MATTER AND MIND 9 



The presence of this progress and organic 

 evolution in religion, ethics, and social science, 

 cannot be doubted by any thoughtful person 

 of middle age who will cast his mind back on 

 the change in religious thought and teaching 

 during his own life, and if ampler confirmation 

 be required, it may readily be obtained by 

 comparing a volume of sermons, or some other 

 form of theology, written say a hundred years 

 ago with a modern work. If a similar appeal 

 be made in the case of natural science the like 

 result will be obtained, and to-day we laugh at 

 the naive conceptions of natural philosophers 

 of a century ago, just as much as we sometimes 

 shudder at the religious ideas of their con- 

 temporaries who invented theological dogmas 

 which we have now buried in a merciful 

 oblivion. 



But the eternal truths of science and 

 religion were the same one hundred years ago 

 as they are to-day and as they will be one 

 hundred years hence, both realms of know- 

 ledge, as well as our inborn desires to penetrate 

 their mysteries, are a part of the great plan of 

 creation, and in their intrinsic laws remain 

 the same " yesterday, to-day and forever." 

 It is our knowledge and powers of conception 

 that have changed and not the eternal 

 verities. 



