EX-PRESIDENT PORTER ON EVOLUTION. 591 



Finally, as to the relation of the evolution philosophy to the belief 

 in immortality and in a personal God. When Darwin was asked by 

 some one whether his theories were consistent with faith in Christ, 

 he answered that they had no bearing upon faith in Christ, except 

 in so far as they might render those who adopted them exceedingly 

 careful as to the evidence for any belief or opinion presented for their 

 acceptance. The answer was a good one ; and a somewhat similar 

 answer may serve us here. The doctrine of evolution is simply a 

 mode of conceiving: and accounting for the succession of events on the 

 earth. It is in no sense a metaphysical or ontological doctrine, and 

 lays no claim to the absoluteness with which metaphysical and onto- 

 logical doctrines are invested. It does not pretend to penetrate to 

 essences or to unveil final causes. If it is regarded by some as solv- 

 ing all mysteries, that is simply because they do not adequately un- 

 derstand it. Mr. Spencer certainly has never given countenance to 

 such an idea. It does, however, as Darwin said of his philosophy, call 

 constant attention to the need for proving all things. It strikes at the 

 idea of authority, always excepting the constitutional authority, as we 

 may term it, of demonstrated truth. What is troubling the theolo- 

 gians to-day is that it is making good the claim advanced by Christian 

 Wolff for philosophy, namely, that it should embrace the whole do- 

 main of knowledge. There may be a great deal of wild talk about 

 evolution on the part of people whose ideas on the subject are crude 

 and superficial, just as there is a great deal of wild talk about art 

 and about politics among people who know next to nothing of these 

 subjects. Nevertheless, one good effect is everywhere apparent the 

 growing demand for proof in lieu of dogma. Now, the doctrine of 

 immortality is just in this position, that, heretofore, it has been 

 accepted upon authority upon the same authority as that upon which 

 the most preposterous fables have been given out as solid truth. 

 That authority is discredited, and among the intelligent classes is 

 becoming more so from day to day. The doctrine of immortality, 

 therefore, has to seek out new proofs ; and up to the present it is 

 still engaged in the quest. That an emotional longing for immor- 

 tality is common among men is no doubt true ; and, if that is a 

 ground for believing in it, then the case may be considered proved. 

 Those upon whom the methods of modern science have taken hold 

 will probably ask for more conclusive demonstration. 



The idea of God, again, is compromised to some extent in the same 

 manner as the doctrine of immortality, namely, by the discrediting of 

 the authority upon which it has been taught. It has now to maintain 

 itself in the open field of philosophy. To say that it is found in the 

 Bible, and is to be believed because it is there, is no longer sufficient. 

 In the present state of thought, the belief in God must be borne in 

 upon the human mind, as the result and consummation of all its activi- 

 ties, or it will certainly lose ground. If Dr. Porter can teach, with 



