Racial Experience 



cannot see, much less feel quite assured of, the 

 *' upper side of the pattern." The future event 

 and far-off goal remains visible only to him who 

 fixes his attention and gazes upon It. It requires 

 an effort to prevent ourselves from becoming 

 nearsighted. There Is In faith an element of 

 win which Is lacking In knowledge; It Is the more 

 virile virtue of the leader and pioneer. But we 

 must carefully notice the place where the will 

 comes In. Not In the glimpse of the far-off 

 promise, nor In the persuasion of Its reality and 

 certainty. These rest on racial experience and 

 are almost Instinctive. But the will Is needed to 

 hold the attention and thought fixed upon that 

 of which we have become persuaded until we 

 can follow and realize It. 



Knowledge Is continually improving and In- 

 creasing. Theories of to-day are swallowed up 

 to-morrow in some broader generalization or 

 law or wider or deeper view. Outgrown the- 

 ories are as stale and unprofitable as supersti- 

 tions. This must be true as knowledge broadens 

 and deepens. But the far-off goal on which the 

 eye of faith is fixed neither shifts nor changes. 

 Every step toward it Is a permanent gain, and 

 need never be retraced. Every advance makes 



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