By evolution we mean the theory first made popular by the late Charles Darwin, and since elaborated by others, in which it is sought to be demonstrated that man evolved from the anthropoid ape; the ape in turn evolved through many stages from a living primordial cell, which either found its way, so it is stated, to this earth from other planets or worlds, or came into existence by spontaneous generation; this process of man's evolution, demanding millions of years for its accomplishment.
Herbert Spencer's definition of evolution is as follows:- "Evolution is an integration of matter and concomitant dissipation of motion; during which the matter passes from an indefinite, incoherent homogeneity to a definite, coherent heterogeneity; and during which the retained motion undergoes a parallel transformation."
When a scientific man speaks it generally impresses the lay mind considerably. But Herbert Spencer's definition is unproved. It is an hypothesis, a guess. It is unscientific, for it is not founded on facts, and science can only build on fact. The definition is as sensible as imagining that particles of lead should work themselves out of the mine, assemble themselves, form themselves into printer's type, and then by " a fortuitous concourse of atoms " resolve themselves into Milton's " Paradise Lost." If theologians presented such fairy tales they would be laughed at for their pains.
A Yale Professor explained the origin of man as follows:—"Animal life on this continent developed no higher than the South American monkeys. The old world current developed into the anthropoid ape, and then by a colossal accident into man."
It must have been a colossal accident indeed! I have heard of colossal accidents before. But they always worked in a different direction. The accident destroyed and did not build up. That magnificent Sévres vase was dropped and broken into a thousand pieces. We can understand that. But take the thousand pieces and fling them upon the ground and lo! a perfect unbroken vase appears. Perfect nonsense! And yet this would be a slight miracle compared to the wild guess of this Yale Professor.
Why should the South American monkeys after having successfully evolved from a living primordial cell cease to evolve at that stage, and old world monkeys leave their South American cousins behind and evolve into man? It is not kind to South American monkeys. The assertion is made, but no proof is furnished, because—there is NONE.