The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1878-03-28
THE ORIGIN OF LIFE.

THE ORIGIN OF LIFE.
Evolution and the Various Theories Held
by Leading Scientists-The Evidence of
Geology. "
From the New York Tribune.l5
Prof. j. S. Newberry, of the Columbia
College School of Mines, presented, last
evening, the different theories of evolu-
ton, and the light shed upon the ques-
ton by geology. He contrasted the views
held by -the5different classes of think
ers, and then gave, without comment,
the facts derived from the study Of the
earth's crust. The lecture was at Asso-
/ citation Hall, in the course before the
Academy of Science. r~f
THE LECTURE.
Somuch has been said and writtensin
the last 10 years about evolution, that
it may seem presumption in me to at
tempt to throw any new light on the
subject in single popular lecture. All
those who have discussed it have not
been is accord upon it, and strongly OPP
posed parties have been called into ex-
istence, and, as usually happens, the
more the discussion is prolonged, the
wider becomes the divergence of opin
ion. But most men and all women are
partisans, and one of the most diffiult
things encountered in human experience
is to make all think alike on any pro-
posed question.
Four parties are arrayed in antago-
nism upon the subject of evolution, and
7 are carrying on a kind of quadrangular
duel. The first party is that represent
ed by the distinguished scientist, Mr..
Darwin, whose name has been so iden-
titled with the theory of evolution that
the impression widely prevails that he
is the author of it, whereas. it was
originated long before his time.
But he formulated it and ex-
planned it. !. Mr.. Darwin's view is
that all the complex and symmetrical
forms of the fauna and fora, the animal
and plant of the.present day ARE derived
from simple initial organic points-a
cell, for example, by. process of growth,
with infinite variation, and that those
varieties which were best adapted to
their surroundings were perpetuated
and strengthened, while the ill adapted
persisted in the struggle of life. This is
the doctrine of the survival of the fittest.
If, in the language Of Mr.. Darwin, re-
gion was occupied by extremely prolific
but swift hares, and by dogs or wolves
dependent on the capture Of these hares
for their existence, naturally the long,
est-legged and fleetest dogssor wolves
would be the most successful in the
chase, and in competition with others
would be perpetuated, while the shorter
legged and slower dogs would be starry
ed out and disappear. The result would
be the production of a race of grey
hounds, if you please. Mr.. Darwin
leaves the question of the origin of life
untouched. SfsF* FEs1
Another class of philosophers, among
whom DR.. Charlton Bastian is a leader,
goes a step further. back, and claims
that the initial point in the life series,
developed according to the Darwinian
hypothesis, is a life-germ produced from
inorganic substances. OF this class are
the materialists or Abiogenesists; while
Huxley, Darwin, and the most distin-
guished of modern biologists, are Bio
genesists; that is, they disclaim any
knowledge or comprehension of life,
except as the progeny of pfe-existent
life. s
Another group of thinkers, of which
Prof. Asa Gray is type, accepts the
theory of evolution as an explanation
OF the method by which an inscrutable
power has produced all the phenomena
OF creation. Its adherents see in the
theory nothing inconsistent with the ex-
istence of Supreme Deity or with Rev
citation.
Still another class is that of which nv
distinguished and excellent friend, Prof.
Dawson, of Montreal, is a champion.
and which rejects all forms of evolution.
as inconsistent alike with Revelation
and true science. My desire is to give
q brief summary of the facts things
altogether too much neglected in this
discussion-which geology offers to the
sincere inquirer after light on this SUBJ
ject, and not to advocate this or that
theory. 9aaa
In past ages series of rock forma-
tons have been made which inclose
relics of animals and plants that lived