All who have examined the evidence with an open mind admit that animals and plants have evolved from earlier types; but how the evolution has come about is a matter concerning which we know very, very little. Man is ever striving for certain knowledge, and when he thinks he has it he is very unwilling to have his faith shaken.

In the Early-Victorian period, to go no further back, the large majority were fully convinced that all forms of life had appeared on earth at the word of the Creator within a few days. Of course, it was manifest to anyone who studied the fossil shells and bones in the rocks that there was something wrong in this view, and endeavours were made to harmonize matters by regarding the “days” as indefinite periods of time. If the “days” were long enough—many millions of years—we might have a theory that would satisfy the geologist, and still be in keeping with the supposed divinely inspired account of Genesis. This was the view supported by Hugh Miller. He tried to show that the record of the rocks agreed with the Biblical account. It was rather a thankless task. The large majority of thinking people hated geologists for daring to upset the beliefs of their ancestors. They were spoken of as “infidels” and parsons fulminated against what they called their “horrid blasphemies.” Poor Hugh Miller, shortly after he had given his elaborate theory to the world—perhaps seeing that it was unsatisfactory—died by his own hand.

Robert Chambers, in some respects bolder than Miller, published in 1844 his famous Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation and gave to the world one of the earliest and best accounts of the evolutions of the earth and its animals and plants. He tried to explain it all as directed by a Creative Providence. But he, too, was vehemently attacked. One review of his book says: “Prophetic of infidel times, and indicating the unsoundness of our general education, the Vestiges has started in public favour with a fair chance of poisoning the fountains of science, and sapping the foundations of religion.”