TWENTIETH CENTURY EVOLUTIONISM 89 



is needed above all things is less positiveness and 

 more humility, such as the great Newton pos- 

 sessed. We have but scratched the surface of na- 

 ture's secrets, and our sum of knowledge is little 

 more than ignorance in the presence of the mys- 

 teries that surround us. 



Not merely humility, but a sense of humor is 

 wanting in materialism. Aside from the absurd- 

 ity of that travesty before high heaven, which 

 dictatorially pronounces upon the non-existence of 

 a Creator as if evidence to this effect could be 

 gathered from nature, we need but refer to the 

 countless fantastic theories that have constantly 

 sprung up into being. Under an incubus of learn- 

 ing that astounds the world are hatched out sci- 

 entific follies which, if expressed in plain lan- 

 guage and scrutinized in the cold light of reason, 

 would make merriment for the nations. Though 

 elaborately discussed in profound works of mod- 

 ern science until replaced by still newer theories 

 and in turn profoundly forgotten, they deserve 

 to be taken less seriously than the famous Mil- 

 tonic description of Creation, which may at all 

 events be considered a dignified conception of 

 Almighty Power calling forth life from the dust 

 of the earth, both interesting and poetical: 



The grassy clods now calved, now half appeared 

 The tawny lion, pawing to get free 

 His hinder parts, then springs as broke from bonds, 

 And rampant shakes his brindled mane; the ounce, 



