EXTRACT XVII. 



ON "THE MEETING AND, IT MAY PERHAPS BE, THE 

 CROSSING AND PARTING OF THE WAYS." 



WHAT is meant by the use and adoption of the above 

 title is to call attention to the approach towards each other, 

 now becoming apparent, in their investigation of the same 

 great root principles of human existence and destiny, of 

 the two great schools most actively engaged in the investi- 

 gation of such problems as the ultimate findings of science 

 and revelation or theology, and the consequent possibility 

 there exists of the two combining their forces for common 

 purposes and for mutual help along what may become 

 the common way in the advancement of civilisation in its 

 highest aspects, the amelioration of the common lot of man 

 in its every-day aspects and the focussing of effort, specu- 

 lative and practical, for common ends and universal good. 

 Historically the evolution and growth of theological 

 opinion have left on every succeeding phase of the world's 

 civilisation in outstanding relief the disposition of the 

 human family to crystallise into more or less definite form 

 the sum of their theological beliefs, each occurrence of 

 which, at its various stages, is marked by the use of 

 anthropomorphic imagery and methods sufficiently char- 

 acteristic to enable the observant and comparative 

 theological student of to-day to form a fairly accurate 

 opinion as to where and when the particular occurrence 

 was located and evolved or originated, and to appreciate 

 the intrinsic value of a psychological principle so widely 

 distributed and created for good or evil in the past and 

 the present of the human family. 



