102 UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO STUDIES 



have irritated the thoughtful by a lack of human sympathy. Even 

 in after-years none of us can easily forget the youthful perturbation 

 and instinctive revulsion that swept over his being when he first 

 encountered the flippant and mordant sarcasm of Voltaire, or such 

 hurtling lines as these from Queen Mab : 



Religion! but for thee, prolific fiend, 



Who peoplest earth with demons, hell with men, 



And heaven with slaves. 



But now, it seems to me, there has come a change. I do not wish 

 to imply that the fiery, ruthless, jeering types of rationalist, realist 

 and atheist are no longer to be found; I mean only that there are 

 signs of a gentler spirit in Science, of a greater breadth in Naturalism, 

 and of a kindlier heart in Humanism. Belike their champions feel 

 that a triumphant cause may doff its most bristling arms; or it may 

 be they have traced more clearly the course of religion, and have 

 reached an understanding of its place in evolution as a direct outcome 

 of elemental human nature. Perhaps, again, they have simply 

 learned that a "sweet reasonableness" is, after all, the surest path 

 to the upward surging heart of man in his present stage of progress. 

 At any rate, they seem more willing to grant that eternity is no slight 

 thing to lose; that "the hope, whereto so passionately cling the 

 dreaming generations from of old," is not to be dashed lightly down 

 like a childish gaud; and that the final dayspring of victorious truth 

 ought to come richly fraught with tenderness and healing. 



And today, if my ears have heard aright, Science is standing before 

 the great congregation of civilized mankind and declaring this gospel : 

 "Come unto me, and ye shall not labor with wrung hands unto 

 bitterness, nor be heavy laden unto faintness. Come unto me, and 

 for the peace that passeth understanding I will give you the peace 

 that is based upon reason and knowledge. Come unto me, and for 

 the inveterate hope of a life to be, ye shall learn the glorious meaning 

 of the life that is. Come unto me, and for your need of an Omnipotent 

 Kindness to save you from sin and shame, I will teach you the beauty 

 and dignity of human nature. Come unto me, and the Earth shall 

 have more gladness and the Hours more hope." 



