The Lowell Lectures on the Ascent of Man_第8章

　　TheAscentofMan-CHAPTERXCHAPTERXINVOLUTION
　　MANYyearsago，intheclaywhichineverypartoftheworldisfoundunderlyingbedsofcoal，apeculiarfossilwasdiscoveredandnamedbyscienceStigmaria。Itoccurredingreatabundanceandinmanycountries，andfromthestrangewayinwhichitramifiedthroughtheclayitwassupposedtobesomeextinctvarietyofagiganticwater-weed。
　　Inthecoalitselfanotherfossilwasdiscovered，almostasabundantbutfarmorebeautiful，andfromtheexquisitecarvingwhichornamenteditsflutedstemitreceivedthenameofSigillaria。OnedayaCanadiangeologist，studyingSigillariainthefield，madeanewdiscovery。FindingthetrunkofaSigillariastandingerectinabedofcoal，hetracedthecolumndownwardstotheclaybeneath。TohissurprisehefounditendedinStigmaria。Thisbranchingfossilintheclaywasnolongerawater-weed。ItwastherootofwhichSigillariawasthestem，andtheclaywasthesoilinwhichthegreatcoal-plantgrew。
　　Throughmanychapters，ofteninthedark，everywherehamperedbytheclay，wehavebeenworkingamongroots。Ofwhataretheytheroots？Towhatorderdotheybelong？Bywhatprocesshavetheygrown？Whatconnectionhavetheywiththerealmabove，ortherealmbeneath？IsitaStigmariaoraSigillariaworld？
　　TillyesterdaySciencedidnotrecognizethemevenasroots。Theywereclassifiedapart。Theyledtonothing。NoorganicconnectionwasknownbetweenlowerNatureandthatwhollyseparateandallbutantagonisticrealm，thehigherworldofMan。Atoms，cells，plants，animalswerethematerialproductsofaseparatecreation，theclayfromwhichMantookhisclay-body，andnomore。Thehigherworld，also，wasasystembyitself。Itroseoutofnothing；itresteduponnothing。Clay，wheretherootslay，wastheproductofinorganicforces；Coal，whichenshrinedthetree，wasacreationofthesunlight。Whatfellowshiphadlightwithdarkness？Whatpossibleconnectioncouldexistbetweenthatbeautifulorganismwhichstooderectintheliving，andthatwhichlayproneinthedead？
　　Yet，byaprocessdoublyverified，theorganicconnectionbetweenthesetwohasnowbeentraced。Workingupwardsthroughtheclaythebiologistfindswhathetooktobeanorganismoftheclayleavinghisdomainandpassingintoaworldabove——aworldwhichhehadscarcelynoticedbefore，andintowhich，withsuchinstrumentsasheemploys，hecannotfollowit。
　　Workingdownwardthroughthehigherworld，thepsychologist，themoralist，thesociologist，beholdtheevenmorewonderfulspectacleofthethingstheyhadcountedapeculiarpossessionoftheupperkingdom，buryingthemselvesineverattenuatingformsintheclaybeneath。Whatistobemadeofthisdiscovery？Oncemore，IsitaStigmariaoraSigillariaworld？Isthebiologisttogiveuphisclayorthemoralisthishigherkingdom？AreMind，Morals，Men，tobeinterpretedintermsofroots，orareatomsandcellstobejudgedbytheflowersandfruitsofthetree？
　　Thefirstfruitofthediscoverymustbethateachshallexplorewithnewrespecttheother'sworld，and，insteadofdelightingtoaccentuatetheircontrasts，strivetomagnifytheirinfiniteharmonies。Oldasistheworld'svisionofacosmos，anduniversalashasbeenitsdreamoftheunityofNature，neitherhaseverstoodbeforetheimaginationcomplete。Poetryfelt，butneverknew，thattheuniversewasone；Biologyperceivedtheprofoundchemicalbalancebetweentheinorganicandorganickingdoms，andnomore；Physics，discoveringthecorrelationofforces，constructedacosmosofitsown；Astronomy，throughthelawofgravitation，linkedus，butmechanically，withthestars。ButitwasreservedforEvolutiontomakethefinalrevelationoftheunityoftheworld，tocomprehendeverythingunderonegeneralization，toexplaineverythingbyonegreatend。Itsomnipresenteyesaweveryphenomenonandeverylaw。
　　Itgatheredallthatisandhasbeenintoonelastwhole——awholewhoseveryperfectionconsistsintheallbutinfinitedistinctionsofthethingswhichitunites。
　　WhatisoftendreadedinEvolution——thedangerofobliteratingdistinctionsthatarevital——isagroundlessfear。Stigmariacanneverbeanythingmorethanroot，andSigillariacanneverbeanythinglessthanstem。Toshowtheirconnectionisnottotransposetheirproperties。
　　ThewiderthedistinctionsseenamongtheirpropertiestheprofounderistheThoughtwhichunitesthem，themorerichandrationaltheCosmoswhichcomprehendsthem。For"theunitywhichweseeinNatureisthatkindofUnitywhichtheMindrecognizesastheresultofoperationssimilartoitsown——notaunitywhichconsistsinmeresamenessofmaterial，orinmereidentityofcomposition，orinmereuniformityofstructure；butaunitywhichconsistsinthesubordinationofallthesetosimilaraims，nottosimilarprinciplesofaction——thatistosay，inlikemethodsofyokingafewelementaryforcestothedischargeofspecialfunctions，andtotheproduction，byadjustment，ofoneharmoniouswhole。"[93]
　　YetdidSigillariagrowoutofStigmaria？
　　DidMind，Morals，Men，evolveoutofMatter？Surelyifoneisthetreeandtheothertherootofthattree，andifEvolutionmeansthepassageoftheoneintotheother，thereisnoescapefromthisconclusion——noescapethereforefromthecrassestmaterialism？Ifthisisreallythesituation，thelowermustthenincludethehigher，andEvolution，afterall，beaprocessoftheclay？Thisisafrequent，anatural，andawhollyunreflectinginferencefromaverycommonwayofstatingtheEvolutiontheory。Itarisesfromatotalmisconceptionofwhatarootis。Becauseathingisseentohaveroots，itisassumedthatithasgrownoutoftheseroots，andmustthereforebelongtotheroot-order。ButneitherofthesethingsistrueinNature。Arethestem，branch，leaf，flower，fruitofatreeroots？Dotheybelongtotheroot-order？Theydonot。Theirwholemorphologyisdifferent；
