ETHICS AND ALTRUISM 261 



inquisition and the dark ages. In those days, also, 

 there was a polemic struggle between the various sects 

 for survival of immaterial doctrines. Fiery pulpit 

 orators were challenging each other to debate the 

 merits of each other's creeds. But now there is none 

 of that spirit. The different Protestant churches join 

 in working together, in spreading the fundamental 

 tenets of the Christian religion. The tendency now is 

 to consolidate, especially in ethical, altruistic and mis- 

 sionary work. The line of separation on the minor 

 themes of mere church government and creeds, is 

 being more or less obliterated, in the growing im- 

 portance of peace, charity, the Golden Rule, and the 

 brotherhood of man. This has been an evolution, and 

 the survival of the fittest religious views, is the bringing 

 forth thus of a new species of religion, as plain as is 

 the evolution of an organism, from a lower order. As 

 a republican form of government evolved in America 

 from the monarchy of England, or as the French 

 republic evolved from the empire of Napoleon 3d, so 

 Protestantism is an evolution from Catholicism, and 

 the modified forms of religious tolerance of the present 

 day, a like development from the intolerance of the 

 first Puritans, who came to America. There are yet 

 many reactionists in the churches, but they are utterly 

 unable to stem the tide of natural- evolution that 

 always attends upon advancing intelligence This 

 evolution in religion is merely typical of that in all 

 things, physical, intellectual and moral. It is universal, 

 and cannot be controlled by man. 



It is a wide stretch, from the conception of a literal 

 hell, and a material heaven ; from special creation ; the 

 constant cessation of natural law, in order that miracles 

 might occur; the killing of men for opinion's sake; 



