Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-01-30
.DARW|N|SM SUBJECT
OF REV. FRANK PRATT
Theory of Survival of Fittcsi
His Contribution, He
Declares.
EVOLUTION NOW SETTLED
sun Many N'>tcrics In Proccsses,
Although Principle L~nycs CIcnr
Trail Behind II, Pnsior Tells Com
ErrRntion mt Unitarian Church

ut Unitarian ChurCh.
Rev. Frank Pratt spoke last night
a, the Unitarian Church upon The
Processes Of Evolution" This wa.
the nt,h of his course Of lecture
sermons upon The Principle. and
Proofs OF Evolution" He said. In
part:
"Darwin's special contribution To
evolution was his theory OF the sur
vival OF tho nttcst through natura.
selection. Those who are not famil-
lar with the principles Of evolution
sometimes think that Darwinism and
evolution are interchangeable terms.
This Is far from the truth. Darwin
i'm ,natural selcction) IL simply the
chief means hy which Darwin be-
licvcd evolution WAC accomplished.
one may reject Darwinism and yet
believe fully in evolution.
when you read in paper or
magazine. Darwinism refutcd by
noted scientists do not think tina, /;
is evolution which Is doubted. II is
simply DGrwin's theory OF the survl-
val OF the fttes; ly natural selection
which is opposed. The fact OF cvoiu-
ton is settled in the minds OF all
the important scientists OF the world.
hut there is sim discussion as to tho
processes OF evolution.
Furthermore. those who doubt
Darwinlsm az a rule do not doubt
II as an important factor In dcvel-
Cpment. but they recognize that 1t
cannot explain all phases of evolu-
ton. Darwin himself said in his in
PRODUCTION to The Origin OF Spe-
cies: ! am convinced that natural
selection has been the main. but not
the exclusive. means OF modification.'
Even though one may recognize
tho important influence that Darwin's
theory of natural selection through
the surviva! Of the fttest has played
in development, one may also recos-
nize that there are other processes
which encourage development. one
can easily see that there may come "A
period of evolution when co-opcra-
;ion in social groups. instead Of
struggle. viii act as n great incentive
power towards development There
are still many mysteries in the pro-
ttSStS Oh eNo:HtlCn, dltnOuSh the faCt
Of evolution leaves a clear trail be-
hind it.
Relationship Not Clear.
The influence OF environment. as
emphasized by the Neo-I.amarckists;
the advance in the germ plasm, as
believed in by Wcsmann and his
school. development by means of
more radical changes and sustained
by heredity as set forth by Mendel-
ism-these various processes may
have played their various parts in the
great upward movement Of life. Tut
just what relationship these processes
hold to each other is not yet wholly
clear.
TO the average person the process
of the survival Of the fttcst. by nat
ural selection, as set forth by Oar
win, Is the simplest explanation of
the general method OF evolution. Oar
wins explanation starts out with the
fact that more animals are born than
can survive. If. for instance. all
fishes were born and grew up in ac-
cordance with the number OF eggs
laid. eventually the ocean would be
solid mass OF fish. More fish are
born than can survive. Thus there is
struggle 10 decide which shall live
and which shall! pass away. In this
struggle for existence those which
have the most favorable qualities
survive.
IF n favorable quality comes into
existence, this means an advantage
which Will tend to make the individ-
ual survive. These favorable varia
tons. IL they are deep seated enough,
are transmitted to the offspring, ard
in this way favorable species d,
brought into being. This means the
survival of the fttest'-the fittest for
the environment.
I'm the study OF the processes OF
evolution one great fact must lie con-
stantly remembered. Outside infiu-
enccs alone can never account for
the meaning OF life in all Its vari-
Gus forms. There Is an inner plan
and purpose which has not been
created by mere contact with outside
influences. One cannot leave out God
He is met at every turn. The sim
plest cell is n profound mystery. but
there is n plan and purpose in It.
1t cannot be fully explained Ey the
effect Of outside influences upon IL.
Its plan and purpose can be explained
only by God, 3the Creator Spirit,
working In and ShrouRh all things.