Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1860-03-08


Ma. EpiToR--DeGv Sir:--I was somewhat
surprised at the lack Of taste in the citizens Of
Dayton, as displayed in the slim attendance at
the lecture on Thursday evening. | had
thought the announcement Of such a subject,
and such name, would have possessed at
fractions sufficient to overcome the unfavora-
blcDess Of the weather. but was mistaken, and
the small number present conv vinced me that I
had either greatly over estimated their scien-
ti6o taste, or much moderated their fear Of
colds. But though they could not 20 10 hear
the lecture, perhaps your readers may not be
unwilling to hear what they missed-uot that
can hope (even IL your space would permit, }
to give anything like full analysis of the lec>
ture. but only TO notice few Of the more prom
inent points touched upon BY Professor s. he
began by mentioning the points where Science
and Revelation met, but spoke at length on
only two-the language of the Bible, and the
unity Of the bumLn race. In describing a sci
entific fact, either Of two methods may be A.
dOpted; to describe it as it appears to us. /. e.
phenomenally, or, to give the law on which its
existence depeads. The former is the course
Invariably adopted by the inspired writer. 1t
ia objected by modern sceptics that the Bible
can not be the word Of God, for If so, the latter
method would have been pursued. But, Pro-
fGssOr s. showed phenomenal language is true,
!. e. it is as true a description Of phenome-
non TO give its appearance as the law from
which It arises; and not only so, but this IL the
ouly method which could have been adopted ia
the Bible. For every law is but phenomenal
description Of some other law which underles
il, till you reach the foundation Of all law-the
will of the Creator. Hence, 10 escape the OBJ
jection II would be necessary to trace back each
fact, step by step TO the will Of God, which
besides requiring an almost infinite space to
write it, would be incomprehsnsible when It
was written. Nor could even 60 much be
taught ~ man 10 capable Of learning, for Ian.
guage, until We have obtained Hoae notion Of
the thing to be described, can convey no idea
whatever. How could you describe the op,-
ration Of a magnetic telegraph To one who was
wholly ignorant Of the inhuen-e Of electricity 7
You might tell him that by a combination Of
metals aud acid electricity was produced, which
cohAk WIZ WhkuetlEtuI
piece Of iron. DC. &C., and when you had
flushed he would have, psThsps. as clear sn
idea as when you began. But though Ian
gusge be incompetent to convey an idea. God
has written his laws in characters which we
may comprehend-He has proclaimed them in
the Heavens, aud stamped them indelibly upon
tn rocks Of the earth. Professor 8. closed this
part of his subject with several amusing aud
ins lru etive examples Of scrip lural passages
clio lhed 10 = scientific dress. Space viii not
permit to give as full an analysis Of the latter
pAt Of the lecture as should like. The prom,
Inc Mt idea was. that in discussing the ques-
lion Of the unity Of The human race. We should
60 back Of mans physical nature. AID study
his mind. The influence Of the mind upon
lhs body is so great that. far from wondering
1t be differences We see among men. we should
fAtl Ter be surprised that greater diversities do
not exist The lecture was interpreted with
ma ~ beautiful passages of which it would be
imI 'Ossibls to convey an idea in SO limited a
spa ee. S.
= We copy the following from the Wash
Jog ton, o.. Register;
cAED.l
l.. o. 8, Mt Bro. e. 8. Niclois, Editor Of
XsN Ty.seh IsaAgs A ~ -