62 the president's address. 



1. That evolution is one of the great leading facts of nature and 

 is fairly well established. 



2. That survival of the fittest and sexual selection have probably 

 been the principal agents in effecting evolution of species. 



3. That the direct action of external circumstances has probably 

 had considerable influence, that the other causes suggested may 

 have assisted, and that almost pure chance may possibly have had 

 some trifling influence. 



4. That it is not improbable that there are other causes which 

 we have not yet traced which have contributed to the result. 



5. That we have not any reason whatever to suppose that life 

 has arisen out of non-living matter by evolution. 



