230 THE FAMILY AND THE NATION 



blessings of a good environment will be added 

 unto us. 



Hitherto the development of our race has been un- 

 conscious, and we have been allowed no responsibility 

 for its right course. Now, in the fulness of time, and 

 for some good reason, we are treated as children no 

 more, and the conscious fashioning of the human race is 

 given into our hands. Let us put away childish things, 

 stand up with open eyes, and face our responsibilities. 



How shallow now sounds the argument that a 

 knowledge of the power of heredity will loosen the 

 sense of moral responsibility ! It may strengthen the 

 case of the philosophic determinist, but in practice the 

 revelation of the effect of our present conduct on 

 the physical, moral, and spiritual welfare of millions 

 yet unborn, must give a new motive which, on any 

 philosophic theory, ought to and will tend towards 

 righteousness. 



Whatever be the meaning of the great mystery of 

 life, whatever part in the scheme of creation be filled 

 by the human race, the quality of that life is of 

 supreme importance. The Universe cannot be mean- 

 ingless ; it must have a spiritual significance. A spiritual 

 evolution must be accompanying the natural evolution, 

 and in that spiritual evolution some useful part we do 

 not understand is played by the growing total of 

 human life, which brings into being new spiritual 

 manifestations. To doubt the high destiny and the 

 spiritual significance of the human race is to doubt 

 the intelligibility of the Universe, the goodness of God. 



