17 



energy, it should for the present at least be regarded as "not 

 proven." 



The other doctrine, that of Evolution and its correlative 

 doctrine of Descent, stands in an entirely different position. At 

 first, it was a mere hypothesis suggested in 1801 by Lamarck 

 who upheld the doctrine that all species, including man, are' 

 descended from other species, and that organic life was one long 

 chain of successive development. It was next touched upon by 

 Geoffrey Saint Hilaire in 1828, by the Hon. and Rev. W. Herbert 

 in his work on " Amaryllidacesfi," published in 1837, and subse- 

 quently by the author of the "Vestiges of Creation," by Mr. 

 Wallace and others. But now the laborious, extensive and pains- 

 taking observations of Darwin have raised it into a theory which 

 has become identified with his name. 



Doubtless, the views and opinions of this acute and profound 

 observer are much misunderstood. There are many, as Sir John 

 Lubbock suggests, who think that according to this theory, a 

 sheep might turn into a cow, or a zebra be developed into a horse, 

 or an ape grow into a man; there are others who regard this 

 view as entirely opposed to the belief in the existence of a 

 supreme intelligence, working with a beneficent design, and as 

 distinctly contradictory to what is set forth in our sacred writings, 

 and therefore unworthy of acceptance 



I am free to confess that I have no sympathy with either of 

 these modes of regarding the wonderful yet simple law which was 

 formulated by this illustrious observer, to express the method and 

 results of the working of nature in organic life. Nowhere is he 

 found asserting that an anthropoid ape could turn into a man; 

 only that as to their physical constitution both may be descended 

 from a common stock, a supposition in no way contradictory to 

 the brief account of man's origin transmitted to us from Eastern 

 sources. On this theory variation is at all times treated as con- 

 nected with or dependent upon adaptation to specific ends, which 

 certainly appears to be a true mark of design. The axioms upon 

 which this theory is based are stated by Sir John Lubbock as— 

 (1). That no two animals or plants in nature are identical in all 

 respects. (2). That the offspring tend to inherit the peculiarities 

 of their parents. (3). That of those who come into existence only 

 a small number reach maturity. (4). That those which are on 



