Evolution as a philosophy of nature is an effort to smooth out all
distinction between Creation and the ordinary processes of nature that
are now under the régime of "natural law."

On the other hand, the essential idea of the doctrine of Creation is
that, back at a period called the "beginning," forces and powers were
brought into exercise and results were accomplished that have not since
been exercised or accomplished. That is, the origin of the first organic
forms, indeed of the whole world as we know it, was essentially and
radically _different_ from the ways in which these forms are perpetuated
and the world sustained to-day. _Time_ is in no way the essential idea
in the problem. The question of _how much time_ was occupied in the work
of Creation is of no importance, neither is the question of _how long
ago_ it took place. The one essential idea is that in its nature
Creation is essentially inscrutable; we can never hope to know just how
it was accomplished; we cannot expect to know the process or the
details, for we have nothing with which to measure it. The one essential
thing in the doctrine of Creation is that the origin of our world and of
the things upon it came about at some period of time in the past by a
direct and unusual manifestation of Divine power; and that since this
original Creation other and different forces and powers have prevailed
to sustain and perpetuate the forms of life and indeed the entire world
as then called into existence.

Accordingly, we might establish the Evolution doctrine by showing that
matter can be made _de novo_, that energy can be created or increased in
amount, that life can be made from the not-living, and that new and
distinct forms of life can be produced in modern times,--all by natural
law as now prevailing.