18 The Scope and Principles 



salvation on dogmatic belief, it will make it a process 

 of moral and intellectual growth a process of character- 

 building. Instead of repressing the intellect, disparaging 

 human reason, and discouraging free thought, it will bid 

 man remove all shackles and fetters from the mind, to 

 think deeply, to think beyond the superficial appearances 

 of things to breathe the keen air of the intellectual life 

 with perfect freedom, finding therein an inspiration to the 

 noblest living and most devoted service. Instead of urg- 

 ing man to an emotional spasm of repentance for wrong- 

 doing, it will bid him carefully ponder upon the results of 

 his actions, note the instant eifect of an evil deed in re- 

 pressing fulness of life in atrophying the character of 

 the doer. It will show him that the penalty of wrong- 

 doing is intrinsic instead of extrinsic that heaven and 

 hell are conditions of the mind rather than definite local- 

 ities in space. 



It will regard religion as a life rather than a ceremonial 

 or a creed. It will inculcate justice in place of charity. 

 Instead of accepting poverty, ignorance and wretchedness 

 as ordained of God, as conditions of life to be accepted 

 with resignation and mitigated in some small degree by 

 alms, it will endeavor as far as may be to abolish these 

 conditions, by rendering the poor self-helpful, by educating 

 the ignorant, and by removing the causes of disease and vice, 

 thus laying the foundations of a nobler individual manhood, 

 which is the only sure basis for a regenerated society. 



If we accept Cicero's derivation of the word " religion," 

 its essential meaning is faithfulness, thoroughness. Tliis 

 principle of faithfulness evolution will teach man to carry 

 into every department of his thought and labor. The 

 reply of the servant-girl, who had recently united with tlie 

 church, to the question of her mistress as to Avhat evidence 

 she had of her conversion : "I know I have got religion, 

 because, now, I sweep under the mats," is suggestive of 

 that conscientious element that a rational religion based 

 upon evolution should introduce into human life. INIatthew 

 Arnold's definition of religion is, " Morality touched with 

 emotion " : a morality lifted out of mere conventionalisms, 

 a morality which will make the employer recognize the 

 lunnanity of his employee, striving to render him a just 

 compensation for his labor, instead of treating him as a 

 mere money-making machine ; which will make the work- 



