CHAPTER XIX 



IS SERIAL ORGANIC EVOLUTION PROVEN ? 



So far, we have dealt with evolution as a chose 

 jugee ; but now let us ask the question, " Is 

 organic evolution of species really proven ? " Must 

 we accept such evolution up a series as a fact in 

 science and philosophy ? 



Evolution is not proven. The question is still 

 open. It has not been really proved that we came 

 from a fire-mist, and that we are cousins of the 

 monkey ; and organic evolution is merely a great, 

 plausible, and unifying hypothesis. 



That different species have structural and 

 functional similarities, and that different species 

 vary within wide limits, is quite certain ; but that 

 all the species of animals and plants in the world 

 have risen from a primitive piece of protoplasm is 

 very doubtful ; and if they have so risen, it is also 

 very doubtful if they can have arisen by a selection 

 of more or less tentative variations^ by one or all of 

 the various agencies suggested. So far as we can 



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