68 HEREDITY AND CHRISTIAN PROBLEMS 



largely the possibility of reform, of civilization, 

 and of religion. If heredity cannot be overcome, 

 philanthropic work is a futile grappling with fate. 

 That it can be modified, and the evil in it con- 

 quered, is beyond a reasonable doubt. With even 

 the worst ancestry the influence of good surround- 

 ings, the presence of high and fine ideals, and 

 sometimes even hatred of the stream of tendency, 

 may make what wouid otherwise have been a man- 

 ifestation of evil, the white flower of beautiful and 

 beneficent character. No one should despair be- 

 cause of evil in his blood. Such taints should be 

 recognized, and their development guarded against; 

 but no stream of heredity is either all good or all 

 bad. If circumstances favour the evil, the evil 

 will probably appear in character and conduct ; if 

 the environment favours the growth of the tenden- 

 cies toward rectitude and purity, the evil will go 

 out of sight and out of power to harm, and virtue 

 will prevail. In every soul there are two foun- 

 tains, one of sweet, and one of bitter waters ; 

 which of these shall prevail and flood the spirit 

 depends on the outlet afforded to each, and if the 

 individual develops in holiness, it depends also 

 more and more on his own sovereign will. 



The importance of reaching the forces of he- 

 redity as early as possible with right training is 



