The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-09-03

n, aach or,,an and organism, as II were III the
manner man contrives and puts together ma
cbIns-an idea which has been set up ~ 'po
orthodox doctrine, but which, Pro'' orH ~
firms, to st. Augustine and other Oo''s.'a"
t,th-rs would have savored Of heterodoxy. Now
I'm the doctrine Of the ordination OF species
,hrough natural sele ction these adaptations I'M
ousstionably appear rs the outcome rather than
tho motive, as Goal results rather than hnal
ou,ees Alteration to use is Indeed the very
easence Of DarwiDism, but II Is not a liked aud
inf xiole adaptation realized once for all at the
outset. 1t includesa long progression and sue
ce.ston OF modi1c ,ttons, adjusting the nselves
to changing circumstances under which they
may be more and more diversified, specialized
anu IN q just sense perfected. The question
then arises, does this involve the destruction OF
our consecrated Ideas of tesoloy or does II
only entail their reconstrucuon1 Prof Gray
pronounoes for the latter view, and probably
our readers will be glad to glance briefly at some
of his reasons.
1t Ia we'll known that the principle OF design
has been denied on the ground tn 4 II squares
with only one part of the facts, ano fails to ex-
plain Others. That Is the Argument against the
sunlciency OF the doctrine Of nnsl causes. we
need not cay that there is another aim ID at It's
necessity, which claims that II NAV be super
seeded by showing that all the facts are In the
way Of being explained withoutit Our author
acknowledges that the things which the princi-
pie OF design Toes not explain are many and Sc
rious He admits that functionless organs OF
| some sort are the heritage OF almost every spe-
c,es and that II Ia idle to seek to explain such
by pretended law Of symmetry. lie comedies
the enormous waste Of being. far beyond the
common apprehension, and that all this waste
and abortive growth Ia chargeable equally upon
the past stages of our earth aud Its immensely
long and varied succession OF former nhaoi
tants. While, moreover, he thinks with MIL
that in the present state Of our knowledge the
adaptations In nature afford a large balance OF
probability In favor OF ere alton by Intelligence
he does not dispute that fresh weights are from
time to time dropping INFO the lighter side oil
tho scale. He concludes that the outlook Is not
promising for the principle Of design, provided
Il be held any longer 10 combination with the
hypothesis OF the immutabinty and hoiAteu
creation VI species.
by the adoption, on thu other hand, OF the
Darwlnlan theory or sometnlne like II, Prof
Gray IN, ,intsins that many Of the difficulties are
obvi ted and others diminished. In the Dom
prebensive and far-reaching theology, which
might take the place Of tue former narrow con
ceutions, ORGANS aud even faculties, useless u
the individual. would and their explanation ant
reason OF being. Either, for instance, they hav'
done service IN the past. or may do service II
the future. Under this view. moreover, waste
Of lie aud material In organic nature ceases L
be utterly mex pllcable. because IL ceases to b'
obJectless. Thus, in the great majority oil
flowers, the fertilization and consequent per
petuity OF which are committed to insects, tn
. | likelihood that much pollen may be left benin'
or lost In the transit, ia sufficient reason for tn
, | apparent superhuity In the case OF pine trees
where the conveyance OF seeds Is left to tn
% winds, IL Ia not Unreasonable to set the cheap
9 ness OF wind carriage against the over produc
n ton OF pollen. 1t should follow that the re
a serve and the active members VI the force ma
both be counted. ready As they always an
everywhere are for service, and our autho
quotes, with much aptness, Miltons lines;
Thousands a; his MD ling speed
= And post ser land ocean without rest;
g They also serve wac oniy stand and wall.
. Finally, we are told that Darwinian teleolog
has the special advantage Of accounting for tn
e I'M erfections and failures ~ we'll az ths sue
It cesses. 1t explains tue seeming waste ~ oeini
/. part and parcel Of great economical process
d without the competing multitude no strugsl
l. for life; aud. without this, no natural sel 'ctio
= ed sssssvst - ~ 4-lsa. ~ s9pIlaa2as sasps
IN all tneir variety are not mere ends Ia then
selves, but the whole a series Of means ami Q nd
In the contem piatlon OF witch We may obi Al
=, higher and more comprehensive and perha az
worthier, as well as more consistent, lews ,
" design In nature than heretofore.
" Such, substantially, ia the evolutionary tele
" ology Of which Prof. Gray Is perhaps IN
weizhtiest advocate. We are aware that ian
conceive It im ossibe to demonstrate design
awhole' Of which the series OF parts appear
everywhere contingent But II Is at least inter
= esting to follow the strenuous attempt to DO 81
on the part Of one who Ia not only an accom-
plished scientist, but a convinced theist an
othodox Christian.