PLAN AND PURPOSE [N NATURE. 197 



shows with valuable clearness the inadequacy, which all 

 are now recognizing, of Darwin's postulate of indefinite 

 accidental variations concerned under the action of natural 

 selection in the origination of new forms of life. He himselt 

 appears to incline to a view of evolutionism, in whicli the 

 argument for Design is matenally strengthened, positively 

 because evolutionism, as he says, lets us behind the scenes 

 and shows how means are adapted to ends in the gradual 

 process of evolution ; he would probably approve of Drum- 

 mond's naive Avay of putting it, "Why was evolution the 

 method chosen ? " negatively because evolutionism greatly 

 weakens the objections to the teleological argument based 

 on the imperfection of the existing adaptations. 



3 It is perfectly true, as we are often being reminded by 

 current teachers, that the argument for Design in nature 

 is not in fashion at present, and Dr. Johnson spoke with 

 his customary wisdom when he said : " He that contradicts 

 acknowledged truth, is always sure of an audience." The 

 scientific exponents of evolutionary doctrines are listened 

 to with the respect due to their attainments as they dis- 

 course in lectures, addresses, periodicals and larger essays. 

 Their audience is great indeed. Teachers of these views 

 are even to be found tickling the ear of the public in 

 popular magazines for the laity, in illustrated weeklies and 

 in novels. But the bulk of those who read, are intei-ested, 

 amused, and impressed, betray a healthy degree of scepticism 

 as to current science on these grave questions, a scepticism 

 encouraged Avith a singular candour by their teachers them- 

 selves in such admissions as, " All our knowledge is and 

 remains throughout provisional."* 



4 To those who have obediently, and a little hastily followed 

 current doctrines as to life in nature, this note of transitori- 

 ness cropping up from time to time in the seeming certainty 

 of that gospel of evolution, upon which their whole mental 

 and spiritual fortune has been staked, is not a little startling. 

 Drummond was even more alarming to the wayfarer, who 

 for long past has taken in such guidance as he could find 

 from evolutionary teachers, when he said — " This is the Age 

 of the Evolution of Evolution." ..." even were his 

 theory perfected, its first lesson would be that it was itself 

 but a phase of the evolution of further opinion, no more fixed 



* Weiijiuanu on Germinal Selection, 1896, p. 3'/ 



