pools where the reptiles lie among the reeds in the marshes of materialism, there arises a vapor, which, as it ascends higher, that sun will irradiate, will stream through with his slant javelins of scientific clearness, until this very matter which we have dreaded to investigate shall take on all the glories of the morning, and become, by reflected light, the bridal couch of a new Day, in a future civilization. [Applause.]

X.

DOES DEATH END ALL? BAIN'S MATERIALISM.

THE FIFTY-FIFTH LECTURE IN THE BOSTON MONDAY LECTURESHIP, DELIVERED IN TREMONT

TEMPLE DEC. 7.

"WEM die heiligen Todten gleichgültig sind, dem werden es die Lebendigen auch." -JEAN PAUL RICHTER, Titan, cycle 47.

X.

DOES DEATH END ALL?-BAIN'S MA

TERIALISM.

PRELUDE ON CURRENT EVENTS.

CHARLES DICKENS, toward the close of his "American Notes," says, that, when in the United States on his first visit, he was often forced by sheer amazement to ask why dishonesty, conjoined with high intellectual capacity, received so much reverence from Americans. "Is it not a very disgraceful circumstance," Dickens would inquire, "that such a man as So-and-so should be acquiring a large property by the most infamous and odious means, and, notwithstanding all the crimes of which he has been guilty, should be tolerated and sheltered by your citizens? He is a public nuisance, is he not?"

"A convicted liar?" "Yes, sir."

"Yes, sir."

"He has been

kicked and cuffed and caned?" "Yes, sir." "And he is utterly dishonorable, debased, and profligate?" "Yes, sir." "In the name of wonder then, what is his merit?"-" Well, sir, he is a smart man.' [Applause and laughter.] Dickens says he held this dialogue a hundred times (American