THE STRUGGLE FOR REALITIES. 



377 



struggle of dogmatism to limit knowledge. But another 

 phase of the same warfare is the desire of organized 

 conservatism to limit action. Just as science goes over 

 into action, so does dogmatism pass over into suppres- 

 sion. The struggle for democracy, the rise of the com- 

 mon man, is therefore part of the same great conflict 

 for human freedom. 



The desire of dogmatism to control action is in its 

 essence the desire to save men from their own folly. 

 The great historic churches have ex- 

 isted " for the benefit of the weak and 

 control action. 



the poor. By their observances they 



have stimulated the spirit of devotion. By their com- 

 mands they have protected men from unwise action. 

 By their condemnations they have saved men from the 

 grasp of vice and crime. 



But the control of action by an institution is irksome 

 to the man who thinks for himself. Whoever thinks for 

 himself must act for himself. He is no longer subject 

 to " sealed orders," even though their origin be divine. 

 And the command " to work out his own salvation," in 

 such way as he may, is fatal to his salvation through the 

 means provided by the Church. 



As it is natural that man should create the Church 



out of his own need for it, so is it natural that he should 



rebel against its control when he shall 



The passing of need ^ nQ ^ Individual f ree dom 



institutions. . . 



is the goal of intellectual progress. It 



is " that far-off divine event toward which the whole 

 creation moves." It is, therefore, in the highest degree 

 natural, and to call it supernatural is to say the same 

 thing, that man should cast off the fetters of traditional 

 sanction as the sanction of higher wisdom arises to take 

 its place. 



