THE FUTURE OF MIND. 241 



giving promise of a gradual declension of the functions of the central 

 power before the more precise and equitable supervision of society 

 constituted of individuals imbued with ever-present aspirations for 

 justice and advancement. Already this day of a new excellence has 

 dawned, and there are not a few indications that new crystallizations 

 of social forces are destined to supervene. The liberation of woman 

 from her ancient servitude and her rapid advance to every privilege 

 for which her powers adapt her, the emancipation of children from 

 the severe domestic tyrannies and cruelties to which they were time 

 out of mind subjected, are striking evidences of the ameliorations due 

 to general moral advance. Like the animal organism the social organ- 

 ism responds throughout its whole substance to any force brought to 

 bear upon it, and the influence of scientific methods of thought is 

 destined to exert upon society augmenting influences of the most per- 

 vading and salutary kinds. Truth and morality are inextricably inter- 

 mingled, and whatever aids in the discovery of truth is a potential 

 moral adjuvant. As, in Scripture, condemnation and the belief in lies 

 are everywhere conjoined, so moral advance is ever assured by devices 

 that accomplish the enlargement of the realm of truth. To carp at 

 scientific methods is to carp at truth, for scientific methods are only 

 severe procedures for the discovery of truth ; and there is, to my 

 mind, little doubt that in no great while the much-desired reconcilia- 

 tion of natural with revealed truth will be successfully achieved. I 

 find in late utterances of scientific men of the highest stamp much that 

 is in conformity with some of the prevalent teachings of religion. 

 Herbert Spencer is unquestionably the most perfect embodiment of 

 advanced scientific thought. While in special departments there are 

 many that go before him, in the power of co-ordinating the various 

 sciences and embodying their myriad diverse facts into a consistent 

 body of philosophy he goes far before all his contemporaries. His 

 writings, indeed, stand apart as a great mountain-range looming far 

 above the lesser heights. It would be easy, from Mr. Spencer's writ- 

 ings, to accumulate declarations that have wondrous congruity with 

 orthodox -doctrine. The worship of humanity, Mr. Spencer declares, 

 can never take the place of the worship of God. He also affirms, with 

 all our orthodox creeds, that precepts of right living do little or no 

 good unless the corresponding emotion can in some way be roused. 

 His standard of right conduct, scientifically deduced, is a perfect law 

 of righteousness which may not be debased below the mark of perfec- 

 tion,,however unable men and women may be to fulfill its require- 

 ments. 



In every aspect, therefore, the prospect of human advancement is 

 very cheering. Individually and collectively man is so steadily pro- 

 gressing to the achievement of the great problem of his life perfect 

 conformity to the conditions of his being that no mad enthusiasm is 

 needful to prompt the anticipation of a rapid advance to that condition 



VOL. XXI. 16 



