Civilisation : Its Cause and Cure 



These considerations, however, are leading us 

 too far afield, and away from the special subject 

 of our paper. I mention them chiefly in order 

 to show that while we are considering Morality 

 as a foundation-element of Society, it must never 

 be lost sight of that it is not the only element, 

 and that it would be comparatively senseless and 

 useless unless grafted on and complemented and 

 completed by the others. 



The method of the New Morality, then, will 

 be to minimise formulae, and (except as illustra- 

 tions) to use them sparely ; and to bring children 

 up and so indirectly all citizens in such con- 

 ditions of abounding life and health that their 

 sympathies, overflowing naturally to those around, 

 will cause them to realise in the strongest way 

 their organic part in the great whole of society 

 and this not as an intellectual theory, so much 

 as an abiding consciousness and foundation-fact 

 of their own existence. Make this the basis 

 of all teaching. Make them realise by all sorts 

 of habit and example that to injure or deceive 

 others is to injure themselves that to help others 

 somehow satisfies and fortifies their own inner 

 life. Let them learn, as they grow up, to regard 

 all human beings, of whatever race or class, as 

 ends in themselves never to be looked upon as 

 mere things or chattels to be made use of. Let 

 them also learn to look upon the animals in the 

 same light as beings, they too, who are climbing 

 the great ladder of creation beings with whom 

 also we humans have a common spirit and interest. 



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