The clergy vindicated from the charge of hostility to the diffusion of science : being an answer to the pamphlet of Mr. H.G. Wright / by a phrenologist.

  • Phrenologist.
Date:
1836
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The clergy vindicated from the charge of hostility to the diffusion of science : being an answer to the pamphlet of Mr. H.G. Wright / by a phrenologist. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    logy, thereby imputing it to a body of men among whom are many far more enthusiastic votaries at the shrine of Science than their insignificant and impotent detractor, and at whose feet he might well deem it an honour to sit, and receive the lessons even of human wisdom. After thus utterly discomfiting and putting to flight the oppo¬ nents whom he undertook to conquer, Mr H. G. Wright pro¬ claims with a loud voice,—ts Are there any who still have lurk¬ ing fears, that Phrenology usurps the place of Christianity, or treats the Gospel as f an old wives fable’ ? If so, let a short allegory, in conclusion, dispel their dread.1’ Was ever such a generous victor as Mr H. G. Wright ? In this allegory he represents the human mind as “ a gar¬ den on which the sun of Christianity has been shining for cen¬ turies.” But unfortunately the account which he gives of the operations of the “ mental gardeners,” as he, with singular felicity, designates them, is characterised by gross inconsist¬ ency. He describes the gardeners as 64 throwing over the seed;’’ .and for a very good reason, because “ they were un¬ able to gain admission.” But then, mark the result. “ They lamented that but a small portion sprang up and bore fruit.” Now, how did the tc mental gardeners” ascertain this if, as lie tells us, they could neither u gain admission, nor see over the walls ?” Mr H. G. Wright does not inform the naturally in¬ quisitive reader. A ladder would have solved the difficulty at once ; but ladders are never alluded to by our ingenious au¬ thor, and therefore the unfortunate gardeners ought to have be£$ left on the outside of the garden-wall in a state of anxiety about the fate of the seed, until 66 the key of Phrenology threw open the door” ! Would it not enhance the beauty, as well as contribute to the consistency of this allegory, to imagine Mr H. G. Wright producing'the key himself, and throwing open the door ? We close with one remark on the intelligence of the “ mental gardeners.” They are represented as “ presuming that something was wrong.” Not surprising, when they found the door was locked, the key gone (apply to Mr H. G. Wright), and their only alternative <c throwing the seed over the wall.” So much for Mr H, G. Wright’s attempt to convict the clergy of hostility to the diffusion of science. the END.