176 Outlook to Nature 



rational reason to believe does exist or has ex- 

 isted. We have set out with the determina- 

 tion to discover the origin and meaning of the 

 world in which we live ; and evidence is rapidly 

 accumulating. 



As yet, we have only a few fragments here 

 and there upon which to construct any general 

 theory of cosmogony, and, therefore, of life 

 and destiny. Yet there is every reason to be- 

 lieve in the consecutive uniformity of action of 

 great primal, underlying agencies. The frag- 

 mentary phenomena which we are able to ob- 

 serve are parts in some great system. The 

 philosopher should therefore be able, from a 

 study of even fragmentary knowledge, to con- 

 struct a retrospect and to make a prophecy. 

 Science gives us prevision. 



If we conclude that the sun will rise to- 

 morrow because it rose to-day and yesterday, 

 we may then fairly assume that the evolution 

 plan of creation will be as true to-morrow as it 

 is to-day ; and if it is the plan of creation to- 

 day and yesterday, we assume that it was the 

 plan in the beginning. We are willing to be- 



