14 A GREAT CONFESSION CHAP. 



this theory is merely one of the many 

 follies and fanaticisms of his followers. 



Although, therefore, the particular 

 case chosen by Mr. Herbert Spencer to 

 illustrate the incompetency of natural 

 selection, taken alone, to explain all the 

 facts of organic evolution is a case of 

 little or no value for the purpose, yet 

 the attitude of mind into which he is 

 thrown in the conduct of his argument 

 leads him to results which are eminently 

 instructive. The impulse " critically to 

 examine" such a phrase as " natural 

 selection " is in itself an impulse quite 

 certain to be fruitful. The very origin 

 of that impulse gives it of necessity right 

 direction. Antagonism to a prevalent 

 dogma so unreasoning as to set up such 

 a mere phrase as the embodiment of a 

 complete philosophy is an antagonism 

 thoroughly wholesome. Once implanted 

 in Mr. Herbert Spencer's mind, it is 



