DARWIN AND WALLACE 41 



with their religious faith. Any question of the fact 

 that the species of to-day exist practically as they had 

 been handed down to the earth in the beginning by 

 the Creator himself seemed to most men a direct blow 

 at religion. At this time a very large number of 

 natural scientists were clergymen, hence the opposi- 

 tion had abundant and influential support. The storm 

 grew fiercer and more widespread. The publication 

 in 1859 of Darwin's great book on "The Origin of 

 Species by Means of Natural Selection or the Preser- 

 vation of Favored Races in the Struggle for Life" 

 added fuel to the flame. 



In 1860 the British Association met in Oxford, and 

 Bishop Wilberforce, the retiring president, in accord- 

 ance with the custom of the society, gave a summary 

 of the advance of science, especially during the pre- 

 ceding year. Everyone knew perfectly that the 

 bishop would deal with the species question, and that 

 he would handle it severely. Darwin was prevented 

 by his usual ill health from being present at this meet- 

 ing, but Huxley was there to see that their side of 

 the question received proper attention. The bishop 

 made a lengthy address, in the major portion of 

 which he brought forward entirely worthy objections 

 to Darwin's theories. Toward its close his feelings 

 overmastered him and he departed from his manu- 

 script and unburdened his mind. The lack of stenog- 



