Man m the Light of Evoltttion 



tamable his Ideal and the grander his faith. 

 He cannot seize and utilize all the possibilities 

 of the present and the future; he must give up 

 some very real and tangible present advantages 

 if he will " look onward to the truth." Is such 

 faith unscientific and unreasonable, or has it some 

 sure foundation — as sure, perhaps, as that of our 

 knowledge? This is the vital question which 

 confronts us. 



Experience is the best teacher. " The burnt 

 child dreads the fire." The child in his plays Is 

 experimenting with himself and with the world 

 — with life. Thus he grows In strength and 

 knowledge. Family life gives him the benefit of 

 the experience of his ancestors. History records 

 for him the experience of past generations. 



Through experiment and observation we 

 learn many facts which seem to us almost In- 

 credible. The chemist tells me that water is 

 composed of two volumes of hydrogen and one 

 of oxygen; that of these gases one burns read- 

 ily and the other supports combustion. I know 

 that water quenches fire. He tells me that quarts 

 of gas are compressed or united In a few drops 

 of water. I refuse to believe him. He pro- 

 ceeds before my eyes to unite the gases into 



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