error, which is but temporal and artificial. As knowledge is power, and a direct and ever-unchangeable result of truth, it must overpower and subdue its oppositesignorance, superstition, vice, and misery. The first is eternal, the rest are temporal. The more profound and extensive our knowledge of nature, the deeper becomes the conviction of the universality of God's laws, and of the analogies which pervade every realm. Hence if the future state be unfolded to us as consisting of a series of spheres of life ascending successively in degrees of wisdom and perfection, yet analogous in many respects to the present, the reasons for believing such declarations are far greater than they would be to credit a description of future life totally different from our present conceptions.

It will be admitted that in society as it now exists the interest of nearly every one is opposed to that of his neighbour, but that all well-meaning men and communities are anxious for the establishment of a more intimate unity in the race. Each one, however, desires that this unity should be founded on the basis of his own peculiar religious system, believing that his is the one specially sanctioned by the Deity, thus showing the desirability of a universal religion to bring about the unity of the races. This the Holy Truth supplies, as it commends itself, if only earnestly investigated, to the reasoning and thoughtful mind, of whatever nationality the individual may be. It may be said, if such is the case, how is it that it has not before this made more headway in the world. It might as well be asked how the teachings of Jesus, of

Mahommed, or any of the other founders of religious systems, were not made known to the world hundreds of years before they were, as to ask why these truths have not been made known to the world until within the last few years. I may state however, that until lately, ignorance, superstition, and bigotry, have wielded a tyrannical sceptre, and sectarianism has usurped the dominion over the human soul, and is still doing so in many parts of the globe. The interests of the clergy consisting in the prevalence of ignorance in psychological subjects, any progression, or the revealment of any new truths in theological matters, are denounced, discountenanced, and treated with intolerance. They have taught, and still teach, that such is impious and sinful. The consequence has been the establishment of the most confirmed and deeply-rooted prejudices. When men become free from the conventionalisms of the world, they will freely examine all phenomena and manifestations external, and by these means will arrive unbiassed at truth and will embrace it for its own sake.

At present, the generality of religionists merely give an unintelligent acquiescence to what is taught in the church or chapel they attend, forgetting that true religion consists not in creeds but in deeds. Man has not been permitted to enjoy the free and uncontrolled exercise of his powers and intellectual endowments. He has not had the liberty to express thoughts proceeding from the depths of his mind, but has been compelled to restrain and suppress them from want of an atmosphere of light

and liberty. Until lately, the few who had dared to express themselves freely had done it at the immediate risk of their freedom, or even of their physical destruction. Truths that are external have been conceived of yet smothered by the hand of a tyrannical ignorance; but the human mind cannot be chained for ever, and has begun to demand its rights, and will soon show the results of enlightened freedom. There is even now a diffusive process in respect of knowledge of all kinds going forward in the world. No one of any intelligence can pretend to be ignorant of the vast researches recently made in science and in biblical archæology and its cognate branches, or of the results these are producing. The light that first illuminates the mountain tops gradually spreads itself into the deepest valleys. The wonderful discoveries of one generation are the commonplace facts of the next. Dread, doubt, vague fears and undefined terrors are the accompaniments of ignorance. Enlightenment and education alone will dispel them, more especially now that man is beginning to be allowed to express his thoughts and convictions on religious, scientific, and other matters, without fear of molestation. On the other hand, error is not to be rooted out of the mind of man by reproaches or railings, flashes of wit or biting jests, loud acclamations or triumphs over a mistake; such means only cause darkness and confusion in the minds of our opponents. We must remember that every man's opinion is correct in his own eyes until disproved. Man has been cradled, nursed, reared and

lived in superstition. Therefore, until the light of reason dispels the darkness of credulity, advancement cannot be expected without soine new influences being brought to bear. Know you not that there are tides and opportunities in human, or rather worldly, affairs? Even so there are times—peculiarly favourable moments of happy visitation-unexpected gales of spirit influence-which no amount of assiduity can command, yet which may do more than usual towards our spiritual progress. If it be of consequence in worldly concerns to embrace such opportunities, is it not a much greater point of wisdom to do so in spiritual matters? We should watch, therefore, and wait for every influence of light. It was, doubtless, during one of these spiritual tides eighteen hundred years ago, that the greatest of all reformers proclaimed peace and good-will to man.

Full and unrestrained inquiry is necessary to moral and intellectual progress, and should therefore by all means be encouraged. Truth being an eternal principle, any institution, creed, denomination, or influence of a sectarian character, that in any way opposes the free and unrestrained investigation of truth, must evidently be founded on ignorance, superstition, and bigotry, and anything which tends to resist the spirit of inquiry openly manifests its own error.

Every principle opposed to free and unrestricted investigation shows distinctly the fear of light and knowledge. Light is come into the world and men choose the darkness of bygone ages and foster it rather than the light,

because their institutions and actions will not stand before

the light of reason.

Truth, in comparison to error, is as gold to the rock or earth in which it is found; the one bears but a very small proportion to the other. A little book would contain the truth as yet known, but a million volumes would not suffice for all the error. Divest the Bible of all the historical, fabulous, and erroneous portions, and the residue would be small indeed, more especially if the repetitions of the same truth in different phraseology were eliminated or struck out. The great Messenger of Truth taught that love to God and man comprised the whole of the law and the prophets. When it was said, "All shall know the truth," it was meant as far as the truth could be learned in this life; for man, even in his spiritual state, will always have truths new to him to learn throughout eternity.

Physical slavery has now been abolished by all enlightened nations, but not so in the case of mental captivity where religious beliefs are concerned. Could we unveil the history of the dark ages and learn therefrom the undreamed-of horrors of the past, or could we even look into the destitution and misery of the present falsely called enlightened times, we would exclaim, "It is too terrible to believe that God permits such suffering and crime!" But there is no alternative; we must accept things as they are. Man's finite conceptions measure justice as they conceive it, not as Infinite Justice wills it. "All's well that ends well," is a saying amongst