　　theirwholephysiologyisdifferent；theirreactionsupontheworldaroundaredifferent。Butitmustbeallowedthattheyareatleastcontainedintheroot？Nosingleoneofthemiscontainedintheroot。Ifnotintheroot，thenintheclay？Neitheraretheycontainedintheclay。Buttheygrowoutofclay，aretheynotmadeoutofclay？Theydonotgrowoutofclay，andtheyarenotmadeoutofclay。Itisastoundingsometimeshowlittlethosewhoventuretocriticizebiologicalprocessesseemtoknowofitssimplestfacts。Fillaflower-potwithclay，andplantinitaseedling。Attheendoffouryearsithasbecomeasmalltree；itissixfeethigh；itweighstenpounds。Buttheclayinthepotisstillthere？
　　Amoietyofithasgone，butitisnotappreciablydiminished；ithasnot，exceptthemoiety，passedintothetree；thetreedoesnotliveonclaynoronanyforcecontainedintheclay。Itcannothavegrownoutoftheseedling，fortheseedlingcontainedbutagrainforeverypoundcontainedinthetree。Itcannothavegrownfromtheroot，becausetherootistherenow，haslostnothingtothetree，hasitselfgainedfromthetree，andatfirstwasnomoretherethanthetree。
　　Sigillaria，then，asrepresentingtheethicalorder，didnotgrowoutofStigmariaasrepresentingtheorganicorthematerialorder。Treesnotonlydonotevolveoutoftheirroots，butwholeclassesintheplantworld——thesea-weedsforinstance——havenorootsatall。Ifanypossiblerelationexistsitisexactlytheoppositeone——itistherootwhichevolvesfromthetree。Treessenddownrootsinafartruersensethanrootssenduptrees。Yetneitheristhewholetruth。Thetruefunctionoftherootistogivestabilitytothetree，andtoaffordamediumforconveyingintoitinorganicmatterfromwithout。Andthisbringsusfacetofacewiththerealrelation。Treeandroot——theseedapart——findtheirexplanationnotinoneanothernorinsomethinginthemselves，butmainlyinsomethingoutsidethemselves。ThesecretofEvolutionlies，inshort，withtheEnvironment。IntheEnvironment，inthatinwhichthingsliveandmoveandhavetheirbeing，isfoundthesecretoftheirbeing，andespeciallyoftheirbecoming。Andwhatisthatinwhichthingsliveandmoveandhavetheirbeing？ItisNature，theworld，thecosmos——andsomethingmore，someOnemore，anInfiniteIntelligenceandanEternalWill。Everythingthatlives，livesinvirtueofitscorrespondenceswiththisEnvironment。Evolutionisnottounfoldfromwithin；itistoinfoldfromwithout。Growthisnomereextensionfromarootbutatakingpossessionof，orabeingpossessedby，aneverwideningEnvironment，acontinuousprocessofassimilationoftheseenorUnseen，aceaselessredistributionofenergiesflowingintotheevolvingorganismfromtheUniversearoundit。ThesupremefactorinalldevelopmentisEnvironment。HalftheconfusionswhichreignroundtheprocessofEvolution，andhalftheobjectionstoit，arisefromconsideringtheevolvingobjectasaself-sufficientwhole。
　　Produceanorganism，plant，animal，man，society，whichwillevolveinvacuoandtherightisyourstosaythatthetreeliesintheroot，theflowerinthebud，themanintheembryo，thesocialorganisminthefamilyofananthropoidape。IfanorganismistobejudgedintermsoftheimmediateEnvironmentofitsroots，thetreeisaclaytree；butifitistobejudgedbystem，leaves，fruit，itisnotaclaytree。IfthemoralorsocialorganismistobejudgedintermsoftheEnvironmentofitsroots，themoralandsocialorganismisamaterialorganism；butifitistobejudgedintermsofthehigherinfluenceswhichenterintothemakingofitsstem，leaves，fruit，itisnotamaterialorganism。Everythingthatlives，andeverypartofeverythingthatlives，entersintorelationwithdifferentpartsoftheEnvironmentandwithdifferentthingsintheEnvironment；andateverystepofitsAscentitcompassesnewrangesoftheEnvironment，andisactedupon，andacts，indifferentwaysfromthoseinwhichitwasactedupon，oracted，atthepreviousstage。
　　ForwhatismostofallessentialtorememberisthatnotonlyisEnvironmenttheprimefactorindevelopment，butthattheEnvironmentitselfriseswitheveryevolutionofanyformoflife。
　　ToregardtheEnvironmentasafixedquantityandafixedqualityis，nexttoignoringthealtruisticfactor，thecardinalerrorofevolutionalphilosophy。
　　WitheverystepaclimberrisesupamountainsidehisEnvironmentmustchange。Atathousandfeettheairislighterandpurerthanatahundred，andastheeffectvarieswiththecause，allthereactionsoftheairuponhisbodyarealteredatthehigherlevel。Hispulsequickens；hisspiritgrowsmorebuoyant；theenergiesoftheupperworldflowinuponhim。Alltheotherphenomenachange——theplantsareAlpine，theanimalsareahardierrace，thetemperaturefalls，theveryworldheleftbehindwearsadifferentlook。Atthreethousandfeetthecauses，theeffects，andthephenomenachangeagain。Thehorizoniswider，thelightintenser，theaircolder，thetopnearer；thenetherworldrecedesfromview。Atsixthousandfeet，ifwemayaccentuatetheillustrationtillitcontainsmoreoftheemphasisofthereality，heenterstheregionofsnow。Hereisachangebroughtaboutbyasmallandperfectlynaturalrisewhichyetamountstoarevolution。
