INTRODUCTION Ivii 



elusions are not the business of mathematics, chemis- 

 try, astronomy, physics and psychics. But persons who 

 honestly are seeking those values of Goodness, Truth 

 and Beauty, which, after all, may be the best expression 

 of God, and of ourselves, also, will not fail in their 

 quest. 



The men of research who have contributed directly 

 to this cooperative effort have, without exception, given 

 their best. They were selected through the process 

 of elimination. The opinions they have contributed 

 are the results of protracted study, represent balanced 

 judgment, and indicate striking appreciation of the sig- 

 nificance of the metaphysical trend of present-day sci- 

 ence. Taken as a whole their contributions point the 

 way clearly and emphatically to imminent and Inevita- 

 ble changes In the approach to the Idea of God and of 

 Immortality. 



The bearing of science on religion, for centuries, 

 has vitally affected human thinking and action, never 

 more so than to-day when, if we may coin a phrase, 

 science has become metaphysically-conscious. Any one 

 interested In religion either in its cosmic aspect or Its 

 effect on character development who fails to familiar- 

 ize himself with opinions, such, for Instance, as those 

 presented In this symposium. Is missing one of the most 

 significant tendencies in present-day thinking, so far as 

 day-by-day living is affected. For example, J. Malcolm 

 Bird, In the truly remarkable study which concludes 

 this discussion, predicts In no uncertain voice that sci- 

 ence and religion must meet eventually at a cross- 

 roads designated by the phenomena of psychical re- 

 search, spiritistic and non-spiritistic. If he Is right, 

 and If other writers In this group who present equally 



