Evolution. 221 



osophy run back into the infinite past ; that the con- 

 sequences of all of the phenomena which we may 

 now observe in the universe will run on into the in- 

 finite future. This is evolution. 



The statement now given of the three great sys- 

 tems of philosophy is, perhaps, sufficient for our 

 purposes this evening, and it remains for us to point 

 out the part contributed to scientific philosophy by 

 Darwin, whom we mourn to-night. 



When Darwin rose as a light in the scientific 

 world, scientific philosophers had already discovered 

 that the philosophic method of research should in- 

 clude the discernment, discrimination, and classifica- 

 tion of facts. At that time the scientific men of the 

 world were engaged chiefly in the collection and 

 arrangement of facts. To some extent they were 

 engaged in discovering their relations of sequence. 

 Important and interesting sequences had been dis- 

 covered in the vast realm of astronomy ; other inter- 

 esting sequences of facts had been discovered in the 

 realm of geology ; some interesting sequences of 

 facts had been discovered in the realm of human 

 history. In the realm of biology, in plant and ani- 

 mal life, the order of succession of facts, the method 

 of evolution, had not been discovered ; yet many 

 men were thinking on the subject, many men search- 

 ing for the method and course of biologic evolution. 

 The facts relating thereto were partly known, and 

 the course and laws of biologic evolution were dimly 

 discerned. 



It remained for Darwin to demonstrate the laws 

 of biologic evolution, and the course of the progress 



