ns, amidst texts and formulae, until it
becomes a mere petrifaction, fit only for that function of
stumbling-block, which it so admirably performs. Wherever
bibliolatry has prevailed, bigotry and cruelty have accompanied
it. It lies at the root of the deep-seated, sometimes disguised,
but never absent, antagonism of all varieties of ecclesiasticism
to the freedom of thought and to the spirit of scientific
investigation."

Moreover, Presbyter is but Priest writ large, and the Protestant
clergy were the leaders in denunciation of every person and every
branch of investigation or of thought in any way connected with
evolution. Huxley was no respecter of persons, and, following the
example of Darwin, he was ready to study carefully any arguments for
or against any scientific doctrines by whomsoever or howsoever brought
forward. The right of criticism and duty of doubt, which he insisted
on for himself, he was extremely willing to extend to others, and, as
a matter of fact he was on terms of intimate friendship with some of
his most distinguished clerical opponents. But to an extent which it
is almost impossible now to realise, the clergy generally abused their
legitimate position and authority, and demanded or assumed a right to
give authoritative opinions on questions which did not come within
their domain. It was the old attempt of the Church to make its
authority felt in all departments of thought and of action, and the
attempt was made in the traditional fashion. Questions of fact were
associated with questions of morality, and those who held one view as
to the meaning and implication of certain facts were denounced as
wicked. Huxley at once carried the war into the enemy's own country:

"And, seeing how large a share of this clamour is raised by the
clergy of one denomination or another, may I say, in conclusion,
that it really would be well if ecclesiastical persons would
reflect that ordination, whatever deep-seated graces it may
confer, has never been observed to be followed by any visible
increase in the learning or the logic of its subject. Making a
man a Bishop, or entrusting him with the office of ministering to
even the largest of Presbyterian congregations, or setting him up
to lecture to a church congress, really does not in the smallest
degree augment such title to respect as his opinions may
intrinsically possess. An