WCP3332

[1]

Glengyle, Chester R[oa]d,

Branksome Park, Bournemouth.

22.5.[19]13

Dear Mr. Wallace,

The reading of your "Social Environment & Moral Progress" has given me very great pleasure; & my sympathies go with you from cover to cover. We often hear about you, & rejoice to know that you keep so well. Will you, however, permit me to make a few remarks on one passage in your book? On p. 119 you speak of "the old problem of the origin of evil, which is no doubt insoluble by us". Of course life is full of mysteries; but is there any special mystery about evil? Take physical evil first. Fire must burn either some times or always; for, if it did not burn at all, it would not be fire. If it did burn some times, & not always, [2] how could we trust nature or gain any certain knowledge? Would not more evil follow from such condition of things, than does follow as things are at present? So, too, we inherit the physical weaknesses of our ancestors; but we also inherit their physical strength. Were it, however, otherwise, would there be less physical evil in the world?

But let us turn to moral evil? May we not look upon moral evil, (if not also upon physical evil) as the dregs of a former & lower ^life, not yet really outgrown? And, if so, is it not an evidence of progress, and almost a prophecy of future possible improvement, under better conditions than exist at present? There is, however, one evil that [3] neither you nor other writers seem to touch upon; & yet to my mind one of the greatest. In the ancient world men were left practically free to think their own thoughts. Soctrates and the Christian Martyrs were only apparent ^{& not real} exceptions. Among the Jews there were, it is true, two very distinct classes, the priests, who emphasized the material elements connected with religion, & the prophets, who emphasized the spiritual. But "the Church", while embracing the material & spiritual, introduced a new feature in religious matters, & emphasized thought. Now all men could make the required physical offerings; & all men could endeavour to act justly & to love mercy. [4] But men cannot all think alike. Hence this new emphasis, introduced by the "The Church", has been the cause of untold evil; persecution and religious(?) wars; &, to this day, separates men & women of the same country, & even of the same family.

Please excuse anything in this that may appear curt; but as my fingers are crippled by arthritis, it is difficult for me to write.

My wife joins in all good wishes to you & Mrs. Wallace, & believe me | Sincerely Yours | Alfred Hood¹ [signature]