The Futurethat Awaits Us.^271
of the people sunk In superstition, a prey to
terrors of every kind, terror of the unknown
future in front of them, a future terror-filled
because unknown. Whereamong the masses
thereisnotsuperstition there is atheism,eating
awayideals. And in additiontothisreligious
degradationofthecrowdthereisaclassofmore
highlyeducatedpeople,scepticalatheartandin
life if not always in phrase,but oftensceptical
in phrase as well; challenging all religion
because they know that its mere exotic pre-
sentation cannot beintelligentlyheldastruein
fact -challenging alland not yet finding hope
beneaththechallenge,hopeofatruththatmay
berealisedthough theyfeel the ground giving
way beneath their feet. If we turn to the
other line on the side of love-its aspect to
those around us and below us, its helpful
activity and compassion-we see a few brave
hearts well-nigh overwhelmed, despairing
before the mass of human misery which they
are incompetent to meet or heal; poverty
heart-breaking astothe body, ignorance more
heart-breaking as to the mind, so that those
who arelovers of mankind scarce know from
what direction effective aid may come.
On the side of wisdom, also, dead walls
meetourgazeoneachascendingline. Science,
