Man's Place in Creation. By C. W. Richmond, One of the Judges 

 of the Supreme Court of New Zealand. 



[Lecture delivered in Nelson, June 25, 1869.] 



Most of you are, no doubt, aware that Modern Physiological Science is by 

 some persons thought to throw strong light upon the subject on which I am 

 proposing to address you : Man's Place in Nature. It has at all times been, 

 in a vague way, admitted, that, in respect of his corporeal frame, man is a 

 member of the Animal Kingdom. But, it is undeniable, that recent science 

 tends to bring home more thoroughly the fact of this connection with the lower 

 creatures ;' so that, to many well instructed persons, that being, who, in the 

 eye of Faith, once seemed to rank only a little lower than the Angels, now 

 appears, viewed in the light of modern speculation, hardly removed one grade 

 above the Apes ; and, just as much as these, the creature of material necessity. 

 Thus, the great questions of the Nature and the Destiny of Man, heretofore 

 thought exclusively the property of theologians, seem to be brought into close 

 relation with modern physics. It is my purpose to investigate the character 

 of this relation ; the real bearing, in other words, of Natural Science, in its 

 present aspect, on those intensely interesting questions of " Our Whence and 

 Whither." 



I know it will be thought by some a highly dangerous course to move this 

 matter. I know the dread, sometimes avowed, but much more often felt without 

 avowal, that such inquiries must certainly confuse our thoughts, and, very 

 likely may perplex our lives. But who is ignorant that, at this very moment, the 

 literary world resounds with this discussion 1 Who can close his ears to all the 

 loud debate now going on ; or can refuse to hear conclusions, fatal to every 

 form of Human Faith, yet drawn triumphantly, and, (so the reasoners think) 

 with logic not to be evaded, from premises supplied by the undoubted science of 

 the day"? Amongst the young the most inquiring minds cannot be kept in 

 ignorance about these things. Their elders, if they please, may try the ostrich 

 plan of safety for themselves, or may draw back, like blinking owls from the 

 unwelcome daylight. But in these days of universal reading mere reticence 

 in Church or Home will not avail. Come good, come ill, the best and manliest 

 minds will strive to sift the matter to the bran, and try conclusions for them- 

 selves. There is, then, nothing for it but that those who would uphold the 

 ancient faith in God and Man should don their armour, and go down to battle 

 with this newest foe ; unless, indeed, they wish to see materialists in sole 

 possession of the field of thought, free to impose their dreary creed upon the 

 coming age. Divines in vain protest that Man is no fit subject of Zoology. 

 The Naturalists refuse to be warned off the Human ground. In virtue of 

 man's physical frame they claim him, and will keep him in spite of all objectors, 

 as a subject of their science ; and to me it seems expedient at least to listen to 

 them, and learn what they have to say. The faith that hides its head from all 

 opposers is scarcely worthy to be called a faith. 



My plan, of course, requires me to begin with some succinct account of 

 those researches to which I have alluded. The compass of a single Lecture 

 (not to mention my own want of technical knowledge), will not admit of more 

 than a broad and rapid sketch, or, as I fear I rather ought to say, a meagre 



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