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tiie whole best adapted to the circumstances in which they are 

 placed are most Ukely to leave descendants. 



The theory of Evolution does not attempt to account for the 

 origin of life. It starts with the fact of life as existing in germs, 

 and through embryonic development and observation upon living 

 adults, it traces out subsequent evolution. Here evolution is a 

 process not a power — its factors are Heredity, Environment, and 

 Adaptation. This last is carried on in harmony with a formulated 

 experience known as " Natural Selection " or the " Survival of the 

 fittest ;" and although it may be doubted whether the environ- 

 ment of any individual organism can operate so as to produce a 

 permanent variety, minor variations are constantly arising, and 

 such of them as prove strong and beneficial are reproduced. 

 Evolution thus is a process leading to progress, and is a general 

 principle or process applicable not only to the physical growth of 

 plants and animals, but is to be found in morals, politics, and 

 even religion itself. 



Darwin himself cannot be said to have regarded the principles 

 he has set forth as antagonistic to the belief in a Creator. In 

 addition to the closing words of his work on the Origin of Species, 

 he quotes with approval words written to him by one who says, 

 " He has gradually learned to see there is just as noble a concep- 

 tion of the Deity to believe that He has created a few original 

 forms capable of self development into other and needful forms, as 

 to believe that He required a fresh art of creation to supply the 

 ends caused by the action of His own laws." 



Evolution, or progress, as a fact must be admitted ; but even 

 then it may be conceived of either as a process advancing without 

 an aim, or as one tending to the perfection of all animate things, 

 adapting them so as to obtain from their sm-roundiug conditions 

 the greatest amount of strength and enjoyment. Such adaptation 

 may be mainly dependent upon external conditions or, as Professor 

 Hoffmann after 20 years of labour in modifjong plants has 

 supposed, by internal organic agencies at present unknown ; or, 

 we would add, by some agency ever watchful, ever present, ever 

 working by fixed and defined rules to the attainment of the 

 highest ends. 



It is said that the doctrine of natural selection shocks us by 

 striking a blow at all design in nature: for as only the fittest 

 things survive, we live because the hostile forces of nature could 



