ENV OE UF TON. 
CHAPTER ONE. 
An Outline of the Theory. 
Definition. 
Evolution is a name comprehending certain theories 
which seek to account for all operations of nature as 
carried on according to fixed laws by means of forces 
resident in matter. Prof. J. LeConte of the University 
of California defines evolution as: “Continuous pro- 
gressive change according to certain laws and by means 
of resident forces.” Evolution is a theory, a philosophy, 
it is not a science. The theory is called organic evolu- 
tion in its relation to living forms (plant and animal 
life), cosmic evolution, inasmuch as attempts have been 
made to account by certain laws and the working of 
resident forces for the development of the universe,— 
the earth, the sun, and the starry heavens. Also the 
development of society, of religion, morals, politics, 
art, and mechanical inventions is accounted for on the 
theory that there are forces which, acting according to 
certain laws, have through many changes made human 
life and institutions as we see them today. 
The doctrine of Evolution briefly stated, is as fol- 
lows: That in some infinitely remote period in the past, 
how or from whence science does not affirm, there ap- 
peared matter and force; that within matter and in 
association with force there also appeared a primordial 
cell, how or from whence no man knoweth, in which 
there was a spark of life; and that from this cell all 
things animate have emerged, being controlled by cer- 
tain laws variously stated by various evolutionists; that 
