Man in the Light of Evolution 



live under the very best surroundings, and com- 

 pulsion can go no farther, the man frames a 

 good or bad environment, according to his char- 

 acter and choice. 



To a certain extent, and far more than most 

 of us suspect, we are still held to a certain stand- 

 ard of morality or decency by the pressure of the 

 opinion of our friends and neighbors. Remove 

 any man or body of men to a distant land; let 

 them feel sure that their actions and modes of 

 life will remain unknown at home; many will 

 surely sink from the lack of the sustaining in- 

 fluence of home and friends. But this process 

 can raise men only to its average standard; it 

 can hardly insure progress. Something higher 

 and stronger is needed. 



The problem of human evolution is clear. 

 We must persuade and inspire men and women 

 to press on to the next higher plane of hfe; to 

 yield, if necessary, a certain amount of present 

 advantage for the sake of greater future benefits 

 for themselves and far more for their children ; 

 to repay to future generations the debt of honor 

 imposed upon us by the benefits which we have 

 reaped from the labors of our ancestors. The 

 ascent must be made by the steady and habitual 



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