ZOOLOGY AND INTELLECTUAL PROGRESS 357 



makes it one of the greatest acquisitions of human knowledge. There 

 has been no point of intellectual vantage reached which is more inspir- 

 ing. It is so comprehensive that it enters into all realms of thought. 

 Weismann, as you all know one of its great representatives, expresses 

 the opinion that " the theory of descent is the most progressive step 

 that has been taken in the development of human knowledge " and he 

 says further that this position " is justified, it seems to me, even by 

 this fact alone : that the evolution idea is not merely a new light on the 

 special region of the biological sciences, zoology and botany, but is of 

 quite general importance. The conception of an evolution of life upon 

 the earth reaches far beyond the bounds of any single science, and in- 

 fluences our whole realm of thought." 



Its applications are helping man in the knowledge of himself and 

 his destiny. Anything that throws light on man's history and his 

 capabilities affects the question of his duty and his destiny. A prom- 

 inent theologian (Bishop Creighton, of London) has said: "Keligion 

 means the knowledge of our destiny and the means of fulfilling it." I 

 shall not attempt to qualify the statement, as I am not a theologian, 

 but I will point out that progress in zoology has extended the knowledge 

 of the history of man, and has thereby influenced our conception of his 

 relation to the universe. I think these advances are helpful, and are 

 supplying a safer and better basis for our education, our system of 

 morals and our religion. For all these matters of so much importance 

 must be brought into relation with the state of knowledge at different 

 periods of the history of our race. This condition is necessary, it seems 

 to me, to men who think, who read or who investigate. 



There is still too often a disposition shown by platform and pulpit 

 speakers to qualify, to antagonize and to belittle scientific advances. 

 But let us open our hearts freely, without fear, to the extensions of 

 truth and let us continue in the belief that the knowledge gained by in- 

 vestigation of nature will be helpful to all departments of human en- 

 deavor and aspiration. It is to be expected that the views first of the 

 scholars and then of the great mass of humanity will be modified and 

 will become harmonious with all present and all future advances in 

 knowledge. 



The present results of these advances will appeal differently to people 

 according to their temperament and experience, but to many scientific 

 men, like Darwin and Huxley, as well as to those of smaller place, the 

 contemplation of it all is uplifting. "We may well be drawn into sym- 

 pathy with the great nature psalm and feel the beauty and force of 

 those lines of poetry in which all nature is called upon to unite in praise 

 of the Euling Power that directs the forces of the universe. Inanimate 

 nature, as well as all that is alive : 



Mountains and all hills; fruitful trees and all cedars; beasts and all cattle; 

 creeping things and flying fowls ; kings of the earth and all people ; princes and 

 all judges of the earth; both young men and maidens, old men and children. 



