210 THE LIGHT OF DAT 



attained, any more than their opposite), have been 

 great helps in elevating the race. The conscience 

 of the race has slowly become attuned to these high 

 promises and ideals. The present life is vulgar and 

 mean, and to a large part of mankind seems hardly 

 worth the having. The world of which we form a 

 part is always more or less a prosy commonplace 

 world ; we are crushed and dwarfed by its material- 

 ism or its dull cares. Heaven must be some other 

 world, some far-away elysium field. This hope, this 

 lure, keeps the heart from failing. That this " poor 

 life is all," how such a conviction would cause mil- 

 lions of souls to sink back into the slough of de- 

 spond ; because this life is poor to them, they have 

 not the power to transform it and see it shot through 

 with celestial laws. This earth is no star in the 

 heavens to them, but a very vulgar and prosaic clod. 



The question to be asked of a conclusion of science, 

 is, Is it true or false. We stand before a people's re- 

 ligion with the inquiry. Is it elevating, is it saving ? 

 We stand before poem or work of art with the in- 

 quiry. Is it beautiful, is it inspiring ? We stand 

 before a question of politics with the inquiry, Is it 

 expedient, is it conducive to the best interests of 

 the country ? We stand before a question of morals 

 with the inquiry. Is it right, is it good ? But we 

 always stand before a conclusion of science with the 

 inquiry, Is it true ? 



Whether or not the Gospel records are true as 

 history, they have wonderful, even magical power as 

 literature. Their certitude, their good faith, their 



