THE PATHOS OF THE ^ CONFLICT 55 



could not accept, the naturalist who dictated in 

 the last year of his life the unalterable conviction 

 that these teachings were false. 



I name no names, but I think of leaders of 

 organic evolution in this Continent and in Europe, 

 — sons of great men to whom the new thoughts 

 brought deepest grief, men who struggled 

 tenaciously and indomitably against them. And 

 full many a household unknown to fame was the 

 scene of the same poignant contrast, was torn by 

 the same dramatic conflict. 



We have passed through one of the world's 

 mighty bloodless revolutions ; and now, standing 

 on the further side, we survey the scene and are 

 compelled to recognize pathos as the ruling 

 feature. 



The sublime teachings which so profoundly 

 transformed mankind were given by Him who 

 came not to bring peace on earth but a sword. 

 And so it is in all the ages with every high creative 

 thought which cuts deep into ' the general heart 

 of human kind '. It must bring when it comes 

 division and pain, setting the hearts of the fathers 

 against the children and the children against the 

 fathers. 



The world upon which the thoughts of Darwin 

 were launched was very different from the world 

 to which were given the teachings of Galileo and 

 the sublime discoveries of Newton. The imme- 

 diate effect of the first, although leading to the 

 bitter persecution of the great Italian, was re- 



