I08 HEREDITY AND CHRISTIAN PROBLEMS 



If these propositions are true, it is clear that 

 those who are in the line of succession to ances- 

 tral disease should think twice, nay, many times, 

 before marrying. A woman who is inclined to 

 yield her hand to the son of an insane or a con- 

 sumptive parent, must face the fact that unless 

 she can create conditions unfavourable to the de- 

 velopment of the disease, it is very likely to mani- 

 fest itself in one or more of her own children. 

 Often this fact will start questions terribly hard to 

 answer. A young man in whose family insanity 

 has appeared repeatedly, must decide whether he 

 will take the chance of handing the fearful disease 

 down as a heritage to his children. It may be 

 right to take the risk, for changed circumstances 

 often reduce it greatly. Moreover, there may be 

 reason to believe that the disease has so far run 

 its course as no longer to be dangerous. But the 

 question is one to be met, and not ignored ; the 

 question whether, under the circumstances, it 

 would not be better for all concerned if he were 

 to say, " I must do my part in eliminating this 

 evil from humanity : that means to stifle my dear- 

 est longings ; but in so doing I shall only be fol- 

 lowing in the steps of Him who pleased not 

 Himself, but bore our diseases." This is a cru- 

 cial conclusion to come to, and hard, indeed, are 



