70 INTRODUCTION 



Nature herself. When Evolution comes to be 

 worked out along its great natural lines, it may be 

 found to provide for all that religion assumes, all 

 that philosophy requires, and all that science proves. 

 Theological minds, with premature approval, have 

 hailed Mr. Kidd's solution as a vindication of their 

 supreme position. Practically, as a vindication of 

 the dynamic power of the religious factor in the 

 Evolution of Mankind, nothing could be more 

 convincing. But as an apologetic, it only accen- 

 tuates a weakness which scientific theology never 

 felt more keenly than at the present hour. This 

 weakness can never be removed by an appeal to 

 the ultra-rational. Does Mr. Kidd not perceive 

 that anyone possessed of reason enough to encoun- 

 ter his dilemma, either in the sphere of thought or 

 of conduct, will also have reason enough to reject 

 any " ultra-rational " solution ? This dilemma is 

 not one which would occur to more than one in 

 a thousand ; it has tasked all Mr. Kidd's powers 

 to convince his reader that it exists ; but if excep- 

 tional intellect is required to see it, surely excep- 

 tional intellect must perceive that this is not the 

 way out of it. One cannot, in fact, think oneself 

 out of a difficulty of this kind ; it can only be 

 lived out. And that precisely is what Nature is 

 making all of us, in greater or less degree, do, and 



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