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animals capable of butting powerfully, but a set of horses, there would have 
been no tendency for the growth of the horn. But here you have to assume 
the perfected recurrence of favourable conditions, and so on for ever. I 
quoted the dice simply as an illustration. We all feel it is an impossibility 
for twelve dice to fad with their aces uppermost, and for this to be repeated, 
say one hundred times. This is the only point which has been objected 
to in my paper. These adaptations of nature exist in number, numberless ; 
and I am certain the only adequate solution of them is, that the universe 
is loaded by Deity to bring about a corresponding result. My object 
has been to test the thing simply from the closest logical point of view, 
and to see whether these arguments of Strauss and others will bear 
argument. I think that my paper shows that they will not. Whatever 
may be said about the theory of evolution, I have distinctly laid it down 
that there are certain gaps in that theory which it is hopeless to attempt to 
bridge over. There is a self-consciousness, there is that in the moral nature 
of man which says “ I ought.” I do not wish to enter into a discussion about 
mutation ; that was beside the object of my paper ; but my object was to take 
certain data as laid down, and to ask, “ Will the conclusions deduced from 
them legitimately follow ? ” I quite agree with Dr. Davies, who says that 
unbelievers are frequently confronted by men of straw, who do not know 
what they are talking about. 
The Meeting was then adjourned. 
