Man ill the Light of Evolution 



existence of a God and the claims of duty are 

 considered by some as axiomatic. This they can 

 hardly be, for they are not acknowledged by 

 some capable, thoughtful, and apparently sane 

 men. They may be in a fair way to become 

 axiomatic, and future man may thus regard 

 them. 



We have seen how the life of the primitive 

 tribe educated men to ideas of right, duty, hero- 

 ism, and God. For, in the struggle for exist- 

 ence between tribes, that one survived which 

 had these instincts, if I may so call them, most 

 deeply rooted and strongly developed, or which 

 most readily accepted them from others and 

 made them their own. Human experience, 

 therefore, through long ages, in all times and 

 places, under the most varying conditions, has 

 tested them and proven their value and truth. 

 They have become a part of the furnishing 

 of the human mind. They always will and 

 must be reckoned with, whether we will or not. 

 We may neglect them or banish them to the 

 most remote corners of our minds, we may 

 try to forget them. But they stay with us to 

 curse if we refuse or neglect to call them in 

 to bless. 



144 



