308 ORGANIC EVOLUTION CONSIDERED 



When death results from destruction by enemies, — 

 as the killing of the bird by the hawk, or the antelope 

 by the tiger — it is believed to be quite painless, owing 

 to a partial paralysis of the nervous system. 



If, therefore, in the great and ceaseless struggle for 

 existence, many speedily, and all, finally perish, yet it 

 is true, 1 believe, that when we look at the individual 

 animal, or at the animal kingdom as a whole, we find 

 that the amount of pain is small compared to the 

 great amount of enjoyment. 



As to man, the actual pains of life and the fear of 

 pain are great incentives to the acquisition of knowl- 

 edge and to right conduct. It is, perhaps, a necessary 

 schoolmaster to man in his present condition. Remove 

 from his mind the fear of suffering for disobedience 

 of law, and the results would be most disastrous. 



Pain chastens the spirit, and it heightens pleasure 

 by way of contrast. The present enjoyments of life 

 are heightened by the memory of past hardships and 

 sufferings. 



Looking at suffering, therefore, in its various as- 

 pects, I think that we may rightly conclude that it 

 serves beneficent purposes, and that therefore its 

 existence is consistent with the idea of a Beneficent 

 Creator. 



Beyond and above the selfish struggle for existence, 

 which, it has been commonly claimed by evolutionists, 

 is almost the only means of progress, is the principle 

 of Altruism — a regard for the ^welfare of others — 

 which is inseparably woven into the warp and woof of 

 Nature. This great fact has been dwelt on with 

 emphasis by Shaler, Drummond, and other authors. 

 If we would find fault with Nature because she in- 

 flicts pain through the selfish struggle for existence, 

 we must allow that she redeems herself and promises 

 to yet more and more redeem herself by the unselfish 



