CONCLUSION 281 



not the pursuit of pleasure, but the feeling that duty 

 comes before pleasure, which is the moving force in 

 ethical evolution. 



So we come to recognise that the ultimate purpose 

 of evolution cannot be fulfilled on the earth ; and we 

 are thus led to believe that our spirit will not perish 

 with the body, but will, in some way or other, lead a 

 new existence. And, as we know that on the earth 

 better has constantly succeeded better, so we may 

 hope it will be in the spiritual world. 



Such seems to me to be the teaching of the modern 

 doctrine of evolution. It is a philosophy which does 

 not come to a close on this earth, but points forward, 

 and dimly shows us, from a study of the past, what 

 we may expect in the future. Without any doubt 

 it teaches us that man has been introduced on to the 

 Dearth for some special purpose ; and it appears that 

 that purpose can only be attained by the exercise of 

 his free-will. This being so, we infer that human 

 beings have been formed to educate the mind and 

 fit it for a future spiritual existence, unconnected 

 with the material earth. 



No doubt we are at present merely at tEe com- 

 mencement of our researches in Natural Philosophy ; 

 and, during the coming century, we may look 

 forward to great advances in knowledge. But, in 

 my opinion, we can never know more than we do 

 now about the future immaterial life, and with that 

 knowledge we must be content. 



