SYNTHESIS OF THE NATURAL AND THE SUPERNATURAL 



man which answers to the word supernatural. It is true 

 indeed, that, like every other fact of experience, it has 

 been misunderstood and misrepresented, but we may rest 

 assured that it could not have held its grip on mankind 

 in all ages unless there had been, beneath its mistaken 

 forms, a root of reason. It has a fascination for all, and it 

 is the impulse of the larger science to.find its place in the 

 unity of existence. 



I. 



The quickened consciousness of the unity, underlying 

 and manifesting itself in all forms of life, is in evidence 

 everywhere. Intellectually it takes shape in an unresting 

 quest for " a monism, which constitutes and develops 

 undisintegrated by freedom or the aloofness of nature." 

 And the success of the quest is seen in the fact that, amid 

 the increasing complexity of life, the signs of its unity 

 become more than ever apparent. To begin at home, in 

 our own country there are many races and creeds with 

 innumerable conflicting interests, but a common ideal is 

 drawdng them together. The same essential unity is seen 

 in the classes and the masses ; for though their interests 

 are becoming no less, but ever more diversified, they are 

 learning from the discipline of the nature of things that 

 they are all members of one body, and that no one member 

 can say to another, *'I have no need of thee." And in 

 like manner the religious life and the secular life, the 

 church and the world, the supernatural and the natural are 

 coming to be seen as different aspects of man's complex 

 existence. This reconciling spirit is felt by every one ; 

 and it is known and deliberately cherished by those who 

 have been able to see, not only the ripples of the river, but 

 the direction of its course. 



II. 



The growth of a better understanding between the 

 representatives of science and religion is known to us all. 



