i88i.J The Future “ Martyrdom of Science .” 205 
voice ? Will not they take umbrage at the very same refer- 
ence to physical causes which so offended the fathers of the 
Church in the first centuries of our era ? 
Thus I come to the third and final point— the adtual con- 
flict of dodtrines. Reverting for a single illustration to the 
old feud between Science and the Church, it will not be for- 
gotten that the “ philosophers ” held the earth to be one 
out of a number of kindred worlds revolving around a 
mighty luminary, the sun, and as being a mere speck in a 
universe practically infinite. The Church, on the other 
hand, viewed our globe as the largest and the sole inhabited 
and habitable body in creation, — as fixed immovably in the 
centre, whilst the sun and stars revolved around her to give 
her light and to mark out the seasons. It is not for me to 
say whether these views are really taught by the Scriptures 
or not. What concerns us is merely that the Church consi- 
dered the geocentric theory of the universe as part and 
parcel of the Christian revelation, and pronounced every 
antagonistic teaching heretical. Such being the case, we 
look round and find contradictions equally flat between the 
teachings of modern Science and the creed of our “ advanced 
thinkers.” 
It is well known that brutes transmit to their offspring 
not merely what are called generic and specific characters, 
but these attributes which distinguish individuals of any 
given species from each other. Among those domestic 
animals which have been most carefully observed, we find 
that not merely colour, size, peculiarities of make, but 
speed, endurance, and temper go from sire or dam to their 
descendants. So well is this known that to expeCt any- 
thing else would be looked on as highly ridiculous. Take 
the colt of a pair of ordinary hacks— would any amount of 
training ensure it a “ place ” at the Derby or the St. Leger ? 
The horses which win cups, or those which bear heavy 
riders across country in the hunting-field or in battle, are 
members of an equine aristocracy. 
We have been much more slow to perceive that the same 
law applies to our own species. But, thanks to the careful 
and systematic researches of Mr. Galton, the fadts of human 
heredity are now placed upon a safe base. It is fully proved 
that stature, complexion, strength, longevity, tendency to 
certain diseases, eminent mental gifts, peculiarities of moral 
character, and even little oddities and eccentricities “ run in 
families.” The cavil that such resemblances are due to 
training, imitation, or post-natal circumstances whatever, 
is so abundantly refuted that it is no longer worth a, 
