IN TR OD UC TION. xx vii 



nature compels them to retract. Evolution, how- 

 ever, has not fared differently from the other grand 

 generalizations that now constitute the foundations 

 and pillars which support the noble and imposing 

 edifice of science. The Copernican theory, it will 

 be remembered, was denounced as anti-Scriptural ; 

 Newton's discovery of universal gravitation was con- 

 demned as atheistic ; while the researches of geolo- 

 gists were decried as leading to infidelity, and as 

 being " an awful evasion of the testimony of Reve- 

 lation." That the theory of Evolution should be 

 obliged to pass through the same ordeal as awaited 

 other attempts at scientific progress, is not surprising 

 to those who are familiar with the history of science; 

 but it is not a little strange that there are yet among 

 us those who derive such little profit from the 

 lessons of the past, and who still persist in the futile 

 attempt to solve by metaphysics problems which, 

 by their very nature, can be worked out only by the 

 methods of induction. 



Dr. Whewell, the erudite author of the " History 

 of the Inductive Sciences," was wont to declare that 

 every great discovery in science had to pass through 

 three stages. " First people said, ' It is absurd ! ' 

 then they said, ' It is contrary to the Bible ! ' and 

 finally they said, 'We always knew it was so!' 1 

 The truth of this observation of the famous Master 

 of Trinity is well exemplified in the case of Evolu- 

 tion. There are some who still denounce it as con- 

 trary to reason ; there are others who honestly believe 

 that it contradicts Scripture ; while there are not a 

 few, and the number is rapidly augmenting, who are 