　　Anotherthousandfeetandthereisanotherrevolution——heisusheredintothedomainofmist。Stillanotherthousand，andtheclimaxofchangehascome。Hestandsatthetop，and，behold，theSun。Noneofthethingshehasencounteredinhisprogresstowardthetoparenewthings。Theyarethenormalphenomenaofaltitude——thescenes，theenergies，thecorrespondences，naturaltothehigherslopes。Hedidnotcreateanyofthesethingsasherose；theywerenotcreatedasherose；theydidnotliepotentiallyintheplainsorinthemountainfoot。Whathashappenedissimplythatinrisinghehasencounteredthem——someforthefirsttime，whicharethereforewhollynewtohim；otherswhich，thoughknownbefore，nowflowintohisbeinginsuchfullermeasure，orenterintosuchfreshrelationsamongthemselves，orwiththechangedbeingwhichateverystephehasbecome，astobealsopracticallynew。
　　Man，inhislongpilgrimageupwardsfromtheclay，passesthroughregionsofevervaryingcharacter。Eachbreathdrawnandutilizedtomakeoneupwardstepbringshimintorelationwithafractionallyhigherair，afractionallydifferentworld。Thenewenergieshetherereceivesareutilized，andinvirtueofthemherisestoathird，andfromathirdtoafourth。Asintheanimalkingdomthesensesopenonebyone——theeyeprogressingfromthemerediscernmentoflightanddarknesstotheblurredimageofthingsnear，andthentoclearervisionofthemoreremote；theearpassingfromthetremuloussenseofvibrationtodistinguishwitheverincreasingdelicacythesoundsoffar-offthings——sointhehigherworldthemoralandspiritualsensesriseandquickentilltheycompassqualitiesunknownbeforeandimpossibletothelimitedfacultiesoftheearlierlife。
　　SoMan，notbyanyinnatetendencytoprogressinhimself，norbytheenergiesinherentintheprotoplasmiccellfromwhichhefirstsetout，butbyacontinuousfeedingandreinforcingoftheprocessfromwithout，attainsthehigheraltitudes，andfromthesense-worldatthemountainfootascendswithennobledandennoblingfacultiesuntilhegreetstheSun。
　　WhatistheEnvironmentoftheSocialtree？
　　Itisallthethings，andallthepersons，andalltheinfluences，andalltheforceswithwhich，ateachsuccessivestageofprogress，itentersintocorrespondence。AndthisEnvironmentinevitablyexpandsastheSocialtreeexpandsandextendsitscorrespondences。AtthesavagestageMancompassesonesetofrelations，attherudesocialstageanother，atthecivilizedstageathird，andeachhasitsownreactions。Thesocial，themoral，andthereligiousforcesbeatuponallsocialbeingsintheorderinwhichthecapacitiesforthemunfold，andaccordingtothemeasureinwhichthecapacitiesthemselvesarefittedtocontainthem。Andfromwhatultimatesourcedotheycome？Thereisonlyonesourceofeverythingintheworld。
　　TheycomefromthesamesourceastheCarbonicAcidGas，theOxygen，theNitrogen，andtheVapourofWater，whichfromtheouterworldenterintothegrowingplant。Thesealsovisittheplantintheorderinwhichthecapacitiesforthemunfold，andaccordingtothemeasureinwhichthesecapacitiescancontainthem。
　　ThefactthatthehigherprinciplescomefromthesameEnvironmentasthoseoftheplant，neverthelessdoesnotimplythattheyarethesameasthosewhichenterintotheplant。Intheplanttheyarephysical，inManspiritual。Ifanythingistobeimplieditisnotthatthespiritualenergiesarephysical，butthatthephysicalenergiesarespiritual。Tocallthethingsinthephysicalworld"material"takesusnonearerthenatural，nofurtherawayfromthespiritualTherootsofatreemayrisefromwhatwecallaphysicalworld；theleavesmaybebathedbyphysicalatoms；eventheenergyofthetreemaybesolarenergy，butthetreeisitself；ThetreeisaThought，aunity，arationalpurposefulwhole；the"matter"isbutthemediumoftheirexpression。Callitall——matter，energy，tree——aphysicalproduction，andhaveweyettoucheditsultimatereality？Areweevenquitesurethatwhatwecallaphysicalworldis，afterall，aphysicalworld？Thepreponderatingviewofscienceatpresentisthatitisnot。Theveryterm"materialworld，"wearetold，isamisnomer；
　　thattheworldisaspiritualworld，merelyemploying"matter"foritsmanifestations。
　　Butsurelyhereisstillafallacy。Arenottheseso-calledsocialforcestheeffectofSocietyandnotitscause？
　　HasnotSocietytogeneratethembeforetheyregenerateSociety？True，buttogenerateisnottocreate。Societyismachinery，amediumforthetransmissionofenergy，butnomoreamediumforitscreationthanasteamengineisforthecreationofitsenergy。Whencethenthesocialenergies？
　　Theanswerisasbefore。Whencethephysicalenergies？AndSciencehasonlyoneanswertothat。"ConsiderthepositionintowhichSciencehasbroughtus。Weareledbyscientificlogictoanunseen，andbyscientificanalogytothespiritualityofthisunseen。Infine，ourconclusionis，thatthevisibleuniversehasbeendevelopedbyanintelligenceresidentintheUnseen。"[94]ThereisonlyonetheoryofthemethodofCreationinthefield，andthatisEvolution；butthereisonlyonetheoryoforiginsinthefield，andthatisCreation。InsteadofabolishingacreativeHand，Evolutiondemandsit。InsteadofbeingopposedtoCreation，alltheoriesofEvolutionbeginbyassumingit。IfSciencedoesnotformallypositit，itneverpositsanythingless。"ThedoctrineofEvolution，"writesMr。Huxley，"isneithertheisticnoranti-theistic。IthasnomoretodowiththeismthanthefirstbookofEuclidhas。Itdoesnotevencomeincontactwiththeismconsideredasascientificdoctrine。"Butwhenittouchesthequestionoforigins，itiseithertheisticorsilent。"Behindtheco-operatingforcesofNature，"
　　saysWeismann，"whichaimatapurpose，wemustadmitacause，……inconceivableinitsnature。ofwhichwecanonlysayonethingwithcertainty，thatitmustbetheological。"
