ANTHROPOMORPHIC THEISM 



which humanity is afflicted are undoubtedly 

 consequent upon the very movement of pro- 

 gress which is bearing it onward toward relative 

 perfection of life, and moral evils likewise are the 

 indispensable concomitants of its slow transition 

 from the primeval state of savage isolation to 

 the ultimate state of civilized interdependence. 

 They are not obstacles to any scientific theory 

 of evolution, nor do they provide an excuse for 

 gloomy cynicism, but should rather be viewed 

 with quiet resignation, relieved by philosophic 

 hopefulness, and enlightened endeavours to 

 ameliorate them. But though crime and suf- 

 fering may indeed be destined eventually to 

 disappear, their prevalence throughout the re- 

 corded past has none the less been ever the 

 stumbling-block and opprobrium of all anthro- 

 pomorphic theories of the universe. Just so 

 far as the correspondence between the organ- 

 ism and its environment is complete does the 

 teleological hypothesis find apparent confirma- 

 tion. Just so far as the correspondence is in- 

 complete does it meet with patent contradic- 

 tion. If harmony and fitness are to be cited as 

 proofs of beneficent design, then discord and 

 unfitness must equally be kept in view as evi- 



general. But for my present purpose it is quite enough to 

 point out that the constitution of the world is such that even 

 the genesis of higher life involves an enormous infliction of 

 misery upon sentient creatures. 



221 



