MODERN EVOLUTION. 223 



indicates the nearest approach between man and ape 

 hitherto discovered. But the evidence of the physical 

 relation of these two being conclusive, the exact 

 place of man in the earth's time-record is rendered 

 of subordinate importance. 



The theologians have come to their last ditch in 

 contesting that the mental differences between man 

 and the lower animals are fundamental, being differ- 

 ences of kind, and therefore that no gradual process 

 from the mental faculties of the one to those of the 

 other has taken place. This struggle against the ap- 

 plication of the theory of Evolution to man's intel- 

 lectual and spiritual nature will be long and stub- 

 born. It is a matter of life and death to the theo- 

 logian to show that he has in revelation, and in the 

 world-wide belief of mankind in spiritual existences 

 without, and in a spirit or soul within, evidence of the 

 supernatural. The evolutionist has no such corre- 

 sponding deep concern. When the argument against 

 him is adduced from the Bible, he can only challenge 

 the ground on which that book is cited as divine 

 authority, or as an authority at all. Granting, for 

 the sake of argument, that a revelation has been 

 made, the writings purporting to contain it must 

 comply with the twofold condition attaching to it, 

 namely, that it makes known matters which the 

 human mind could not, unaided, have found out; 

 and that it embodies those matters in language as 

 to the meaning of which there can be no doubt what- 

 ever. If there be any sacred books which comply 



