EVIDENCE FROM EXPERIMENT 171 



an eclipse is strong proof that the theory of lunar 

 and terrestrial motions, from which he makes his 

 calculations, is sound. From irregularities in the 

 motion of Uranus, the outermost planet then visible, 

 the astronomers predicted the discovery of another 

 planet beyond, and the prediction was verified when 

 Neptune was discovered with the telescope. This 

 was rightly accepted as convincing proof that 

 the theory of the solar system and of planetary 

 motions, from which these distinguished men had 

 worked, was true. Similarly, predictions and deduc- 

 tions have been made and subsequently verified con- 

 cerning "missing links" in genealogical series. I my- 

 self had the great pleasure of finding hi the rocks of 

 northern Utah a fossil animal with a type of denti- 

 tion which no man had ever seen, but which had been 

 predicted some time before by Dr. Max Schlosser 

 of Munich. That such predictions can be and have 

 been successfully made, is very strong evidence that 

 the theory of evolution, which is assumed as the 

 basis of deduction, is well founded. 



Admitting fully all that has been said, we must 

 yet beware of erecting evolution into a sacred dogma 

 which no one shall dare to criticise or doubt. Huxley 

 has rightly said that "Science commits suicide when 

 she adopts a creed," and it is a duty to keep the 

 mind ever open for new and revolutionary discover- 

 ies, which may change the aspect and significance of 

 all previously acquired knowledge. While I believe 

 that the evolutionary conception of nature is one 



