Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-04-19

sun to the nearest liked star at least
six years and four months are requir
ed for the transmission of light; while
to the far distant star which our most
accurate instruments are required to
distinguish, no less period than one
million and nine hundred thousand
years would suffice to show US that
that star existed. Such facts lead US
at once to see that the creations Of
God are not to be measured by miles
and years, but by incomprehensible
distances, and immense periods Of
time. Before science and religion, as
now, walked hand in hand, and the
creation as set forth by Moses through
inspiration was supposed to mean
days of twenty four hours each, the
inGdel could well grasp his two edged
sword Of sarcasm, sharpened by the
early dawn of science, and charge full
upon the Bible. But those days are
passed, and it seems singular now that
such dogmas and cOntortions could
have existed contrary to such pointed
expressions as show, that day with
God is as thousand years, or an in
definite period; though after consid-
GRAFTON we can but acknowledge in the
creation of the world we are not lin
tied to time; yet there is great diff
ference of opinion about the com
mencement Of our historic period; or
mans first appearance on earth. 1t
is here that all points Of controversy
now arise. That the earth has passed
through many phases since the time
when, " according to the expression cf
the sacred writings, the earth was
without form and void, and darkness
was upon the face of the deep, and
the spirit of God moved upon the face
Of the waters" all are willing to ad-
NIT.
We can picture to ourselves our So
lar system floating through space in a
state of gaseous nebulosity, condens-
ing at length into globes Of liquidity
of which our earth was one. Begin
ming gradually 10 solidify, a crust
would be formed upon its surface. .plas-
tic and yielding to the fiery sea i'm
| prisoned within its fragile covering.
Thus we can see it distorted and bent,
forming all the inequalities which we
see upon its surface. We can see how
this envelope would acquire solidity.
We can look on, so to speak, while
the work of organic creation is pro-
ceeding. We can see when the first
plants and animals came into exist
ence. We find by their remains that
they multiplied, and that new varieties
were created, while some became ex-
tinct. We see the earth in our vision
fitted up iu the. order described by
Moses. Everything substantiatcs that
account. There is only one depart
ure, and that is what is termed the
Glacial Period, which was but little
previous to the creation of man
This was a period of intense cold, in
which ice prevailed, yet as there seems
to be no creations for that period, it
was not noticed in the Mosaic descrip-
ton. It doubtless by its power Of
loosening materials,prepared the earth
for man by rendering it more fertile.
Now we see vegetable and animal
creation in perfection, and read the
, crowning thought of all, " Let US ere
ate man in our own image" The
word is spoken; the deed is done. -
! Man stands at the head of the world
none but God more supreme than
he. A something is wanted to give
: thanks to the Creator; here be stands
, and by his alteration Of all around
) him. praises God He is to control
be is to guide; he is under Gods laws
to be master Of the world; he to a
certain degree receives the power Of
transmitting to posterity supreme in
telligence. Here our history begins
: 1t matters not whether recorded in
the rocks, or handed down to US by
4 inspiration or tradition; if it is only
] Ineligible, and can impart the infor
: nation we so much desire, it is vel
D come. Inspiration informs US thai
D 1916 years is about the period thai
, man has been an inhabitant Of earth
: Biologists, in their Interpretation of
the rocks and various deposits, assigr
: to the age Of man periods varying
from this up to millions of years.
e The great disagreement among then
? of course renders our acceptance of
a their opinions tardy, and teaches eve
5 ry individual to look for himself
weighing carefully all the evidences
and in his own Judgment to receive
e and reject, thus constituting himself
d judge of mems opinions frequentl,
t better informed than he. Yet as b,
n rides no hobby, like most learned men
he is the better judge of the two
i We can all calmly read the facts re
a corded by GeologistS without the US
/ of their hobby, and it is always saf
e to rely upon the bible uatil its doc
e trines are fully refuted. With thi
r idea in mind l shall hold up to yo
:. some of the main points of diferenc
y between the chronology of Scriptur
o and Geology. In 1858 or 1854, i
, executing certain works at MeiIen o.
'i Lake Zurich, some piles were extract
e ed from the mud in half decompose,
= state, and some rude pottery wa
e found. This was reported to the Al
r tiquarian Society at Zurich, and enga
is ging the attention OF scientific men,
n thorough examination was made, an
of most of the small lakes in Europ
's were found to contain many pile
o. driven in the mud, some of them, lik
ID Lake Constance, containing as man
D. as 10000; further investigation pro
al we'd that those were driven to suppol
dwellings for people using stone in
o. plements and subsisting upon she
id fish, aud by hunting, as piles of shell
th and bones-broken for the eXtractio
is OF their marrow--were found 10 heap
er called refuse kitchen heaps, in the v
,h cinity of those dwellings. After tn
In discovery came the question as to tt
he period in which those people lived
st In the valley of the Orbe, two tho
Mt sand FIVE hundred feet from the shol
ne of the lake, are found the remains Q
of the ancient Gallo-Roman city, Ebur
st dunum, which was washed by Il