Page:The Modern Review Vol 01 (Jan.-June 1907).djvu/24
16 THE MODERN REVIEW
WORK AND WAGES
“Work and wages: the two prime necessities of man.”—Carlyce.
TO one who looks beneath the surface, there is nothing little in the universe. There is no thing which does not participate in the greatness of the whole. Every rill has its share in the majesty of broad streams ; every wreath of smoke has its part in the stately motion of floating clouds. Where the senses cannot discover utility or connection of any kind, the intellect comes to our aid. The mind that has had a glimpse of the secrets of nature knows there is not a pebble on the sea-shore which does not help to determine the position of the earth in relation to the heavenly bodies. The more we study nature, the more we understand the purposes of things apparently aimless. For the universe is the expression of a Perfect Mind; and if there are many things in it which we cannot under- stand, the fault is not init, but in ourselves. Science has its faith as well as religion. Be- lief in & universal order is the very soul of science. This is the belief which sustains those who search for harmony amidst apparent disunion through long years: of seemingly fruitless investigation. Science is thus en- abled to persist, though it takes ages to explain a single fact. And universal order means universal obedience. The beauty of the whole depends upon the fidelity of every part. There is not an atom in the wide world but has its service to render.
Science has been charged with hostility to religion. Where such hostility exists, either the science is false, or the religion is false, or both are false. True science can never be hostile to true religion, for all truths must agree. The indifference to religion which is unhappily so often met with among men devoted to scientific studies, is the result, not of any essential antagonism between them, but cf narrow-mindedness. Most men are incapable of preserving an open, receptive frame of mind towards things lying beyond their daily pursuits. And this indifference hardens into hostility in those little-minded persons who dislike whatever does not fall within their particular sphere of knowledge. Science has its faith; it has also its fanatics, who hold everything else in contempt: to them the discoveries of science are the greatest achievements of the human intellect, the study of the material world is the noblest occupation of the human mind. Besides, the accusation of hostility to religion is largely due to the fact shat science has persistently assailed, as it was bound to do, false doctrines regard- ing tie physical world, the acceptance of which has been demanded in the name of religion. When theology undertakes to deter- mine she age of the world or the order of creation, it steps beyond its legitimate pro- vince and lays itself open to attack from those whose special work it is to interpret the facts sf the outer world. Let human ignor- ance cease to assume the sacred name of religion ; let human littleness forbear to y~ wear the mask of wisdom; and science and religion will live in eternal amity, as both