The Nature of Society 79 



ing brain, from whence its influence spreads 

 until it leavens an age. 



In spite of the prevalent mechanistic views 

 of heredity, it is even probable that the crea- 

 tive forces of the social environment not only 

 energize the individual, but exert a eugenic 

 influence as well. The power of the mind over 

 the body is a scientific fact, as is evidenced in 

 hypnotic suggestion and in the emotional con- 

 trol over the chemistry of health through the 

 agency of the internal secretions. If, then, 

 the faculties of the soul have their chemical 

 analogues, the impulse of vital faith and love 

 will favorably modify the composition of the 

 blood, reach the germ plasm, and affect the 

 reproductive process, which is very susceptible 

 to chemical influences. Thus the spiritual 

 forces of the environment may in some de- 

 gree carry through to the innate impulse trans- 

 mitted to the offspring. Such a hypothesis is 

 far more closely in harmony with the historic 

 rise of classes and races under the refining 

 influence of a high culture than is the hypothe- 

 sis of racial improvement by Darwinian nat- 

 ural selection. 



The recognition of the spiritual nature of 

 society need not blind us to the ugly realities 



