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PROF. H. LANGHORNE ORCHARD, M.A., B.SC., ON 
Discussion. 
Eev. A. Irving, B.A., D.Sc. — Professor Orchard has done good 
service to the cause of Truth in the thorough way in which he has 
handled this question ; and, as one who of necessity represents the 
theological as well as the scientific aspect of it, I thank him most 
sincerely for the effective manner in which he has disposed of the 
so-called “ philosophies ” of Haeckel and Herbert Spencer, which 
have a passing fascination for many minds. I do so the more, 
because he has powerfully endorsed many of my own criticisms of 
Haeckel and Spencer in a course of sermons written four years ago 
for the benefit (in the first instance) of the students and staff of our 
Diocesan Training College. Professor Orchard, however, recognises 
such a thing as “ theistic evolution.” On this point I should like to 
remark that we need not go to America for that : it can be found in 
my paper on “ Evolutionary Law, etc.,” of two years ago, by those 
who will be at the pains to look for it. So I accept Professor 
Le Conte’s enunciation of such a theory, as quoted by Professor 
Orchard, except that sentence about the “ Spirit-embryo,” which, I 
must confess, contains a proposition entirely beyond my mental 
grasp. 
The main contention of the paper is (as I understand it) that 
Evolution is not a Philosophy : it fails to unify the whole range of 
facts that come within the ken of the human mind. For more than 
thirty years I have insisted on that, in the sixth-form class-room of 
a great public school, in the pulpit, and in various published papers. 
It fails chiefly at three points : — 
(i) As to the origin of matter, its energy, and its properties ; 
(ii) As to the origin of physical life; 
(iii) As to the origination of the higher (spiritual) life of Man — 
of all that raises him above the Homo of the 
naturalist. 
Now, these are just the points at which the writer of Genesis i 
invokes special creation. Ail the rest, it may fairly be maintained, 
is covered by Evolution in accordance with Law, marked off as 