　　ThefallacyofthemerelyquantitativetheoryofEvolutionisapparent。TointerpretanyorganismintermsoftheorganismsolelyistoomitreferencetothemaininstrumentofitsEvolution，andthereforetoleavetheprocess，scientificallyandphilosophically，unexplained。
　　Itisasifoneweretoconstructatheoryofthecareerofamillionaireintermsofthepocket-moneyallowedhimwhenaschoolboy。Disregardthefactthatmorepocket-moneywasallowedtheschoolboyashepassedfromthefirstformtothesixth；thathisallowancewasincreasedashecameofage；thatnow，beingaman，notaboy，hewascapableofmorewiselyspendingit；thatbeingwiseheputhismoneytopayinguses；andthatinterestandcapitalwereinvestedandre-investedasyearswenton——disregardallthisandyoucannotaccountfortheriseofthemillionaire。Aswellconstructthemillionairefromthepotentialgoldcontainedinhisfirstsixpence——asixpencewhichneverlefthispocket——asconstructatheoryoftheEvolutionofManfromtheprotoplasmiccellapartfromitsEnvironment。
　　Itisonlywheninterpreted，notintermsofhimself，butintermsofEnvironment，andofanEnvironmentincreasinglyappropriated，quantitativelyandqualitatively，witheachfreshstageoftheadvance，thataconsistenttheoryispossible，orthatthetruenatureofEvolutioncanappear。
　　Achilddoesnotgrowoutofachildbyspontaneousunfoldings。Theprocessisfedfromwithout。Thebodyassimilatesfood，themindassimilatesbooks，themoralnaturedrawsuponaffection，thereligiousfacultiesnourishthehigherbeingfromIdeals。Timebringsnotonlymorethings，butnewthings；thehighernatureinauguratespossessionof，orby，thehigherorder。"Itliesintheverynatureofthecasethattheearliestformofthatwhichlivesanddevelopsistheleastadequatetoitsnature，andthereforethatfromwhichwecangettheleastdistinctcluetotheinnerprincipleofthatnature。Hencetotracealivingbeingbacktoitsbeginning，andtoexplainwhatfollowsbysuchbeginning，wouldbesimplytoomitalmostallthatcharacterizesit，andthentosupposethatinwhatremainswehavethesecretofitsexistence。Thatisnotreallytoexplainit，buttoexplainitaway；foronthismethod，wenecessarilyreducethefeaturesthatdistinguishittoaminimumand，whenwehavedoneso，theremaindermaywellseemtobeitselfreducibletosomethinginwhichtheprincipleinquestiondoesnotmanifestitselfatall。Ifwecarrytheanimalbacktoprotoplasm，itmayreadilyseempossibletoexplainitasachemicalcompound。And，inlikemanner，bythesameminimizingprocess，wemayseemtosucceedinreducingconsciousnessandself-consciousnessinitssimplestformtosensation，andsensationinitssimplestformtosomethingnotessentiallydifferentfromthenutritivelifeofplants。
　　Thefallacyofthesoritesmaythusbeusedtoconcealallqualitativechangesundertheguiseofquantitativeadditionordiminution，andtobridgeoveralldifferencebytheideaofgradualtransition。For，astheoldschoolofetymologistsshowed，ifweareatlibertytointerposeasmanyconnectinglinksasweplease，itbecomeseasytoimaginethatthingsthemostheterogeneousshouldspringoutofeachother。While，however，thehypothesisofgradualchange——changeproceedingbyinfinitesimalstageswhichmeltintoeachothersothattheeyecannotdetectwhereonebeginsandtheotherends——makessuchatransitioneasierforimagination，itdoesnothingtodiminishthedifficultyorthewonderofitforthought。"[95]
　　ThevalueofphilosophicalcriticismtosciencehasseldomappearedtomoreadvantagethaninthesewordsoftheMasterofBalliol。ThefollowingpassagefromMartineaumaybefitlyplacedbesidethem：——"Innotafewoftheprogressioniststheweakillusionisunmistakable，that，withtimeenough，youmaygeteverythingoutofnext-to-nothing。
　　Grantus，theyseemtosay，anytiniestgranuleofpower，socloseuponzerothatitisnotworthbegrudging——allowitsometriflingtendencytoinfinitesimalmovement——andwewillshowyouhowthislittlestockbecamethekosmos，withoutevertakingastepworththinkingof，muchlessconstitutingacasefordesign。Theargumentisamereappealtoanincompetencyinthehumanimagination，invirtueofwhichmagnitudesevadingconceptionaretreatedasoutofexistence；andanaggregateofinappreciableincrementsissimultaneouslyequated，——initscausetonothing，initseffecttothewholeofthings。Youmanifestlywantthesamecausality，whetherconcentratedinamomentordistributedthroughincalculableages；
　　onlyindrawinguponitalogicaltheftismoreeasilycommittedpiecemealthanwholesale。Surelyitisameandeviceforaphilosopherthustocribcausationbyhair-breadths，toputitoutatcompoundinterestthroughalltime，andthendisownthedebt。"[96]
　　ItisnotsaidthattheviewheregivenoftheprocessofEvolutionhasbeentheactualprocess。Theillustrationshavebeendevelopedrathertoclearupdifficultiesthantostateatheory。
　　Thetimeisnotripefordaringtopresenttoourimaginationsevenapartialviewofwhatthattranscendentprocessmayhavebeen。Atpresentwecanonlytakeourideasofgrowthfromthegrowingthingsaroundus，andinthisanalogywehavetakennoaccountofthemostessentialfact——theseed。
　　Norisitasserted，farastheseillustrationspointinthatdirection，thatthecourseofEvolutionhasbeenacontinuous，uninterrupted，upwardrise。Onthewholeithascertainlybeenarise；butwhetherarisewithoutleaporbreakorpause，or——whatismorelikely——aprogressinrhythms，pulses，andwaves，or——whatisunlikely——acataclysmalascentbystepsabruptandsteep，maypossiblyneverbeproved。
