268 



EEV. PROF. G. HENSLOW^ F.L.S., 



(3) When we consider the influence of artificial selection, 

 exercised by man, in producing varieties so diverse as to 

 resemble even different genera ; and when we remember 

 that organisms in a transition state, before they reached 

 finished forms, were in a much more plastic state ; and we 

 then take into account that natural selection is much more 

 potent than artificial selection ; to say that natural 

 selection exercised no influence in the production of 

 species is absolutely untenable. 

 It is quite true that natural selection alone cannot produce 

 species of organisms, but it is an important factor in their produc- 

 tion. No more can its antitype in the spiritual realm, namely, 

 election, of itself produce a Christian, but it is an important factor 

 in his production. 



The Lecturer, in reply to the more extended remarks set forth 

 above, now writes : 



I thank Dr. Irving especially for so cordially accepting my 

 position. The only point he questions is my meaning of " man." 

 As he rightly says, I intentionally confined myself to the scientific 

 side of the problem of evolution. This asserts that man {Homo 

 sapiens) rose from some line of the mammalia; such a belief is 

 based on purely scientific inductions. But how he acquired his 

 vastly superior mental, moral and spiritual attributes is a question 

 which would have carried me far beyond the limits of my paper. 

 I purposely avoided it, as it transcends the sphere of natural science. 



Mr. Sutton has supplied me with a great number of questions, 

 to which I will reply as briefly as possible. Evolution, perhaps, 

 cannot be better defined than by the old expression of the sixties — 

 " Descent with modification." To which may now be added, in 

 Darwin's words, its meaning of definite results or variations, by 

 means of a response in the organism to changed conditions of life. 

 These may be relatively permanent or not at all. 



It seems to be assumed by some persons that evolution neces- 

 sarily implies progress or development from lower to higher forms 

 or structures. This is not quite correct. Palseontology proves 

 that, what were adult forms in earlier days are often now repre- 

 sented by the embryonic stages of modern beings, e.g., amphibia 

 were the "highest" vertebrates in the Coal period represented now 

 by our newt and others. There were no frogs and toads, but the 



