and eternal, is always perfect; and that the development lay in
the manifestation of the qualities of that substance, in the individual.
"The highest product, man," she said, "is the result of the spirit
working intelligently within. But man attains his highest and becomes
perfect _only through his own voluntary_ co-operation with the Spirit."

Doctor Kingsford regarded Jesus as a spiritual Ideal and an Eternal
Verity, and Religion as an ever-present actuality.

We find her saying:--

"For every man makes his own fate, and nothing is truer than that
character is destiny. It is by their own hands that the lines of
some are cast in pleasant places, of some in vicious, and of some
in virtuous ones, so that there is nothing arbitrary or unjust. But
in what manner soever a soul conducts itself in one incarnation,
by that conduct, by that order of thought and habit, it builds for
itself its destiny in a future incarnation. For the soul is
enchained by these prenatal influences, which irresistibly force it
into a new nativity at the time of such conjunction of planets and
signs as oblige it into certain courses and incline it strongly
thereto. But if the soul oppose itself to these influences and
adopt some other course,--as it well may to its own real
advantage,--it brings itself under a 'curse' for such period as the
planets and ruling signs of that incarnation have power. But though
this means misfortune in a worldly sense, it is true fortune for
the soul in a spiritual sense. For the soul is therein striving to
atone and make restitution for the evil done in its own past; and
thus striving, it advances towards higher and happier conditions.
Wherefore man is, strictly, his own creator, in that he makes
himself and his conditions, according to the tendencies he
encourages. The process of such reformation, however, may be a long
one. For tendencies encouraged for ages cannot be cured in a single
lifetime, but may require ages for their cure. And herein is a
reflection to make us as patient towards the faults of others as we
ought to be impatient of our own faults."

The entire interpretation of life, as given by Doctor Kingsford in these
books, is remarkable, and is one of singular clearness in tracing the
law of cause and effect.

* * * * *

[Sidenote: The Momentou