782 BIOGKAPHICAL MEMOIRS. 



Gray apparently uses the word beneficial in the sense of being fore- 

 ordained to be beneficial. 



Perhaps we must look to inheritance itself for an explanation of the 

 difference in the views of Gray and Darwin. The Gray family were 

 devout members of the Presbyterian Church, and throughout his life 

 Dr. Gray adhered faithfully to the orthodox faith of his fathers, his 

 own views being in harmony with those of the liberal branch rather 

 than with those of the conservative branch of that communion. The 

 agnostic position of Darwin may perhaps be inferred froai his own de- 

 scription of himself and his father as belonging " nominally to [the] 

 Church of England,'' an expression which leads one to believe that he 

 was hardly to be counted a member of that or any other denomination. 

 When a young man, Gray certainly had no leanings towards evolution. 

 In his review of the " Vestiges of Creation," in the North American 

 Keview of 1846, he wrote: "Although 'geology fully proves' that 

 there have been various creations, that different species were created 

 at different periods, and that some of the humblest and simplest first 

 appeared, while laud animals, quadrupeds, (puulrumana, and bimana 

 were not introduced until after the earth was fitted for their residence, 

 yet we are still to be convinced that they were not then created as per- 

 fect as they now are." But he was convinced later, when he studied 

 the relations of the North American flora to that of Asia, and he ac- 

 cepted without hesitation the view that the present species are not 

 special creations, but derived from previously existing species, at a time 

 when the truth of the theory was scarcely recognized by any naturalists, 

 and at a date when in the public mind a belief in evolution meant athe- 

 ism. He had the courage to avow openly his convictions, but, on the 

 other hand, never allowed his convictions to be governed by wild 

 speculations. 



But we who have known Asa Gray so many years would now recall, 

 not the great botanist, but rather the kind-hearted, genial man, whose 

 sympathy cheered and whose wisdom guided, whose heart was ever 

 young, whose brain was ever active. His long life, unclouded by great 

 sorrow and almost free from personal enmities, was inspired throughout 

 by a faith which never faltered. Retaining to the last the energy and 

 vivacity of youth, his intellect broadening and ripening, his character 

 growing more and more sweet and serene, he reminds us of one of those 

 trees which bear flowers and fruit at the same time. Industrious to an 

 extent that few could equal, his work done, he enjoyed society with a 

 relish, and his ready wit, his inexhaustible stock of anecdotes, and his 

 quick and keen appreciation of the best in literature and art, made him 

 everywhere welcome. His own house was open to all, and even those 

 who came to pay the simple tribute of staring were not often turned 

 away. With a graceful hospitality to whi(;h wealth could have lent no 

 grentcr charm, he entertained the learned of many nations, and wel- 

 comed with special cordiality his brother botanists, a long array, iuclud- 



