The New York herald., 1850-04-29
Professor Agnssiz.


At the recent scientific convention at Charleston.
South Carolina, Professor Agassiz developed, with
some ninuteness Of detail, Tue theory that the
human race is not descended. as IL generally sup
| posed, from one parent stock, but has diilused
itself from several original centres OF creation, the
| progeniIors from each portion Of the race hay
! ing been distinguished by such peculiarities as
adapted them Ia their position as to soil and eli
matc, and to the part which they were destined to
| play in the economy of life. lie al the same time
expressed his faith in the sacred records, and his
profound reverence, not only for their ireligious
I but their historical contents, maintaining that
even they confirm his theory, nasmuch as the
story Of Cain almost necessarily implies the ex-
isience Of human beings not Of his fathers fa-
miy. We are sorry that this speculation should
have been denounced ostensibly religious
grounds. We are not. indeed, prepared TO en-
brace II; vet II seems To MS entirely tcnable, and
consistent even with the highest ground that
may be taken a. to the credbiiiy, nay, the verbal
inspiration Of the Mosaic record. II is the primer,
not Moses, that says dogmatcally that Adam was
hs flint mHn. lie may have been. for all that we
are told to the contrary only first man. of the
wofd-lailers. Moses may have designed simply
10 give subsequently TO his cosmogony the history
Of that portion Of the from which his own ma
tion derived their origin. Nor ~ the race any the
less one. # not the descendants Of single human
pair. IL is not as Adams, but as Gods children,
that we are brethren in Christ. common Father
and common redemption make "the whole family
in heaven and earth" one. Nor does any Christian
look this side Of God and Jesus for his motives TO
field is the world" and The command, "Preach the
gospel 10 every creature, are enough TO consum-
mate the essential unity Of the race, even il every
continent and island had its separate Adam
IL divine inspiration pervade, as we believe II
does, the Old Testament no less than the New,
science cen do no detriment TO revelation, and rcve-
lation can need no defence against true science.
They can only lend each other mutual coniITma-
tion. They may seem for awhile to utter contra
dictory responses; but their respective languages
can only need mutual translation TO coincide Fear
Of scientific research beirays a lack Of the very
faith which IL pretends. The Scriptures. indeed.
have not for their primary design instruction in as
iroromy, geography, history, or philosophy; and,
as addressed TO the popular mind they employ Ian
guagc adequate 10 the popular comprehension Of the
times when they were written; but. il they are.
We regard them, the authentic record Of the divine
administration OF human affairs, u impossible that
IN the last analysis they should fail To harmonic
with all scientific truth, and whatever alleged truth
con,adcts their teachings only needs space for its
deyelopenrent TO demonstrate it, own absurdity.
Time and again have the professed friends of
laiicn iremblcd for the ark that they upbore lest it
should I've oycrthrown and scattered by the rude
hand Of science hut cftcn has science laid its
finihsed testimony in the ark, and enriched religion
with more comprehensive and enlarged views OF
the truths Of revelation.
Never can there have been greater CONSERVATION
than filled the hearts of good men all over Chris
tendon, on the promulgaiion of the Coperncan sys-
tenn, because the Bible seemed to recognise the
revolution OF the sun round the earth. But the
Christian. now that he has humbly receded from
the centre TO the remote circumference Of the crea-
ton. finds himself in universe imme asuraby more
vast and grand than before, and reads in the
Scriptures an equally authentic but infinitely
more stupendous record Of the divine power. wis
dem. and benefccnce. Geology, in its divine in
fancy. was denounced rs pretending TO trace in the
strata of the earth process and order Of creation
subvcrsive Of the Mosaic cosnogony. But its re-
searches. while they have confirmed the narrative
in Genesis, have al the same time. whether bv
lengihenng out its days into ages, by inicrposing
successive epochs of creative energy between the
original formation Of matter and the work " the
six days, indefinitely enlarged and elevated our
views cf the Creator, and our adoring contempa-
ton Of the prmeyal history Of our planet. Modern
Investigations in chronology history. and archroo
av. after having been decred and vici as hos
tile to faith. have ia their turn brought their sepa-
rate contributions To the illustration and corrobora-
ton ofthe sacred record, thus multiplying The proofs
that science "can do nothing against the truth but
for the truth" Let this theory Of Agassz he fully
elaborated and tested. IL will either fail 10 sub
staniiaie itself scientific grounds or else IL will
take its place in harmony with revelation, and will
cpen expanded views Of the attributes of the Crca-
tor the plan Of His providence and the gcnunencss
end adaptation Of the successive religious dispsnsa-
lions recorded in the Bible.
Thirty thousand fruit trees are said 10 be on their
way from New Jersey, Tor Csliiornis