Sessional address of the President (Mr. Serjeant Cox), November 4th, 1875.

  • Edward William Cox
Date:
1875
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Sessional address of the President (Mr. Serjeant Cox), November 4th, 1875. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    in endless conflict, properly raised in a sectarian assembly, but utterly out of place in a scientific meeting. The rule is not ours only. It is common to all societies whose object is the pursuit of pure science. What, for instance, would become of the Geological Society if it were permitted to the speakers to cite theological authority ? It would not exist for a month; and, if sanctioned here, the life of the Psy- chological Society would be equally stormy and equally brief. So far from being in antagonism. Psychology will render to Theology invaluable service by proving the faith in Soul to be a fact and the teachings of authority to be truths in Nature. Another objection proceeded from an opposite quarter and is entitled to more respect. An extensive and important class of mental and psychical phenomena (not yet scientifically investigated with a view to learn by careful experiment and conclusive tests what are their true nature and sources), have been made the basis of what may be termed a religion, on certain unproved assumptions as to the agencies by which they are produced. By the votaries of this sect our Society was assailed because it did not give to Spiritualism (which is the name assumed by this new faith) a prominent place in its programme. “ You ignore/'’ they said, “ a series of phenomena directly associated with Psychology and strive to build up a science without the facts that most bear upon it.” Our answer is brief. “We do, and intend to do, nothing of the kind. We do not recognise your theory of causes ; we cannot accept the assumption upon which you have erected your faith and taken your title. We do not venture without investigation to assert that you are wrong; but we hold that your assumption is as yet wholly unproved accord- ing to the reasonable requirements of scientific evidence. The asserted phenomena require to be examined by more crucial tests and more cautious experiment than have been [92]