Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1866-06-30
SCIENCE AND RELIGION.

There is a prevalent-we might almost
say popular error-that science and reli-
gion are opposed to each other. 1t might
as well be said that wisdom is an enemy
to wisdom, that the pursuit Of knowledge
in one direction is a bar to its being fol-
lowed up in another, and that the study
Of the wonders and harmonieS of creation
i~ndisposes to sentiments Of love, gratitude
and alteration OF the Creator. Just now
we are reminded Of the question by some
passages in the recently published biogra-
ply of the late Professor Silliman, Of Yale
College, New Haven.
Silliman's reputation for large scientific
attainments. especially in chemistry and
geology, was everywhere admitted. He
found no discord between religion and
science-nothing in one to interfere with
or obstruct the widest range Of inquiry in
the other. What q delightful reflection
for him to say, toward the end of a long
life, "Now, at eighty-two and a half years
of age, still, by Gods forbearance and
blessing. possessing my mental powers
u~nimpaired, and looking over the barrier
beyond which I must soon pass, l can
truly declare that, in the study and exhi.
bition of science to my fellow men, have
never forgotten to give all the honor and
glory to the Infinite C~reator-happy it l
might be the honored interpreter Of a por-
ton of his works and of the beautiful
structure and benefcent laws discovered
therein by the labors of many illussrious
predecessors. For this, l claim no merit.
1, is the result to which right reason and
sound philosophy, as well as religion,
would naturally lead"
This true philosopher declares his be.
lief that natural religion stands at the
basis Of revelation, and that science and
religion may walk hand in hand. Both
being records Of the will Of the Creator, it
follows, as a logical sequence, that the
study of both becomes a duty, land is
perfectly consistent with our highest moral
obligations" Professor Silliman may
well reflect on his course with even more
than "subdued satisfaction" when his
record will show that nothing he has said
or omitted to say in his public lectures,
either before the college classes or before
popular audiences, can have favored the
erroneous impression that science is hos
tile to religion. His own conviction
leads him to an entirely opposite conclu-
sion, and accordingly he expresses a wish
"that students of theology should be, also
students of natural science-certainly Of
astronomy, geology, natural philosophy
and chemistry, and the outlines Of natural
history.
The name of Silllman will, hencefor-
ward, be inscribed on the same brilliant
scroll with that which exhibits the names
Of Liebnitz, Copernicus, Malebranche,
Pascal, Newton, Euler and Whewell, as
men whose studies and writings bear I'M
mistakable proofs of the harmony between
religion and science. Euler gained his
FIRST lessons in religion and mathematics
from his father, who was a clergyman.
OF the distinction acquired, and still more
of the happy results, for the good of the
Churches, by the study Of mathematics
c~onjoined with that of theology, we need
no better proof than in the example of q
Barrow and q Chalmers. These great and
good men were enabled to impart addi-
tional force and meaning to their scriptural
discourses from the pulpit by the copious
and varied illustrations derived from SCI
snce. We might point, in the same line
of enforcement Of our argument, to the
Natural Theology of Paley, and the lee
lures Of the Rev. Doctor, since Cardinal,
Wiseman, on the "Connection between
Science and Revealed Religion" The
Bridgewater Treatises were written in the
same spirit.