　　TherearereverentmindswhoceaselesslyscanthefieldsofNatureandthebooksofScienceinsearchofgaps——gapswhichtheywillfillupwithGod。AsifGodlivedingaps？WhatviewofNatureorofTruthistheirswhoseinterestinScienceisnotinwhatitcanexplainbutinwhatitcannot，whosequestisignorancenotknowledge，whosedailydreadisthatthecloudmaylift，andwho，asdarknessmeltsfromthisfieldorfromthat，begintotremblefortheplaceofHisabode？Whatneedsalteringinsuchfinely-jealoussoulsisatoncetheirviewofNatureandofGod。NatureisGod'swriting，andcanonlytellthetruth；Godislight，andinHimisnodarknessatall。
　　Ifbytheaccumulationofirresistibleevidencewearedriven——maynotonesaypermitted——toacceptEvolutionasGod'smethodincreation，itisamistakenpolicytogloryinwhatitcannotaccountfor。ThereasonwhymengrudgetoEvolutioneachofitsfreshclaimstoshowhowthingshavebeenmadeisthegroundlessfearthatifwediscoverhowtheyaremadeweminimizetheirdivinity。Whenthingsareknown，thatistosay，weconceivethemasnatural，onMan'slevel；whentheyareunknown，wecallthemdivine——asifourignoranceofathingwerethestampofitsdivinity。IfGodisonlytobelefttothegapsinourknowledge，whereshallwebewhenthesegapsarefilledup？Andiftheyarenevertobefilledup，isGodonlytobefoundinthedis-ordersoftheworld？ThosewhoyieldtothetemptationtoreserveapointhereandthereforspecialdivineinterpositionareapttoforgetthatthisvirtuallyexcludesGodfromtherestoftheprocess。IfGodappearsperiodically，Hedisappearsperiodically。IfHecomesuponthesceneatspecialcrises，Heisabsentfromthesceneintheintervals。Whetherisall-Godoroccasional-Godthenoblertheory？Positively，theideaofanimmanentGod，whichistheGodofEvolution，isinfinitelygranderthantheoccasionalwonder-worker，whoistheGodofanoldtheology。Negatively，theolderviewisnotonlythelessworthy，butitisdiscreditedbyscience。Andastofacts，thedailymiracleofaflower，thecoursesofthestars，theupholdingandsustainingdaybydayofthisgreatpalpitatingworld，needalivingWillasmuchasthecreationofatomsatthefirst。WeknowgrowthasthemethodbywhichthingsaremadeinNature，andweknownoothermethod。Wedonotknowthattherearenotothermethods；butifthereare，wedonotknowthem。Thosecaseswhichwedonotknowtobegrowths，wedonotknowtobeanythingelse，andwemayatleastsuspectthemtobegrowths。Noraretheyanythelessmiraculousbecausetheyappeartousasgrowths。
　　Amiracleisnotsomethingquick。Thedoingsofthesethingsmayseemtousnomiracle，neverthelessitisamiraclethattheyhavebeendone。
　　But，afterall，themiracleofEvolutionisnottheprocessbuttheproduct。Besidethewonderoftheresult，theproblemoftheprocessisamerecuriosityofScience。Forwhatistheproduct？
　　Itisnotmountainandvalley，skyandsea，flowerandstar，thisgloriousandbeautifulworldinwhichMan'sbodyfindsitshome。Itisnotthegod-likegiftofMindnortheorderedcosmoswhereitfindssonobleanexerciseforitsillimitablepowers。Itisthatwhichofallotherthingsintheuniversecommendsitself，withincreasingsurenessastimegoeson，tothereasonandtotheheartofHumanity——Love。LoveisthefinalresultofEvolution。ThisiswhatstandsoutinNatureasthesupremecreation。
　　Evolutionisnotprogressinmatter。Mattercannotprogress。Itisaprogressinspirit，inthatwhichislimitless，inthatwhichisatoncemosthuman，mostrational，andmostdivine。WhatevercontroversyragesastothefactorsofEvolution，whatevermysteryenshroudsitssteps，nodoubtexistsofitsgoal。Thegreatlandmarkswehavepassed，andwearenotyethalf-wayuptheAscent，eachseparatelyandalltogetherhavedeclaredthecourseofNaturetobearationalcourse，anditsendamoralend。Atthefurthestlimitoftime，inprotoplasmitself，wesawstartforththetwogreatcurrentswhichbytheiractionandreaction，asSelfishnessandUnselfishness，weretosupplyineveraccentuatingclearnesstheconditionsofthemorallife。
　　Followingtheirmovementsupwardthroughtheorganickingdom，wewatchedtheresultswhicheachachieved——alwayshigh，andalwayswaxinghigher；
　　andthoughwhatwecallEvildoggedeachstepwithsinisterandsometimesstaggeringmalevolence，thebalancewhenstruckwasalwaysgooduponthewhole。Thencamethelastgreatactoftheorganicprocess，theactwhichfinallyrevealedtoteleologyitshithertoobscuredend，theorganizationoftheMammalia，theKingdomoftheMothers。SofullofethicalpossibilityisthissinglecreationthatonemightstakethecharacterofEvolutionupontheMammaliaalone。Onthebiologicalside，aswehaveseen，theEvolutionoftheMammaliameanstheEvolutionofMothers；onthesociologicalside，theEvolutionoftheFamily；andonthemoralside，theEvolutionofLove。
　　Howarewetocharacterizeaprocesswhichripenedfruitslikethese？Thattheveryanimalkingdomhadforitsendandcrownaclassofanimalswhoowetheirname，theirplace，andtheirwholeexistencetoAltruism；thatthroughtheseMotherssocietyhasbeenfurnishedwithaninstitutionforgenerating，concentrating，purifying，andredistributingLoveinallitsenduringforms；thattheperfectingofLoveisthusnotanincidentinNaturebuteverywherethelargestpartofhertask，begunwiththefirstbeginningsoflife，andcontinuouslydevelopingquantitativelyandqualitativelytotheclose——allthishasbeenreadintoNaturebyourownimaginings，oritistherevelationofapurposeofbenevolenceandaGodwhosenameisLove。Thesceptic，wearesometimesreminded，haspresentedcrucialdifficultiestothetheistfoundedonthedoctrineofEvolution。Hereisaproblemwhichthetheistmayleavewiththesceptic。Thatthatwhichhasemergedhasthequalitiesithas，thateventheMammaliashouldhaveemerged，thatthatclassshouldstandrelatedtothelifeofManinthewayitdoes，thatManhaslivedbecauseheloved，andthathelivestolove——these，onanytheorybutone，areinsolubleproblems。
