Evolution of the Earth. 107 



salts soaked out from the neighboring soil within the present geo- 

 logical period. 



One of the very widely diffused elements existing first in the 

 gaseous state is carbon. Early in the evolutionary history of the 

 earth, oxygen probably began to unite with it, forming carbon di- 

 oxide gas, which acted upon the exposed masses, forming carbon- 

 ates of the alkalies and alkaline earths. The carbonates of cal- 

 cium and magnesium are soluble only with great difficulty, while 

 sulphates and chlorides of the alkalies are leached out easily. 

 Hence the bottoms of the oceans are now found to consist largely 

 of impalpably fine sand, calcium-carbonate and magnesium-car- 

 bonate, independently of the subsequent production of calcium- 

 carbonate by organic agencies or sedimentation. The work of the 

 coral polyp is trifling in comparison with the chemical agencies 

 operating long before conditions were such as to permit animal life 

 of any kind. The subsequent crumpling of these areas is sufficient 

 to account for the great mountain masses of primitive unstratified 

 limestones and dolomites now so abundant. Crystalline marble 

 could never have owed its origin to organic agencies. 



This then, in connection with the testimony of the stratified 

 rocks, seems to be the story of creation as indicated by science, 

 in contrast with the Mosaic account. The two have no points of 

 contact. If one be accepted the other must be rejected. The 

 outline of development prior to the beginning of stratification 

 may be called a mere speculation. Granting this, it is a specula- 

 tion based on definite, well established grounds, and it has been 

 elaborated by the best minds that have been active in the domain 

 of chemistry and geology, such as Hunt, Forbes, Wurtz, Winchell, 

 and Hitchcock. These authors differ among themselves in mat- 

 ters of detail, but any one of them alone would be a better 

 authority than all the writers of antiquity put together. Possi- 

 bly, however, no intelligent reader to-day needs to be reminded 

 that God' s revelation to man may be as well through evolution as 

 through any book for which inspiration is claimed. To discredit 

 the Mosaic account may be like demolishing a man of straw. 

 Whichever of the two we accept, we are still face to face with 

 problems beyond human ken, and are forced to bow in humility 

 before the Infinite. 



