The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-12-02
SCIENCE AND SCRIPTURE.
Testimony Of English Scientific
Men,

! o'", III WOW VI tIlo present biblical
as''atlons there, have signed the following
DECLARATION.
~, Ihe Undersigned students of the natural
49, 80 ucSire 10 express our sincere regret
tnJ -, s into scientific truth are peryer-
oa,;y o1inG III our own times into occasion for
of IN uo, upon the truth and authenticity
VI VIC my scriptures We conceive that 4
Is impossible for the Word of God nc ,vr;tton
III t1e DOCK OF nature, and Gods word wr;tten
IN Holy scripture to contradict one onothor
however much they may appear to diff w,
are not forgetful that physical science i ot
complete, out Is only IN condition of n,ooo
rcss, ana That at present our finite reason nTo-
bles US to see as through glass darklv e an1
we confidently believe that time will corna
when the two records will be seen to ooroo az
every particular. We cannot but denlore thnt
natural science should be looked upon with
| suspicion by many who do not make q studv
OF It, merely on account of the unadvised man
| ner in which some are placing it in opnosition
to Holy Writ. We believe that it is The dntv
OF every scientific student to investigate nature
| SIMPLY 1or The purpose of Calculating truth
ana That II he finds that some Of his results
appear 10 De In contradiction to the Written
Mord, or rather to his own interpretations of
IL, which may be erroneous, he should not
Presumptuously affirm that his own conclu.
SONS must be right, and the statements of
scripture wrong; rather leave the two side bv
slde TIL it shall please God to allow us to see
the manner in which they may be reconciled:
and instead OF insisting upon the seeming diff
ferences between science and the Scriptures it
would be as well to rest in faith upon the
points in which they agree.
Upwards of two hundred and ten names
have already been received, including
thirty F.R.S.'s, forty NJ ID. s, etc. Among
them are the following: Thomas Ander-
son, MD, ]. II. Balfour, MD, Thomas
Bell, }. 5. Bowerbank, LID, Sir David
Brewster, James Glaisher, Thomas Remer
Jones, James P. Joule, LID, Robert
Main, Lieutenant Colonel Sir Henry C.
Rawlinson, Thomas Richardson, Phi D,
Henry D. Rogers, LID, Adam Sedgwick,
MD, Alfred Since and John Stenhouse.
LID.
Two eminent men, an astronomer and
al author, have, however, declined to
sign the declarations, and write as follows:
LETTER FROM FIR JOHN HERsCHEL.
CoLLlNewoOp, Sept, 6, 1864.
SIR: | received some time ago a declaration
for signature, identical with its WORDING. or at
all events in its obvious purport with that YOU
have sent me | considered that the better
course was to put it aside without notice. But
since 1t Is pressed upon NE. and to prevent the
repetition Of similar appeal, it becomes nee
essary Tor me distinctly 10 decline signing it
and to declare that consider the act of calling
on me publicly to avOw or diSavow TO approve
or disapproye, in writing any religious doctrine
or statement. however carefully or cautiously
drawn up Gin other words, to append nv
name TO religious manifestO) to be an in
friHgement OF that social forbearance which
guards the freedom OF religious opinion in this
country with especial sanctitv. At the same
time protest against my refusal to sign your
" Declaration" being construed into a profes-
sion OF atheism or infdelity. My sentiments
on the mutual relations OF Scripture and sci
ence have long been before the world. and |
see DO reason TO alter or add to them. But |
consider this movement simply misCheyOuS
having a direct tendency (by putting forward q
new shiLbolcth-a new verbal test Of religious
craftsmanship TO add 4 fresh element OF discord
to the already too discordant relations of the
Christian world. | do not deny that care and
caution are apparent Oh Tie face Of the docu-
Inent l am called Oh 20 subscribe But no
nicely OF wording. no article of human Ian
Tuage will suffice TO al criminate the hun.
dredth ptrt 0f the shades vi meaning in which
the most worldwide differences of thought on
SuCl btit.5G-ts tsdy Do Ill NC.E0u; or prevent the
most gently WoFted and apparently ustfiabe
expression Of regret, SD embodied, from graf
inc on the feelings OF thousands of estimable
AID weilintentioned nltn with all the harsh
ness of controversial hostility.
an. si, your Obedcu5 servant,
}. T. ~. HERSCIIEL.
CARTEL Ii. BERGER, Esq.
LETTER FROM SIR JOHN BoWRING.
C1ARENoNT. Exeter August q.
DEAR SIE-ln the general Spirit OF the dOcu-
ment Ia which my adhesion Is asked cordially
concur. That all truths must ultimately har-
menZe that Que truth cannot be inconsistent
with another truth. are rOpositions-ayiOms,
rGthcr--Which cannot be contested to pro-
claim an approval of them is IS much a work
of supererOgation as it would he to publish an
avowal of agreement with the demonstrations
of mathematical problem. Bat il appears 10
me the period has arrived when We should en-
dcayor 10 emancpate ourselves from the tyr
amy of ali dogmatic creeGs-- n; enforced con.
LESSONS, all toregOne conclusions all conpro-
missing declarations; perseveyingly carving
out to their necessary consequences our own
investigations and convictions and encOuraq-
ing Others To exercise the same right and dis
charge the same duly. / do not know how
the course Of truth and the interests OF religion
can be better served than by allowing toe Ut
| most latitude 10 inquiry. 1t is not possible
| nor. if possible, dtsirable--to prevent com
| parsons between the historical revelations OF
the past and the scientific discoveries of the
present time. The Bible must be brought into
the broad daylight-out of the darkness TO
which ancient authority condemned it: it must
| be tested by inquiring knowledge and taken
from the custody of contending ignorance; it
must be cleared from its cObwebs, and purgeG
from its corruptiOns. Nothing less ought
reasonably to satisfy those who believe moth
ing more can fairly be demanded by those who
doubt; but thus much may be asked in the IN
terest of all. There is no presumption IN
giving to the world conclusions so6eriy, serl-
Ously, and reverently formed, be those conclu-
sions what they may. The best resting place
for - faith" or hope, or comfort VIII aiser all,
be found in allowing to the intehectual 1acul-
ties with which God has blessed Us tnelr widest
influence and action over the |nole field OF
thought, By PROVINCIAL things we shall be
able to hold fast to that which Is good" and
we NAV be fully assured that the great verities
which have stood the storms and shocks of
aoitated centuries will remain unbroken
through coming ages.
| am. dear sir. your o6edlent, humble, ser
| want, ~" hING.
The Pittsburg papers report marked
decline in steamboat stock within the last