INTRODUCTION. 13 



Darwin has been subjected to thorough examina- 

 tion. It has been carefully applied to all sorts of 

 facts ; its weak points and strong points have been 

 discovered ; and new theories have been suggested 

 in its place. The prominence of this question in 

 modern times is therefore due to the influence of 

 Darwin, and his name will always be associated with 

 it, even though he was not the originator of the 

 theory of evolution, and though his own explanation 

 of the theory should be largely abandoned. 



Evolution and Theology. 



From the very first, evolution has been obliged to 

 contend with prejudices arising partly from igno- 

 rance of the theory and partly from the natural 

 tendency to cherish old ideas. The current conflict 

 of science and religion has at times been vigorous 

 over this question. Scientists, by this theory, offered 

 to remove a whole series of miraculous events from 

 nature. Species, which were before looked upon as 

 the direct handiwork of God, were now regarded as 

 the results of natural law. Evolution was supposed 

 to be in contradiction to revelation, which had al- 

 ways been supposed to teach the special creation of 

 species. Atheistic scientists claimed to have aimed 

 a heavy blow at theism by this theory, and the the- 

 ists quite naturally attempted to destroy the weapon 

 before the blow reached them. The weapon has 

 not been destroyed, but it has been found to be 

 harmless, for theism stands unmoved by evolution- 

 ary theories. 



The arguments which have been most potent in 



