No. 381. A HALF-CENTURY OF EVOLUTION. 62 
5 9 
dote, however, to the danger of narrowness is the lessons derived 
from evolutionary thought and principles. 
Finally, as a proof of the value of evolutionary ideas to the 
present generation, let us suppose for a moment, if it were 
conceivable, that they should be blotted out. The result, it is 
safe to say, would be equivalent to the loss of a sense. 
It is a matter of history that when a new idea or principle, 
or a new movement in philosophy or religion, arises, it at first 
develops along the line of least resistance; the leaders of 
the new thought acquire many followers or disciples. Soon the 
latter outstrip their teachers, and go to greater extremes; 
‘modifications of the original simple condition or theory occur, 
and as the final result there arise schisms and differentiations 
into new sects. This has happened in science, and already we 
have evolutionists divided into Lamarckians and Darwinians, 
with a further subdivision of them into Neolamarckians and 
Neodarwinians, while the latter are often denominated Weis- 
mannians. Some prefer to rely on the action of the primary 
factors of evolution, others believe that natural selection 
embraces all the necessary factors, while still others are 
thoroughly persuaded of its inadequacy. 
The result of this analytical or differentiating process will 
probably be an ultimate synthesis, a belief that there is a com- 
plex of factors at work. Of these factors those originally 
indicated by Lamarck, with the supplementary ones of com- 
petition and natural selection bequeathed by Darwin, are the 
most essential and indispensable, and it is difficult to see how 
they can be displaced by other views. Meanwhile all agree, 
and it was never more firmly established than at this moment, 
that there is and always has been unceasing energy, movement, 
and variation, a wonderful adaptation and harmony in nature 
between living beings and their surroundings. 
The present status of evolution in its different hai or 
attitudes since the time of the appearance of Darwin’s Origin 
of Species may be roughly pointed out as follows :— 
1. The claim by some thinkers of the inadequacy of Darwin- 
ism as such, or natural selection, to account for the rise of 
new species, and the assignment of this factor to what they 
