The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-02-05

ming, at Clinton Hall. During the last few weeks
We have been giving reports Of various lectures
q variety of subjects, delivered by several les
turers such as Dewey, Chaplin, Believes, Beeoher,
Baird, and now we give DR.. Antselps. With the
exception Of tho lectures Of DR.. Baird, which are
rich in historical facts, and that Of DIR. Antissl,
which is full Of interesting geological deve!ope-
ments, the rest of the lectures that have been in
licted on this suffering community have been spo-
c.mens Of the most uumitigated trash, the most
contemplate yerbinge, expressed grammatically,
that ever educated men and protendcrs to science
undertook to throw before an Intelligent commu-
nifty Who, for instance, goes to a lecture of
Dewey's or Chapins, Believes, or Beecher's, and
hears theig words, words, words, and comes away
with single prominent or perfect idea derived
therefrom? Not one. In the midst Of this great de-
aert Of tao leisure searon " arc gcd, however, to
find one green epot in historical and religious ltsrn.
ture presented BY Dr Baird, and az other green spot
in the intellectual and scientific analysis OF natural
facts, as presented BY Dr. Ansisel in mis- lecture
geology.
But willie we speak Of DR.. Antieoi's lecture, we
object to the very deficient criticism which he has
pronounced On ono OF ou- articles. few days ago.
IN anticipation Of this course Of lectures we nadc
disapproyal Of the learned lecturer, who wrote
letter complaining Of being classified With tho oppo-
rents Of Christianity, and Of hIa lectures being
described aiding Il eating atheism; but it
is quite apparent that this AGATE philosopher
cannot have read Tie article he condemns with
tho slightest degree Of attention, or that he must
have been iaboring under strange halucination
ahes he wrote to US. We never saba word respect
$50. tbafs hat lacl No last
in the community to imagine that we considered
the tendencies Of geology athestical. Ga the con-
trery, We believe that the study Of thai science
tends to lead the mind moro and more completely
into tho fullest ard frmest faith in the existence
and infinite wisdom aud power Of tho Great Archi
,ect Of tho universe; but the position We die as
sumo and which cannot be contested, was, that
the adyan es made in the study Of geology entirely
upset the Mosaic theory ofthe creation andls the
nicd concllsively to mingled philosophv If &.
rialism and spiritualiam, hostile to 4 pos az
the Jewish or Christian dispense Anti
sell must have some queer misconc on as 20 tne
meaning Of atheism, when ne cons ast in our
observations, We wished to apply su3a term in
reference to lis lectures.
When geology began to attract attention in tie
world, some twenty or thirty years ago, il spread
soAlC PNSAsseUTb VI WUO
that its Inc vitable result would De the under
mining Of the gocdly pyramid Of the Christian faith;
and nsef defense, the English clergy selected scm,
members Of their body to cultivate tho scioncc,
ascertain principles and facts, and should they be
found rrefutable then TO enacavor 20 reconcile them
with the Mosaic history of the creation; but the
subsequent failure Of this committee of sarans to
make report ca the result of their Investigations
- l~r
clearly that they found the task prescribed to them
an impracsicable one. Notwithstanding DR.. An
tsoll denies that tho science stands in antago.
nism to religion ard Christianity, and cup
ports Lis statement by referring to the feos
that some Of its most eminent cul.ivators-
Buck'and, SedGTick, end Cory beare-occupy pro-
rinent positions in the church This corroboratiou,
however, is very weak and inconalusive one, fo-
We have yet to learn that geoloss.s are so fer
exalted above tie ordinary fallings Of humanity az
to be entirely proof against Tho sedlctions Of " tke
leaves and fishes that slluring and Convincing
argument, tic power Of which tto English church
establishment So veil knows. We have little dsub.
that IN its ranks mag hs fcuas rot only goologis.g,
bu! even disciplea Of Vol.airc and Paine, and Il
would be an equally absurd conclusion to arrive a.,
ha tie doctFines the latter worshis, we've qlitc
raconci,ablc with tic thi.ty.nirc articles.
but this very Doc.or Bucklaad, referred -.
shows pretty distinctly that bis belief isnot fc,rol
down 70 tie Mosaic history 81 creation. fo7 he
states, in the BfilsoWator Treatise. that "tb,
wo-ld muat have been IA tho possession Of reptiles
for many : thoUeaai times longer than it opears
70 have been yes IA tic possession OF man We
learn Che says) IN tho records OF geological his
tory, that ta'ra was Q time whea reptiles not cnly
constituted The chief tenants, aad raos. powerful
possefsors 9. the earth, but extended their dori.
mon aIeo over tao waters of the sea; and tlst tho
annals their history may be traced back through
thousands IF years anSceaaent 70 tie latest
point II Tho progressive stages Of animal creation,
When Ito fIst parents Of the human raco wsre
called into existence u is also an estab.
hshea facs in geology, that tho earth has ex-
listed Ter incalcala6lc ages befcre the period
to which any traces found OF animal or yego.
table deposits reseyable, and that at tho earliest
period Of the introduction or animals, tho general
conditions Of light ard atmosphere could not hayo
differed any important degree from those which
arc now obtained.
Hero 80 have IN absolute denial Of tie truth
q tho Mosaic account Ct The coscmporancoua
orectos Of men and animals in TIE garden Of Eden,
and OIL the contrary, We find he doctgine OF pro-
g-essiyo st5ges Of creation" put forward and
sustained, and yet We are told very gravely to
believe that Dr. Rucklsnd must be firm stickler
FOR the veIacity Of the history which fxcs the ex
istencc Ct the world at FIVE thousand eight hundred
and ftysx years, because, fotsooth, tho learned
divine retains lis comfortable living in the church
Geology also exposes the fsllacy Of The Mosaic
i1ea that the heavenly bodies we're made s7oly FOR
tie pul pose Of eliminating this sphere
All msa knew the imrosaibilisy OF blending sulh
contradictory theories into ole beautiful consis-
tency--of hnImcnizng their conGistiD issa not.
withstanding al the attempts made to do 60, by
giving far mere liberal Interpretation to the
Mosaic account han the church was won. hereto.
fore to emotion, by interpreting the "days' Of
creation By epechs or periods, Or By treating the