176 THE WHENCE AND THE WHITHER OF MAN 



Our knowledge of him is very incomplete, but may 

 be valid as far as it extends. And it would seem to 

 be valid, for it lias been tested by ages of experiment. 

 The results of this grand experiment have been summed 

 up in man's fundamental religious beliefs. And farther 

 knowledge will be gained by more complete obedience 

 to the requirements already known. The evidence, 

 that these fundamental religious beliefs will persist, 

 is of the same character as that upon which rests our 

 belief in the persistence of cells and tissues. The one 

 is rooted in the structure of our minds ; the other, in 

 the structure of our bodies. But, after all, only will 

 can act upon will, and personality upon personality. 

 It remains for us to examine how man was compelled 

 by his very structure to develop a new element in his 

 environment, conformed indeed to the laws of his old 

 environment, but better fitted to draw out the moral 

 and spiritual side of his nature. And in connection 

 with this study we may hope to gain some new light 

 on the laws of conformity. 



