256 The Morality of Nature 



time and effort as to render the decision useless. Conscience 

 in this function affords an impression of right and wrong, 

 the sum collected in instinct from all past experiences. But 

 it is rapid only when compelled. It is modified by present 

 knowledge, and takes account of so much of reason as time 

 and circumstances permit it. It stands clear of wrong, even 

 when in error, for its rightness is not in any absolute quality, 

 or in any standard, but in its own sincerity of effort and 

 intention. It rests upon the things which have endured so 

 long that their impulse has become habitual, and therefore, 

 if certain things of environment change, conscience is right 

 to distrust them. Its function is ultimate good, and it does 

 not require justification by present success. Conscience is 

 conservative. It belongs to all time, and covers all at present 

 desired of the future, by memories of all worth remember- 

 ing in the past. It is the involuntary act of perception of 

 obscure right and wrong, which was acquired in continued 

 voluntary acts of conscientiousness. Its cultivation is part 

 of the highest development of human understanding in that 

 it relates to the things so remote as to be imperceptible to 

 the cruder sensibilities ; and it operates with a wideness of 

 view unattainable by reasoned logic. Conscience is the 

 never sleeping mentor of morality. 



Freedom of conscience is one of the most precious rights 

 which a democracy can secure for its citizens; and con- 

 versely it is a privilege for which a liberty-loving people will 

 preserve its altruistic government from the domination of 

 bureaucracy and from dictatorship of every kind. 



