The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1859-05-05
EoCal Matttrs.
Independence Lectures.

Ey The last lecture of this course wa
delivered on Saturday Evening last. b,
Judge TABOR. to large audience of la
dies and gentlemen. 1.
He commenced by speaking brief
concerning the Noachian deluge. HI
had, in the commencement of this course
announced that he would deliver lee
ture upon this topic. He had intended
to show that it was impossible that sucl
deluge as was spoken of by the bible
had ever been. 1t was at variance will
philosophical truths and geological facts
The bible represents this flood as having
been universal; the text says: the
waters prevailed exceedingly upon the
earth and all The high hills under til.
achole heaven vere covered." 1t also says
that everything was destroyed " in whose
nostrils was the breath of life"
cattle, creeping things, and the fowl Of
3eaven. But Sir CHARLES LYELL, HUGH
MILLER, Rev. JOHN PYE SMITH, Prof.
HITCHCOCK, and other eminent geologists,
declare that no trace of universal del
age can be found, nor even of partial
deluge, such as described in the bible
and now modern divines have adopted
the opinions of. the sceptics whom their
brethren SO long combatted, and admit
there never was universal deluge. This
had been admitted during the past win
ter by two well-informed and popular
clergymen, who have lectured in this
place, and it was therefore superAuous
for him to bring forward facts to prove
that position. Scriptural Interpretation
thus constantly varies, because its ex-
Founders feel the necessity Of making it
conform to the exactions of Science
They explain away the letter of the BIZ
BILE where they deem it necessary, and
yet those who pursue this very course,
exclaim against Universalsts for refusing
to interpret " these shall go away into
everlasting punishment" and similar
passages, in literal sense. He thought
that the course of the more intelligent
Christians was precisely similar to that
OF those whom they denominated Inf
dels; both received what was good in
the bible, and both rejected what there
was in it that their reason repudiated.-
lie showed that HORNE, CLARKE, FABER.
the disingenuous DAVID NELSON, and
the eminent standard writer's in favor oil
the bible, held the opinion that there had
been universal deluge. and that such
was the Interpretation, and considered the
letter of Scripture. until Geology forced
a different exegesis. The Judge also read
from an English theological writer, who
pertlnently said that he could not imae-
inc reyalatin" f-~.-- Old ~ .~o.n any
thing but what it says, because, unless
1t does mean what it says, it is not, and
cannot be, of any practical value what
ever. The lecturer also referred to arti-
Giles in the Presbyterian newspaper, in
which the writer protests against the dis
tortion of the letter Of the bible to suit |
the demands Of science, and boldly and
consistently declares that if the geologi-
cal records have been correctly read, then
the bible is manifestly at fault, because
Its assertions and the deductions of geol-
ogy are in direct antagonism Either the
one or the other must be given up, and
the writer was concerned that there seem
ed to be disposition among -theologians
to give up the bible, as is evidenced by
these new interpretations. 1t was in view
of these and other facts, the lecturer said, |
that men were led to deny the inspira-
ton of the bible. and to demand the
right to read it as they read other books,
accepting what was good and reasonable,
and rejecting what was bad and improba-
bic. A mans life and character should
alone be considered, aud these, and not
his belief, graduate the respect and con-
fidence of the community.
The Judge then took up, in continue
ton, the subject of Infidel death bed
scenes. He spoke Of DAVID HUME. and
produced an article published in the
Northwestern Christian Advocate. Meth
odist paper published in Chicago. deny
ing that HUME died calmly, and quoting
a letter purporting to come from him,
which was totally inconsistent with his
published works. The authority given
for this letter was Rev. JOHN ToDp's
Hints to Young Men. The Judge pro-
nounced the letter base and unprinci-
pied fabrication, and challenged the pro-
duction of any competent authority for
its genuineness. He exhibited copy of
Mr.. ToDD's Book. and showed that the
author gave no authority. He also read
IL