按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
form； of which； if we dared to indulge in reveries； we might say
that the Creative Mind realized it before either Actiniae or
Holothurians； and then went on to perfect the idea contained in it
in two different directions； dividing it into two different
families； and making on its model； by adding new organs； and taking
away old ones； in one direction the whole family of Actiniae （sea…
anemones）； and in a quite opposite one the Holothuriae； those
strange sea…cucumbers； with their mouth…fringe of feathery gills；
of which you shall see some anon。 Thus there has been； in the
Creative Mind； as it gave life to new species； a development of the
idea on which older species were created； in order … we may fancy …
that every mesh of the great net might gradually be supplied； and
there should be no gaps in the perfect variety of Nature's forms。
This development is one which we must believe to be at least
possible； if we allow that a Mind presides over the universe； and
not a mere brute necessity； a Law （absurd misnomer） without a
Lawgiver； and to it （strangely enough coinciding here and there
with the Platonic doctrine of Eternal Ideas existing in the Divine
Mind） all fresh inductive discovery seems to point more and more。
Let me speak freely a few words on this important matter。 Geology
has disproved the old popular belief that the universe was brought
into being as it now exists by a single fiat。 We know that the
work has been gradual； that the earth
〃In tracts of fluent heat began；
The seeming prey of cyclic storms；
The home of seeming random forms；
Till； at the last； arose the man。〃
And we know； also； that these forms； 〃seeming random〃 as they are；
have appeared according to a law which； as far as we can judge； has
been on the whole one of progress； … lower animals （though we
cannot yet say； the lowest） appearing first； and man； the highest
mammal； 〃the roof and crown of things；〃 one of the latest in the
series。 We have no more right； let it be observed； to say that
man； the highest； appeared last； than that the lowest appeared
first。 It was probably so； in both cases； but there is as yet no
positive proof of either； and as we know that species of animals
lower than those which already existed appeared again and again
during the various eras； so it is quite possible that they may be
appearing now； and may appear hereafter： and that for every
extinct Dodo or Moa； a new species may be created； to keep up the
equilibrium of the whole。 This is but a surmise： but it may be
wise； perhaps； just now； to confess boldly； even to insist on； its
possibility； lest any should fancy； from our unwillingness to allow
it； that there would be ought in it； if proved； contrary to sound
religion。
I am； I must honestly confess； more and more unable to perceive
anything which an orthodox Christian may not hold； in those
physical theories of 〃evolution；〃 which are gaining more and more
the assent of our best zoologists and botanists。 All that they ask
us to believe is； that 〃species〃 and 〃families；〃 and indeed the
whole of organic nature； have gone through； and may still be going
through； some such development from a lowest germ； as we know that
every living individual； from the lowest zoophyte to man himself；
does actually go through。 They apply to the whole of the living
world； past； present； and future； the law which is undeniably at
work on each individual of it。 They may be wrong； or they may be
right： but what is there in such a conception contrary to any
doctrine … at least of the Church of England？ To say that this
cannot be true； that species cannot vary； because God； at the
beginning； created each thing 〃according to its kind；〃 is really to
beg the question； which is … Does the idea of 〃kind〃 include
variability or not？ and if so； how much variability？ Now； 〃kind；〃
or 〃species；〃 as we call it； is defined nowhere in the Bible。 What
right have we to read our own definition into the word？ … and that
against the certain fact； that some 〃kinds〃 do vary； and that
widely； … mankind； for instance； and the animals and plants which
he domesticates。 Surely that latter fact should be significant； to
those who believe； as I do； that man was created in the likeness of
God。 For if man has the power； not only of making plants and
animals vary； but of developing them into forms of higher beauty
and usefulness than their wild ancestors possessed； why should not
the God in whose image he is made possess the same power？ If the
old theological rule be true … 〃There is nothing in man which was
not first in God〃 （sin； of course； excluded） … then why should not
this imperfect creative faculty in man be the very guarantee that
God possesses it in perfection？
Such at least is the conclusion of one who； studying certain
families of plants； which indulge in the most fantastic varieties
of shape and size； and yet through all their vagaries retain … as
do the Palms； the Orchids； the Euphorbiaceae … one organ； or form
of organs； peculiar and highly specialized； yet constant throughout
the whole of each family； has been driven to the belief that each
of these three families； at least； has 〃sported off〃 from one
common ancestor … one archetypal Palm； one archetypal Orchid； one
archetypal Euphorbia； simple； it may be； in itself； but endowed
with infinite possibilities of new and complex beauty； to be
developed； not in it； but in its descendants。 He has asked
himself； sitting alone amid the boundless wealth of tropic forests；
whether even then and there the great God might not be creating
round him； slowly but surely； new forms of beauty？ If he chose to
do it； could He not do it？ That man found himself none the worse
Christian for the thought。 He has said … and must be allowed to
say again； for he sees no reason to alter his words … in speaking
of the wonderful variety of forms in the Euphorbiaceae； from the
weedy English Euphorbias； the Dog's Mercuries； and the Box； to the
prickly…stemmed Scarlet Euphorbia of Madagascar； the succulent
Cactus…like Euphorbias of the Canaries and elsewhere； the Gale…like
Phyllanthus； the many…formed Crotons； the Hemp…like Maniocs；
Physic…nuts； Castor…oils； the scarlet Poinsettia； the little pink
and yellow Dalechampia； the poisonous Manchineel； and the gigantic
Hura； or sandbox tree； of the West Indies； … all so different in
shape and size； yet all alike in their most peculiar and complex
fructification； and in their acrid milky juice；… 〃What if all these
forms are the descendants of one original form？ Would that be one
whit the more wonderful than the theory that they were； each and
all； with the minute； and often imaginary； shades of difference
between certain cognate species among them； created separately and
at once？ But if it be so … which I cannot allow … what would the
theologian