Recent Works on Evolutionism [pp. 169-175]

RECENT WORKS ON EVOLUTIONISM, ETC.
ART. X. -RECENT WORKS ON EVOLUTIONISM AND ITS
RELIGIOUS AFFILIATIONS.*
We group together under this head these recent publications of several distinguished authors, instead of treating each in a separate booknotice, in order to signalize their united testimony on the subject. It
has become quite a fashion of late for Darwinians, and the deniers of
creation altogether, or of the creation of species, to make themselves
and others believe that all scientists, and all advanced or profound
thinkers, have espoused their scheme, because, admitting what no one
questions, that the ordinary life-process is by evolution from a germ or
egg, some have spoken of themselves as "evolutionists to a certain extent," although no nearer the scheme now passing by that name than
Agassiz himself, its illustrious and relentless adversary. Nor can we
say that the scheme is neutral with respect to religion and Christianity,
even if it goes no further than to assert the evolution of all things from
a primordial force issuing from a Personal God. We quite agree with
the eminent authors whose views we shall quote on this part of the
subject. Evolutionists proper, the skeptical and atheistical, take. heart
from all unguarded statements, like the foregoing, by Christian apologists, who are no more Darwinians than Hegelians. Thus they bias
the youthful mind in favor of the scheme by creating the impression
that it is strong enough to draw the thought, science and culture of the
age after it;-" that all the world wondered after the beast. And they
worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast, and they worshipped the beast, saying, who is like unto the beast, and who is able to
make war with him?"
We are glad to be able to quote the last public testimony of Agassiz,
the naturalist of our age and country, on this subject. While accurately defining and admitting whatever of evolution there actually is in
* I. Evolutzon and Permanence of Type. By Louis Agassiz. Atltantic Mionthly
for January I874.
2. Eater Mundi: or Doctrine of Evolution, being in Substance Lectures delivered in
various Colleges and Theological Seminaries. By Rev. E. F. Burr, D.D, author of
"Ecce Ccelum," etc. Boston: Noyes, Holmes & Co.
3. Paper read before the recent Sanitary Convention in New York, by F. A. P.
Barnard, LL.D, President of Columbia College, New York. Published in the New
York Times.
4. The Story of the Earth and Alan. By J. W. Dawson, LL D., F. R S., F.G.S.,
Principal and Vice-Chancellor of McGill University, Montreal. New York: Harper
& Brothers.
1874.]
169