WHAT IS DARWINISM f 53 



of the divine mind ; not to special acts of 

 creation calling new forms into existence at 

 certain epochs ; not to the constant and every- 

 where operative efficiency of God, guiding phys- 

 ical causes in the production of intended ef- 

 fects ; but to the gradual accumulation of un- 

 intended variations of structure and instinct, 

 securing some advantage to their subjects. 



Darwin's own Testimony. 



That such is Mr. Darwin's doctrine we prove 

 from his own writings. And the first proof 

 from that source is found in express declara- 

 tions. When an idea pervades a book and 

 constitutes its character, detached passages 

 constitute a very small part of the evidence 

 of its being inculcated. In the present case, 

 however, such passages are sufficient to satisfy 

 even those who have not had occasion to read 

 Mr. Darwin's books. In referring to the sim- 

 ilarity of structure in animals of the same class, 

 he says, " Nothing can be more hopeless than 

 to attempt to explain this similarity of pattern 

 in members of the same class, by utility or the 

 doctrine of final causes." x 



On the last page of his work, he says : " It 



1 Origin of Species, p. 517. 



