piritual
welfare. Just at present, the difference between us, is wholly a matter
of definition. When we have acquired a true meaning for these disputed
terms, we shall stand harmoniously on a common ground. We shall then be
ready to accept the higher teachings of the new religion. A religion of
spiritual evolution and unfoldment, which responds to the progress of
the twentieth century."

"You are quite right, Miss Houghton! I am very willing to make the
generous allowance you suggest. I think Mr. Gaylord would be glad to
hear your views, regarding the practical teachings of the new religion."

"Thank you, Fillmore!" said George Gaylord, "you have voiced a request,
I was about to make. I trust Miss Houghton, will proceed at once. I will
promise to be a listener, who is both interested and attentive."

"I will promise one thing, Mr. Gaylord. It is this, before I have
finished, I shall do my best, to convince you, that in embracing the new
religion, the people of Solaris have devoted themselves to a system of
religious teaching, which is far too broad for the limitation of church
walls. That this new religion, is so practical, and so exacting, that
its followers, if they are true, are in duty bound to observe it as a
rule of life, seven days in the week, year in and year out.

"As a primary basis, the new religion teaches, that all human life is
sacred. That it is the highest expression on this planet, of an
Omniscient purpose. Conscious life, or the capacity to become conscious
of anything, is a Deific attribute. All knowledge comes to the mind
through the avenue of the senses, or from sensations produced by contact
with existing things in the domain of Nature. The domain of Nature, is
the domain of the Omniscient! All real knowledge, acquired from this
domain by right methods, which is in harmony with natural evolution, is
Truth. Truth, then, is Divine!

"From these broad premises, we may deduce, that to acquire knowledge, or
to accumulate truth, becomes the highest duty of life, a religious
activity of the highest order. To be engaged in the intellectual
process of gaining knowledge, is to be engaged in a spiritual work. The
intellectual process, is a spiritual process. By the psychologic action
of the mind, through its sub-conscious functioning, all knowledge coming
through the senses, first becomes the spiritual possession of the Ego,
the Soul, the seat of consciousness, before it can be expressed
materially by t