4 THE RISE OF MAN. 



ing : "It would not be proper here to discuss the private 

 affairs of your family." Thus he imputed the blame of 

 a lowly origin to the families of those who believed in 

 evolution, and had the laugh on his side, but what re- 

 mained for the others ? A direct origin from the dust ! 

 They were of the earth earthy. 



Reactionary minds who upheld a literal belief in the 

 legend of man's creation from the dust of the ground, 

 went too far when they disclaimed the doctrine of the evo- 

 lution of all higher life from simple beginnings, but they 

 were right in one point, viz., in the sentiment that man 

 is not of the earth earthy, but that the very feature which 

 constitutes man's manhood is of a nobler origin, and that 

 after all man, in this sense, can claim the privilege of 

 divine sonship. 



