"And here it may be remarked, once for all, that no man who has subscribed to creeds and formulas, whether in theology or philosophy, can be an unbiased investigator of the truth or an unprejudiced judge of the opinions of others. His sworn preconceptions warping his discernment, adherence to his sect or party engenders intolerance to the honest convictions of other inquirer? Beliefs we may and must have, but a belief to be changed with new and advancing knowledge impedes no progress, while a creed subscribed to as _ultimate truth, and sworn to be defended_, not only puts a bar to further research, but as a consequence throws the odium of distrust on all that may seem to oppose it.
"Even when such odium cannot deter, it annoys and irritates; hence the frequent unwillingness of men of science to come prominently forward with the avowal of their beliefs.
"It is time this delicacy were thrown aside, and such theologians plainly told that the skepticism and Infidelity--if skepticism and Infidelity there be--lies all on their own side.
"There is no skepticism so offensive as that which doubts the facts of honest and careful observation; no Infidelity so gross as that which disbelieves the deductions of competent and unbiased judgments."--David Page, "Man," etc., Edinburgh, 1867.
Since I have recorded this incident of my lecture in Chicago, it is peculiarly fitting and pleasant to be able to give the following extract from the review of the first edition of this book printed in the _Chicago Times_. No great daily paper would have dared to print such a comment a few years ago. To-day it is stated as a matter quite beyond controversy:
"She takes considerable pains to show _what one would think need scarcely be insisted upon in our day_, that the morals of civilization--morals in general, indeed--are not at all based in or dependent upon religion, certainly not on Christianity, since the so-called 'golden rule' the highest principle of morality, antedates Christianity a thousand years."
Up to the present time I have tried to reply personally to each one who has favored me with a letter of thanks, criticism, or praise of the little book, "Men, Women, and Gods, and Other Lectures," just published, but I find that if I continue to do this I shall have but little time for anything else.