248 UNIVERSAL EVOLUTION 



which, when traced back scientifically terminates, at 

 its primitive end, in the inorganic, or that it always 

 existed as life, in some form. When this line is traced 

 back ontogenetically, it is found to begin, as an embryo, 

 in the form of mere protoplasm, or animal life of a 

 very low order ; that not until evolution has produced 

 a nerve structure, does it exhibit the higher phenomena 

 of life called psychic. Its basis, therefore, is in the 

 physical, and its very power of existence and therefore, 

 all its mental and moral force, depends upon its draw- 

 ing its life sustentation from the earth. Here and 

 there only. e. g., in the writings of Darwin. Spencer 

 and Huxley, in the history of man, has it cropped out, 

 that he is at all a natural product. The family, 

 society, and government are crystallized around the 

 conception, that the universe is a personal emanation, 

 and under personal laws. 



Whatever finality the imagination may attribute to 

 phenomena, it is evident, to the senses of man, that 

 nature itself is the immediate power that holds the 

 fate of man in its grip. That works by certain uniform 

 and unchangeable laws. But these laws can be known 

 by man. He can, by such knowledge, not change these 

 laws, but can adapt the stream of his life to them, in 

 such a way, as to have them serve his needs and 

 desires in a life prolonged by this knowledge, made 

 sweet and pleasant. This is true righteousness. The 

 reverse side of this is ignorance. 



Ignorance is a struggle, aided, not by intelligence, but 

 superstition, not in the direction of light, but toward 

 darkness. Intelligence takes the right path out of the 

 jungle, where lie so many enemies ; but ignorance circles 

 within its borders, and early falls a victim to these 

 enemies, long after intelligence has escaped, and pursued 



