162 GEOEGE JOHN EOMANES issi- 



for which I have written to thank you before. I 

 quite agree with your view, that the doctrine of the 

 human mind having been proximately evolved from 

 lower minds is not incompatible with the doctrine of 

 its having been due to a higher and supreme mind. 

 Indeed, I do not think the theory of evolution, even 

 if fully proved, would seriously affect the previous 

 standing of this more important question. 



The sorrow is, that this question is so far removed 

 from the reach of any trustworthy answer. Or, at 

 least, such is the sorrow if that answer when it comes 

 is to prove an affirmative. If it is to be an eternal 

 sleep, no doubt it is better to live as we are than in 

 the certainty of a Godless universe. But although 

 we cannot find any sure answer to this momentous 

 question, I cannot help feeling that it is reasonable (al- 

 though it may not be orthodox) to cherish this much 

 faith, that if there is a God, whom, when we see, we 

 can truly worship as well as dread, He cannot ex 

 hypotliesi be a God who will thwart the strong desire 

 which He has implanted in us to worship Him, 

 merely because we cannot find evidence enough to 

 believe this or that doctrine of dogmatic Theology. 



But I do not know why I should thus trouble you 

 with my troubles, unless it is that the kindness of 

 your letters has broken through the bars by which 

 we usually imprison such feelings from the world. 

 Anyhow, I thank you for that kindness, and hope 

 you will forgive this somewhat odd requital. 



Very sincerely yours, 



G. J. EOMANES. 



