phists such sects as
Neo-Platonists, the Hesychasts of the Greek Church, the Mystics of
mediaeval times, and, in later times, the disciples of Paracelsus,
Thalhauser, Bohme, Swedenborg and others. Recently a small sect has
arisen, which has taken the name of Theosophists. Its leader was an
English gentleman who had become fascinated with the doctrine of
Buddhism. Taking a few of his followers to India, they have been
prosecuting their studies there, certain individuals attracting
considerable attention by a claim to miraculous powers. It need hardly
be said that the revelations they have claimed to receive have been,
thus far, without element of benefit to the human race.

THE EVOLUTION THEORY.

The evolution or development theory declares the universe as it now
exists to be the result of a long series of changes which were so far
related to each other as to form a series of growths analogous to the
evolving of the parts of a growing organism. Herbert Spencer defines
evolution as a progress from the homogeneous to the heterogeneous, from
general to special, from the simple to the complex elements of life, and
it is believed that this process can be traced in the formation of
worlds in space, in the multiplication of types and species among
animals and plants, in the origin and changes of languages and
literature and the arts, and also in all the changes of human
institutions and society. Asserting the general fact of progress in
nature, the evolution theory shows that the method of this progress has
been (1) by the multiplication of organs and functions; (2) according to
a defined unity of plan, although with (3) intervention of transitional
forms, and (4) with modifications dependent upon surrounding conditions.
Ancient writers occasionally seemed to have a glimmering knowledge of
the fact of progress in nature, but as a theory "evolution" belongs to
the enlightenment of the nineteenth century. Leibnitz, in the latter
part of the seventeenth century first uttered the opinion that the earth
was once in a fluid condition and Kant about the middle of the
eighteenth century, definitely propounded the nebular hypothesis, which
was enlarged as a theory by the Herschels. The first writer to suggest
the transmutation of species among animals was Buffon, about 1750, and
other writers followed out the idea. The eccentric Lord Monboddo was the
first to suggest the possible descent of man from the ape, about 1774.
In 1813 Dr