The herald., 1894-02-11
TO SCIENCE, NOT RELIGION,
Belongs the Explanation of the
Origin Of Man.
Love Should Be q Great Factor in
Evolution.
No such Thing as a Missing Link-No
Evidenos OF ssItatory Evolution.
Spontaneous Generation
Not Proven.

The last OF Prof. Jordan's remarkably
interesting series of lectures on evolu-
ton was delivered last night at the
Unity church, in the presence of another
large and representative audience.
Before commencing his lecture Mr..
Jordan read anumber Of questions asked
him by correspondents which, in their
way, proved perhaps productive of as
much interest as his remarks at later
hour.
Spontaneous generation, Professor
Jordan declared, had been proved exist
ant by no facts it WAS believed in from
the middle ages up to the beginning of
the last century. Tyndsll had declared
that no animal knowno OF owed existence
to spontaneous generation; this Mr..
Jordan also believed, and were it fact
there was no microscope in existence of
sufficient power to discover the neces-
sarily minute organism so created.
Some inquiring mind had propounded
the query as to whether the state should
prevent the marriage OF the deaf, dumb
and blind. In answer to this question
Mr.. Jordan struck the keynote.
cit is possible" he said, shat by ju-
dicious artificial selection greater race
OF men might be formed, but prefer to
think that we shall do better by letting
evolution take its own time. Nature is
slow, but she has plenty of time. /
think" added Mr.. Jordan, that at any
rate the etste had better not tackle
anything OF that kind with the kind of
men we are sending to Sacramento at
present"
Then the lecturer made some remarks
which sounded strange coming from
the lips of student with the title of
professor, but they were none the less
appreciated, and SO true as any OF the
scientific facts which the speaker go
lucidly expounded.
Work" he said, "for the production
OF higher type OF humanity, through
love. Let there be more marriages for
love, even if unwise from the standpoint
OF those who are not lovers; the growth
of love is. believe, the most important
factor in evolution.
The inheritance of acquired characters
has never been proved fact, he de-
clared, in anewer to another inquiry.
The question of origin is not the main
question; man, although the culmina-
blOn Vi uaJure, IL uOJ Iuo RT6btebI dulUdl
in everything; intellectually he is.
In regard to the creative origin Mr..
Jordan was explicit. II have no idea of
the law which created the beginning of
liie." said he, Il only know that there
was law" AS to the religious ideas
concerning the same condition, Mr..
Jordan stated the origin of man to
be matter of fact and belonging to
science and science only. In time the
speaker believed that religion would be-
lieve the same and that there would be
no religion but that which was based
on fact.
The popular idea OF missing link
was exploded by Professor Jordan. He
stated that there were no missing links
the dividing point between each set oil
animals wsa go fine that no scientist
could ever discover where one set began
and the other left off.
After short survey of Darwin 8
theories of the descent OF man, Pro-
lessor Jordan concluded highly inter
eating and equally appreciated series of
lectures.