372 The Morality of Nature 



period of the structure-building age, is almost coincident 

 with birth. Before that some of the somatic cells have ful- 

 filled their mission, and have returned with their new record 

 of heredity. The original germ has developed its master- 

 plasm which is the ego, and some of the new germ-cells are 

 actually set apart. 



Then the structure being complete in form, the next great 

 period supervenes; that of growth. For twenty years or 

 more of man's life there is still production of energy in ex- 

 cess of expenditure, and cells continue to multiply, and con- 

 jugate, and gain experience. But in less than that time 

 exhaustion begins in some places. The master-plasm, re- 

 ceiving and renewing exhausted worker cells, shows the 

 effect upon itself in the maturing of the first of its germ- 

 cells; and there issues the first of the nuclear life-plasm, in 

 sexual form, equipped to renew the cycle, if the affinity of 

 opposite sex is found ; but at the end of its energy, and mor- 

 tal, if left single. And from that time onward, for forty or 

 more years, the master-plasm continues to issue from the 

 slowly wearing body, cell by cell, as its immediate abiding 

 place becomes less tenable, and to make for itself new bodies 

 better than the old; better because of added abilities gained 

 in added experience, and preserved in added heredity. 



Thus is realized and self -perceived the true ego of human- 

 ity, a lineal life linked with many branches of descendants; 

 a greater life in the enjoyment of continuous development, 

 as a just consequence of right conduct, in a material existence 

 potentially immortal. And this career is the promise of 

 evolution. 



The next great step upward in the evolution of Humanity 



