Introductory. 



temper of our time to be dissatisfied with less than 

 unity. Science, looking on nature as continuous, ac- 

 counts it her task to disclose how phenomenon is linked 

 to phenomenon throughout the entire cosmos. The 

 evolution doctrine satisfies this craving after mani- 

 fested continuity. It proposes to reveal the universe 

 as one in co-existence and succession throughout all 

 space and all time. It is the embodiment of the 

 modern scientific spirit. The man of science recog- 

 nises in it the articulate expression of his mental 

 attitude towards the universe. His faith in the hypo- 

 thesis stands not in the conclusiveness of the proofs 

 adduced in its support, but in his sense of its fitness 

 to harmonize the separate parts of his knowledge, 

 and to answer his intellectual yearning after organ- 

 ized completeness of thought. In that inner scientific 

 sense analogous to the spiritual feeling that responds 

 to religious truth there is a strong persuasion in 

 favour of the doctrine. To the inquirer who knows 

 his mind at rest ; who, if we might venture to borrow 

 the expression, " has found peace " in the new mode 

 of conceiving the order of the universe, the conviction 

 of its truth seems irresistible. He discovers confirma- 

 tion where the doubter finds contradiction. He be- 

 comes impatient as a zealot with those who cannot 

 see with his eyes and receive his teaching. Every 

 soul that will not accept his gospel is under condem- 

 nation, and in danger of being left in the outer 

 darkness. No article ol: religion has been maintained 



