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The prevalent view of 〃Nature〃 has been akin to that which long
reigned with reference to disease。 This used to be considered as a
distinct entity apart from the processes of life； of which it is one
of the manifestations。 It was a kind of demon to be attacked with
things of odious taste and smell； to be fumigated out of the system
as the evil spirit was driven from the bridal…chamber in the story of
Tobit。 The Doctor of earlier days； even as I can remember him； used
to exorcise the demon of disease with recipes of odor as potent as
that of the angel's diabolifuge；the smoke from a fish's heart and
liver； duly burned；〃the which smell when the evil spirit had
smelled he fled into the uttermost parts of Egypt。〃 The very moment
that disease passes into the category of vital processes； and is
recognized as an occurrence absolutely necessary； inevitable； and as
one may say； normal under certain given conditions of constitution
and circumstance； the medicine…man loses his half…miraculous
endowments。 The mythical serpent is untwined from the staff of
Esculapius； which thenceforth becomes a useful walking…stick； and
does not pretend to be anything more。
Sin； like disease； is a vital process。 It is a function； and not an
entity。 It must be studied as a section of anthropology。 No
preconceived idea must be allowed to interfere with our investigation
of the deranged spiritual function； any more than the old ideas of
demoniacal possession must be allowed to interfere with our study of
epilepsy。 Spiritual pathology is a proper subject for direct
observation and analysis； like any other subject involving a series
of living actions。
In these living actions everything is progressive。 There are sudden
changes of character in what is called 〃conversion〃 which； at first；
hardly seem to come into line with the common laws of evolution。 But
these changes have been long preparing； and it is just as much in the
order of nature that certain characters should burst all at once from
the rule of evil propensities； as it is that the evening primrose
should explode； as it were； into bloom with audible sound； as you may
read in Keats's Endymion； or observe in your own garden。
There is a continual tendency in men to fence in themselves and a few
of their neighbors who agree with them in their ideas； as if they
were an exception to their race。 We must not allow any creed or
religion whatsoever to confiscate to its own private use and benefit
the virtues which belong to our common humanity。 The Good Samaritan
helped his wounded neighbor simply because he was a suffering fellow…
creature。 Do you think your charitable act is more acceptable than
the Good Samaritan's； because you do it in the name of Him who made
the memory of that kind man immortal？ Do you mean that you would not
give the cup of cold water for the sake simply and solely of the
poor； suffering fellow…mortal； as willingly as you now do； professing
to give it for the sake of Him who is not thirsty or in need of any
help of yours？ We must ask questions like this； if we are to claim
for our common nature what belongs to it。
The scientific study of man is the most difficult of all branches of
knowledge。 It requires； in the first place； an entire new
terminology to get rid of that enormous load of prejudices with which
every term applied to the malformations； the functional disturbances；
and the organic diseases of the moral nature is at present burdened。
Take that one word Sin； for instance： all those who have studied the
subject from nature and not from books know perfectly well that a
certain fraction of what is so called is nothing more or less than a
symptom of hysteria； that another fraction is the index of a limited
degree of insanity； that still another is the result of a congenital
tendency which removes the act we sit in judgment upon from the
sphere of self…determination； if not entirely； at least to such an
extent that the subject of the tendency cannot be judged by any
normal standard。
To study nature without fear is possible； but without reproach；
impossible。 The man who worships in the temple of knowledge must
carry his arms with him as our Puritan fathers had to do when they
gathered in their first rude meeting…houses。 It is a fearful thing
to meddle with the ark which holds the mysteries of creation。 I
remember that when I was a child the tradition was whispered round
among us little folks that if we tried to count the stars we should
drop down dead。 Nevertheless； the stars have been counted and the
astronomer has survived。 This nursery legend is the child's version
of those superstitions which would have strangled in their cradles
the young sciences now adolescent and able to take care of
themselves； and which； no longer daring to attack these； are watching
with hostile aspect the rapid growth of the comparatively new science
of man。
The real difficulty of the student of nature at this time is to
reconcile absolute freedom and perfect fearlessness with that respect
for the past； that reverence； for the spirit of reverence wherever we
find it； that tenderness for the weakest fibres by which the hearts
of our fellow…creatures hold to their religious convictions； which
will make the transition from old belief to a larger light and
liberty an interstitial change and not a violent mutilation。
I remember once going into a little church in a small village some
miles from a great European capital。 The special object of adoration
in this humblest of places of worship was a bambino； a holy infant；
done in wax； and covered with cheap ornaments such as a little girl
would like to beautify her doll with。 Many a good Protestant of the
old Puritan type would have felt a strong impulse to seize this
〃idolatrous〃 figure and dash it to pieces on the stone floor of the
little church。 But one must have lived awhile among simple…minded
pious Catholics to know what this poor waxen image and the whole
baby…house of bambinos mean for a humble； unlettered； unimaginative
peasantry。 He will find that the true office of this eidolon is to
fix the mind of the worshipper； and that in virtue of the devotional
thoughts it has called forth so often for so many years in the mind
of that poor old woman who is kneeling before it； it is no longer a
wax doll for her； but has undergone a transubstantiation quite as
real as that of the Eucharist。 The moral is that we must not roughly
smash other people's idols because we know； or think we know； that
they are of cheap human manufacture。
Do you think cheap manufactures encourage idleness？ said I。
The Master stared。 Well he might； for I had been getting a little
drowsy； and wishing to show that I had been awake and attentive；
asked a question suggested by some words I had caught； but which
showed that I had not been taking the slightest idea from what he was
reading me。 He stared； shook his head slowly； smiled good…humoredly；
took off his great round spectacles； and shut up his book。
Sat prates biberunt；he said。 A sick man that gets talking about
himself； a woman that gets talking about her baby； and an author that
begins r