The Destiny of Man. /// 



and its streets of gold. Scientifically speak- 

 ing, there is not a particle of evidence for 

 either view. 



But when we desist from the futile at- 

 tempt to introduce scientific demonstration 

 into a region which confessedly transcends 

 human experience, and when we consider 

 the question upon broad grounds of moral 

 probability, I have no doubt that men will 

 continue in the future, as in the past, to 

 cherish the faith in a life beyond the grave. 

 In past times the disbelief in the soul's 

 immortality has always accompanied that 

 kind of philosophy which, under whatever 

 name, has regarded Humanity as merely 

 a local incident in an endless and aimless 

 series of cosmical changes. As a general 

 rule, people who have come to take such 

 a view of the position of Man in the uni- 

 verse have ceased to believe in a future 

 life. On the other hand, he who regards 

 Man as the consummate fruition of crea- 

 tive energy, and the chief object of Divine 

 care, is almost irresistibly driven to the be- 



