Herbert Spencer. lO' 



ABSTRACT OF THE DISCUSSION. 



Mr. James A. .Skii/iun: — 



Before enteriiifjf upon the discussion of the admirable essay of 

 Mr. Thompson, I may be permitted, having had httle or nothing 

 to do Avith its preparation, to congratulate you on this splendid 

 programme of Essays and Eeadings upon tlie sulijeot of Evolution. 

 It may seem too much to say at this time, but I believe it will give 

 a great Impulse to the study of Evolution in the Christian church 

 and elsewhere in America, and may produce effects now expected 

 by few. Personally holding this opinion with tenacity and en- 

 tire con\iction, I might nevertheless not be willing to express 

 it here and now if I stood alone in entertaining it. But I am 

 made bold to utter it by the fact that I am in possession of the 

 opinion of the Master himself on the subject, as expressed in the 

 letter which I will now read : 



"The Xook, Horsham Road, Dorking, 

 "Dear Sir: 24th .July, 1888. 



"I am obliged by your letter of July lltli, with its enclosures. 

 I am glad to say, and you Avill perhaps be glad to hear, that I am 

 considerably better than when I gave to Dr. W. J. Youmans the 

 impression you quote. Leaving London in a very low state about 

 a month ago, I have since improved greatly, and am now in hopes^ 

 of getting back to something like the low level of health which I 

 before had, though I scarcely expect to reach that amount of work- 

 ing power which has been usual with me. 



" The information contained in your letter was, I need hardly 

 say, gratifying to me both on jiersonal and on public grounds. 

 The spread of the doctrine of Evolution, first of all in its limited 

 acceptation and now in its wider acceptation, is alike surprising 

 and encouraging; and doubtless the movement now to be initiated 

 by the lectures and essays set forth in your programme will 

 greatly accelerate its progress — especially if full reports of your 

 proceedings canTbe circulated in a cheap printed form. The mode 

 of presentation described seems to me admirably adapted for pop- 

 ularizing evolution views, and it will, I think, be a great i)ity if the 

 effect of such a presentation should be limited to a few listeners 

 in Brooklyn. 



"Wishing you and your coadjutors every success in your efforts^ 



"lam, truly, yours, 

 "Mr. J. A. Skiltox." "Herbert Spexcer." 



