THE ATTITUDE OF PHILOSOPHY 



sympathy whereby we are chiefly distinguished 

 as human, and conforming as well as we may 

 to the highest ethical code within our ken. As 

 the coral reef is built by millions of tiny polyps, 

 each giving up his little life to the process, until 

 a stately island arises in mid-ocean, so the ideal 

 society of the future, with its exemption from 

 the ills which we now suffer, will be the result 

 of myriads of individual efforts towards greater 

 completeness of life. Every temptation that Is 

 resisted, every sympathetic Impulse that Is dis- 

 creetly yielded to, every noble aspiration that 

 Is encouraged, every sinful thought that Is re- 

 pressed, every bitter word that Is withheld, adds 

 its little item to the impetus of the great move- 

 ment which Is bearing Humanity onwards to- 

 ward a richer life and a higher character. Out 

 of Individual rectitude comes the rectitude and 

 happiness of the community ; so that the ulti- 

 mate salvation of mankind is to be wrought out 

 solely by obedience to that religious instinct 

 which, as shown in the preceding chapter, urges 

 the Individual, irrespective of utilitarian con- 

 siderations, to live in conformity to nature's 

 requirements. " Nearer, my God, to thee,'* is 

 the prayer, dictated by the religious faith of 

 past ages, to which the deepest scientific analy- 

 sis of the future may add new meanings, but of 

 which It can never Impair the primary signifi- 

 cance. 



3^3 



