Conformity to Enviromneut 



may be used for good or to pander to evil. 

 Even the grandest moral and religious truths, 

 carefully and thoroughly learned, may lie in the 

 mind neglected and unheeded. They form no 

 part of our environment until embraced and as- 

 similated, just as food is of no use even in the 

 stomach until it has been digested and absorbed. 

 Indeed, too much of It may give rise to indi- 

 gestion and dyspepsia. There are many dys- 

 peptic souls, wealthy men who are not generous, 

 learned men who are not wise, and moralists 

 who are Immoral. 



Increased or better opportunities are good as 

 far as they go. They do not reach the real 

 seat of the difficulty. This lies In the will and 

 purpose. To treat the intellect for weakness of 

 the will is as wise as to prescribe external appli- 

 cations for a disease of the blood. It is treating 

 the symptom Instead of the disease. 



This fact has been clearly recognized by all 

 great thinkers. Plato said that many men must 

 be Improved before they could be educated. 

 Another equally great thinker has said, " The 

 law Is weak." Even knowledge of law and vi- 

 sion of truth are not enough. It Is not enough 

 to see and be persuaded of the promise. It must 



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