end for which, evolution is carried on. {244} Such seems to be the case with the theory of humanitarianism. It bases itself upon science, upon experience, and rules out communion with God as not being a scientific fact or a fact of experience at all. Based upon science, it is a theory which seeks amongst other things to assign to religion its place in the evolution of humanity. According to the theory, the day of religion is over, its part played out, its function in the evolution of humanity discharged. According to this theory, three stages may be discerned in the evolution of humanity when we regard man as a moral being, as an ethical consciousness. Those three stages may be characterised first as custom, next religion, and finally humanitarianism. By the theory, in the first stage--that of custom--the spirits to whom cult is paid are vindictive. In the second stage--that of religion--man, having attained to a higher morality, credits his gods with that higher morality. In the third stage--that of humanitarianism--he finds that the gods are but lay figures on which the robes of righteousness have been displayed that man alone can wear--when he is perfect. He is not yet perfect. If he were, the evolution of humanity {245} would be attained--whereas at present it is as yet in process. The end of evolution is not yet attained: it is to establish, in some future generation, a perfect humanity. For that end we must work; to it we may know that, as a matter of scientific evolution, we are working. On it, we may be satisfied, man will not enter in our generation.