　　ForbiddentofollowtheEvolutionofLoveintothehigherfieldsofhistoryandsociety，wetakecouragetomakeamomentaryexplorationinastilllowerfield——afieldsofarbeneaththeplantandanimallevelthathithertowehavenotdareditconceivablethatininorganicNature，amongtheverymaterialbasesoftheworld，thereshouldbeanythingtoremindusofthecomingofthisTreeofLife？Toexpectevenforeshadowingsofethicalcharacterstherewereananachronismtoogreatforexpression。Yetthereissomethingthere，somethingwhichisatleastworthrecallinginthepresentconnection。
　　TheearliestconditioninwhichScienceallowsustopicturethisglobeisthatofafierymassofnebulousmatter。Atthesecondstageitconsistsofcountlessmyriadsofsimilaratoms，roughlyoutlinedintoaraggedcloud-ball，glowingwithheat，androtatinginspacewithinconceivablevelocity。Bywhatmeanscanthismassbebrokenup，orbrokendown，ormadeintoasolidworld？Bytwothings——mutualattractionandchemicalaffinity。Themomentwhenwithinthiscloud-balltheconditionsofcoolingtemperaturearesuchthattwoatomscouldcombinetogetherthecauseoftheEvolutionoftheEarthiswon。Forthispairofatomsarechemically"stronger"thananyoftheatomsimmediatelysurroundingthem。
　　Gradually，byattractionoraffinity，theprimitivepairofatoms——likethefirstpairofsavages——absorbathirdatom，andafourth，andafifth，untila"Family"ofatomsisraisedupwhichpossessespropertiesandpowersaltogethernew，andinvirtueofwhichitholdswithinitsgrasptheconquestandservitudeofallsurroundingunits。Fromthisgrowingcentre，attractionradiatesoneveryside，untilalargeraggregate，afamilygroup——aTribe——arisesandstartsamorepowerfulcentreofitsown。Witheveryadditionalatomadded，thepoweraswellasthecomplexityofthecombinationincreases。
　　Astheprocessgoeson，afterendlessvicissitudes，repulsions，andreadjustments，thechangesbecomefewerandfewer，theconflictbetweenmassandmassdiesdown，theelementspassingthroughvariousstagesofliquidityfinallycombineintheorderoftheiraffinities，arrangethemselvesintheorderoftheirdensities，andthesolidearthisfinished。
　　Nowrecallthenamesoftheleadingactorsinthisstupendousreformation。Theyaretwoinnumber，mutualattractionandchemicalaffinity。Noticethesewords——Attraction，Affinity。NoticethatthegreatformativeforcesofphysicalEvolutionhavepsychicalnames。
　　Itisidletodiscusswhetherthereisorcanbeanyidentitybetweenthethingrepresentedintheonecaseandintheother。Obviouslytherecannotbe。Yetthisdoesnotexhausttheinterestoftheanalogy。Inreality，neitherherenoranywhere，haveweanyknowledgewhateverofwhatisactuallymeantbyAttraction；nor，intheonesphereorintheother，haveweeventhemeansofapproximatingtosuchknowledge。ToNewtonhimselftheveryconceptionofoneatomoronemass，attractingthroughemptyspaceanotheratomoranothermass，puthismentalpowerstoconfusion。AndastothetermAffinity，themostrecentChemistry，findingitutterlyunfathomableinitself，confinesitsresearchatpresenttotheinvestigationofitsmodesofaction。Sciencedoesnotknowindeedwhatforcesare；itonlyclassifiesthem。Here，asineverydeeprecessofphysicalNature，weareinthepresenceofthatwhichismetaphysical，thatwhichbarsthewayimperiouslyateveryturntoamaterialisticinterpretationoftheworld。
　　Yetnameandnatureofforceapart，whataffinityeventhegrossest，whatlikenesseventhemostremote，couldonehaveexpectedtotracebetweenthegradualaggregationofunitsofmatterinthecondensationofawelteringstar，andtheslowsegregationofmenintheorganizationofsocietiesandnations？Howeverdifferenttheagents，istherenosuggestionthattheyaredifferentstagesofauniformprocess，differentepochsofonegreathistoricalenterprise，differentresultsofasingleevolutionarylaw？
　　Readfromtheroot，wedefinethisage-longprocessbyawordborrowedfromthescienceofroots——awordfromtheclay——Evolution。
　　Butreadfromthetop，Evolutionisanimpossiblewordtodescribeit。
　　ThewordisInvolution。ItisnotaStigmariaworld，butaSigillariaworld；
　　aspiritual，notamaterialuniverse。EvolutionisAdvolution；better，itisRevelation——thephenomenalexpressionoftheDivine，theprogressiverealizationoftheIdeal，theAscentofLove。Evolutionisadoctrineofunimaginablegrandeur。ThatManshoulddiscernthepreludetohisdestinyinthevoicesofthestars；thattheheartofNatureshouldbeasohumanheart；thatitseternalenterpriseshouldbeonewithhisideals；thatevenintheUniversebeyond，theReasonwhichpresidesshouldhavesostrangeakinshipwiththatmeasureofitwhichhecallshisown；thathe，anatominthatUniverse，shoulddaretofeelhimselfathomewithinit，shouldstandbesideImmensity，Infinity，Eternity，unaffrightedandundismayed——thesethingsbewilderManthemorethattheybewilderhimsolittle。
　　Butoneverdictispossibleastothepracticalimportofthisgreatdoctrine，astoitsbearingupontheindividuallifeandthefutureoftherace。Evolutionhasusheredanewhopeintotheworld。
