The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-05-01
:. PROGRESS OFINFIDELITY.,


Under this head, the Richmond Enquirer
has the following notice of new work, the
q Types of Mankind -
6 In modern times the foes of Christianity have
sought press science into their service and the
discoveries of Astronomy and of Geology have been
successfully employed TO discredit the authority OF
Scripture. Man, looking at Nature with imperfect
vision, has presumptuously undertaken to interpret
its rets in accordance with his caprice and
has professed to find in them some contradiction of
the teachings ct revelation. A more thorough re-
search, however and clearer insight into the mys
teries Of nature have never failed to correct the
suits of too rash and imperfect generalization and
thus in the end the discoveries of science have
firmed the revelations of Scripture.
Astronomy and Geology having thus deserted TO
the enemy as it were, the apostles of lndelity have
solicited the aid of another and later science-the
science of Ethnography, as they term it. By an
analysis of the physical nature of man, they pretend
to have discovered that races are original and per.
manent types and not the modified forms of essen.
ial unity. They dispute the credibity of the scrip
tural alive OF the origin of man. just another
class of skeptcs denied the truth of the scrpural
account of the creation of the world They affirm
the impossbility of the descent of the various
Of men from a single pair-denouncng the story of
Adam and Eve az childish and absurd, and unworthy
of respect among intelligent minds"
The Enquirer adds, that though the new
book displays much original research, curl
Gus information and ingenious speculation, it
falls far short of solving the problems it dis
cusses. The corps of savans, says the Err
quare7', who have made this assault upon
Christianity, do not undertake to establish a
theory of their own, for they agree only in as
sailing the prevalent doctrine.
There was something at least honest and
manly in the open assaults which ancient In
fidelity waged upon Christianity. 1t wore no
mask, and went straight up to its object. 1t
did not add the meanness of hypocrisy to the
guilt of blasphemy. But, in these days, it
insidiously seeks to undermine one after an
other of the facts of Scripture history; and
while it strains its throat at the Mosaic ac-
count of the creation as something too mar
vellous for belief it is ready to swallow whole
caravans of wonders. unsupported by thou
sandth part of the evidence, which sustains
every statement of the Old and New Tesla
ment.
DIR. Usher, one OF the erudite authors of
THE Types of Mankind states that a hui
man fossil has been found in New Orleans, in
the course of some excavations in that city.
to which a pre-Adamite age is attributed
The skeleton of this man, it is stated, was
discovered at depth of sixteen feet, lying
below succession of four fossil cypress for.
ests, to each of which the age of IA, 400 years
is given. Upon this marvellous discovery is
basedthe assertion that men existed upon the
earth at least 10000 years ago. We are
also informed, that the man thus discovered.
was Of tic conformation If or nutfre In,
dams. Why did mt they report him mon.
key, just developing into man! However.
if any such skeleton was discovered, we have
no doubt it belonged to native Indian
and one of no very remote generation
Even the infidel of the n Y. Tribune is STAG.
gered by this immense demand which mo-
dern unbelief makes upon human credulity.
He very sensibly remarks; Considering the
volume of the mighty Mississippi the iiber
ii IS it takes with its banks, the rapid growth
and luxuriance of vegetation in that semi
tropical region, and the concurrence of ma.
tural commissions in producing physical
changes, we think he must be bold, rather
than safe generalizer, who could deduce
with any confidence from such data as are
here given, the conclusion that man has ex
lsted on this earth l4,4oo years, much less
l5o, 600"