RECAPITULATION 341 



And so the countless adaptations throughout the 

 organic and inorganic worlds furnish an infinite num- 

 ber of arguments in favor of design. Each species 

 is perfect with regard to its environment. 



"With regard to suffering, it has been claimed that 

 the amount is small compared to that of pleasure and 

 happiness; that it is necessary for the protection of 

 the body; that it results from disobeying the laws of 

 nature which are themselves beneficent; that it is a 

 great and, perhaps, necessary incentive to improve- 

 ment; and that man by elevating himself physically, 

 mentally and morally by more perfectly obeying the 

 laws of nature, can continually decrease the amount 

 of suffering. 



We have seen also that Altruism is woven into 

 Nature, and that it is the great redeeming power of 

 moral creatures. 



Lastly, I have called attention to the creed of the 

 Agnostic as presented by Mr. Spencer. I have 

 claimed that a belief in the existence of infinite time, 

 infinite space, and an Infinite Intelligence are legiti- 

 mate. 



I have endeavored to show that his effort to recon- 

 cile religion and science by referring them to The 

 Unknowable is not a reconciliation, but the destruc- 

 tion of all religion; that his method of elimination 

 is too sweeping, for the reason that it eliminates es- 

 sential parts of religion with which science is not in 

 conflict. 



Agnosticism confesses its own worthlessness as a 

 creed for man in hi3 present condition, and Mr. 

 Spencer adopts the theory of fatality in order to jus- 

 tify himself in defending it. 



Finally, it is an infinite negation which, if accepted, 

 would reduce the human race to a helpless condition, 



