35G Ax(t Gray: His L'ifa and Worh. 



found only in Northern China and Japan. A species of yew, the 

 Torreya, has also a similar distribution, the members of its family 

 being found only in the red-wood districts of California, in the 

 swamps of Florida, and in Northern China. The old theory was 

 that these trees were created, or originated in the neighborhood 

 of their present habitats, thus constituting several independent 

 stocks. Dr. Gi-ay maintained, however, that these trees originated 

 from a single stock, in Arctic Latitudes, when the climate was 

 warmer and the continents were not separated as now by wide 

 expanses of sea. By glacial action, or otherwise, they were 

 pushed southward in different localities, and tlie hardiest, most 

 adaptable stocks survived in the localities where tliey are now 

 found. This theory, now generally accei)ted by botanists, was 

 subsequently confirmed by tlie discovery of fossil red-wood trees 

 in the Arctic regions. 



Dr. Gray held that the doctrine of Evolution was compatible 

 with the belief that Nature the material universe is the 

 outcome of mind rather than that mind is the product of material 

 conditions. He held that the whole process of organic evolution 

 involved the idea of design, was an adaptation of means to ends. 

 He did not tliink, however, that it was necessary for the believer 

 in Christianity to assume the responsibility of attempting to 

 harmonize evolution with the natural science of Genesis. "With 

 the rise and development of astronomy, physics, geology, and 

 later of biological science,'' he said, "the tables were turned; and 

 now many religious beliefs or what were taken for such are 

 controlled and modified by scientific beliefs, none more so than in 

 the matter of ' Biblical Creation.' The result, I suppose, is that 

 no sensible person now believes what the most sensible i)ersons 

 believed formerly.'' On the ground of natural science, he held, 

 " Scientific^ belief must needs control the religious."* He thought, 

 however, that modern natural science, in any of its demonstrated 

 results t>r well-established beliefs, was not necessarily antagonistic 

 to the Christian religiim. 



Dr. Janes also spoke of Dr. Gray's kindness of heart and 

 friendship for children, mentioning some instances. 



Mk. James A. Skilton : 



The essay of the evening and its discussion by Miss Youmans 

 have given me the unique ex])erience of uniting the interest and 

 enjoyment of this present moment with the remend)ered fascina- 

 tions of a sort of pre-adamite or ante-deluvian age, speaking in 

 regard to the evolution of botanical science. 



It was my privilege, before I was half through my teens, in an 

 interval of rest from over-study, and between tlie i)rep;uatory 

 school and tlie university, to earn the degree of l^achclor of 

 Natural Science in the iirst institution established in the I 'nitcd 

 States for the especial study of Botany and the other Natural 

 Sciences and thereupon to practically almost abandon the 

 further pursuit of tliose sciences; only taking them up again in 

 the most general way as recjuired from time to time while watching 

 the development of the new science and jjliilosophy since the 

 publication of the "Origin of Species'' in 18")!. The bofcmical 

 system taught in that institution was that of Linnaeus. So it 



'Discuf^siun before "Evangelical Alliance," Sept. 11, 18J?2. 



