120 PROF. H. LANGHORNE ORCHARD, M.A., B.SC., ON 
and heat. In this, as in other speculations, notably that of 
Herbert Spencer, is seen the dominant influence of Laplace’s 
nebular hypothesis.* * * § 
To explain “ The Riddle of the Universe ” as to origin and 
otherwise, Haeckel and H. Spencer have elaborated theories 
skilful, ingenious, and illogical. 
Haeckel’st is atheistic, and postulates the eternity of matter 
and force, which, in his view, is the true meaning of spirit. 
Matter and force he regards as different aspects or attributes of 
one and the same thing to which is assigned the name of 
“ substance.” “ Substance ” is supposed to be uncreated and 
eternal. All things are imagined to have developed, or rather 
evolved, through the working of force or forces residential in 
eternal matter, matter being either ponderable (or ordinary) or 
appreciatively imponderable, this latter termed “ ether.” 
“ Every single object in the world which comes within the sphere 
of our cognizance, all individual forms of existence, are but special 
transitory forms — accidents or modes — of substance. These modes 
are material things when we regard them under the attribute of 
extension (or ‘ occupation of space ’), but forces or ideas when we 
consider them under the attribute of thought (or ‘ energy 
Living organisms are, by Haeckel, asserted to have originated 
from monera, “ protoplasmic compounds ” developed out of 
“ inorganic carbonates.” He insists that this must have been 
by spontaneous generation, and entirely agrees with Naegeli’s 
assertion that “ to reject abiogenesis is to admit a miracle ” ; § 
but a miracle must at all costs be excluded. 
“ The fundamental idea,” he says, “ which must necessarily lie 
at the bottom of all natural theories of development, is that of a 
gradual development of all (even the most perfect) organisms out of 
* Moulton has shown that the actual distribution of moment of 
momentum in the solar system is inconsistent with Laplace’s hypothesis — 
a hypothesis at variance with other physical facts. 
t Buchner’s system is similar. “ Matter,” says Buchner, “ is the origin 
of all that exists.” “ All natural and mental forces are inherent in it 
( Matter and Force , p. 12). There is, however, much more to be said for 
the idea that philosophy should have as its starting-place the man and 
human experience. (See Humanism, by F. C. S. Schiller, Oxford.) 
\ The Riddle of the Universe, p. 77. 
§ Idem , p. 91. Every form of the Evolution Hypothesis, except the 
theistic, denies Miracle. Obviously, if Miracle, and therefore Creation, 
be inadmissible, it is an easy inference that Matter must be eternal. But 
what sort of reasoner is he who silently assumes as a premise the very 
thesis which is in dispute ! 
