Professor Tyndall reminded us the other day that the German "Lichtenberg" had described man as "the restless cause-seeking animal," in whom facts excite a kind of hunger to know the causes from which they spring; and if this hunger cannot be satisfied by the attainment of absolute certainty, it is fain to seize on the most plausible probability with which to appease its cravings. Here then is the natural field for the researches of the theologian and the metaphysician, a field which for ages they have had all to themselves, and even if we are compelled to admit that in some degree, the Theory of the Theist introduces new difficulties into the problem whose solution we are seeking, we nevertheless are bound to confess that it presents a substantial explanation of those mysteries of Nature and Life to which I have referred, and which Science has confessed she cannot unravel. It may be true, indeed it is certain,-that the doctrines it implies are incapable of logical demonstration, but without making any demands for it which can be contradicted, it may be claimed that it gives us a Theory which is consistent with itself and with the facts of Life. But that which gives it by far its greatest weight is this, that it furnishes a practical rule of living which the experience of ages has taught us is incomparably richer in its results than that which ensues from any other life-motive. It offers us an object worthy of life, and a hope which gilds even its darkest hours, and even though it cannot satisfactorily explain the difficulties of existence, it at any rate offers us hints to such an understanding, by pointing out how pain and evil are related to man's power of choice and thus a necessary adjunct to moral government, by showing the moral gain constantly derived from physical suffering, and by suggesting that Virtue rather than Happiness is the end primarily aimed at for mankind.

Moreover it may well be asked how it can be expected that our minds, from their poor standpoint of threescore years and ten, can hope to grasp the facts of this mighty universe,—an unknown, and it may be the greatest, portion of whose forces are beyond the apprehension of his senses, should be capable of explaining the problems of a life which probably can only be explained by a reference to a future of unknown extent, and in another sphere.

These considerations enable us without doing violence to our reason to accept the alleviations which such a creed affords, and so to escape from the black and desolate shadows which the bare, blank, and absolutely unexplained facts of the Negationist would otherwise cast unrelieved across the pathway of our life. What then are the lessons to be derived from these reflections? To the man of Science, they bring a lesson of Humility. Latterly he has been fighting a winning battle, ever occupying fresh ground, and often seeing his foes covered with confusion as they gave way before him, yielding up positions which they had boastfully asserted to be impregnable. And thus it may be he has come to fancy that the whole field of Truth will ere long become his undisputed domain. To him I would say,-" Be not too ambitious; remember the limited nature of the faculties with which you have to work, and remember also the Infinite Possibilities that exist. Take a lesson from

the history of Science herself. You tell me that you cannot believe what has not been proved, and it may be that you are right in that position; but do not flaunt your scepticism. Before the microscope had taught mankind the existence of the mighty worlds of life and beauty which lay around us all unseen and unsuspected, had some Being endowed with finer senses told you that every drop of water was teeming with a varied population of insect life, you would perhaps have been right in declining to believe your teacher, because you were unable yourself to verify the truth of his lessons, but the fact would still have remained, and for all we know, could we increase our powers further, we might find yet other worlds beyond even that one. If you are to limit your Creed by the power of your Faculties, you must at any rate admit that there are Infinite Possibilities of worlds unseen and ungrasped by our comparatively gross senses. It is at least conceivable, (and some think that there is a good deal of evidence that it is so), that forces exist on another plane of which you have never dreamt. That Powers and Laws unapprehended by any of your processes are at work in our very midst, all hidden from our too coarse perceptions. You are obliged to assume the existence of some unknown factors, as when you assume that of an ether filling space, in order to account for phenomena and make them otherwise explainable. Therefore, learn to believe-what the infinite unfoldings of hidden worlds in Nature ought surely to have taught you already,-that although we have learnt so much, we are still only where Newton confessed himself to be,-on the shores of knowledge, picking up pebbles, whilst the measureless ocean lies all unexplored before us. Canon Kingsley, in that wise book of his, "The Water Babies," has the following bit of admirable banter which will illustrate what I am saying. In replying to the objection " that there are no such things as Water Babies," he says:

"How do you know that? Have you been there to see? And if you had been there see, and had seen none; that would not prove there were none. If Mr. Garth does not find a fox in Eversley Wood-as folks sometimes fear he never will, that does not prove that there are no such things as foxes. And as is Eversley Wood to all the woods in England, so are the waters we know to all the waters in the world. And no one has a right to say that no water babies exist until they have seen no water babies existing, which is quite a different thing, mind, from not seeing water babies, and a thing which nobody ever did, or perhaps ever will do."

And this, is true philosophy. The Possibilities of things are Infinite, though it may be wise in us not to spend too much time in speculations about mere possibilities. But does not our subject bring some teaching likewise to the other side? If it has not already learnt modesty, it is not for want of lessons. It must be confessed however, that there have been some slow learners amongst its followers. Let Theologians learn to separate carefully in their teachings the kernel from the husk. Let them see to it that they do not enforce as of equal importance the human accidentals and the Divine essentials, so that when the accidentals are, mayhap, shown to be untenable, their disciples may not in their despair throw

overboard all their faith together as so much worthless rubbish. Let them also learn to remember, they are dealing with subjects with a side towards Humanity it is true, but also with a side towards Infinity, and which on that side must of necessity be beyond the grasp of their finite intellects, and that here it becomes them to speak with bated breath. Let them remember, when inclined to rail at Science and Negative thought, the obligations under which Religion herself lies to these, how they have enlarged the borders of our conceptions, by teaching us the beauties, and wonders, and infinities of Nature, so that it is impossible to dive into her treasure-house, lit up as it is by the torch of Science, without coming back filled with that awe and reverence which is one of the earliest, and at the same time one of the most valuable elements of pure Religion. And finally, let both the Affirmative and Negative thinker each working in his own way, in mutual charity, and with unabated earnestness, unite in the quest for pure and unalloyed Truth, believing that at last they will find a common stand-point, where they can shake hands, as brothers who have been working for a common cause, even though they knew it not.

