THE DESCENT OF MAN 55 



at the outset let me emphasise the fact that zoology 

 and its attendant sciences, as long as they limit 

 themselves to their proper sphere of investigation, 

 are perfectly free to discuss the origin of man. The 

 assured results of theology need serve them only 

 as an external standard, for one truth cannot con- 

 tradict another. If science reveals some undoubted 

 truth, theologians will accept it. I can vouch for 

 the accuracy of this statement. 



What scientific proofs are there of the descent 

 of man from beasts, as far as his body is concerned ? 



We must distinguish two chief classes of proofs, 

 the zoological and the palceontological. 



I must try to express myself in the most concise 

 manner possible in dealing with the enormous 

 mass of facts presented to us for consideration. 



1. Under the heading of zoology, we must first 

 refer to comparative morphology, as far as it is 

 concerned with the question. It tells us that the 

 human body is that of the most highly developed 

 mammal ; and it shows us many resemblances 

 between man and other mammals in the formation 

 of the skeleton, of certain organs and of the nervous 

 system. It would not occur to any scientist to 

 deny that these facts lend a certain amount of 

 probability to the theory of man's descent from 

 beasts, but, on the other hand, we must not over- 

 look the various differences, which comparative 

 morphology reveals as distinguishing man and beast, 

 and especially as marking off man from the higher 



