CXXXIV ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT [eth. ann. 20 



iine arts, and thus the most exahed of the esthetic pleasures 

 have become associated with their teaching. The sweetest 

 music has still a religious theme. The most beautiful graphic 

 has still a religious motive — that is, an ethical motive. The 

 most thrilling i^lay has still an ethical purpose. The most 

 al)sorbing story has still a high moral. The most entrancing 

 poem is still informed with the s^jirit of truth. Music has added 

 syni])h(in\ to its methods; painting has added chiaro.scuro; 

 drama has added histrionic representations; romance has added 

 the delineation of conseciuences for moral conduct, and poetr-s* 

 has added trope. 



Religion also has developed another stage which demands 

 our consideration : 



Moral conce})ts propagated by teaching and assimilated by 

 acception are athliated to the notions alreadv entertained; hence 

 great ])rophetic teachers are not able to diffuse their doctrines 

 in their purity, they can ^nlv j ropagate them in a modified 

 form. 



Concepts are propagated by cross fertilization, from which 

 new varieties spring. To propagate fruits with their essential 

 characteristics we must resort to cuttings; but concepts can 

 not be propagated as cuttings, but only by fertilization. Thus 

 moral concepts in the process of diffusion are modified. It is 

 imjjossible in society to start a new stock of concepts. ]\Ioral 

 opinions can not abruptly Ije revolutionized ; they can onlv 

 be developed. The past can not be ignored b^' the j^i'esent; 

 the present is ever modifying the 2)ast. Healthy change must 

 be evolution, not revolution, though there is an element of 

 revolution in all evolution. Something must be overtlu'own 

 that evolution may be accomplished. The individuals of a 

 species must die tliat new species may be developed, l)ut tlie 

 new species must be the offspring of the old. 



The great moral teachers and propliets have never succeeded 

 in establishing a principle of ethics in all its purity as conceived 

 by themselves. The notions of ceremony developed during 

 the stage of monarchy were moditied ])y the teachings of the 

 prophets, so that a ceremonial religion was developed into a 

 hducial relig-ion in which the ceremonies are considered as effi- 



