ABSTRACT
With perhaps the exception of Prof. Ernst Haeckel of Jena, all evolutionists admit that Evolution is unproven. One of the latest writers, and most impartial, is Prof. H. W. Conn, who says in his “Evolution of To-day:” “Nothing has been positively proved as to the question at issue. From its very nature, Evolution is beyond proof. . . . The difficulties offered to an unhesitating acceptance of Evolution are very great, and have not grown less since the appearance of Darwin’s Origin of Species, but have in some respects grown greater.” (pp. 107, 203.) He makes many such admissions. Dr. Rudolph Schmidt writes, “All these theories have not passed beyond the rank of hypotheses.” (Theories of Darwin, p. 61.) Prof. Whitney, of Yale University, says, “We cannot think the theory yet converted into a scientific fact and those are perhaps the worst foes to its success who are over-hasty to take it and use it as a proved fact.” (Oriental and Linguistic Studies, pp. 293-4) Tyndall said: “Those who hold the doctrine of 28Evolution are by no means ignorant of the uncertainty of their data, and they only yield to it a provisional assent.” (Fragments of Science, p. 162.) Dr. J. A. Zahm writes: “The theory of Evolution is not yet proved by any demonstrative evidence. An absolute demonstration is impossible.” (Popular Science Monthly, April, 1898.) Huxley said, “So long as the evidence at present adduced falls short of supporting the affirmative, the doctrine must be content to remain among the hypotheses.” (Lay Sermons, p. 295.) Down to the end of his life, he said the evidence for Evolution was insufficient. (Quarterly Review, January, 1901.)
