Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1867-08-30
Prof. Ncuherr,,s Addre.s.

We are sorry that cur limited space compels
US to be content with but brief and mesgre alb
stract Of the very excellent address delivered on
Friday evening by Prof J. s. Nesberry Of Co
lumbia College, President Of the Association.
His subject was Modern Scientific Observa-
tion-its methods and tendencies" Beginning
back at the period, 500 or 100 years ago, before
the physical sciences had an existence, and
when cur ancestors we're bsrbarians, no more
advanced than the modern Chinese, the speaker
noted the development, out Of that darkness, Of
all the light, civilization, science and freedom OF
the present day. Confessing that this is an age
Of skepticism; that the prevailing spirit Of mod
erp scientific observation is materialstici that
the tendency is to bring every thing to the nar-
row test Of mathematical rules, he still d.d not
discover all the danger in this, which so many
good men so earnestly deplore. In every de-
partnent Of tcierce are earnest workers, ami
mated by a thirst for truth. They cannot be
stoned in their search. and il would be cal
amity if they could be; and when they fail, as
they always mus, in their endesyor to explain
all things on natural principles, they will be
compelled to look beyond nature and accept the
teachings Of Revelation aud Of Faith.
Preceding to illustrate the mateIiAlisiie ten
denotes Of the times, Prot y. discussed briefly
the characteristics Of the theories Of Com,e,
| Spencer. Buckle. Darwin, Draper aud others.
and instanced Strauss. RenAn, and ColeR-~, as
examples ofa similar class Of iconoclss's II
| Theology and Biblical Science, who would tear
down everything in their search. The tendency
/ in every sect is to substitute for the abstract
Faith Of our Fathers one that is by works. But
while we have les Of the fruitless pioiy Of thu
old deacon with whom " business was business
and religion religion and who " never allowed
the two to interfere with each other" We hsv'
many Abou Ben Athens, who give Us splendid
examples Of Philanthropy. On the whole th'
Speaker believed the present condition Of belle
to be better than any before it.
Prof. y. went on to mention some Of th'
points. wherein the material philosophy fails tt
satisfy the honest searcher for truth. Modern
investigation for instance, throws no new light
on the origin Of the race. No two writers agre'
in the number Of species, into which they divide
the rsee, and all confidence in the bases they
lay down has teen lost. So as to the origin o
species, while many regard the Dsrwinian theO-
~ which reduces the vital element to a single
cell. as OF inconsistent with revelation, still i
cannot be accepted by the scientific scholar
The Darwinian theory is limited to the indiyidus
and single instance Of purpose Of beneyo
lence, Of sacrifice Of the individual for the goOC
Of number, hurls it to the ground.
Such instances the speaker found ii the neu
tiers Of the honey bee. who live for the good o.
the community of bees in the honey ants o.
New Mexico, which gather honey till the
body resembles a small grape or berry FILED
with honey, when thew regularly resign them
selves to be destroyed and eaten by ether ants
aud in the crustscea, a large proportion o
which exist as neu;ers or uudeyeloped females
The origin Of life is also left untouched by TIT
Darwinisn theory, and is as great mystery Al
ever. The matorialists fail utterly to connect
the vital force with the material forces. So, too
the phenomena Of species, Of Ekeress Of feature
frequently disappearing in one generation, AM
reappearing in a later one, are wholly opposed
10 material processes.
Of those who reject the idea of Creator as {
disturbing element in their system, We may
ask, is not man, conscious as he is Of volitior
and free agency, disturbing element? Mar
is an Independent power in the universe, and i
material laws alone control the universe he is
stupendous anomaly. Till he can be explained
tie ma;erialists will fail to dethrone the Creator
from his rightful place in the minds and
hearts Of men.
The address was listened to with close and
gratifed attention by the intelligent audience
which filed the room. and was followed by
hearty applause. At its close specimens Of the
little insect martyrs. the honey ants. alluded tc
in the address, preserved in alcohol, werc exhi
bited to the gentlemen Of the Association and
examined with much interest.