Viii PKEFACE 



more under the spell of these and kindred subjects 

 than it is at present. They are reprinted now under 

 the belief that they have sufficient merit, literary 

 and other, to warrant such a course. 



Written at different times and for different occa- 

 sions, it is perhaps inevitable that they should show 

 more or less repetition. Certain channels were, so 

 to speak, worn in my mind by the consideration of 

 these matters, and that a like experience may not 

 befall the reader I advise him to read no more than 

 one chapter at a single sitting. 



My polemic, so far as it is such, will be found, I 

 hope, aimed more at theology than at religion. 

 Theology passes ; religion, as a sentiment or feeling 

 of awe and reverence in the presence of the vastness 

 and mystery of the universe, remains. The old 

 theology had few if any fast colors, and it has be- 

 come very faded and worn under the fierce light 

 and intense activity of our day. Let it go ; it is 

 outgrown and outworn. What mankind will finally 

 clothe themselves with to protect them from the 

 chill of the great void, or whether or not they will 

 clothe themselves at all, but become toughened and 

 indifferent, is more than I can pretend to say. For 

 my own part, the longer I live the less I feel the 

 need of any sort of theological belief, and the more 

 I am content to let the unseen powers go their own 

 way with me and mine without question or distrust. 

 They brought me here, and I have found it well to 

 be here ; in due time they will take me hence, and 

 I have no doubt that will be well for me too. 



