The Evolution Hypothesis. 



by the most bigoted ecclesiastic with greater arro- 

 gance, or in a narrower spirit. Mr. Spencer, for his 

 part, follows out his conclusions with the confidence 

 of one assured of their validity, yet without dis- 

 paragement of those who interpret nature from 

 a different standpoint; but the disciples outrun the 

 master, and one who boldly questions the popular 

 creed may look for rough handling as a heretic. 



It does not lie in my way, in the following discus- 

 sion, to engage in the well-worn controversy as to the 

 relations of science and religion. Mr. Spencer has 

 devoted a chapter to the exposition of his view that 

 the knowable is the realm of science and the unknow- 

 able the home of religion. Into this question I do not 

 enter. The harmony of these contrasted departments 

 of knowledge, too often placed in apparent conflict, 

 will be most effectively established by a careful exa- 

 mination of their distinctive principles and methods, 

 and a clear recognition of the just claims of each in its 

 own province. Religion, in so far as it touches science, 

 is only concerned in securing veracity in searching for 

 and dealing with facts, so as to arrive at a truthful 

 elucidation of the complex world in which man 

 lives and serves. Faith is not directly concerned hi 

 the acceptance or rejection of any theory lying clearly 

 within the domain belonging of right to science. No 

 interpretation of the order of nature within the limits 

 of actual or possible discovery conflicts, or can conflict, 

 with any distinctively religious truth. Whether the 



