IN THE BEGINNING 65 



etc., and then a number of these biogens unite to form the 

 unicellular organism, or the cells of the higher animal. The 

 biogen would be below the range of microscopic visibility. 

 It would only come into definite view when a number 

 clustered together to form a microbe. It is believed by 

 several competent biologists (such as Dr. Bastian, Professor 

 Naegeli, Professor Bolsche, Professor Haeckel, etc.) that 

 these biogens may be forming daily in our waters, and only 

 coming upon our horizon when a number of them have 

 combined. Some of these students think the tiny formless 

 specks which the microscopist often notices and ignores in 

 his water-slide may be such biogens. 



However that may be, the evolutionist must assume that 

 something like the biogens preceded the microbe in point 

 of time. But the biogen is still a particle of plasm, and 

 we have not in nature any series of inorganic substances 

 bridging the distance between plasm and ordinary matter. 

 How does the evolutionist cover the discrepancy? He may 

 decline the attempt and remain agnostic. Sir W. Turner 

 dealt with the subject in his presidential address to the 

 British Association a few years ago, and took up that attitude. 

 It is the habitual one among biologists. They are entirely 

 opposed to the creationist or the spiritist solutions, as 

 altogether groundless ; but at the same time they hesitate to 

 frame a hypothesis in the present state of our knowledge. 

 Others advance the following considerations. 



It is very difficult for us to realise the condition of the 

 earth at the time definite living things appeared, and during 

 the long series of chemical combinations that culminated in 



F 



