The Philosopliy of Evolution. 359 



already" far liis superior, and worth more to humauit}-. 

 Machinery always elevates its employers. 



See how Materialism also makes men more truthful than 

 Spiritualism. When men can be brought to an. exact bar, 

 and proved to be false, they are perforce more guarded and 

 carefi;l in their statements. Such a tedious falsehood as 

 that of the Roman church, that bread and wine are the true 

 body and blood of Christ, which has debased the minds of 

 believers for ages, could not hold its sway for an hour 

 under a materialistic philosophy. Xo more could the Pla- 

 tonic doctrine that ideas have real existence outside of the 

 brain. Men do not attempt to lie in mathematics, except 

 Avhen they have some spiritual- theory to maintain. 



So, too, Ave may sing the praises of a materialistic philos- 

 ophy in that it absorbs the energies of the age in the pur- 

 suit of wealth. Never before was mankind so Avell engaged. 

 It is better to build passenger steamers than men-of-Avar. 

 It is better to build factories tlian cathedrals. It is better 

 to build railAvays than armories. It is better to dcA^elop 

 mines than to promote missions. Men are seldom or never 

 so well engaged as in making money decently. Six days 

 are not too much for profitable labor, though one day be 

 enough for Avorship, even according to Moses. 



Why, then, should we hear, from our more spiritual 

 friends, a great outcry against this excellent pursuit ? For 

 it is easily seen that, since the world began, mankind Avas 

 never so well engaged in general as it is at the present 

 day. " The mad race for riches " leads to enterprise, edu- 

 cation, good health and long life. It keeps men out of 

 mischief and crime, it covers the earth Avitli great cities 

 and the water with great ships, it spans the rivers Avith 

 bridges and fills the air with voices of intelligence, it makes 

 famine impossible, and binds Avith fetters of self-interest 

 the bloody Avolves of Avar. AV'liatever is good among men 

 is largely the effect of Avealth, whether it is reckoned in 

 material goods or the advances of charity, peace, justice, 

 science, art, or jjolitics. And the Avide difference between 

 our OAvn peace-loving age and its gainful occupations, and 

 the quarrelsome and destructive ages before, is chiefly due 

 to the fact that noAv men are all seeking Avealth througli in- 

 dustry, instead of advancing religion by persecution, or 

 patriotism by Avar, or politics by lies and force, or poAver 

 by intrigues and assassinations. 



