compromise between their religious and their scientific beliefs, ‘Under these circumstances, its no wonder that the atheist movement which calls religion an arbitrary delusion invented by power-hungry priests and which has nothing but words of de- rision for the pious faith in a supreme power above man, is eagerly taking advantage of the progress of scientific knowledge; allegedly in alli- ance with natural science, the movement conti uues to spread at an ever quickening pace its dis- ruptive influence over all nations and classés of mankind. 1 need not go here into a more detailed discussion of the fact that the victory of atheism would not only destroy the most valuable treas- ures of our civilization, but—what is even worse —would annihilate the very hope for a better future, Thus, Marguerite's question to the man to whom she gave her love and trust gains a most profound significance also for those who anxiously endeavor to find out whether the progress of natural sciences is actually bringing about 2 de- struction of true religion, IE we study Faust’s concise reply, spoken with