222 Evolution of Society. 



mon," in their structural and functional comparison, in 

 "community in the fundamental principles of organiza- 

 tion/' :iikI in the co-operative action of the purls in the 



whole.'' 



Mr. Spencer and his followers apply organic principles 

 in the study of all the multitudinous customs and ceremo' 

 nies of different societies, the world over, — and likewise 

 in the study of all political forms, structures and instru- 

 ments, all military, judicial, executive, legal, property, rev- 

 enue and industrial systems. Even fashions, dress and 

 personal adornment are not too sacred subjects for the pry- 

 ing and spying eyes of these philosophers, who undertake 

 by the aid of evolution to explain the origin and history of 

 the whims of the fairer part of creation in these particu- 

 lars. And yet human society, or our branch of it, seems to 

 be at this late day and age in a state of almost inexplicable 

 disorder, or at least without, any common consensus as to 

 the direction of future progress or as to the necessary steps 



to secure it. 



Surveying the vegetal and brute-animal worlds, these. 

 two forms of society seem to have done their work well, 

 since all the wealth of benefit we have therein is due to 

 what it is no misuse of words to call their societary action. 

 Primitive and prehistoric man also seems to have done his 

 work well, since to him we owe the domestic animals and 

 nearly all the forms of improved vegetal growth, as well as 

 the improved stock of his race handed down to us from 

 wild, Bavage and brute progenitors. The men of the early 

 historic period are also entitled to, and do receive, our com- 

 mendations for wind, they rightly did in their days and 

 generations for to them we moderns yet turn when the 

 storm and stress of life are heaviest upon us and we cry 

 out for consolation and hope. 



During something over two thousand years past, how- 

 ever, a, sort of blight seems to have come over and rested 

 upon the most advanced societies of the world, — relaxed. 

 Io he sure, during the past four hundred years, more or 

 less, and still relaxing, but whether permanently so remains 

 to be seen. The older societies have with slight exception 

 remained during these two thousand years in a sta.te of 

 stagnation, and need not here be considered. 



One of the earliest and most important duties the evolu- 

 « Principles <>r Sociology, Vol. I, i>. 818. 



