THE DECLINE OF FAMILIES 121 



and choice of professions for children, nothing can be 

 more helpful than to have some idea of the directions 

 in which they are likely to succeed, the duties and 

 responsibilities that probably may be best undertaken 

 by them. Similarly the time-honoured petition " lead 

 us not into temptation " gains new force and meaning 

 if we understand the nature of the temptations which 

 are likely most to affect us. It becomes also much 

 more possible to remove danger from each person, or 

 to warn and fortify him against forms of evil which 

 have already proved fatal to others of the same stock. 

 By the study of heredity, we may gain an insight into 

 the qualities that are entrusted to each individual to 

 develop for the advantage of himself, his family, and 

 the community, and learn to recognize the various 

 failings specially to be watched and guarded against. 

 The whole subject is fraught at once with the greatest 

 spiritual dignity and the utmost social importance. 



