XXI V B VOL UTION A ND DOGMA . 



one may safely follow them with the utmost confi- 

 dence, and with the full assurance that ample justice 

 will always be done to the claims of both science 

 and Dogma. 



In the present work I have studiously avoided 

 everything that could justly be construed as an ex- 

 aggeration of the results achieved by science, or as a 

 minimizing of the dogmatic teachings of the Church 

 of God. I have endeavored to present Catholic 

 doctrines and scientific tenets in their true light, and 

 to exhibit the mutual relations of one to the other 

 in the fairest possible manner. Purely ex parte 

 statements and special pleadings are alien from a pro- 

 fessedly didactic work, and hence my constant effort 

 has been to avoid all bias, to present impartially and 

 dispassionately both sides of controverted questions, 

 and to favor only such conclusions as seemed to be 

 warranted by indisputable evidence. 



The Church is committed to no theory as to the 

 origin of the world or its inhabitants. Hence, as a 

 Catholic, I am bound to no theory of Evolution or 

 of special creation, except in so far as there may be 

 positive evidence in behalf of such theory. As a 

 man of science I must estimate, as everyone else 

 must estimate, the merits or demerits of any hy- 

 pothesis respecting the genesis and development of 

 the divers forms of life, simply and solely by the 

 arguments which can be advanced in its support. I 

 have no prepossessions for Evolution ; nor have I 

 any prejudice against special creation. If it can be 

 demonstrated that Evolution is the modus creandi 

 which the Almighty has been pleased to adopt, I 



