History of Religious Evolution 703 



dead decaying one would produce, as amongst some ants, 

 definite cognitic and cogitic stimuli, that must gradually 

 have cumulated in thoughts that became increasingly complex 

 and far-reaching. Whither was the energy gone that formerly 

 gave life, activity, joy, to the frame; and now left it cold, passive, 

 decaying? How did "the vital spark" first reach the babe, 

 and why did the babe, as it grew into adult life, resemble the 

 parents or grandparents, in bodily organization, in mental 

 and even in social features? Why did departed dear ones 

 reappear, after death, in the dreams of the still living, even 

 after years? 



All of the above impressions were discussed in the forest 

 hut, in the silent cave with its answering echoes; round the 

 camp-fire after rude man had discovered sources of fire for 

 himself; at the close of the chase, or of a sanguinary battle 

 when the dead were mourned over. For, if such did not occur 

 exactly as indicated, then primitive rude man was totally 

 different from even the crudest savage of today. But such 

 a view we cannot accept, in light of the burial conditions and 

 customs revealed by many archaeologists and ethnologists. 



Now the most fundamental principle back of all these varied 

 impressions was love and affectionate regard of parents for 

 children, and vice versa; of members of a family or tribe for 

 others in it, specially for those who showed high or fine quali- 

 ties; of weaker ones for some brave of the family or tribe who 

 had shielded them from death. But coupled with this prin- 

 ciple was the realization that many inexplicable causes or 

 conditions were associated with it. So loving regard for and 

 hallowed reverence toward family and social bonds became 

 spiritic stimuli that greatly transcended mere moral obliga- 

 tion. To such a view many may rejily, and rightly, that 

 amongst rough savage tribes now, and rude primitive man 

 many thousands of years ago, such feelings seldom existed. 

 But, in all spiritic as in all moral and material advance, change 

 and progress or evolution are not inaugurated so much by 

 great masses of people as by one or a few superior ones who 

 become proenvironers for the mass to follow. 



