88 EVOLUTION AND SOCIAL PROGRESS 



leaped into being, the "saltation theory," goes 

 back in its origin as far as the epoch-making dis- 

 coveries of Abbot Gregor Mendel, and was pro- 

 posed at an early period by R. von Kolliker and 

 St. George Mivart, 3 its protagonists. Later it 

 was taken up and generally popularized by such 

 eminent scientists as Hugo de Vries, Bateson, 

 Korschinsky, Galton, Scott, Eimer, Emery and 

 a host of others. 



But the question may naturally be asked: If 

 we must admit the sudden appearance of species, 

 may we not as well assume instead their imme- 

 diate production by direct creation, if so we de- 

 sire, as by "discontinuous variation?" The new 

 theory, it may be said, lessens the difficulties 

 that might once have been urged against the di- 

 rect creation theory of species. The fact is that 

 neither theology nor science forces us to accept 

 either one or the other conclusion. Theologi- 

 cally we are at perfect liberty, for as Father 

 Knabenbauer, S.J., says: "There is no objec- 

 tion, so far as faith is concerned, to assuming 

 the descent of all plant and animal species from 

 a few types." 4 Scientifically we are equally free, 

 for no theory hitherto proposed can even re- 

 motely be considered compelling in its evidence. 

 "Evidence," indeed, is a large word to be used in 

 connection with evolutionary theorizing. What 



| "On the Genesis of Species." (1871.) 



Catholic Enclycopedia," article, "Evolution." 



