Introductory. 3 7 



on both sides of the Atlantic renders it a matter of in- 

 terest to inquire into the possible future of that philosophy, 

 in connection with the future course of the great pagan 

 revival. 



It is by no means improbable that such revival may 

 be carried on to a far greater development than it has 

 yet attained, and assume a far more distinctly religious 

 aspect. 



The human mind will never rest in the mere materialism 

 of Strauss, or in the inane worship of abstract humanity 

 devised by Comte. 



Mr. Spencer himself well remarks* concerning religion, 

 that the belief that its " object-matter can be replaced by 

 another object-matter, as supposed by those who think 

 the ' Religion of Humanity ' will be the religion of the 

 future, is a belief countenanced neither by induction nor 

 by deduction. However dominant may become the moral 

 sentiment enlisted on behalf of humanity, it can never 

 exclude the sentiment, alone properly religious, awakened 

 by that which is behind humanity and behind all other 

 things. . . . No such thing as a ' Religion of Hu- 

 manity ' can ever do more than temporarily shut out the 

 thought of a Power of which humanity is but a small and 

 fugitive product which was in course of ever-changing 

 manifestation before humanity was, and will continue 



* "The Study of Sociology," p. 311. 



