The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-26
From the Christian Register.
Professor Agassiz.

At the recent Scientific convention at Charles
ton, South Carolina, Professor Agassiz developed,
with some minuteness of detail the theory that the
human race is not descended, is generally sup
posed, from parent stock, but has diffused
itself from several original centres OF creation,
the progenitors from each portion Of the race hav
ing been distinguished by such peculiarities as
adapted them TO their position as to soil and eli
mate, and to the part which they were destined to
play in the economy of life. He at the same time
expressed his faith in the sacred records, and his
profound reverence, not only for their religious,
but their historical contents, maintaining that
even they confirm his theory, inasmuch the
story Of Cain almost necessarily implies the ex-
istencc of human beings not of his fathers fami
ly. We are sorry that this speculation should
have been denounced ostensibly religious
grounds. We are not, indeed, prepared to en-.
brace it; yet il seems to Us entirely tenable, and
consistent even with the highest ground that
may be taken to the credibiity, nay, the verbal
inspiration of the Mosaic record. 1t is the primer,
not Moses, that says dogmatically that Adam was
the first man. He may have been, for all that we
are told to the contrary, only first man, Of
the world fathers Moses may have designed sim
ply to give, subsequently to his cosmogony, the
history of that portion Of the race from which his
own nation derived their origin Nor il the
any the less one, if not the descendants Of single
human pair 1t is not as Adams, but as Gods
children, that we are brethren in Christ. COM
mon Father and a 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 universal philanthropy. The
declarations, 'sThe field is the word,'' and the
command, ''Preach the gospel to every creature"
enough to consummate the essential unity OF
the race, even If every continent and island had
its separate Adam.
If divine inspiration pervade, we believe it
does, the old Testament no less than the New, sci
can do no detriment to revelation, and reve-
lation can need no defence against true science.
They can only lend each other mutual confirmation
They may seem for awhile to utter contradictory
responses; but their respective languages can only
need mutual translation to coincide. Fear of sci
entifc research betrays lack of the very faith
which it pretends. The Scriptures indeed have not
for their primary design instruction in astronomy,
geography, history, or philosophy, and, as adj
dressed to the popular mind, they employ language
adequate to the popular comprehension of the times
when they were written; but, if they are, We re-
gard them, the authentic record Of the divine adj
mnistration Of human affairs it is impossible that
in the last analysis they should fail to harmonic
with all scientific truth, and whatever alleged truth
contradicts their teachings only needs space for its
development to demonstrate its own absurdity.
Time and again have the profcssed friends of Reve
aon trembled for the ark that they upbore lest it
should be overthrown and scattered by the rude
hand of science; but as often has science laid its
finished testimony in the ark, and enriched reli-
gion 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 Christen-
dom, on the PRONUNCIATION of the Copernican 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
ton, finds himselfin universe UNNECESSARILY more
vast and grand than before, and reads in the same
Scriptures equally authentic but infinitely
more stupendous record Of the divine power, wisdom
and benehcence. Geology, in its divine infancy,
denounced as pretending to trace in the strata
Of the earth process and order of creation sub
versive of the Mosaic cosmogony. But its re-
searches, while they have confirmed the nara
| tive in Genesis, have at the same time, whether
by frightening out its days into ages, or by in
terpoeing successive cpochs of creative energy
between the original formation OF matter and the
work of the six days, indefinitely enlarged and ell
evated our views Of the Creator, and our adoring
contemplation Of the prmeval history of our planet.
Modern Investigations in chronology, history, and
archaeology, after having been decried and viIifed
as hostile TO faith have in their turn brought their
separate contributions 10 the illustration and cor
roboration of the sacred record, thus multiplying
the proofs that science scan do nothing against the
truth but for the truth" Let this theory of Agas
sig be fully elaborated and tested. II will either
fail TO subsantate itself scientific grounds, or
else il will take its place in harmony with revela
ton, and will open expanded views Of the attri
butes Of the Creator, the plan of His providence,
and the genuineness and adaptation of the success
sve religious dispensations recorded in the Bible.