60 
PROOFS OF EVOLUTION. 
XIV. 
SPONTANEOUS GENERATION. 
There are two classes of scientific travelers, 
who go back on the Evolution road happily 
together, until they reach the point of Spontane¬ 
ous Generation, and there they part company with 
none too friendly voice. The one with theological 
views insists that the germ-cells were created, just 
as he once used to think Adam was created. The 
other maintains that this speck of protoplasm was 
formed by chemical and electrical action, and 
other natural means, operating under once favora¬ 
ble conditions on the primitive slime; and that 
from these primordial cells all succeeding life has 
sprung. In other words, he believes that the life- 
principle is resident in matter itself, needing only 
vivifying conditions to make it active. Why our 
theological friend need diverge at all is not clear. 
If simply the power and wisdom of a Creator are 
in question, there should be no disagreement; for 
it is certainly a greater display of Creative skill 
to make an all-pervading law than to make out of 
