THE CALL OF THE LAND 



not as agents with clear thought of the end 

 to be attained. 



But that society has been thus far, as it 

 were, mechanically evolved, does not imply 

 that it is always to grow in that way. Just 

 as the appearance of the power of abstract 

 thought was a turning point in evolution in 

 general, so now in social evolution we are 

 at a turning point, which is characterized by 

 the application of conscious thought to the 

 direction of society. Spite of ourselves, we 

 as individuals are to be participants in 

 social development, to make or to mar. We 

 may do our part in a half-conscious, listless, 

 and slovenly way, rendering human society 

 a clog to life, or, conscious of our calling as 

 partners with the divine, so as to render life 

 increasingly rational and blessed. 



More than ever manifest in our day is the 

 need of a conscious human guidance to 

 society in its evolution. As the world grows 

 older, the Great Ruler above, more and 

 more takes man into his counsel in direct- 

 ing it. Idle trust in God and in the so-called 

 natural laws of social growth was once not 



330 



