786 Causes and Course of Organic Evolution 



and elevating mankind; by the often sensuous teachings of 

 a Rousseau; by the partly fantastic teachings and efforts of 

 a Fourier; but largely by the teachings, practice, and experi- 

 ments of Owen and the socialists of the past and present cen- 

 tury. 



But in much of recent cooperative and socialistic writing 

 the absolutely clear and undoubted scientific fact has been 

 overlooked or ignored, that the minds and methods of man 

 in European and American countries had largely been inclined 

 and even guided into complete socialistic and synthetic effort 

 by the writings of the above four great teachers and specially 

 of Jesus and of Paul. For, as with Plato's "Republic" and 

 Aristotle's "Ethics" and "Moralia," so with the recorded 

 teachings of Christ, and the writings of Paul, these are social- 

 istic almost wholly. Thus, if one compare Paul's catalog of 

 "the works of the flesh" as above given with "the works of 

 the Spirit," these are not mere abstract notions relating to 

 an ideal heaven or future state, but are exactl}^ the personal 

 and social characteristics that have to be repressed by the 

 inhibitory nerves, or encouraged and put into action by the 

 motor nerves. Mankind, though unable to recognize this as 

 an abstract principle, has keenly realized it ii> practice. So 

 the early Christian Church was as perfect a socialistic organi- 

 zation as the environal factors of the time would permit. Its 

 aim also was to extend its socialistic principles to world-wide 

 limit. 



But in the days of the early Church the disciples were too 

 thoroughly imbued with the truths of their own doctrines 

 to commit the mistake of supposing that they could change 

 all municipalities, states, and governments into a world-wide 

 socialistic system. 



That they largely molded not a few municipalities and even 

 states was a main cause of their persecution up to the time 

 of Constantine. The gigantic mistake then made — necessary 

 perhaps however for the future sure progress of man — was 

 that the great body of Christians ceased then to have hope 

 in their doctrines as capable of securing the further evolution 



