The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-06
MAIN0NIDEs ulesARY ASSOCIATION.

Mans Position in Nature-HIs Past and
Future-Gcrman Lecture by Professor Louis
EIsber9.
Before this Hebrew religious-literary society, at
it's regular meeting last evening at Masonic Hall,
Thirteenth street, near Fourth avenue, Professor
Louis Esberg delivered very interesting lecture In
the German language upon the above subject. After
some preliminary remarks Dr. Elsberg cited Huxley,
Bichner and others 70 show the importance OF the
subject and its influence on thought and action.
Recent Investigations, he said, have thrown light
upon much that has hitherto been yelled m appar-
emily impeneIrabe mystery When COpernlcus, in
about the middle OF the sixteenth century, published
his book on the orbits of the celestial bodies his
contemporaries called him fool and worse. Even
the great reformer Luther, said about him:-The
fool wants TO upset the whole science OF
astronomy, but, as Holy Scriptures show Joshua
commanded the sun to stand STILL and not the EARTH,
Now, whatever any one at me presen. gay may tnnk
text book OF science. Most probably IL was never
intended TO be so regarded. In any event, an at
tempts to bring the incontestable results OF science
into accord with letter OF the Bible by farfeched
interpretations and word cavilings are lame, rld-
culous and useless. Gods truth Is eternally the
same. II needs excuse and no reconciliation with
human belief. 1t needs on our part, thorough ln-
vestigaton unpreadced recognition and GSe
consistent or inconsistent with existing reiRous
opinions will never injure, but, on the contrary,
ton and society. Creeds and dogmas embraced
with blgotry and upheld by force, preclude nvesti
CATION and beget hatred toward all who hold DIFF
ferent views. But the time in which. as the poet
Schiller tells the gods were said 70 have
Which conceaied the truth is happily past The
spirit OF inquiry which now pervades the word fear
| lessly seeks the truth and follows wheresoever II
leadeLh
Professor Elsberg then referred to the two great
errors which Professor Hacked terms the ''geocen-
tric' and the ''anthrOp0cenric" the one consider.
ing planet the centre and CHIEF OF the universe,
the rest as only subservient to the purposes or the
earth its inhabitants. and the other considering
man as the centre and only object OF the organic
creation, the whole world as existing only for his
benefit and on account OF his special needs. Al
though both these errors have long and often been
exposed they are still believed-and especially the
fhe ese
Bible history that the first human being was created
about five or six Thousand years ago. constituted
very much as we are now and even In more per-
feet state, 80 that the human race has really degen
Grated instead OF advanced. Both as to the age OF
proofs have recently been accommodating which conf
pei US TO change our opinions In these respects.
has long been from 1e
what called the sedimentary or Strained rocks
that the earth must have been inhabited by animals
and plants hundreds OF thousands Of years ago.
Now, human remains have been found, together with
remains Of some Of the animals, that are chacac.
tradition. These remains are mainly OF three kinds
first, human bones found together with bones OF
dlluvia animals In undisturbed cavities and duvlal
strata of earth; second, instruments such lint
stone axes, knives. arrow points, tools OF norm or
bone, &C.; third, outline figures Of the animals that
have passed away, and even OF man, engraved
upon stone. horn or bone, and even in some in
stances upon the bones Of the very animals repre-
vincing proof that man must have lived during
the formation OF these strata, and at the same
s v WIN the Inn son me- 'n a s primitive
| man whose existence Is thus proved was In
reality savage. who lived IN the WOODS IN clels OF
rocks or along the OF rivers naked or covered
with barks OF trees skins OF animals armed only
! with his stone weapon In the war ne must nave
| waQed with surrounding animals. 10 wnom though
| inferior in bodily strength, he superior in his
| possession OF reason. He split open the marrow
bones OF animals and ate as some savages sui
do the flesh Of his own species. Altogether it has
only been very gradually that ne acquired the quail
| ties and characteristics whlch MADE nun man :,
increasing rapidly with increasing requirements.
| But although the Biblical account OF the age and
primitive condition of man Is thus by modern science
shown to be erroneous 1t must not be supposed that
that in any way affects the moral truths and lessons
which the Bible contains. AS the establishment OF
the Copernican system OF astronomy has left these
undisturbed despite the fears and predictions Of the
timd believers OF the sixteenth century so VIII the
full recognition OF the fact under consideration.
on the contrary the more the Bible ID freed from s
the brilliantly viii Its truths shine forth.
The future that opens to man ls, therefore, hope
full and melting. Each new advance facilitates
further progress Development Is ever from tue
lower 10 the higher Even though the march fire.
auently seems TO be but motion in CIRCLE 1t tends
as in spiral, ever onward The past imposes the
duty Of further development upon The present, and
by that immutabIe law OF evolution and persstency
OF power for the recognition OF which we are ill-
debted to Darwin and the present school OF natural
ists the less worthy character must yield before
the better; we need but act well our part in the
grand drama OF lie and we perpetuate in our de-
scendants noblest and best qualifications for the
unceasnR struggle OF life. Setimprovement, there
FORE is each mans task. He can secure his hap
pIness only by developing his powers or body
and mind by "workng and watching,u by '1earn-
ing and teaching" and by harmonizing his double
nature he VIII enjoy contentment with his earthly
lot by practising toward Others forbearance, tole-
peace with himself, but also at peace and In ia r.
mouy with all mankind. improvement OF himself