216 THE MENDEL JOURNAL 



chief types of the animal world, the scantier becomes the evi- 

 dence." It is needless for us to indicate after this that Father 

 Wasmann raises Man above nature and refuses to regard him as a 

 product of evolution. He even denies that Zoology has any claim 

 to express a conclusion as to the origin of Man. Psychology 

 alone among the natural sciences has that right. And, beyond 

 Psychology, Theology only has a right to pronounce a judgement 

 " as to the way man came into being." We are informed Psycho- 

 logy teaches us that " the soul of man is not only essentially 

 different from the soul of an animal, but is a simple spiritual 

 being. Such a being can come into existence only by way of 

 creation. Therefore the soul of man cannot owe its origin to 

 evolution." We are living in the rationalism and philosophy of 

 the 20th century, but this recalls to us the methods of the Scho- 

 lastics of mediaeval times. 



Father Wasmann, who acknowledges the evolution of lower 

 forms, has overlooked the fact that the conclusions relating to 

 Man's evolution are based upon evidence identical in its nature 

 with that which he admits is conclusive for these lower 

 forms. If this evidence is true for one it is as true for the other. 

 The introduction of an obvious prejudice, which is born of an 

 unjustifiable pride, into the problem of Man's origin may be good 

 Theology but it is bad Science. 



The book will, of course, appeal to many ; it will appeal to 

 those who seek for consolation and to whom Truth is only accept- 

 able when it is sweet. Those who desire solace in the contempla- 

 tion that " Man is a fallen Angel," rather than in believing he 

 is passing upwards to a higher state and to nobler realms of intelli- 

 gence and morality, will find in this book the comfort which they 

 seek. But, for our part, we feel a nobler pride in believing that 

 the evolutionary Angel is to be the goal of our nobler future, 

 rather than that it has been the lamented loss of a wicked past. 



In all countries and in all times, the Church — under whatever 

 denomination she may manifest herself — has high functions and 

 noble purposes to fulfil. And surely she must recognise that it is 

 better for her and for the populations she should guide, to con- 

 sider more exclusively these functions, rather than to intrude 

 prejudice or dogma into realms that do not concern her, unless it 

 be to give her light and guidance. 



We should like to discuss this book more fully were this a 

 fitting occasion. But the reader will find an interesting discussion 

 contributed to by distinguished members of Berlin Society in 

 the second part of the book. The reader will also find that it is 

 freely annotated by Father Wasmann. 



Taijlor, Oarm-it, Evans <(■ Co. Ltd., Printers, Lonilon, Manchester, and lieddish 



