4 Till' CKXESTS OF SPECIES. [Chap. 



It cannot Itut l)e a •^^aiii ulien tlie laliourers in tlie tliree 

 fields above mentioned, namely, science, philosophy and 

 religion, shall fully recognize this harmony. Then the 

 energy too often spent in futile controversy, or witlilield 

 through prejudice, may be profitaldy and reciprocally 

 exercised for the mutual benefit of all. 



Eemarkable is the rapidity ^vith uhich an interest in 

 the question of specific origination has spread. But a 

 few years ago it scarcely occupied the minds of any but 

 naturalists. Tlion the cnule theory put forth by Lamarck, 

 and bv his En<dish intena-eter, the author of the " Yesti<xes 

 of Creation," had rather discredited than helped on a Ixdief 

 in organic evolution — a belief, that is, in new kinds being 

 produced from older, ones by the ordinary and constant 

 operation of natural laws. Xow, however, this notion is 

 widelv diffused. Indeed, there are few drawing-rooms 

 where it is not the subject of occasional discussion, and 

 artisans and schoolboys have their views as to the per- 

 manence of organic forms. jNIoreover, the reception of 

 this doctrine tends actually, though by no means neces- 

 sarilv, to be accompanied bv certain beliefs witli regard 

 to quite distinct and very momentous subject-matter. So 

 that the question of the " Genesis of Species " is not only 

 one of great interest, Imt also of much consequence. 



But thougli the calm and thorough consideration of this 

 matter is at the present moment exceedingly desirable, yet 

 the actual importance of the question itself as to its con- 

 se<|uences in the domain of theology has been strangely 

 exaggerated by many, ijoth of its opponents and sup- 

 porters. This is especially the case witli that form of 

 the evolution theorv whicli is associated with the name 

 of Mr. Ihirwin; and vet neither the refutation nor th.e 