　　ThesuprememessageofsciencetothisageisthatallNatureisonthesideofthemanwhotriestorise。Evolution，development，progressarenotonlyonherprogramme，theseareherprogramme。Forallthingsarerising，allworlds，allplanets，allstarsandsuns。Anascendingenergyisintheuniverse，andthewholemovesonwithonemightyideaandanticipation。
　　Theaspirationinthehumanmindandheartisbuttheevolutionarytendencyoftheuniversebecomingconscious。Darwin'sgreatdiscovery，orthediscoverywhichhebroughtintoprominence，isthesameasGalileo's——thattheworldmoves。TheItalianprophetsaiditmovesfromwesttoeast；theEnglishphilosophersaiditmovesfromlowtohigh。Andthisisthelastandmostsplendidcontributionofsciencetothefaithoftheworld。
　　Thediscoveryofasecondmotionintheearthhascomeintotheworldofthoughtonlyintimetosaveitfromdespair。
　　AsinthedaysofGalileo，therearemanyevennowwhodonotseethattheworldmoves——mentowhomtheearthisbutanendlessplain，aprisonfixedinapurposelessuniversewhereuntriedprisonersawaittheirunknownfate。Itisnotthemonotonyoflifewhichdestroysmen，butitspointlessness；
　　theycanbearitsweight，itsmeaninglessnesscrushesthem。Butthesamegreatrevolutionthatthediscoveryoftheaxialrotationoftheeartheffectedintherealmofphysics，theannouncementofthedoctrineofEvolutionmakesinthemoralworld。Already，eveninthesedaysofitsdawn，asuddenandmarvellouslighthasfallenuponearthandheaven。Evolutionislessadoctrinethanalight；itisalightrevealinginthechaosofthepastaperfectandgrowingorder，givingmeaningeventotheconfusionsofthepresent，discoveringthroughallthedeviousnessaroundusthepathsofprogress，andflashingitsraysalreadyuponacominggoal。Menbegintoseeanundeviatingethicalpurposeinthismaterialworld，atide，thatfrometernityhasneverturned，makingforperfectness。InthatvastprogressionofNature，thatvisionofallthingsfromthefirstoftimemovingfromlowtohigh，fromincompletenesstocompleteness，fromimperfectiontoperfection，themoralnaturerecognizesinallitsheightanddepththeeternalclaimuponitself。Wholeness，perfection，love——thesehavealwaysbeenrequiredofMan。Butneverbeforeonthenaturalplanehavetheybeenproclaimedbyvoicessocommanding，orenforcedbysanctionssogreatandrational。
　　IsNaturehenceforthtobecometheethicalteacheroftheworld？Shallitsaimsbecometheguide，itsspirittheinspirationofMan'slife？Istherenogroundherewhereallthefaithsandallthecreedsmaymeet——nay，nogroundforafinalfaithandafinalcreed？Forcouldbutallmenseetheinnermeaningandaspirationofthenaturalordershouldwenotfindatlasttheuniversalreligion——areligioncongruouswiththewholepastofMan，atonewithNature，andwithaworkingcreedwhichSciencecouldaccept？
　　Theanswerisasimpleone：Wehaveitalready。
　　Thereexistsareligionwhichhasanticipatedalltheserequirements——areligionwhichhasbeenbeforetheworldtheseeighteenhundredyears，whosecongruitywithNatureandwithManstandsthetestsateverypoint。
　　UptothistimenowordhasbeenspokentoreconcileChristianitywithEvolution，orEvolutionwithChristianity。Andwhy？Becausethetwoareone。WhatisEvolution？Amethodofcreation。Whatisitsobject？Tomakemoreperfectlivingbeings。WhatisChristianity？Amethodofcreation。
　　Whatisitsobject？Tomakemoreperfectlivingbeings。ThroughwhatdoesEvolutionwork？ThroughLove。ThroughwhatdoesChristianitywork？ThroughLove。EvolutionandChristianityhavethesameAuthor，thesameend，thesamespirit。Thereisnorivalrybetweentheseprocesses。ChristianitystruckintotheEvolutionaryprocesswithnonoiseorshock；itupsetnothingofallthathadbeendone；ittookallthenaturalfoundationspreciselyasitfoundthem；itadoptedMan'sbody，mind，andsoulattheexactlevelwhereOrganicEvolutionwasatworkuponthem；itcarriedonthebuildingbyslowandgradualmodifications；and，throughprocessesgovernedbyrationallaws，itputthefinishingtouchestotheAscentofMan。
　　NomancanrunupthenaturallinesofEvolutionwithoutcomingtoChristianityatthetop。OneholdsnobrieftobuttressChristianityinthisway。Butsciencehastodealwithfactsandwithallfacts，andthefactsandprocesseswhichhavereceivedthenameofChristianarethecontinuationsofthescientificorder，asmuchthesuccessorsofthesefactsandthecontinuationsoftheseprocesses——dueallowancesbeingmadeforthedifferencesintheplanes，andforthenewfactorswhichappearwitheachnewplane——asthefactsandprocessesofbiologyareofthoseofthemineralworld。Welandhere，notfromchoice，butfromnecessity。
　　Christianity——itisnotsaidanyparticularformofChristianity——butChristianity，istheFurtherEvolution。
