put the fallacious doctrine into practice. They plunged the world. into war .. "All Evolutionists are conspicuous for their tendency to confuse religion with idolatry." "Sociology... has broken away absolutely from physics and biology; the path of human progress cannot be determined." "the evolution of man from the lower animals, which is purely a matter of guess". "The predominating trait of the leaders of evolution was an intense egotism and self-confidence." "to them (Spencer, Darwin, Huxley, Haeckel) belongs the credit of having, by ridicule, convinced us that the Christian Religion had encrusted itself with a mass of superstitious beliefs." "the cause of evolution and the method by which species vary-are metaphysical and unverifiable." "No study of the physical cell would predict that it could grow." Cell division may "be due to surface tension and not to vital action, but . . . the cause which directs primitive cells so that they, in one case grow into. . man, and in another into a tree, is not physical." "No biophysicist can examine a horse and tell us when it will move but a physicist can answer questions about a hobby horse. The reading of such books as these may afford some amusement to biologists, but in the hands of the laymen they take on a more serious aspect. More goes so far as to attack the character of Darwin, Spencer, and Huxley. He fails entirely to discuss recent evidence and advances in the concept of evolution since their day, and brings modern evidence to bear against their theories, without fairly describing the modern modifications which biological science has made in the light of these advances. He contends that the acceptance of the theory of evolution necessitates the acceptance of a mechanistic philosophy, which in turn is atheistic, for he says, "To admit the existence of God in any sense of the word is to admit the possibility of the miraculous." Biologists, it seems, should everywhere in America be aware of the information which is in the hands of the fundamentalists and be ready to give it a fair evaluation should the opportunity present itself. No type of evidence will in their hands be used so effectively as the statements of scientists and lawyers, such as those refer ed to above. FLEAS I think that I shall never see A flea that flies and flits about out A flea too small for you to catch Yet not too small to make you scratch A flea that loves to romp and play Upon your body night and day A flea that nestles in your hair And leaves a flock of Flealets there Flies are caught by fools like me But only dogs can catch a flea. THE BIOLOGIST OFFICIAL PUBLICATION, PHI SIGMA SOCIETY Editorial and Business Office Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, Mo. Mr. Carl P. Huber Chapter Editor, BETA Ann Arbor, Michigan Dear Mr. Huber: Editor and Manager Editorials The "Report of the Chapter Editor" has been accepted. There is no doubt but that it has received the unanimous approval of all who have chanced to read it. You do not need to apologize for any delays which may have occurred in its preparation. This interesting narration of topics which customarily receive so short a squib in University catalogues shows a continuity of purpose behind it, a regard for accuracy in details, a breadth of academic contacts, and an appreciation for many of the fundamental efforts which your university is making to place opportunity before the biological students and investigators in this country, such that no comments of mine could help to make them appear more acceptable. Boyce Thompson Institute It is a "Speak for yourself, John" proposition which is deserving of close scrutiny and a thoughtful review. The society is, as a whole, grateful to you and to those associated with you, Mr. Huber, for having presented this digest of information regarding a noted institution which we have long wished to know more intimately. Most sincerely yours, Everett F. Davis Editor, THE BIOLOGIST. Undergraduate Research and Phi Sigma abroad today. Is it advisable to introduce in our university and college curricula the experimental methods for undergraduates? Posibly most of us would agree that this question as stated should be answered in the affirmative insofar as the spirit and the methods of research should permeate the biological laboratory. Surely the customary place to begin to prepare for future leaders of research is on the Freshman's battlefield, the afternoon laboratory from one o'clock until four. But to deliberately encourage experimental investigation quite outside of the organized laboratory, or to permit students who will to do so, to concentrate their efforts in biology upon some phase of an original piece of research work during undergraduate years, is in the opinion of many, a sin which too frequently is committed by our professors. To bring the question to our own front door,is it ever desirable for Phi Sigma to go on record as encouraging in any degree undergraduate research? Or, is it much better for us, either, to remain off the records that stand clearly opposed to such an incongruous practice? experiments which are being conducted at the University of Wisconsin. There, small groups of students have been literally selected for experimental purposes. The sole purpose has been to bring data together in the solution of certain problems bearing on college administration. Experimentation in the field of the intellectual and social welfare for students has already begun. Pres. Clarence C. Little, a distinguished member of our society, a biologist of renown and president of the University of Michigan, has recently voiced the sentiment that the faculties of our large universities should be subject to similar analysis. The following has been quoted from a speech by him which has been published in the Association of American Colleges Bulletin, May, 1927. "When we want to find out the nature of our student body socially we must isolate it in smaller groups than we are now using, and when we want to find out its nature individually we must try to isolate the individual mind and find out about that. "That will mean long and arduous research, and it will mean research from the point of view of both faculty and students. It will also involve the recognition that they are both of them being studied in a spirit of friendship and in a spirit which has as its aim the reconciliation of their points of difference. An ultimate cooperation between them will be of very greatest value. The students have enjoyed an immunity from that type of analysis, (Continued on page 36) |