A valuable summary of Darwin's influence on general philosophic thought has been given by Mr. James Sully, in his article, "Evolution in Philosophy," in "The Encyclopædia Britannica," 9th ed., vol. viii. He, like many other thinkers, considers that Darwin has done much to banish old ideas as to the evidence of purpose in nature. Mr. Sully's views are not entirely shared, however, by Professor Winchell, an able American evolutionist ("Encyclopædia Americana," vol. ii.) who considers that the question of teleology, or of purpose in nature, is not really touched by the special principle of natural selection, nor by the general doctrine of evolution. The mechanical theorist may, consistently with these doctrines, maintain that every event takes place without a purpose; while the teleologist, or believer in purpose, may no less consistently maintain that the more orderly and uniform we find the succession of events, the more reason is there to presume that a purposeful intelligence is regulating them. It is certainly impossible to show that the whole system of evolution does not exist for a purpose. The ranks of the evolutionists, and even of the Darwinians, as a fact, embrace believers in the most diverse systems of philosophy, including many of those who accept Christ's teaching as an authoritative Divine revelation. May not this diversity among Darwinians itself teach hope? Darwinism is held with vital grip and will therefore not become a dead creed, a fossil formula. The belief that every generation is a step in progress to a higher and fuller life contains within it the promise of a glorious evolution which is no longer a faint hope, but a reasoned faith. "Man's thought is like Antæus, and must be Touched to the ground of Nature to regain Fresh force, new impulse, else it would remain Dead in the grip of strong Authority. But, once thereon reset, 'tis like a tree, Sap-swollen in spring-time: bonds may not restrain; Nor weight repress; its rootlets rend in twain Dead stones and walls and rocks resistlessly. Thine then it was to touch dead thoughts to earth, Till of old dreams sprang new philosophies, From visions systems, and beneath thy spell Swiftly uprose, like magic palaces,-- Thyself half-conscious only of thy worth-- Calm priest of a tremendous oracle."[13] Here let us leave Charles Darwin; a marvellously patient and successful revolutioniser of thought; a noble and beloved man. FOOTNOTES: [13: Round Table Series. "Charles Darwin" (1886), by J. T. Cunningham.] THE END. INDEX. A. Ainsworth, Mr. W. F., on Darwin at Edinburgh, 22 Allen, Mr. Grant, on Darwin, 25, 31, 95, 112 Ancestry of the Darwins, 11, 12, 14 Andes, 43, 45 Antiquity of man, 113 Ants, Observations on, 88, 89 Archæology and earthworms, 151, 152 _Athenæum_, The, 22, 94, 124 B.