The Intellectual And Moral Culture Of Mankind.

such as are contrary , but availing ourselves of such as may be neutral to it . Amongst the Jews ( originally a pastoral people ) we do not find much progress made in natural nor in netaphysical philosophy , their chief studies being religion and the laws , which in their code

were very nearly associated . Accustomed as they were to consider themselves the principal , nay almost the only care of the Supreme Being , they guided their conduct by commandments coming direct from Him or from His inspired prophets , and thus we find that many of those things which

are now regarded as rules of health were , in the Mosaic writings , set forth as divine injunctions . Of this nature were the restrictions relating to the food to be eaten , and also instructions as to cleanliness . The necessity of enforcing , by such means , a healthful system among a people who certainly

possessed but little knowledge of physical science or physiologyis sufficiently evident , and supposing even that Moses was himself acquainted with the real meaning of such'laws , he evinced great wisdom in the course he adopted ; for had he endeavoured on merely rational principles to introduce among

the Jews a sanitary system , doubtless much opposition would have arisen , whereas in the light in which he placed the matter , the laws were received by them as being in accordance with the will of Jehovah , their God and King , and therefore were received Avithout question . As to Moses ' s own understanding of the reasons , there appears to be

good ground for believing that he was acquainted with them , for he was " learned in all the knowledge ofthe Egyptians , " and Egypt may be fairly regarded as the birthplace of the sciences , both natural and occult . Taking it as granted that these instructions realty were based upon reason , it

is obvious that it would in no way have been politic to have given them as such , for the Jews were scarcely likely to think that any good thingcould come out of the land of bondage . Let us not be understood in any way as debating the origin of those laws and commandments which

are distinctly stated as divine , for such is not our object , nor clo Ave intend touching more upon any polemical points than is absolutely necessary to maintain the continuity of our arguments . -It is impossible to separate entirely from each other the subjects of intellectual and reliious

prog gress at that early period Avheu they Avere linked together not only by the ties naturally existing even now between them , but also by a species of superstition Avhich existed long after the causes from which it sprung had ceased . . This superstition assumes the existence either in esse or in

posse of a series of events intermediate , to the senses , between the entirely spiritual universe and the material Avorld , that is , the occurrence of appearances of material aspect , but Avith no material existence . It is reasonable to suppose , as AVDII as in accordance Avith our faith to believe , that the first inhabitants of the earth were not created with

The Intellectual And Moral Culture Of Mankind.

all the experience necessary even for their immediate use , but that they from time to time received from the First Great Cause the seeds of that education Avhich Avere destined to develope thereafter , not only in their own brains , but in the minds of succeeding generations , into the various

ramifications of knowledge ; and here is the striking distinction between religious and philosophical knoAVledge—the former arises at once complete ancl incomprehensible , except to the Omniscient Being AVIIO is its Author . It is to be received iu faith , Avhereas philosophy is capable of development in the human mind so lone- as it is restrained AA'ithin

its proper bounds , that is , Avhile it is confined to the solution of questions AA'hich arise in connection Avith natural phenomena . In the first imparting of the elements of knowledge and Avisdom , there must have been actual communication between spiritual and material

elements and individuals , and this having once been admitted , it is not possible to say Avhen such a state of things ceased ; and , as is Avell known , even in our OAVU times there are many AVIIO firmly and honestly believe in the occurrence of supernatural henomena . The maintenance of such a

p faith amongst the more ignorant part of the people Avas undoubtedly in the early ages , as subsequently , greatly to the interest of certain priesthoods , not that the JBAVS availed themselves of it , but rather the religious officers of the so-called heathen nationsas it gave them an enormous poAver over

, the minds of their disciples . It is a peculiar fact that those AVIIO first seceded from the primal religion appear to have made the most rapid progress in improving the arts and sciences , and , indeed , among certain classes the natural sciences haA'e but too often been brought

foi-Avard in antagonism to those doctrines Avhich date from the earliest epoch of which Ave have any recoi'd . ( To be continued . )

Public Processions.

PUBLIC PROCESSIONS .

It is curious to observe how trifling a matter will draw together a crowd in or about the neighbourhood of the metropolis , the reason doubtless being traceable to the great number of idlers aud people " of no settled occupation" infesting London ancl its suburbs , acd Avho arc as pleasantly and usefully engaged

standing for a few hours on the edge of the pavement , as in any of their ordinary avocations . P > ut setting these aside , let us inquire into the motives Avhich bring those AVIIO belong to the industrial classes to see such pageants , as , for instance , the Lord Mayors Show . Certainly , in itself it is about as feeble an attempt at

pomposity as can Avell be imagined , and totally unworthy ofthe august civic authorities in whose honour Ave presume it is got up . Of course , the mob will cheer and work itself up into a stale of furious excitement atthe time , and the business of pocket picking will proceed as briskly aa can be wished by its most energetic promoters . One