i8o THE THRESHOLD OF EVOLUTION 



of the sun had to struggle through the dense clouds of mist 

 and stearn, that during the second day of creation made up the 

 atmosphere of carbolic-charged vapour that was destined to 

 descend upon the third day of Creation in rains, and form the 

 waters which were to make the globe fit to support plant and 

 animal life, but under which conditions life as at present was 

 impossible, but without which conditions the disintegration 

 of the rocks and clays that were to form the soils of the earth 

 that were subsequently to be enriched by millions of defunct 

 plant and animal existences would never have come 

 about. In the same way, had not the past misinterpretations, 

 superstitions, and bigoted and fanatical influences im- 

 pressed our past forms of religious beliefs upon our minds, we 

 should never have evolved souls capable of receiving the more 

 advanced ideals science is now disseminating and placing at 

 the feet of religious belief. Our advanced power of under- 

 standing the truths of God and Nature may enable 

 future religious opinions to wreathe a still brighter garland 

 of a perfect knowledge of divine revelations, with which to 

 crown and make more useful and practical the future religious 

 direction of our lives. To raise the organisation of future 

 social manners and customs to a plane of more practical utility 

 as a means of greater unity, and real charity in the forgiveness 

 of the failings of the weak, and assistance to those who are 

 trying to develop their talents and so become worthy of being 

 admitted " into the joy of their Lord " by rising socially. 



The first and foremost duty both of science and 

 religion is to fit mankind for a higher mental and physical 

 and social efficiency than he has at present. Any religion 

 that fails to achieve this object is no longer worthy of human 

 respect. Hence, be tolerant of the weaknesses and failures 

 and lower ideals of the religions of others. Make your aim 

 to shape yonr lives in such a manner that they will add to the 

 pleasure, happiness and content of those amongst whom your 

 lot is cast, and ever aim at attaining and copying the lives 

 of those who have higher ideals of utility than your own, but 

 do not forget that if in some ways your own pet virtues may 

 appear to excel theirs, a careful review of your own pet vices 

 may end in your finding that the utility of their particular 

 virtues may exceed the utility of yours, and that hideous as 

 their vices may appear at first sight to the mode of life in 



