PHILOSOPHY AND u EVOLUTION ,} : AN INQUIRY. 117 
across the whole Bible. It professes to be a great unifying 
principle, whereby, apart from Divine revelation, men may solve 
the “ Kiddle of the Universe.” Thus it appeals to their love of 
power, and ministers to their pride. Not in infidelity and 
pride only does the theory find allies. A nebulous inclefinite- 
ness attracts minds illogical or wearied, especially when this 
indefiniteness clothes itself with novelty. Some people, trying 
to conceive of creation and failing in the attempt, have 
thoughtlessly adopted the evolution hypothesis as an alternative 
easy as compared with the “ difficulty ” of creation. The 
philosophical imagination is captivated by a principle claiming 
identity with the great “ law of continuity ” illustrated in the 
development of all living organisms — a principle commended 
to, not to say enforced upon, younger men, by the advocacy, 
thorough-going, determined, not always scrupulous, of professors 
and lecturers occupying positions of active influence. 
Few, if any, of tlie leaders of thought are evolutionists. — Whilst 
the seven arguments enumerated have singly or collectively 
exercised on many minds powerful influence toward acceptance 
of “ evolution,” it is fair to point out that its motley adherents* 
include few, if any, of the leaders of thought. Tyndall, though 
partial to “a fiery cloud,” was careful to say that he adopted it 
as “ a provisional hypothesis ” only. Huxley, though enamoured 
of “ some form of the doctrine,” refused his adhesion to any of 
the current theories. Among anti-evolutionists we recognize 
the great names of Sir George Stokes, Lord Kelvin, Lionel 
Beale, Carruthers, Agassiz, Cuvier, Lyell, Miller, Sedgwick, 
Owen, Dana, Sir J. William Dawson, etc., etc. 
Evolution and Origins. — We shall now investigate (1) 
whether “ Evolution ” accounts for the Origins of things ; (2) 
whether “ Evolution ” Explains facts ; (3) whether “ Evolution ” 
Unifies knowledge in accordance with our intuitions. We 
propose to give frequent quotation from Evolutionists. 
1. Evolution and Origins. — In many forms of the evolution 
hypothesis, the aim has been to arrive at one primary basis, 
which by the Brahmins was held to be spirit, and by others to 
be matter. The British Museum contains a coloured facsimile 
* Professor Packard (of America) considers that “we have evolutionists 
divided into Lamarkians, and Darwinians, with a further subdivision of 
them into Neolamarkians and Neodarwinians, while the latter are often 
denominated Weismannians. 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 persuaded of its 
inadequacy.” (See Nature, April 6th, 1899.) 
