XXX EVOLUTION AND DOGMA. 



thing akin to the idea contained in this beautiful 

 passage, has been uppermost in my mind in the pen- 

 ning of the following pages. A kindred thought 

 has been dominant in every topic discussed. It has 

 given me courage to undertake, and strength to com- 

 plete, a work which otherwise would never have been 

 attempted, and which, during the whole course of 

 its preparation, I would fain have seen intrusted to 

 more competent hands. My sole, my ardent desire, 

 has been to show that there is nothing in true sci- 

 ence, nothing in any of the theories duly accredited 

 by science and warranted by the facts of nature, 

 nothing in Evolution, when properly understood, 

 which is contrary to Scripture or Catholic teaching ; 

 that, on the contrary, when viewed in the light of 

 Christian philosophy and theology, there is much in 

 Evolution to admire, much that is ennobling and 

 inspiring, much that illustrates and corroborates the 

 truths of faith, much that may be made ancillary to 

 revelation and religion, much that throws new light 

 on the mysteries of creation, much that unifies and 

 coordinates what were otherwise disconnected and 

 disparate, much that exalts our ideas of creative 

 power and wisdom and love, much, in fine, that 

 makes the whole circle of the sciences tend, as never 

 before, ad major em Dei gloriam. 



