RELIGION AND SCIENCE 251 



in this sea of tranquillity. True for one thing that 

 an almost inconceivable number of millions of years 

 must elapse before this ''death of matter" is realized; 

 and for another that we are unable to understand 

 how such a progressive degradation could have been 

 in operation from all eternity. We must not expect 

 complete knowledge within a few years or a few cen- 

 turies; but even if the beginning is veiled — for there 

 is no more evidence for a "creation" than for (say) 

 a rhythmic reversal of the direction of energy-avail- 

 ability — and if it is always possible that some un- 

 foreseen change in the process should occur before 

 the whole runs down, yet it is a fact (and we are re- 

 solved to be agnostic save about facts) that, here 

 and now, a direction is to be observed in the evolu- 

 tion of inorganic matter, by which natural operations 

 are tending to become less active, and the amount of 

 available energy is diminishing. If it continues in- 

 definitely, first life, and later on all activity and 

 change whatsoever will cease. There is a tendency 

 towards death and towards unchanging inactivity. 



The next great category is that of the organic, of 

 living matter. We have to consider its origin and 

 later history. So far as constitution goes, living 

 matter is merely a special and highly complicated 

 form of ordinary matter; and there can be no reason- 

 able doubt that it has originated naturally from non- 

 living matter. 



While the main direction of the inorganic has been 

 towards degradation of energy, it has shown another 



