BIOGENESIS AND ABIOGENESIS 137 



only alternative is a return to the view that 

 life was introduced into this world by the 

 action of a Creator? It is generally perhaps 

 incorrectly assumed, that by spontaneous 

 generation (in writings of the class from which 

 we have been quoting) is meant spontaneous 

 generation by the powers of nature alone and 

 with no reference to a Creative act, which, 

 indeed, it can scarcely be doubted, is denied 

 by some, perhaps many, of these writers. 

 A lamentable want of clearness in writing and, 

 at times apparently, in thought makes one un- 

 certain as to their real views on this matter. At 

 any rate, let a biologist answer those who would 

 dispense with a Creator. Reinke* states it 

 as his opinion, and we may fully concur with 

 him, that "If we agree that living matter has 

 at some time come from inorganic substances 

 then, in my opinion, the Creation hypothesis 

 is the only one which meets the necessities of 

 Logic and of Causality and therewith answers 

 to the needs of a prudent seeker after nature." 



There are two further points which must be 

 touched upon before this matter is concluded. 



In the first place one must be quite clear of 

 this fact that though the genesis of living from May 

 not-living matter has never yet been demon- come from 

 st rated it is not, therefore, impossible that it 



* Einleitung in die Theoretische Bioloyie, s. 559. 



