BIOGRAPHICAL (1854-1870) 33 



The immense influence of Darwin's work upon 

 Huxley's mind had now become very evident, and, 

 dating from Huxley's famous speech at Oxford, he 

 became increasingly known as the most strenuous 

 champion of Darwin's views. To appreciate what 

 this meant at that time, it must be recollected that 

 to be a supporter of Darwin was tantamount to being 

 held up to abuse and obloquy of the most virulent 

 character, not merely to court impopularity. So 

 it came about that this man, whose intellectual and 

 moral qualities were simply immense, was held up 

 t6 the scorn of every orthodox household. It is 

 difficult for us to realise at all adequately at this 

 distant date the terrible injustice of the public 

 persecution wliich Huxley suffered at the hands 

 of the more ignorant and orthodox section of the 

 public. 



Nevertheless, the publication of Lay Sermons 

 served very quickly to increase liis power as a scien- 

 tific teacher. In spite of the fact that he was dubbed 

 sceptic and agnostic, it was perfectly obvious, even 

 to those who hated his opinions, that here was a 

 man to whom they were bound to listen. 



This particular year of 1870 was a very strenuous 

 one. Apart from all his biological work, he read many 

 papers at various societies, and gave presidential 

 addresses to the Geological Society and the British 

 Association. The former was devoted to a review 

 of the evidence in favour of Darwin's theory, especi- 

 ally from the palsBontological evidence. He also 

 addressed the Cambridge Y.M.G.A., and tried to 

 show to what was presumably a Christian audience 

 something of what the scientific and philosophical 

 students of the time were thinking. His address 



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