The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1868-10-31
M D S OEll L "A M E0W9.
Anti9aGjty of Man.

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antiquity of Man.
The antiquity of the human race, as demon
| strated by remains discovered in the geological
strata of North America, formed the chief topi
of discussion before the American Science Asso
citation, at its recent general session in Chicago
The views expressed by several eminent natural
lists and geologists, and the many evidences ad
duced in support of the theory of mans grea
antiquity, are sufficiently important to warran
our bringing the subject to the notice Of ou
readers. SD
Whether or not the theory is in conflict with
the Mosaic account of mans creation received
by theologians, it nevertheless seems irrefut,ble
Pure science reaches forward to its conclusions
through media of an indisputable character
facts and when results have been thus substau-
TALLY attained which appear to contradict the
revelations of Him whom we call God, the Gre
tor Il most serious dilemma is presented, diem
ma which may be disposed of only, as it would
seem, by the discovery of an error in our gener-
ally received interpretations of those revelations
If however, "the wisdom of man is but foolish
ness with God, }" in what respect could man more
grayely err than in his attempts to interpret the
writing OF the Most High, and to understand
thoroughly His ways toward mankind. As the
character and purposes of the Infinite are entire
ly beyond the comprehension OF the flute, it is
fosy for the finite &c attempt to liai-
it thai character by definition, and those purpo-
ses by description. All serious minds will APP
prove this. A corolary may be drawn from such
a conclusion to the effect that Scripture being the
revealed will of God, is to be interpreted with the
utmost care exercised in the literal application OF
any part oft. Of course We allude especially 10
its symbolism. There are passages, aud we think
ifuta tho fft I'm Nii,t..
whose signi6cation is comparatively simple, and
which scarcely admit Of more than one consiruc
ton. But when we approach those portions
which have an assertatory or declaratory charac-
ter, and which, if accepted literally, seem to clash
with some manifest conclusion OF experience and
reason, we feel compelled, for the sake OF cou-
science and moral consistency, to hold in abpy
ance ali preconceieved notions. Many an obscure
passage of Scripture has been clearly eucidacd
by scientific methods. Especially is this the case
with prophetic revelation and I'VE may justly
look forward TO the developments brought abou,
by scientific investigators to enighten US with
reference to Bible teaching on the subject OF man
origin.
Let US examine briefly what our saUdnS in coun-
Gil assembled at Chicago had to say of our remote
ancestors. Mr.. Charles Whittlesey enumerated
several races of whose existence before the red
man there are abundant evidences in the super
posed strata of North America, viz. the mound
builders race that lived in the territory which
is now Wisconsin; warlike race inhabiting the
region south of lakes Erie and Ontario; a people
devoutly given to religious rites in the region of
Mexico. The periods during which these races
hourshed have not been ascertained but il seems
certain that they extend many thousands of years
into the dim past-thousands of year before the
Christian era. Pottery, arrow-heads, and other
works OF man have been found in coniuctoG
with and beneath the bones of the mastodon and
animals of whose existence there is
no record save that of their imbedded skeletons
In regard to the time the Indians have occupied
this country, the following fact is pertinent
Three skeletons were found in a cave beneath
heap of faccumulations several feet in depth. The
crana were so nearly perfect that there was left
no doubt of there being the crania of red men.
These bones were computed to have been placed
in their sepulcher 1000 years ago. A jaw and
tooth were found in stratum and pronounced
by Prof. Agassiz to have been there 10, 900 years
and must have belonged to the bronze men or the
stone men, as they are called. These stone men
belong to the second period of prehistoric times,
or to an age estimated at from 1000 to 10, 900
years back.
Mr.. J. W. Foster stated that there were recent
discoveries which warranted a mach greater an
tiquity for the human race than that shown by
the estimates already given. Along the banks of
the Nile excavations have been made to a great
depth, and from them fragments of burned brick
have been taken out. Calculating from the depth
a:4-<- hz,- Nil "a eaela. .eaai.--y an
ige OF 36, 600 years is ascrleeo 10 men WHO
ID those bricks. The Pyramids are founded on
The handiwork of man buried deep beneath the
soil on which their hoary foundations rest. The
feet of Napoleon's soldiers upon whom thirty CEN
uries looked down from the piles of granite above
them, trod upon earth which for three centuries
Of centuries had embraced the relics of mighty
race The discovery of human skeleton in Cal
forna deep down in the gold drift, and covered
by five successive deposits of lava, also carries
back the antiquity of man 10 period far beyond
the stone age.
Prof. ]. D. Whitney gave an account of hui
man skull we'll preserved which had been found
in Bald Mountain, near Altavile, California, l30
feet below the surface of the ground beneath for
nations of basalt and strata of lava. He had
himself visited the locality Of the discovery and
used the best means in his power to thoroughly
sift the matter to its foundation, and could find
nothing on which to hinge doubt as to the au
thenticity Of the discovery.
Professors Silliman and Blake discussed this
discovery at some length, but without in any
be that of suspension ofjudgement, the reasona-
Bile effect ofa startling development; for if the
antiquity of this skull is to be estimated by the
usual geological approximations, the depth at
which it was found in the excavation, and the
many changes which had taken place in the
earth's crust around and above it, would assign
it to period of antiquity ages anterior to thatto
which geologists have placed the earliest men.
There were those in this learned assembly who
differed in their views from the distinguished gen.
tlemen already mentioned, and whose opinions
are of some weight in scientific circles.
Prof. True remarked that exaggeration, credu-
Iity, and mystifcation were the tendencies of the
age. Now that the bones of man have been found
associated with those of the mastodon, it would
be expected for year or two to come that every
mastodou found would have human skeleton
beneath it. He, however, did not believe in this
antiquity of the human race.
Prof Andrews thought there was practical
Joke at the bottom of the Calaveras County skull
discovery as detailed by Prof. Whitney.
Mr.. Waterhouse Hawkins, the eminent natu
ralist and lecturer was present during this dis
cussion, and made few cOmmon-Sense rehec-
tions on the manner in which specimens involv
ing important scientific questions were preserved.
He urged the necessity of taking up and preserv-
ing with them the original material in which fos-
sils were found. This simple precaution would
relieve investigators of many doubts and answer
many inquiries in satisfactory way.
Whether or not the discovery that man isa hun
dred or thousand centuries old will subserve
any practical purpose in the enlightenment and
progress of the present man, we are not prepared
to definitely say. We do not see the practical
of such matter with the real objects
and necessities, of society ar. tbnr that
end would be promoted by its demonstration.
Yet no objection would be urged to such demon
stration, for our organ of Wonder, like that of
Americans in general, is hungry for the new and
startling Let things "be done decently," how
ever; let them be proved before their assertion.
Mere belief, one way or the other, proves nothing.
1t is knowledge we want-Phrenological Journal.
A BAD "SpELL. democracy and orthogra-
ply never had any sympathy in common, and
cotemporary asserts that as soon as Democrat
begins to spell correctly he Immediately becomes
an object of solcitude and suspicion to that par
ty, and has to be watched to prevent his back
.rl,o Il all Nonh Sc Jo.n