DARWIN AND WALLACE 41 
with their religious faith, Any question of the fact 
that the species of to-day exist practically as they had 
been handed down to the earth in the beginning by 
the Creator himself seemed to most men a direct blow 
at religion. At this time a very large number of 
natural scientists were clergymen, hence the opposi- 
tion had abundant and influential support. The storm 
grew fiercer and more widespread. The publication 
in 1859 of Darwin’s great book on “The Origin of 
Species by Means of Natural Selection or the Preser- 
vation of Favored Races in the Struggle for Life” 
added fuel to the flame. 
In 1860 the British Association met in Oxford, and 
Bishop Wilberforce, the retiring president, in accord- 
ance with the custom of the society, gave a summary 
of the advance of science, especially during the pre- 
ceding year. Everyone knew perfectly that the 
bishop would deal with the species question, and that 
he would handle it severely. Darwin was prevented 
by his usual ill health from being present at this meet- 
ing, but Huxley was there to see that their side of 
the question received proper attention. The bishop 
made a lengthy address, in the major portion of 
which he brought forward entirely worthy objections 
to Darwin’s theories. Toward its close his feelings 
overmastered him and he departed from his manu- 
script and unburdened his mind. The lack of stenog- 
