INTRODUCTION : AN APOLOGY. 



I WISH it to be thoroughly understood that the object of this 

 treatise is not to weaken anyone's faith in their own religion, 

 but rather to turn their own and every other religion, to a 

 better use, and gain a more practical understanding of its true 

 significance, and every religion that ever has been or will be, 

 must be and is a ladder that should help us to climb to 

 immortal life up the spiritual path of evolution, thought, love, 

 and wisdom, and to get nearer to God and Heaven. 



But unfortunately it is impossible to view the many phases 

 of evolution without treading upon someone's pet corns, or 

 religious beliefs. I must ask the reader, therefore, to remem- 

 ber that it is the duty of each one of us to honour and respect 

 the beliefs of each other, and not to think less of one another 

 because we happen to have different opinions. Personally, I 

 am of the opinion that that religion is the best for each man 

 which enables him to lead a better life and be of the most use 

 and service to his fellowmen ; and that even if a man belongs 

 to no accepted religion, and leads a life that is useful and does 

 not injure anyone, he is a better man than he who prays at 

 every street corner, and robs or slanders his neighbour. Hence 

 it is only bigotry to condemn the opinions of others because 

 we hold different ones. All and every religious belief that 

 has not become perverted by superstition or otherwise degene- 

 rated must come from God and so be good ; therefore, respect 

 it as being the electric wire that carries divine revelation to 

 another ; and with this apology I ask the reader to believe as 

 much, or as little of this treatise as he likes. For it is not 

 meant to be a scientific assertion of a scientific problem, it is 

 only a passing glance at scientific subjects from the stand- 

 point of an individual mind. It is only a collection of crude 

 thoughts put into a new light in as logical an order and 