NEW YEAR'S EVE.

"The old year dies! the new year's born!
The year is dead! long live the year!"
The solemn bell, with mournful toll,
Proclaims unto the midnight breeze
"The old year dies-the old year's dead."
And even, whilst it swings this song,
The funereal note is changed
To one of gleesome, birthday joy,
And the sad note, sad when alone,
Mingles in joyful harmony

With fellow bells of gladsome tone,
And gaily sings the new year's birth.

The old year's dead, the new year's born!
Gone is the time we called our own,
Closed is the record of the year,
With sin and sorrow sadly stained !
With sins of action, word and thought
Ill committed, good omitted.

A record opened once again

When years and time shall be no more.
The year that's come, a reflex is
Of that just gone and passed away,
E'en as a son unto his sire,

So people say "this day last year"
And ever mingle with the new
Their fondest mem'ry of the old.

J.C.

MOONSHINE.

(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 120.)

"As others see us."

"What weather we have had lately," were the first words to fall upon my ear as I set foot upon the moon on the evening of November 2nd, 1877. That journey I travelled in remarkable company, that of a Philosopher, a Bankrupt, and a Lawyer; and in my folio I carried the promised cuts from the "fashions." It was the first visit of my companions, who were somewhat taken aback at the commonplace remark of the beings of whom I fear too glowing a description had been given in the pages of a celebrated periodical.

The Philosopher remarked that he was suffering slightly from anhelation. The Lawyer performed a little pantomime,-adjusting imaginary wig and spectacles, and carefully elevating his chin to the true forensic angle; while the Bankrupt, with a true instinct of the correlation of interest, kept within the shadow of the law; and I was thus left to explain the little confusion of manner into which my friends were thrown; so I replied to the greeting of the Lunes: "Yes, I believe we have." It is tolerably obvious that a conversation cannot be sustained on such a basis as this, and great was our relief when the question came: "We understand that you do occasionally make observations on the changes of the weather?" I thought I detected a twinkle in the eye of our interrogator, so I replied: "Yes, it is a subject to which occasional allusion-but of the most delicate character is permitted even in the best society." The Philosopher, however, took the matter most seriously, saying with the utmost gravity: "Meteorological observations are not only permitted but encouraged by scientific thought, seeing that climatology helps greatly to elucidate the phenomena of mundane anthropology."

"Or in other words," remarked the Lawyer, "we are all, more or less, under the weather." The Philosopher frowned, our impecunious friend winced a little, and the rest of us smiled at the absurd wit of the Lawyer.

The little preliminaries of a formal introduction over, eager eyes were now turned towards the folio I carried, which held, in addition to the plates of which mention has already been made, sundry other papers, to

wit,

-a lawyer's brief, a bankrupt's balance sheet, and a few proof sheets of a philosophical essay.

66

My first duty was, in fulfilment of the promise given on my former visit, to show the 'cuts.' And no small amount of astonishment did they produce in the minds of those who had never paid the earth a visit. "Most of these ladies," they said, appear to be afflicted with a singular lumbar deformity. Are they born so; or is it due to atmospheric or other unfavourable conditions?" The Philosopher replied; We cannot positively assert climate to be answerable for the dorsal peculiarity you have noticed; and indeed at this stage of our knowledge it would be unwise to make any positive assertions on the subject. Hitherto we have deemed it safer to adopt the negative mode of thought in our investigations. We know that the hump is not present at birth. We know that it is not invariable in the species. Nor is it of permanent duration. What it is, philosophy has so far failed to discover. We have however a theory amongst us--the theory of evolution, or development by which it is possible to make a good guess at the truth. Is is then, within the range of probability that at some distant date in the past so distant, that vast æons have probably elapsed in the interval, when man was not man, but an animal something between the Dromedary and a Gorilla, he unconsciously transmitted to posterity the dorsal peculiarity under discussion." "You remind me " said the Lawyer, "of a celebrated Philosopher, of whom I read in my youth, who one day startled the world with the discovery that a huge monster was devouring the sun. An event so alarming naturally drew together innumerable big wigs to investigate, when,—a harmless fly was found carefully inserted in the old man's telescope; placed there by some mischievous boy no doubt. So you must have a "bee in your bonnet man, to surround with ponderous nonsense a subject capable of easy explanation. Ladies and gentlemen of the Moon," proceeded the Lawyer, posing as if addressing the court,' "Know all of you that our dear sisters, daughters, and wives have a notion that they are not made so beautiful and perfect as they ought to be, and consequently, devote no small portion of time and thought to personal improvement. The appearance which you took for a natural deformity is the studied result of one of those improvers, whose name, I do assure you, is legion."

"Is it possible?" burst simultaneously from the lips of half-a-dozen listeners. "And do they voluntarily assume these hideous and ridiculous peculiarities, these pinched waists; dresses trailing a yard in the mud behind them, or hanging as this one like a bundle of dusters; boots with heels like miniature stilts, and a tout ensemble slatternly and heterogenous in the extreme ?"

"It is too true, noble ladies."

"How sad to think that so much that is beautiful should be the sport of those who trade on human weakness and vanity. Sad indeed to see flowers that might adorn a 'king's garden' drooping in the mire of senseless fashion. Our men have a saying that womanliness is the