194 AVALTEK KIDD, ESQ., M.D., F.Z.S., 



of evolution in some form. In the first place, tlie vastness 

 of the subject both as to time and area of distribution afFortls 

 endless scope for investigation for generations to come, and 

 Hcientific men are at liberty to bold this theory in any degree 

 of exactitude, from that of "a working hypothesis" to tliat of 

 a mechanical theory of the universe reaching back even to 

 the " phj'sical selection of more stable elements" of Professor 

 Karl Pearson,* and forward through the whole series of plant 

 and animal life-histories to those still future beings which 

 presumably are to succeed man. The wide-reaching and 

 intricate character of the problems involved, and the great 

 extent of the facts miderlying them forbid the expectation 

 of proof or disproof of this theory for many a year to come ; 

 this accordingly adds much fascination to the theory. 

 Further it promises to science the high reward of systema- 

 tizing under natural law " all existence," faith, except as 

 placed in the men of science themselves, being excluded. 

 ISoon after its promulgation in form by Darwin, it received 

 the enthusiastic support of a brilliant writer and speaker as 

 well as one of the greatest zoologists of his day, though in 

 Huxley's advocacy there seemed ever to be a reserve such 

 as one so candid and judicial Avould feel. Lord Kelvin 

 indeed at the Royal Society said in 1894, " We may well be 

 glad that the advocate of ' the origin of species by natural 

 selection,' who once bore do^vn its foes, is still among us, 

 ready, if needs be, to save it from its friends I "t 



Finally, this ancient theory modernized, came into 

 apparent conflict with views of creation, held for ages by 

 faith, and supported by most imperfect knowledge of biology 

 and geology, which views were net contained in the true 

 exegesis of the records Avhich were appealed to ; and the 

 profound reserve of which, with accuracy in ^vhat they did 

 teach, are alone an evidence of divinity. Now that it is seen 

 that the Bible is not a handbook of science for Chaldean, 

 Greek, Roman, or modern times, but a book essentially moral 

 in its purpose, whose science, if scanty, is true, and whose 

 history every " find " of entombed treasures of the East 

 endorses, and in whose favour tlie very stones are crying 

 out, this conflict has lost its bitterest sting. 



Certain difficulties which obstruct tlie ]^ath of the tlu)rough- 

 going evolutionist remain to be mentioned. 



* Fortnightly Review, Novemebr, 1895, p. 678. 



t Address at Anniversary Meeting of the Royal Society, p. 19, 



