ON CKEATION OR EVOLUTION. 207 



others were developed, it lias the world before it, and its own 

 home, and where is the struggle ? I cannot see it. 



The third fallacy seems to 'be in the word " existence." 

 Speculation is limited by what experience proves in these cases 

 — experience proves this — that in the case of animals without 

 choice they are provided (by, we believe, the Almighty) with what 

 serves to prolong their existence and maintain their life and, with 

 that, life is defended and maintained ; after that is provided for 

 they are satisfied and do not want more. 



There is another point, as it seems to me. Science, as far as I 

 used to know anything about it at Cambridge, proceeds upon 

 demonstration — that is natural science — its method of evidence 

 is demonstration, not possibility. We get no demonstration 

 here. 



The theory of Descartes, as accounting for the motion of 

 the heavenly bodies, was founded on fact, but was the merest- 

 guess and speculation in the workl, and the theory is scientific ; 

 and so the theories of evolution may be founded on facts, as they 

 are, but it does not for a moment follow that the theory is 

 scientific. 



Dr. Kidd, in one part of his excellent paper, uses a kindly 

 expression, viz., "venial"; but I do not think, myself, that the- 

 putting out of these theories is a venial thing. It may be very 

 well for an investigator to have before him a kind of approximate 

 definition by which he works ; but to put those things out to men 

 of a reasoning mind in this age of the world, I think, is not 

 venial. They do not study these things merely to play with them 

 and toss them about. They know very well that the matter has. 

 to do with serious and important things. Men of science in 

 arriving at foundation truth require positive and necessary 

 proof, as it seems to me, the same as in mathematics and other- 

 subjects. 



I am sorry to have occupied your time so long, and I thank 

 you for having listened to me. 



Professor Edwaed Hull. — We have all listened with pleasure 

 to the " country parson," and it is not the first time that a 

 country parson has thrown a great deal of intelligent light and 

 good sense on topics which exercise us at the present day. 



Now, in regard to Dr. Kidd's paper I must say, and I think it 

 mast be the feeling of all those present, that I have listened to it 



