Excerpt from The Creation of Matter: Or Material Elements, Evolution, and Creation, Thomson Lectureship Trust The subject therefore we propose to discuss in the following lectures is Material Elements, Evolution, and Creation. Material elements consist of the atoms and molecules of ordinary matter, and an ether, that fills all known space, and is the medium by which light and heat motions and electrical states are conveyed from place to place, from sphere to sphere. The term evolution is appropriate in every field of science. Chemical compounds, as water, salt, sugar, are evolutions by combination from simpler atoms. Light and heat, life and complex organisations, are evolutions. Darwin's great theory has by some been presented as if it gave a sufficient account of all forms and complexities of being and of the manner of their becoming. Step by step during the ages of ages the elements have of them selves built up the universe. Gradually and slowly they have marched onward and upward, taking ages for single steps, until they have reached heights of sublimity and heavens of order, and crowned their work in natures capable of investigating it with eyes of intelligence, and of ascribing to it glory in the highest. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.