50 Natural Salvation. 



thus set us examples, so to speak, pioneered the way and 

 initiated that larger organization by virtue of which 

 " civilization " has arisen. The early and wild mutations 

 of men furnish complicated yet fairly clear studies of the 

 development of the nation from the tribe and the clan. 

 No different principle is involved than that seen to be 

 operative in the flock and horde, and also in the ant-hill 

 and hive. It is the " instinctive " sentient effort and push 

 of the cell-of-life to obtain better conditions. 



It is not the intention here to enter upon the political 

 history of mankind, the rise of nations and empires, or the 

 causes of their decline. Nor yet to trace the beginnings 

 of commerce, or the rise of the arts and sciences ; or re- 

 count the history of war and the constant world-wide 

 struggle for freedom from oppression. It is all a part of 

 that process of union and organization of humanity, to se- 

 cure higher advantages. Something analogous to it has 

 taken place among the tissue cells in the development of 

 the animal organism : the natural clash of conflicting in- 

 terests, the fight of self against self-surrender for the com- 

 mon good, that self-surrender which comes so hard, yet 

 always redounds subsequently to the individual good and 

 ennoblement. 



For fifty thousand years the effort at human organiza- 

 tion has ebbed and flowed, operating blindly, 'misled by a 

 thousand false ideals and " revelations." Religion has 

 fought against religion, cult against cult, and "god" 



