142 WHAT IS DARWINISM? 



onistic because they are in different spheres of 

 thought. This is often said by men who do not 

 admit that there is any thought at all in relig- 

 ion ; that it is merely a matter of feeling. The 

 fact, however, is that religion is a system of 

 knowledge, as well as a state of feeling. The 

 truths on which all religion is founded are 

 drawn within the domain of science, the nature 

 of the first cause, its relation to the world, 

 the nature of second causes, the origin of life, 

 anthropology, including the origin, nature, and 

 destiny of man. Religion has to fight for its 

 life against a large class of scientific men. All 

 attempts to prevent her exercising her right 

 to be heard are unreasonable and vain. 



It should be premised that this paper was 

 written for the single purpose of answering 

 the question, What is Darwinism ? The dis- 

 cussion of the merits of the theory was not 

 within the scope of the writer. What follows, 

 therefore, is to be considered only in the light 

 of a practical conclusion. 



1. The first objection to the theory is its 

 prima facie incredibility. That a single plant 

 or animal should be developed from a mere cell, 

 is such a wonder, that nothing but daily obser- 

 vation of the fact could induce any man to be- 



