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This article is a report of the ''Portsmouth Literary and Scientific Society'' published in the [[Hampshire Telegraph and Sussex Chronicle]] on 20 march 1886.

The report is about the lecture on "The Science of Mind in Relation to the Science of Morals" attended by [[Arthur Conan Doyle]] on 16 march 1886 at the Penny-street Lecture Hall (Portsmouth).

== Report ==
[[File:hampshire-telegraph-1886-03-20-p5-plss.jpg|thumb|200px|right|[[Hampshire Telegraph and Sussex Chronicle]] (20 march 1886, p. 5)]]

'''Portsmouth Literary and Scientific Society'''

The eighth ordinary meeting of the Portsmouth Literary and Scientific Society was held at the Lecture Hall, Penny-street, Portsmouth, on Tuesday evening, when the chair was occupied by Major-General C P Catty, J P. Vice-President. The Rev A Halliday, M A, T C D, read a paper entitled "The Science of Mind in Relation to the Science of Morals." In dealing with the subject the Lecturer raised the following questions:— First, What is the moral faculty, and what is its origin, function, and application? Secondly, What relation has the moral to other faculties of the mind and psychology? Thirdly, What relation has the science of morals to that of theology in the abstract? He disclaimed any intention of dealing with the matter in any sectarian form or as a theologian. Conscience he held was a part of man — born with him and not acquired during life. Every man who was of sound mind had a conscience, which pronounced judgment on all his actions, and condemned or applauded them as its judgment told it. It had to do with the formation of man's character, and according as it was obeyed did a men's character merit approval or disapproval. He asked the question "Is conscience binding on all men?" and to this replied that it discovered moral truth and moral law, and from its nature it was evident that it was supreme. It possessed its authority from the fact that it was placed within man by the Supreme Being. It must be admitted that the action of conscience was not uniform throughout the world, but its action was just in proportion to the state of purity or corruption of the man. Conscience in its action corresponded to the other actions of the mind. There was no spontaneous evolution of conscience in the child; it was in a latent state. While there was much to be said against the theories that founded virtue on benevolence and utility, conscience in its action and teaching was the only standard for a virtuous walk in life. In dealing with his second point, "What relation has conscience to other faculties of the mind and psychology," he held that there was no means of analysing the first act of consciousness; the origin of our moral sentiments was found in our own nature; the mind of man was only properly balanced when all its powers were properly exercised; conscience was not identical with but analogous to other faculties. All faculties had their definite qualities, but worked in conjunction with each other. It was only as moral beings that they could contemplate God as a Holy Being. Conscience compelled them to revere a law above itself and a law above the mind, and which did not proceed from man; hence man felt it his duty to obey its behests. Conscience discovered an indelible distinction between good and evil, and pointed out the Power which loves the good and hates the evil. Moral science as taught by ancient and modern philosophers led man only to a partial knowledge, and left him ignorant of how to remedy the evils he saw around him. The moral faculty in man led to the knowledge of God, but did not give such a perfect knowledge as was obtained from revelation. The light of reason did no more than revelation — both pointed out the laws of morality, but neither compelled a man to obey them. — [[Arthur Conan Doyle|Dr Conan Doyle]] moved a vote of thanks to the lecturer, which was seconded by General Harward, and supported by Dr Cousins, the Revs W J Staynes, Dr Stern, and T Timmins. — The vote having been carried, the lecturer responded, and the proceedings terminated.

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Portsmouth Literary and Scientific Society (20 march 1886) - Revision history

TCDE-Team at 16:47, 22 February 2024