fficial, of the time,
united to publish a _Dictionnaire des sciences philosophiques_. M.
Franck, the director of this useful and laborious enterprise, said in
the preface to the work: "Atheism has well nigh completely disappeared
from philosophy; the progress of a sound psychology will render its
return for ever impossible." In speaking thus, he expressed the thoughts
and hopes of the school of which he remains one of the most estimable
representatives. A generous impulse was animating a group of intelligent
and learned young men. Their hope was to translate Christianity into a
purely rational doctrine, to purify religious notions without destroying
them, and, while endowing humanity with a vigorous scientific culture,
to leave to it its lofty hopes. The object in view was to establish a
philosophy founded upon a serious faith in God; and to this philosophy
was promised the progressive and pacific conquest of the human race.[42]
Twenty years have passed, and things bear quite another aspect. To
language expressive of security have succeeded the accents of anxiety
and words of alarm. The cause which was proclaimed victorious is
defended at this day like a besieged city. You will remark
however,--that I may not leave you beyond measure discouraged by the
facts of which I have to tell you,--you will remark, I say, that it is
the efforts attempted in the cause of good which have helped to set me
on the track of evil; it has often been the defence which has fixed my
attention upon the attack.

The materialism of the last century seems to have maintained a strong
hold upon one part of the Paris school of medicine. We do find in France
a good many physicians who, like Boerhave, render homage to religion,
and a good many physiologists who, like the great Haller, are ready to
defend beliefs of the spiritual order;[43] but, among men specially
devoted to the study of matter, many succumb to the temptation of
refusing to recognize anything as real which does not come under the
experience of the senses. This however is not one of the points which
offer themselves most strikingly for our examination. The atheistic
manifestations of the socialist schools have more novelty, and perhaps
more importance.

Man is naturally a social being. Good and evil have their primitive seat
in the heart of individuals, but good and evil are transferred into
institutions of which the influence is morally beneficial or pernicious.
If socialism consis