vin ORGANIC EVOLUTION 107 



Those who recognise that the ebb and flow of the tides, 

 the thunderstorms, the rains, and frosts, are beneficent in 

 their effects, although the result not of direct miraculous 

 interference, but of unchanging cosmical laws, have not the 

 right to accuse of want of reverence the men who affirm that 

 the wonderfully complex and beautifully adjusted contrivances 

 of animal structure may also have been brought about through 

 the intervention of agencies of similar nature. 



This opposition, moreover, may have done harm in another 

 manner, by evoking the natural tendency that exists in many 

 earnest and intensely truth-loving minds to recoil against any 

 display of unphilosophical dogmatism, and any appeal to 

 passions and prejudices, where reason alone ought to have 

 sway, and may thus have led in some cases to a too warm and 

 partial adoption of theories condemned on such grounds. 



The rising school of biologists are destined to live in 

 troublous times. There can be no doubt that many of the 

 questions now opening consequent upon the rapid and wide- 

 spread acceptance of the evolution theory, will give more 

 disquiet to a large class of persons otherwise not indisposed to 

 welcome the advances of scientific discovery, than was ever 

 given by the promulgation of the astronomical revelations of 

 the sixteenth century, or the more recent establishment of the 

 high antiquity of the earth, and are likely to lead to equally 

 active reprisals. 



The astronomers and geologists have in their turn had to 

 confront the storm they and their sciences have survived 

 and triumphed ; and, on the other hand, the faith and 

 morality of the world have not suffered. Now the biologists 

 are standing in the breach. As a part of or necessary sequel 

 to the great doctrine of organic evolution, the question of the 

 origin and position of Man will inevitably obtrude itself. In 

 the coming discussion on this subject, all who take part in it, 

 or alarm themselves about it, would do well calmly to consider 

 this point. It is one similar to that just mentioned with 

 regard to the so-called " natural theology." 



Whatever man's place may be either in or out of nature, 

 whatever hopes, or fears, or feelings about himself or his 

 race he may have, we all of us admit that these are quite 



