210 THE PROBLEM OF EVOLUTION 



regard him as a prominent supporter of monism, and 

 also as an eminent colleague in my own special de- 

 partment of zoology. I should like in the first place 

 to emphasise one point. Although I have frequently 

 insisted upon it in my lectures, Professor Plate does 

 not distinguish with sufficient clearness between 

 the natural and the supernatural orders. I did not 

 come here to lecture you upon theology; I came 

 with the intention of speaking about the theory 

 of evolution, and of presenting to you the most 

 essential points for consideration regarding the 

 relations between it and Christianity. To discuss 

 the matter fully is impossible in lectures of this 

 kind before so mixed an audience, and this state- 

 ment explains a great deal. You will permit me, 

 however, to touch upon a few points in greater 

 detail. 



The remark that I have just made is aimed at 

 Professor Plate's first observation, which was to the 

 effect that my lectures and the present debate were 

 to deal with the struggle between the Church and 

 natural science. This assertion is absolutely false. 

 I have not come here as a representative of the 

 Catholic Church or of the Society of Jesus, but as 

 Erich Wasmann, as a zoologist, whose own deepest 

 convictions make him personally adopt the stand- 

 point of Christianity. Thus everything else which has 

 been dragged into the discussion the Index (applause), 

 the burning of Giordano Bruno, and other such 

 things, will be disregarded and passed over in my 



