THE ORIGIN OF ORGANIC MATTER 21 



its problems, to specific characteristics or attributes of the mind. In estab- 

 lishing a criterion of what constitutes progress and development, the 

 emphasis has usually been placed uixin the possession of material con- 

 trivances and the utilization of natural resources. The past one hundred 

 years, truly called the scientific era, have brought many drastic changes 

 in our material environment, accompanied by corresjwnding social and 

 political alterations. There are many able men who deny us the right to 

 call this progress, arguing that not until it has been established in what 

 direction these changes are carrying us can it be determined whether the 

 term progress may be applied. But it must be evident to the careful 

 observer that these changes have not only wrought marked alterations in 

 our social and political institutions, but perhaps to a greater, though a 

 less noticeable degree are affecting our mental and spiritual outlook. 



The dispelling of superstitions, the method of seeking for every effect 

 a discernible cause is probably the essence of the scientific attitude of mind. 

 Fundamentally it is the spiritual outlook which determines the destiny of a 

 people, and their material activities and accomplishments must be taken 

 as but the manifestations of their mental attitude. 



Whatever may have been the urge which prompted the explorer to 

 penetrate unknown lands, the chemist to seek out the materials our world 

 is made up of and the biologist to study the nature of living things, it has 

 resulted in a better understanding of the world we live in. We have 

 learned that the exercise of foresight pays, that the scientist is capable of 

 viewing the present on the background of the past and is constantly gain- 

 ing in the power of prediction. We are learning, in brief, that mind has 

 control over man's material environment: that, to a large measure, prog- 

 ress consists in the demonstration of this mastery. It now appears that 

 this assertion of mastery over the material environment on the one hand, 

 and the complete submission thereto on the other, constitutes the greatest 

 difference between peoples. So also does the demonstration of this mas- 

 tery mark a notable step in mental evolution. 



For hundreds of centuries man, in his struggle with his environment, 

 relied upon his own physical strength. In peace and war strength was 

 measured by the physical unit of man-power. Slowly he devised for him- 

 self various tools and simple machines which increased his own power and 

 that of the slaves and beasts he had forced into his service. Constantly 

 he was engaged in devising means of increasing the efficacy of his strength. 

 The knowledge of handling fire was a great step toward making man in- 

 dependent of his environment and master of the forces of nature. Soon 

 he realized that the power of the elements in wind and waterfall would 

 serve him, thereby lightening his burdens and widening his horizon. For 

 many more centuries he plodded along, sowing and reaping, spinning and 

 weaving in the sweat of his brow. 



Fire had served man primarily by enabling him to keep warm in the 

 colder regions of the world. He had long burned wood and already in 

 the sixteenth century in England considerable coal was used. But a full 



