Editorial August 8, 1903 Issue

The Waning of Materialism

Nothing more surely points to a welcome for the new than distrust or disqualification of the old. Habits of thought and the prejudices of clan and education always give tenacity to the grip of venerated theories, but when they have been compelled to recognize the absolute untenability of these theories, then men are usually willing to part even with pet opinions and so give access to new ideas.

Many would, perhaps, fain content themselves with a materialistic philosophy, but the dawn of Spirit will not tarry, and the threatened disappearance of the very cornerstone of the system, the essential atom, must surely hasten the acceptance of a less vulnerable explanation of things than that which has received such reverent consideration at the hands of physical science and theology for a long time past. Though we have no scientific or historic record whatever that an atom was ever seen; its assumed substance, dimensions, nature, and habitat have been referred to as verified facts for so long a time that the intimation which has recently emanated from the laboratory that it is, after all, only a wee little ghost, has given mortal thought something of a shock.

One of our exchanges which, in the past, has laughed loud and long at the idealism of Christian Science, has of late devoted much space to a discussion of the passing of the atomic theory, and we quote the following interesting excerpts from its columns:—

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The Waning of Materialism

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