274 Evolution and Social Iteform. 



newspaper sometimes ; biographies of noble men and wom- 

 en, and, better still, the personal influence of such. And 

 that for which it works is the one thing without which no 

 social reform can have permanence or essential worth. So- 

 ciety will never be much, if any, better than the individuals 

 of which it is composed. If we could have a perfect social 

 scheme to-morrow, with men and women just as they are 

 now, it would soon degenerate to the average level of the 

 individuals of Avhich it is composed. There must be a con- 

 spiracy of the outward and the inward. We need and must 

 have better social forms : so far the Socialist is right. We 

 must have less governmental meddling, less interference, 

 less protection, more local and individual responsibility : so 

 far the Anarchist is right, though childishly absurd in 

 glorying in a name w^hich has stood for lawlessness so long 

 that the taint will stick to it forever. We must know the 

 laws of political economy and the social structure, in order 

 that Ave may obey them : and so far the Scientific method 

 of social reform is right, and we must gi^'e to it our earnest 

 heed. But the Religious method of social reform is greater 

 than all these. It is the method of personal righteousness 

 and truth and love. It is the method of men and women 

 devoted to lofty personal ideals. Without this the other 

 methods Avill not much avail. Without the others this 

 might work a wondrous transformation. Society Avould 

 hardly recognize itself if all men and Avomen should obey 

 the laAV of righteousness so far as it is knoAvn. It Avould 

 think that it was ''Kingdom-come." But if with better 

 social regulations, and fewer injurious restraints, and larger 

 scientific knoAvledge, Ave cou.ld have a general consecration 

 of the indiAadual life to Avhat it belicA^es and knoAvs to be 

 the highest, then slio\ild Ave truly see the glow of a millen- 

 nial daAvn. Individually it may be that Ave cannot do much 

 for the better social regulation, or the lessening of inter- 

 ference and restraint, or the increase of scientific knoAvl- 

 edge. But indiA^dually Ave can each present one man or 

 Avoman to the CA'er-groAving company of the good and true 

 Avlio has a right to march Avith them to certain A'ictory, 

 though it may not be for us to taste the fulness of its joy. 



