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will ape the outside of our so…called civilisation； even absorb a few of our
ideas； not merely that； but truly civilised men who will think for
themselves； invent for themselves； act for themselves； and when the sacred
lamp of light and truth has been passed into their hands； carry it on
unextinguished； and transmit it to their successors without running back
every moment to get it relighted by those from whom they received it：
and who are boundremember thatpatiently and lovingly to relight it for
them； to give freely to all their fellow…men of that which God has given to
them and to their ancestors； and let God； not man； be judge of how much
the Red Indian or the Polynesian； the Caffre or the Chinese； is capable of
receiving and of using。
Moreover； in history there is no record； absolutely no record； as far as I
am aware； of any savage tribe civilising itself。 It is a bold saying。 I
stand by my assertion： most happy to find myself confuted； even in a
single instance； for my being wrong would give me； what I can have no
objection to possess； a higher opinion than I have now； of the unassisted
capabilities of my fellow…men。
But civilisation must have begun somewhen； somewhere； with some
person； or some family； or some nation； and how did it begin？
I have said already that I do not know。 But I have had my dream
like the philosopherand as I have not been ashamed to tell it elsewhere； I
shall not be ashamed to tell it here。 And it is this：
What if the beginnings of true civilisation in this unique； abnormal；
diseased； unsatisfied； inprehensible； and truly miraculous and
supernatural race we call man； had been literally； and in actual fact；
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miraculous and supernatural likewise？ What if that be the true key to the
mystery of humanity and its origin？ What if the few first chapters of the
most ancient and most sacred book should point； under whatever symbols；
to the actual and the only possible origin of civilisation； the education of a
man； or a family by beings of some higher race than man？ What if the
old Puritan doctrine of Election should be even of a deeper and wider
application than divines have been wont to think？ What if individuals； if
peoples； have been chosen out from time to time for a special illumination；
that they might be the lights of the earth； and the salt of the world？ What
if they have； each in their turn； abused that divine teaching to make
themselves the tyrants； instead of the ministers； of the less enlightened？
To increase the inequalities of nature by their own selfishness； instead of
decreasing them； into the equality of grace； by their own self… sacrifice？
What if the Bible after all was right； and even more right than we were
taught to think？
So runs my dream。 If； after I have confessed to it； you think me still
worth listening to； in this enlightened nineteenth century； I will go on。
At all events； what we see at the beginning of all known and half…
known history； is not savagery； but high civilisation； at least of an outward
and material kind。 Do you demur？ Then recollect； I pray you； that the
three oldest peoples known to history on this planet are Egypt； China；
Hindostan。 The first glimpses of the world are always like those which
the book of Genesis gives us； like those which your own continent gives
us。 As it was 400 years ago in America； so it was in North Africa and in
Asia 4000 years ago； or 40；000 for aught I know。 Nay； if anyone should
askAnd why not 400；000 years ago； on Miocene continents long sunk
beneath the Tropic sea？ I for one have no rejoinder saveWe have no
proofs as yet。
There loom up； out of the darkness of legend； into the as yet dim dawn
of history； what the old Arabs call Races of pre…Adamite Sultanscolossal
monarchies； with fixed and often elaborate laws； customs； creeds； with
aristocracies； priesthoodsseemingly always of a superior and conquering
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race； with a mass of mon folk； whether free or half…free； posed of
older conquered races； of imported slaves too； and their descendants。
But whence es the royal race； the aristocracy； the priesthood？ You
inquire； and you find that they usually know not themselves。 They are
usuallyI had almost dared to say； alwaysforeigners。 They have crossed
the neighbouring mountains。 The have e by sea； like Dido to
Carthage； like Manco Cassae and Mama Belle to America； and they have
sometimes forgotten when。 At least they are wiser； stronger； fairer； than
the aborigines。 They are to themas Jacques Cartier was to the Indians
of Canadaas gods。 They are not sure that they are not descended from
gods。 They are the Children of the Sun； or what not。 The children of
light； who ray out such light as they have； upon the darkness of their
subjects。 They are at first； probably； civilisers； not conquerors。 For； if
tradition is worth anythingand we have nothing else to go uponthey are
at first few in number。 They e as settlers； or even as single sages。 It
is； in all tradition； not the many who influence the few； but the few who
influence the many。
So aristocracies； in the true sense； are formed。
But the higher calling is soon forgotten。 The purer light is soon
darkened in pride and selfishness； luxury and lust； as in Genesis； the sons
of God see the daughters of men； that they are fair； and they take them
wives of all that they choose。 And so a mixed race springs up and
increases； without detriment at first to the monwealth。 For； by a
well…known law of heredity； the cross between two races； probably far
apart； produces at first a progeny possessing the forces； and； alas！ probably
the vices of both。 And when the sons of God go in to the daughters of
men； there are giants in the earth in those days； men of renown。 The
Roman Empire； remember； was neve