Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-04-25

IalSe alarm the writings OF Moses do not
fix the antiquity of the globe" Since
then great has been the number of essays
and books which have issued from the
press, discussing the questions pro and
con. These are too numerous for us to
mention; our present object is, principally
TO notice two of the most recent, viz, the
work Of Taylor Lewis, Prof of Greek in
Union College, Schenectady, n. Y, and
an elaborate Review of it in the last num-
Der of the BiJfotkeca Sacra, by Prof.
Dana, of Yale College.
Prof. Lewis, who is stated to be deeply
learned in the Hebrew language, admits
that the days mentioned in the first chap
ter of Genesis mean great epoehs of time,
but he casts aspersions on Geology, men
of science, and science ITSELF We admit
that certain theorizings of individuals,
like the writings of Aristotle, may pass
current for science; but it is "seience
falsely so called" Real science Is simple
truths or facts arranged or set in order; it
Is nothing more. Prot. Lewis does not
clearly make this distinction, and Prof.
Dana has answered him correctly and
ably in defence of science.
We will now endeavor 10 present the
substance of Prof Dana's account of the
history of Creation, because it is the latest
clearest, and best we have seen, and must
be of interest to every son of Adam. He
states that Geology proves our earth to
have been at one time fiery ball in space F.;
then dry land and seas appeared with a
tropical climate over the whole globe.
AT later period, mountains began to en-
large, the dry land to expand, a temper
ate climate to gather about the poles, and
tribes of animals became more localized.
Then, in the last age before man, the con
tinents take their full breadth; rivers flow,
everywhere valleys are formed the zones
of climate became nearly like our own,
and every region of the globe has its Pc
culiar fauna. Finally, the features, and
climates and life attain all their present
variety, as man appears to take his place
/ ut tho &c IL
His ideas regarding the production Of
tire 7''''''' : ~sad as we have seen
endorsed by Prot. Dana, we presume they
are accepted as the most correct theory
of light by all who have paid any atten-
ton to the subject. He says, without
mutual molecular action, there could be
neither light nor heat But let it be en-
dowed with intense attraction of different
degrees or conditions, and it would pro
duce light as the first effect Of mutual ac-
ton begun. The command, Let light
be-, was the summons to activity in mat
ter" The plain meaning of this is, tha
the matter composing the earth was in ex
istence before the law of gravity, anC
that when it (mater) was endowed witt
gravity, the mutual action resulting there
from produced light; in other words
light is an effect Of the law Of gravitation
The records of the rocks, Prof. Dam
asserts, declare that the creations of tn
animal kingdoms came not forth all a
once but in long progression. Their
, was an aye when sheIl-fsh, such as cut
r tie fish, corals, and trilobites, were don
4 inant. The earth was then too warn
and the atmosphere too impure for NOR
exalted forms. "This was the Siluria
p age of geological science" The next az
was when fishes filed the seas, which
: the Devonian of Geology. Then followC
another, when reptiles, frogs, and sal
> manders commenced. Land plants the
came forth, and were of exuberant growt
to abstract carbouic gas from the atmo
I. phere and purify the air. The veget
" bic products Of that age are now found
e. our coal fields. After this came f
q Septilian age" when there were re
< tiles on land, and flying reptiles in Il
of air.
be In each of these ages there were d
is tinct creations succeeding TO extermir
Of tons Of previously existing life. 'FThrou
Is the Silurian, Devonian, Carboniferor
in and Reptilian ages, in Ameriea-liftc
n times at least the seas were swept
d species, and in the succeeding epoch
lat a species Of the former oceurs All
ed occurred during the fifth day Of Gene
,se according to geologists, which may b
lu- occupied period Of more than a mill
ieh Of cur years.
It's, The next epoch, the sixth day, was
rs. advent Of en,and the more perfect ma
be mals and Prof Dana asserts With 81
Of geoIogists, that the whole plan Of
ed, alton has evident reference TO Man,
re- the end and crown Of the animal kl
iity dom," and science had no evidence {
ion anv living species have been created 81