The Portland daily press., 1890-09-06
Or. couEs ON EVoLUTIoN.
An Interesting Lecture Delivered at
Baxter Hall.

Last evenin :, at the invitation Of the
Beecher Club. an association of ladies who
meet for intellectual purposes, Professor Ell
liott Coues, of Washington, ID. c., gave
thorough and brilliant exposition of eyolu-
tion in mind and matter. The Beecher Club,
whose recent studies have interested them
in the subject. had the advantage to hear
the modern theories Of evolution, as at pres
ent established by such teachers as Darwin
in England and Heckel in Germany, set
forth in condensed form and even carried
forward into conclusions more far-reaching
than most positivlsts permit themselves to
affirm.
Professor Coues has for many years been
a teacher and lecturer upon cognate themes,
having arrived at Darwinism by way OF his
own investigations. Assuming as his stand
point that the law of evolution is true, he ex-
poets to find its application universal in the
material and in the spiritual aspects OF ma
ture. By means of brief historical resume
of ancient and latter theories, he recognizes
Darwinism to be none other than the exact
scientific development OF certain Of the
most ancient philosophers OF which record
is preserved. He illustrated phylOgeny, or
the evolution of species, by familiar exam
pies taken from well known facts Of ontolo-
gy, or the evolution of individuals, arguing
that what has been demonstrated true Of all
the individuals Of a species must be true Of
that species. He referred to the fact that
modern orthodox evolution, commonly named
Darwinism after its most illustrious inter-
prefer, deals exclusively with the material
conditions Of crganism; then, continuing
the theme from the point where Darwin and
his disciples are content to leave 1t, Profes-
sor Coues applied the same principles TO the
question of the evolution of mind, and also
of spirit, as bearing upon the probable fu-
ture destiny Of man as well as upon the
present problem of sociology. He drew
sharp contrast between the fearless desire
for verify of the genuine scientific spirit and
the ecclesiastical dogmatism which, he said,
basing certain Of its beliefs on Jewish myths
and on misconceptions OF historic narrative
refuses them to reasonable investi-
CATION; and he arraigned such orthodox
churches as, he said, make themselves chief
obstacles to the free evolution Of the human
mind in its moral, social and scientific as
poets.
AS lecturer, Professor COues is verylef-
fectve In manner as we'll as in matter. He
has the courage Of his convictions, and also
the convictions of his courage. that Of a true
scientist, unafraid Of whatever may be the
conclusion of a clue to knowledge. His
frank, easy manner Immediately establishes
an electric current of sympathy with his au-
dience. And while conservative hearers Oc-
casionally receive slight shock from his
batteries, moment Of recovery shows him
reverent Of truth In nature and In religion,
an iconoclast only Of the decorations Of
falseho0d or ignorance. The style Of the
lecturer, abounding in trenchant strokes as
well as In strong scientific argument, was
adapted to the occasion, and took as its key
note the convictions which Professor Coues
has earlier expressed in his famous semi
rhythmic rhapsody, the Damon Of Darwin.