284 PROGRESSIVE MAN. 



These groups correspond respectively to the actions of a 

 man — 



1st, In relation to himself ; 2d, in relation to his neigh- 

 bour ; 3d, in relation to his Creator. But as the entire cor- 

 poreal integrity of an animal, and the applicability of its 

 instinctive capacities are dependent on the invariability of its 

 instinctive actions, the welfare of the economy of an animal 

 is never modified beyond its determined limits by any error 

 in its actions towards itself, its fellows, or its Creator. Its 

 economy is continuous ; it cannot of itself induce either a 

 retrogressive or a progressive form of its economy. 



From what we have already seen, it is evident that if we 

 may be permitted to assume the addition of a spiritual, that 

 is of a responsible, element, to the constitution of an animal — ■ 

 then its three groups of relative actions would be elevated to 

 the rank of duties to be performed, which again would involve 

 the correlative errors to be avoided, and the consecpaences of 

 such errors. 



8. The neglect by man of the three groups of duties 

 which collectively conduce to the end or purpose of his 

 creation, is undoubtedly the source of those deteriorated forms 

 of his economy which together constitute his retrogressive 

 aspect. You will, of course, clearly understand that the 

 statement I have now made not only does not exclude but 

 fully admits the influence of all the cosmical and physical 

 elements or conditions of ethnological, national, political, and 

 social differences in humanity. But as man was placed on 

 this earth to fill and to subdue it, it is evident that, in so far as 

 he has permitted such cosmical or material influences to 

 detract from his spiritual efficiency, he himself is to blame, 

 and that it is now his duty, in his present phase, to develope 

 his progressive form, under the conditions provided for that 

 purpose. 



9. I need not remind you that the conditions provided 



