and power that no opinions ever had before 199

And their tendency, as yet latent, towards pessimism is therefore
most momentous 200

If it is to be cured, it must be faced 200

It takes the form of a suppressed longing for the religious faith
that is lost 200

And this longing is wide-spread, though only expressed indirectly 201

It is felt even by men of science 202

But the longing seems fruitless 203

This dejection is in fact shared by the believers 203

And is even authoritatively recognised by Catholicism 204

The great question for the world now, and the one on which its
whole future depends, is, will the lost faith ever be recovered? 205

The answer to this will probably have to be decisive, one way or
the other 206


CHAPTER IX.

THE LOGIC OF SCIENTIFIC NEGATION.