was and is the enemy of reason, of
investigation, of thought and progress. The church has never given
"sanctuary" to a persecuted truth.

There can be no doubt that the ideas of the Agnostic are gaining
ground. The scientific spirit has taken possession of the intellectual
world. Theological methods are unpopular to-day, even in theological
schools. The attention of men everywhere is being directed to the
affairs of this world, this life. The gods are growing indistinct,
and, like the shapes of clouds, they are changing as they fade.
The idea of special providence has been substantially abandoned.
People are losing, and intelligent people have lost, confidence in
prayer. To-day no intelligent person believes in miracles--a
violation of the facts in nature. They may believe that there used
to be miracles a good while ago, but not now. The "supernatural"
is losing its power, its influence, and the church is growing weaker
every day.

The church is supported by the people, and in order to gain the
support of the people it must reflect their ideas, their hopes and
fears. As the people advance, the creeds will be changed, either
by changing the words or giving new meanings to the old words.
The church, in order to live, must agree substantially with those
who support it, and consequently it will change to any extent that
may be necessary. If the church remains true to the old standards
then it will lose the support of progressive people, and if the
people generally advance the church will die. But my opinion is
that it will slowly change, that the minister will preach what the
members want to hear, and that the creed will be controlled by the
contribution box. One of these days the preachers may become
teachers, and when that happens the church will be of use.

_Question_. What do you regard as the greatest of all themes in
poetry and song?

_Answer_. Love and Death. The same is true of the greatest music.
In "Tristan and Isolde" is the greatest music of love and death.
In Shakespeare the greatest themes are love and death. In all real
poetry, in all real music, the dominant, the triumphant tone, is
love, and the minor, the sad refrain, the shadow, the background,
the mystery, is death.

_Question_. What would be your advice to an intelligent young man
just starting out in life?

_Answer_. I would say to him: "Be true to your ideal. Cultivate
your heart and brain. Follow the light of your reason