WI/V WAS EVOLUTION THE METHOD? 49 



would come when the directing of part of the 

 course of Evolution would pass into the hands of 

 Man. A spectator of the drama for ages, too ignor- 

 ant to see that it was a drama, and too impotent 

 to do more than play his little part, the discovery- 

 must sooner or later break upon him that Nature 

 meant him to become a partner in her task, and 

 share the responsibility of the closing acts. It is 

 not given to him as yet to bind the sweet influences 

 of Pleiades, or to unloose the bands of Orion. In 

 part only can he make the winds and waves obey 

 him, or control the falling rain. But in larger part 

 he holds the dominion of the world of lower life. 

 He exterminates what he pleases ; he creates and 

 he destroys ; he changes ; he evolves ; his selection 

 replaces natural selection ; he replenishes the earth 

 with plants and animals according to his will. But 

 in a far grander sphere, and in an infinitely pro- 

 founder sense, has the sovereignty passed to him. 

 For, by the same decree, he finds himself the 

 guardian and the arbiter of his personal destiny, 

 and that of his fellow-men. The moulding of his 

 life and of his children's children in measure lie 

 with him. Through institutions of his creation, 

 through Parliaments, Churches, Societies, Schools, 

 he shapes the path of progress for his country and 

 his time. The evils of the world are combated by 



