300 WALKS AND TALKS. 



phase is derived from the preceding phase through a material 

 continuity. The developed embryo is all made of the very 

 yolk-stuff which existed in the beginning. If the living 

 gradation is derived from the embryonic, there must be a 

 material continuity or relationship among living animals as 

 we already inferred from their resemblances. If the palseon- 

 tological gradation is derived from or determined by, the 

 embryonic, so there must have been a material continuity 

 running through the palseontological series, as we could 

 easily infer from their successional resemblances. Each new 

 species is derived from a predecessor. The highest and the 

 living forms are only the last terms of a long series of 

 generations. 



Do not be alarmed at the conclusion. If it is true, it is 

 precisely what we are interested in finding out. If it is not 

 true, then science herself will disprove it. Our fears of con- 

 sequences, our unscientific objections and prejudices count for 

 nothing, except as complaints against God's method in the 

 world. 



L/II. THE HUMAN R ACTOR IN THE 

 VICISSITUDES. 



MAN IN THE LIGUT OF SCIENCE. 



Now that we have traveled over the entire course of ter- 

 restrial history, we seem to have attained an eminence from 

 which we can take some comprehensive glimpses of the whole 

 in its relations. Now that we find man to stand at the end 

 of that history, we are able to comprehend the relation which 

 he sustains to its successive steps. Let us look over the field 

 and see what it suggests. 



We learn, first of all, that man is the fulfillment of the 

 prophecies of the ages. The first step of organic progress led 

 toward man. It determined the direction of the cour.se of 

 organization, and now that we know man was destined to 

 stand at the end of that progress, we understand that the 

 law of progress contemplated man. Striking illustrations of 



