204 Spiritual Evolution of Society 



organism it inhabits. The present demands of the 

 mass of the people for a decent existence in every sense, 

 and the altruistic feelings of many of the " haves " 

 prompting them to surrender part of their property and 

 privilege in order to ameliorate the lot of the " have- 

 nots," do assign an active role to spirit, whatever the 

 mechanist may say. If he refuses to recognise such 

 historical facts, and the method of their origin and 

 evolution, then he is not a man of science — he has 

 proved himself a prejudiced partisan ; like the Cal- 

 vinist in heaven, who is not willing to believe that there 

 are any but Calvinists there, he would require special 

 accommodation in the form of an enclosed area, where 

 his own sect and no other can come within the range 

 of his vision. 



Bergson's philosophy is most suggestive, and his style 

 full of beautiful phrasing. Let us listen for a brief 

 space to some of the things he says in regard to Time, 

 which he believes to be concrete — real. " My mental 

 state as it advances on the road of time, is continually 

 swelling with the duration which it accumulates ; it 

 goes on increasing — rolling upon itself, as a snow- 

 ball in the snow." " No staff, more resistant or sub- 

 stantial." " We think with only a small part of our 

 past, but it is with our entire past, including the 

 original bent of our soul, that we desire, will, and act." 

 " Thus our own personality shoots, grows, and ripens 

 without ceasing. Each of its moments is something 

 new added to what was before. We may go further : 

 it is not only something new, but something unforesee- 

 able." " For a conscious being to exist is to change, 

 to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating 

 one 'sself endlessly." Apartfrom twopointsof difference, 

 Bergson carries us with him. It seems unnecessary to 

 postulate Time as a stuff, resistant and substantial; 

 it serves a purpose, however, in directing attention to 



