t aspect of things which now engages us with the fascination of a
new and vast discovery is what we term "Evolution." Its spectacle, on
the one hand, prompts a sure and soaring hope. In the sum of things we
see a movement upward and still upward,--from unorganized to organized
matter, from unconscious to sentient existence, from beast to man, from
savage to saint,--and who can say to what height in the coming ages?
But on the other hand we see that thus far at least the progress of the
favored is at deadly cost to the losers. And we see that parallel with
the ascending white line of humanity runs an ascending black line,--the
bad man of civilization is in some ways worse than the bad man of
savagery. And this complexity of good and evil is recognized at a time
when a higher sensibility has made the old familiar pain and sin of
humanity seem more than ever intolerable.

Yet the spectacle of creation and of the world, as we see and know it,
makes upon us an impression far beyond that of mere perplexity or
dismay. It produces a sentiment which we may best call _awe_. All the
great aspects of nature wake in us this reverential emotion. A
familiar instance is the effect upon us of the starry heavens. The
Psalmist thrilled at that sight,--how much more deeply are we moved,
knowing what we know of the vastness and the order! Some like effect
on us has the unfolding revelation of the whole process of nature. "I
think the thoughts of God after him," said Kepler. Let any man study
in some clear exposition the development of the human race from the
animal; and the wonder of the process, the unity of design, the
unforeseen goals reached one by one, the irresistible impression that
the harmony which man's little faculties can discern is but a fraction
of some sublimer harmony,--these emotions have in them a surpassing
power to humble, purify, and exalt the spirit.

The modern mind addresses itself to the highest reality through the
actualities of existence, and of those actualities one most significant
phase is the procedure and laws of nature. But there is another and
more impressive aspect: it is the inner life of humanity; it is man's
own conscious existence, with its struggles, victories, defeats, its
agonies and raptures, its mirth, its play, its sweetness and
bitterness. This to us is the realm of real existence. In this we are
at home. The march of the planets, the evolution of a world, the whole
process of na