powerful party；
which； in former days； proclaimed this opinion； still exists in the
semi…fossil state； he keeps his thoughts to himself。 In fact；
there is a chorus of voices； almost distressing in their harmony；
raised in favour of the doctrine that education is the great
panacea for human troubles； and that； if the country is not shortly
to go to the dogs； everybody must be educated。
The politicians tell us； 〃You must educate the masses because they
are going to be masters。〃 The clergy join in the cry for
education； for they affirm that the people are drifting away from
church and chapel into the broadest infidelity。 The manufacturers
and the capitalists swell the chorus lustily。 They declare that
ignorance makes bad workmen； that England will soon be unable to
turn out cotton goods； or steam engines； cheaper than other people；
and then； Ichabod！ Ichabod！＇50＇ the glory will be departed from us。
And a few voices are lifted up in favour of the doctrine that the
masses should be educated because they are men and women with
unlimited capacities of being； doing； and suffering； and that it is
as true now； as it ever was； that the people perish for lack of
knowledge。
These members of the minority； with whom I confess I have a good
deal of sympathy； are doubtful whether any of the other reasons
urged in favour of the education of the people are of much value
whether； indeed； some of them are based upon either wise or noble
gro