ATTRIBUTES OF INANIMATE MATTER. 183 



every change was effected with an object and end in 

 view. Such are the opinions of the religionist or the 

 optimist who believes that " every thing was made 

 for the best." Views of this kind will always pre- 

 vail, for they can not be successfully attacked and 

 overthrown. The evolutionist may declare that this 

 planet in its present state is a necessity of matter and 

 force in the universe, and that there is no evidence of 

 design in the entire cosmogony. Running counter to 

 this materialistic view is the fact that the earth is 

 enveloped in air (a combination of oxygen and nitro- 

 gen), which in its purity is essential to life ; and that 

 water (a union of hydrogen and oxygen), a necessity 

 for organic life, is every-where abundant. If these 

 compounds occurred in an accidental manner, without 

 influences that execute purposes, the occurrences were 

 more fortunate than fortuitous actions in general. 

 Furthermore, a planet with crystalline surfaces, with 

 glittering prisms, and planes and angles in mathe- 

 matical proportions, would be an inhospitable place 

 for plants and animals ; hut after the rocks had been 

 disintegrated by the action of alternate heat and cold, 

 and ground to powder by moving ice and dashing 

 water, a soil, loam, or humus would be elaborated, 

 which should prove a necessity for the sustenance of 

 vegetation ; and such operations have been going on 

 for thousands of years, as if to prepare the earth's 

 surface for the support of life. The result was not 

 brought about quickly, but was slowly elaborated 

 during cycles of time. The forces at work were 

 never exhausted ; and the ends accomplished show a 

 spirit of progress that is not seen in the ordinary 

 operations of inorganic matter. 



The evolutionist, on the other hand, contends 



