CONCLUSION 225 



many ways besides example in which they can exert 

 an influence for good. 



Of late years the Christian Church has organized 

 much of its social work on a revived sense of the 

 old conception of the brotherhood of man. We must 

 now look to it to lead a movement in another direc- 

 tion, even more deeply fraught with spiritual meaning, 

 where parenthood and responsibility to those who will 

 follow after us will be the uniting principles of new 

 religious life. 



It is not enough to preach with horror and indigna- 

 tion against normal parents who restrict their families. 

 Equal reprobation should be the lot of those who, with 

 inherited insanity, feeble-mindedness, or disease, bring 

 children into the world to perpetuate their infirmities. 



It should not be overlooked that the realization 

 of the power of limiting the birth-rate, while it has 

 produced untold harm, when applied blindly and in 

 accordance with individual caprice, may become an 

 instrument for good if it extends to the worst stocks 

 of our people, while the better stocks once more under- 

 take their natural duties. Those who, sound in body 

 and mind, possess a high moral tone and a clear appre- 

 ciation of their social responsibilities, who realize the 

 sanctity of the gifts of inheritance of which they are 

 at once the owners and the temporary trustees, will 

 produce many offspring. Those with lower ideals will 

 continue to restrict their families, and, with the weaker 

 and unsound stocks, will weed themselves out of the 

 race. Thus once again a selection — this time a con- 

 scious selection — may be established to favour the 



Q 



