Scope and Purport of Evolution 51 



Hence Mr. Spencer is so commonly accredited with 

 the doctrine which he so earnestly repudiates. 



But there is another reason why people are apt 

 to suppose the doctrine of evolution to be material- 

 istic in its implications. There are able writers 

 who have done good service in illustrating portions 

 of the general doctrine, and are at the same time 

 avowed materialists. One may be a materialist, 

 whatever his scientific theory of things ; and to 

 such a person the materialism naturally seems to be 

 a logical consequence from the scientific theory. 

 We have received this evening a communication 

 from Professor Ernst Haeckel, of Jena, in which 

 he lays down five theses regarding the doctrine of 

 evolution : 



1. " The general doctrine appears to be already 

 unassailably founded ; 



2. " Thereby every supernatural creation is com- 

 pletely excluded ; 



3. " Transformism and the theory of descent are 

 inseparable constituent parts of the doctrine of evo- 

 lution ; 



4. " The necessary consequence of this last con- 

 clusion is the descent of man from a series of ver- 

 tebrates." 



So far, very good ; we are within the limits of 

 scientific competence, where Professor Haeckel is 



