1 8 The Evolution Hypothesis. 



throughout, moulded and moved in every part by the 

 same active principle. It is community of the sort we 

 recognize when we observe in different works traces 

 of the same intelligence, touches of the same hand. 



Consider these fields of knowledge, and it will be 

 evident how fruitless is the attempt to find in them 

 one operative principle by which they may be reduced 

 to unity. 



(1.) God exists in the view of thought : it is impos- 

 sible, if we would, to rid ourselves of that Presence. 

 Mr. Spencer bears convincing testimony to this fact. 

 Under the veil of what he calls the Unknowable, a 

 something the Absolute Reality lies present to 

 thought in every process of reasoning. Granted that 

 our consciousness of it is vague, undefined, still the 

 inscrutable actuality is there. This element being a 

 real and necessary element of consciousness brings 

 into view, though it may be indefinitely, a real exis- 

 tence. To unify all objects of whose existence we 

 have proof is manifestly impossible, until we shall 

 have brought this Reality into organic relation with 

 all other concrete existences known to us. But no 

 principle can be discovered which will effect such 

 unification. There is here a manifest and insuperable 

 breach of continuity in our knowledge. Till continuity 

 is established at this point, it is clear that the totality 

 of existences not imaginary but concrete existences, 

 existences of which we have indubitable evidence 

 cannot be brought together in one. Much more, if we 



