New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-07-26

ArchieaD

Lower Sluran Arch@an
IanTs3' F5d H Sa inc P TPen,on Ped
In this section the relative thickness and dip OF
,be hods have been dlsregarded, tho object having
been siu,ply 10 illustrate the order of succession.
Nevertheless the section shows, in broad way the
real arrangement in nature
The Laureutan rocks include granite, gneiss,
onartz-rock beds of iron-ore and lime
stone. and are generally in a very highly
CRYSTALLINE state. From certain OF the hme-
stone deposits, forms considered by some 10
be Of organic origin have been obtained One OF
these has received the name of EosoOR CdPdaeRe OF
the D,wn-animal of Canada. BY those who believe
in its animal origin 1t is set down as frotozoah'
and regarded as one of the lowlest as well as the
,nost an ,iont of all known animal forms. BY others,
aCain n is held to be of mineral origin; and TINS
view appears 10 receive much support from the tact
that the Fozo0nal structure has been detected IN
Verde Antique marble ithe kind in which 1t occurs
in the Laurcntian) of much more recent date. Inc
typical Hurouian rocks have as yet Afforded no
fossil forms but in certain beds IN NeWiounlI'nu
snpposed TO represent them, two different species
have been found. one of which occurs also IN the
lower Pr.mordial rocks of Sweden. Although the
direct evidence of life m the Laurentian and HTo-
man is thus scanty and doubtful there rs never
tbelcss strong probability that animal life Of some
kind did exist in ArchGan times. But in the present
state Of our knowledge it would be premature to
assert positively that such was the case.
Ibove felt ali the more bound TO present the fore
prng observations because, when we put the same
question to both the Archglu and Prmordlal rocks
what was the life the difference IN the resp nses
is 50 extraordinary that the subject has appeared to
me one we'll worthy oitAe most earnest anu V-ous
full consideration.
Tur,f.,r NOW 70 our fipct prODpT shall lind
if I, orr convenience and advantage to deal with II
under several distinct heals which may run as fol-
lows: On Do any of the forms OF life OF the PrimoT-
dial furnish evidence of their having been derived
from more ancient more generaized types OF
speciess % Do any of the PrimOrdial species give
proof of their having been derived from each otherf
(3l Is there any evidence that any OF the Prnnor-
dial genera or species the ancestors OF any OF
the very numerous subsequent genera or species!
(l How does the actual composition and history OF
life of the Primordial as a whole square with its
theoretical composition and history according to the
doctrine of evoution2 90 On the perfection Of
Primordlal species. 90 General observations and
conclusions.
I. Erideacs as to the dairati9a Of Primor3aI forms
from proGcisiipg types or species.
It's a favorito doctrine IN certain quarters at the
present day. that ali organic forms with which we
are acquainted are the nea descendants of small
single Primordial germ, that existed long PRIOR TO
the Sluuan Age. Given Life upon the earth, even
under the simplest conceivable form, and, 1t is
claimed all organic forms both past and present now
known to Us in all their wonderful cOmplexity and
beauty may have arisen from il by the operations
OF the laws of nature. and IN all Likelihood did thus
arise BIZ the advocates OF this doctrine, among
whom are 10 be found some of the most eminent
names in science it is asserted that this doctrine OF
the origin Of organic forms Is more ennobhng one
than that of successive special creations and that
the adoption of the latter naturally tends to beltte
our conceptions of the Creator. The doctrine GER
tainly presents great and noble conception, namely,
the ancestral unity OF the organic world; and
whether true or otherwise. lis working value to
science has been inestimabe. All are familiar with
the name of Darwin but all are not, fear, familiar
with the candor, breadth of view. and honesty of
Thought and statement of this Justly celebrated
student Of nature.
For NV own part, however, am constrained TO be-
lieve that the question of ennOblement or belittle
ment of conception, accordingly as we adopt or re-
ject the eyOlutionist creatiOna doctrine of the
origin of organic FORMS has worry it'll to do with
the matter of deciding the case in one way or the
other. The writer cannot feel that it is any
more derOgatory to the dignity Of our conception Of
God to maintain that, at appropriate times. the
germs OF the various species Of plants and animals
that have appeared upon the earth were independ
emily produced or created, than to maintain that,
at some pre-Siluran or pre-Arch9an epoch, a single
germ was produced in some way, from which the
whole organic world has been derived. 1t is pos
sible that we have here presented 10 US a fresh
illustration Of the old fable Of the Knights and the
Shield. and that the true explanation will uti-
nately BE- found 20 he somewhere between the ex-
IRENE views of the two ryal bodies Of doctrine.