　　"ThegloryofChristianity，"urgedJowett，"isnottobeasunlikeotherreligionsaspossible，buttobetheirperfectionandfulfilment。"ThedivinityofChristianity，itmightbeadded，isnottobeasunlikeNatureaspossible，buttobeitscoronation；thefulfilmentofitspromise；therallyingpointofitsforces；thebeginningnotofanewend，butofaninfiniteaccelerationoftheprocessesbywhichtheend，eternalfromthebeginning，washenceforthtoberealized。AreligionwhichisLoveandaNaturewhichisLovecanneverbutbeone。Theinfiniteexaltationinqualityiswhattheprogressiverevelationfromthebeginninghastaughtustoexpect。Christianity，truly，hasitsownphenomena：itsspecialprocesses；itsfactorsaltogetherunique。ButthesedonotexcommunicateitfromGod'sorder。Theyareinlinewithallthathasgonebefore，thelatestdisclosureofEnvironment。Moststrangetousandnew，mostmiraculousandsupernaturalwhenlookedatfrombeneath，theyarethenormalphenomenaofaltitude，therevelationnaturaltothehighestheight。WhileEvolutionneverdeviatesfromitscourse，itassumesnewdevelopmentsateverystageoftheAscent；andhere，asthelastandhighest，thesespecializations，accelerations，modifications，aremostrevolutionaryofall。FortheevolvingproductsarenownolongerthepreyandtooloftheStruggleforLife——thenormaldynamicoftheworld'syouth。Forthemitsappealisvain；itsforceisspent；aquickerroadtoprogresshasbeenfound。NolongerdrivenfrombelowbytheAnimalStruggle，theyaredrawnupwardfromabove；nolongercompelledbyhateorhunger，byrivalryorfear，theyfeelimpelledbyLove；theyrealizethedignityreservedforManaloneinevolvingthroughIdeals。ThisdevelopmentthroughIdeals，thePerfectIdealthroughwhichallotherscome，aretheuniquephenomenaoftheclosingact——uniquenotbecausetheyareoutofrelationtowhathasgonebefore，butbecausethephenomenaofthesummitaredifferentfromthephenomenaoftheplain。
　　Apartfromthese，andnotabsolutelyapartfromthese——fornothingintheworldcanbeabsolutelyapartfromanythingelse，thereisnothinginChristianitywhichisnotingerminNature。ItisnotanexcrescenceonNaturebutitsefflorescence。Itisnotasidetrackwhereafewenthusiastsliveimpracticablelivesonimpossibleideals。Itisthemainstreamofhistoryandofscience，andtheonlycurrentsetfrometernityfortheprogressoftheworldandtheperfectingofahumanrace。
　　WebeganthesechapterswiththeunderstandingthatEvolutionishistory，thescientifichistoryoftheworld。Christianityishistory，ahistoryofsomeofthelaterstepsintheEvolutionoftheworld。Thecontinuitybetweenthemisacontinuityofspirit；theirformsaredifferent，theirforcesconfluent。ChristianitydidnotbeginattheChristianera，itisasoldasNature；didnotdroplikeaboltfromEternity，cameinthefulnessofTime。TheattempttoproveanalibiforChristianity；
　　toshowthatitwasintheskiestilltheChristianeraopened，isasfataltoitsacceptancebyScienceasitisuselessfordefencetoTheology。
　　WhatemergesfromNatureasthefinalresultofCreationisnoneotherthanthatimmortalprinciplewhich，reinforced，istheinstrumentandendofthenewCreation。
　　TheattemptofScience，ontheotherhand，toholditselfalooffromthelaterphasesofdevelopmentswhichintheirearlierstagesitsodevotesitselftotrace，iseitherignoranceorsheeraffectation。ForthatAltruismwhichwefoundstrugglingtoexpressitselfthroughoutthewholecourseofNature，Whatisit？"AltruismisthenewandveryaffectednamefortheoldfamiliarthingswhichweusedtocallCharity，Philanthropy，andLove。"[97]OnlybyshuttingitseyescanScienceevadethediscoveryoftherootsofChristianityineveryprovincethatitenters；andwhenitdoesdiscoverthem，itisonlybydisguisingwordsthatitcansucceedindisowningtherelationship。Thereisnothingunscientificinacceptingthatrelationship；
　　thereismuchthatisunscientificindishonouringit。TheWillbehindEvolutionisnotdead；theheartbeneathNatureisnotstilled。Lovenotonlywas；itis；itmoves；itspreads。Toignorethelaterandmoststrikingphasesistofailtoseewhattheearlierprocessreallywas，andtoleavetheancienttaskofEvolutionhistoricallyincomplete。ThatChristiandevelopment，social，moral，spiritual，whichisgoingonaroundus，isasrealanevolutionarymovementasanythatprecededit，andatleastascapableofscientificexpression。AsystemfoundedonSelf-Sacrifice，whosefittestsymbolistheLeaven，whoseorganicdevelopmenthasitsnaturalanalogyinthegrowthofaMustardTree，isnotaforeignthingtotheEvolutionist；andthatprophetoftheKingdomofGodwasnolessthespokesmanofNaturewhoproclaimedthattheendofManis"thatwhichwehadfromthebeginning，thatwelove。"
　　Intheprofoundestsense，thisisscientificdoctrine。TheAscentofManandofSocietyisbounduphenceforthwiththeconflict，theintensification，andthediffusionoftheStrugglefortheLifeofOthers。ThisistheFurtherEvolution，thepageofhistorythatliesbeforeus，theclosingactofthedramaofMan。TheStrugglemaybeshortorlong；butbyallscientificanalogytheresultissure。
　　AlltheotherKingdomsofNaturewerecompleted；Evolutionalwaysattains；
　　alwaysroundsoffitswork。Itspentaneternityovertheearth，butfinishedit。ItstruggledformillenniumstobringtheVegetableKingdomuptotheFloweringPlants，andattained。IntheAnimalKingdomitneverpauseduntilthepossibilitiesoforganizationwereexhaustedintheMammalia。Kindledbythispast，Manmaysurelysay，"Ishallarrive。"Thesuccessioncannotbreak。TheFurtherEvolutionmustgoon，theHigherKingdomcome——firsttheblade，whereweareto-day；thentheear，whereweshallbeto-morrow；
　　thenthefullcornintheear，whichawaitsourchildren'schildren，andwhichwelivetohasten。
　　END
　　GLASGOW：PRINTEDATTHEUNIVERSITYPRESSBY
　　ROBERTMACLEHOSEANDCO。LTD。
　　[93]DukeofArgyll，TheUnityofNature，p。44。
　　[94]BalfourStewartandTait，TheUnseenUniverse，6thedition，p。221。
　　[95]EdwardCaird，TheEvolutionofReligion，Vol。I。，pp。49-50。
　　[96]Martineau，Essays，PhilosophicalandTheological，p。141。
　　[97]DukeofArgyll，EdinburghReview，April，1894。

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