The Destiny of Man. 73 



eternity is not going to become quiescent 

 to-morrow. We have learned something of 

 its methods of working, and from the care- 

 ful observation of the past we can foresee 

 the future in some of its most general out- 

 lines. From what has already gone on dur- 

 ing the historic period of man's existence, 

 we can safely predict a change that will 

 by and by distinguish him from all other 

 creatures even more widely and more fun- 

 damentally than he is distinguished to- 

 day. Whenever in the course of organic 

 evolution we see any function beginning 

 as incidental to the performance of other 

 functions, and continuing for many ages to 

 increase in importance until it becomes an 

 indispensable strand in the web of life, we 

 may be sure that by a continuance of the 

 same process its influence is destined to 

 increase still more in the future. Such has 

 been the case with the function of sympa- 

 thy, and with the ethical feelings which 

 have grown up along with sympathy and 

 depend largely upon it for their vitality. 



