, 1874-01-04
THE PHIL L0SOPHlCAL SOCIETY.

Paper by Professor Jewell on the OAr-
xyinian Theory.
A meeting of the Chicago Philosophical Soci-
city WAS held in the Methodist Church Block yes
terday evening. As usual d full audience was
in attendance. The chair was takon by Prof.
Haven, and the paper. which was on "Darwin-
ISM" was read by Prof. Jewell of the North
western University. Tho Professor took strong
ground against tue Darwiniau theory Of the evo-
luton Of species by natural selection, urging
Us his strongeEs argument that enunciatod by
Agassiz. that the theoryis not entitled to belief
until its supporters produce g. fossil Of one OF
the links between two distinct species Of to-day.
Tho lecture closed as follows. -.
'My Impressions about the theory may bo
summarized rs follows:
"Amoug the theories that have been formed
to account for the past and present condition
and appearances of the plant and animal king
doms this is the moet elaborate and industrl-
ously supported, and deserves conscientious
study.
~ The theory, as it may be stated, ia not re-
Bponsiple for many Of tho grave immoral and II
religious consequences which nave been Haddled
On 1t both by its friends and it's ioes. I see no
3 priori reason why creative power may not have
acted in the line OF a progressive development.
There is nothing unreasonable or ureAg1ous IN
it as far as can Sec am more than willing to
it prove true, but it must be proved, not as
sumed.
1.-THE wide-spreadins or philosophical signid-
cance of the theory, whatever some may declare
to the contrary notwithstanding, consents to Its
being an attempt on behalf Of scientific naturnl-
ntism against Experimentation IN any FORM
It is the same old story, in this aspect, that has
come up in all sorts Of forms ever since the
times and disputes Of Anaxasoras and Epicurus.
It is realiF at 1uot in this respect, the same
question as was opened aud discussed by Balbus
Telleius in the Denatura Deorun of Cicero, and
has lived from that hour to this IN the thought
and discussion Of man.
"We are last approaching the real nodus Of tho
whole question: viz the first origin, not OF groups
OF beings, but Of individuals. Hence the impor-
tance ut present of the questions which relate to
the generation. aud especially the spontaneous
generation of plants or animals. 1t ls my belief
also that the question cannot be settled By d.
rect observations, but by Inference from admit
ted facts as the existence OF ether or IN in
terstellar mediumia admitted. Wemust holdit Us
mere hypothesis which, if it must not be To-
iected, still awaits those proofs which can alone
give it the rauk of q theory.
the phenomena of the organic world, it must bo
said it }lns been tho occasion of more scientific
activity than any other question that has ever
been raised. II the theory itself should stand
condemned, it would still be true that Mr. Dar-
win aud his co-workerB have been indirectly the
sources Of incstimable benefit to the cause OF
natural science throughout the world. They
have 1aunced . majestic conception, to trace Its
affiliations backwards and forwards through the
past and present Of the whole organic world. IL
obedience to it's dictates, tho whole, OF
animated creation, extinct and living, have
been called into an evident order, dark
places and chasms haye been illuminated OF
crossed. strong light thrown equally into the
shadows oI the past, or tie clouds Of the future.
Agrand spectacle is this which opens to the eye 2;
of the imaginative naturalist, who poetulates his
zero at tho bottom Of the scale Ct animated ex-
istencc, and then, guided BY evolution end Its
resources. watches tho unfolding Of the diverg-
ing lines and eeries of animated beings, step by
step, until zero emerge into man Us the perfect
ed lower of the process, carried on through un-
told ages. I do not wonder men have been cap
tiyated By this vision, when they have steadily
beheld it.
"For my own part, could gladly adopt it II
it only conformed to tho truth, and was not such
a monstrous example in tho name Of science. OF
the sacrifice Of fact to fancy, and Of scientific
logic to the exigencies Of an ambitious and un-
scrupulous hypothesis"
A debate followed, which wss taken Part in b: by
Mr. Peters. Prof. Hagar. Judge Holbrook. Nh
Ella, Judge Booth, and others, in which the
Darwinian theory had little the best Of it.
After very interesting evening, the meeting
adjourned little after 10 o'clock.