408 THE REIGN OF LAW. 



so in the Realm of Mind we can operate on the 

 same principle, by setting one motive to counter- 

 act another : and by combination among many 

 motives, we can influence in a degree, and to an 

 extent as yet unknown, the conduct and the con- 

 dition of Mankind. 



Nor are the resources of Contrivance limited to 

 adjustment among the motives which arise only 

 out of existing conditions. New motives can be 

 evoked and put in action by the adopting of appro- 

 priate means. The mere founding, for example, of 

 a Voluntary Society for any given purpose, evolves 

 out of the primary elements of human character a 

 latent force of the most powerful kind, namely, the 

 motive — the sentiment — the feeling — the passion 

 as it often is, of the Spirit of Association. This 

 is a passion which defies analysis. The cynic may 

 reduce it to a form of selfishness — and undoubtedly 

 the identification of the interests and the desires 

 of Self with the Society for which this passion is 

 conceived, lies at its very root and is of its very 

 essence. It is true, also, that it is a passion so 

 powerful as to need strong control — without which 

 control it generates some of the very meanest 

 emotions of the heart. Out of it there has come, 



