The New York herald., 1871-03-12
THE DESCENT OF MAN.
Darvin's Hypofhesis Of the Origin of Species
Lecture by MIR. Rossiter w. Raymond in
COODer lnsf;tule.

Darwin's Hyporhesis of the Origin Of Species-
Lecture by MIR. Rossiter w. Raymond in
Cooper Institute.
Notwithstanding the rain last evening q very large
audience gathered in Cooper Institute 10 listen to a
lecture by Mr. X. W. Raymond on "Darwin's Hy
pothesls." The lecturer divided his subject into
three parts-6rst q sketch of Darwn's history
second, a definition OF what hypothesis Is and
Illustrations of the same, and, third, a statement or
Darwin's hypothesis and then statement of the
objections brought against 1t. together with yndi-
cation Of the Bible truths which some persons think
ana assert to be annihi ated by Darwns theories
and those Of other scientific investigators, but
which they do not touch at all. Mr.. Raymond
described the grouping OF the organic world into
Kingdoms, branches, classes, orders, families, gene
IA, species and individuals, and the extent which
these distinctions founded In nature.
group OF individuals. which essentially alike,
though not exactly so, which reproduce their like,
do not freely breed with other groups, or if crossed
produce infertile offspring IS called species; and
1t has been neld that each species perpetuates
itself by reproduction, SO each species must have
descended from specially created ancestral pair.
Within the limits Of a species, however varieties
occur, first in individuals and then II these ndivi-
duas are carefully bied together in whole genera
tions Of them. Artificial varieties breeds and races
have thus been produced by man. sometimes differ
Ing from each other so widely that they would he
called species II they occurred IN lid state and II
they did not breed freely together
Now, Mr. Darwin holds that species have been
produced IN nature not by the creation OF pair OF
progenitors for each Species but by process anaia
gous TO the production OF varieties Of plants and
calls natural selection.
1t is found also that all animals and plants tend
TO increase in geOmetrcal ratio producing young
more numerous than their parents; and this tact is
called the law OF multiplication. BY this law spe-
sronses r eees mos or nA' moss es
cunning would destroy the opposites did not
the law OF population interfere, through whose
Families and species die before they attan,
maturity in their struggle for life." The
climate, enemies, lack OF foou, &C. and 1t IL held
that, on the average, those individuals which sur
vive must be In some way the ttest for the peculiar
battle or competition TO which they exposed.
Fitness dses not necessarily imply strength itmay
o1ep s %
exposed to the same enemies and natural
conditions and seeking the same food the
OF peculiarites and 9he processes of natural
selection were clearly set forth by the lecturer and
. change OF type were also pointed out Sudden
changes, such as GOODS, droughts, the encroach-
cpally the numbers OF species, and may even pro-
duce It's extinction. But the slower changes OF sur
face and climate mate Of Witch geology gives evidence
Iorms, and thus lead 10 the origin OF new species
the hypotnesis. then, Is that variation under
and controlled by the limit of population, produces
transmitted pecularities which become the origin
OF species.
The lecturer then proceeded to give many ilsutra.
tlaas OF observed facts II natural history for which
this hypothesis offers plausible explanations ana
added summary Of the chief diiculties in the way
OF its adoption. closing with reference to the ms
taken use OF the Bible as barrier TO the
freedom Of honest scientific Inquiry, an ear
nest acknowledgment from the Christian
STANDPOINT of the divine origin of all
revelations OF the Bible far above the reach or
physlca science, IN realm, not OF selfish competi.
lion. but OF duty, heroisn, charity and selfsacri.
ncing love; the strong not surviving but bear.
ing the burdens Of the weak; God Himself sympa-
the struggle between life ard death The trustees
OF cooper umon propose 10 include In their course
next year lectures from eminent persons, 10th in
favor of Darwin's theory and against II. Mr. Alfred
wallace, co-dscoverer with Darwin in this theory
whle agreeing with him generally Its application
10 jhe vegetable and animal kingdoms absolutely
excludes man from It's operations