18 The Scojje and Priiivlples 



salvation on dogiuatic bt4ief, it will make it a process 

 of moral and intellectual growth — a process of character- 

 biiilding. Instead of repressing the intellect, disparaging- 

 human reason, and discouraging free thouglit, it will hid 

 man remove all shackles and fetters from the mind, to 

 think deeply, to think beyond the superficial appearances 

 of things — to breathe the keen air of the intellectual life 

 witli perfect freedom, finding therein an inspiration to the 

 noblest living and most devoted service. Instead of urg- 

 ing man to an emotional spasm of repentance for wrong- 

 doing, it will bid him carefully ponder upon the results of 

 his actions, note the instant effect of an evil deed in re- 

 l)ressing fulness of life — in atrophying the character of 

 the doer. It will show him that the penalty of wrong- 

 doing is intrinsic instead of extrinsic — that heaven and 

 hell are conditions of the mind rather than definite local- 

 ities in space. 



It will regard religion as a life rather tlian a ceremonial 

 or a creed. It will inculcate justice in place of charity. 

 Instead of accepting poverty, ignorance and wretchedness 

 as ordained of God, — as conditions of life to be accepted 

 with resignation and mitigated in some small degree by 

 alms, — it will endeavor as far as may be to abolish these 

 conditions, by rendering the ])()()r self-helpful, by educating 

 the ignorant, and by removing the causes of disease and vice, 

 thus laying the ioundations of a nobler individual manhood, 

 which is the only sure basis for a regenerated society. 



Jf we acce})t Cicero's derivation of the word '' religion," 

 its essential meaning is faifJifiihirss, fhoroi/fj/iness. This 

 principle of faithfulness evolution will teach man to carry 

 into every dejjartnient of his thought and labor. The 

 repl}' of the servant-girl, who had recently united with the 

 church, to the question of her mistress as to what evidence 

 she ha,d of her conversion : " I know I have got religion, 

 b('c;iMse, now, I sweep under the mats," is suggestive of 

 that conscientious element that a rational religion based 

 upon evolution should introduce into human life. INIatthew 

 Aiiiohl's definition of religion is, " Morality touched wiih 

 (•mot ion " : a moi-ality lilted out of mere conventionalisms, 

 a morality which will make the employer recognize the 

 humanity of his employee, striving to render him a just 

 (•oiii])ensati{)ii for his labor, instead of treating iiim as a 

 nifrc nioncv-niaking niai-hiiic ; which will make the work- 



