Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-04-19
Genesis and Geology.
BY HIRAM A. CUTTING, A. NJ.


"In the beginning God created the
heaven and the earth" This nara
ton by Moses being the inspiration of
God, records a fact which could not
otherwise be known, without any Of
the particulars by which we are to
gain the least idea of the method or
means employed in the creation. Spec
ulations in regard to it have, however,
engaged the attention of many from
the commencement; at least Of our
historic era to the present time. All
know how vague and indefinite most
Of those theories appear upon dissec-
ton, and though the ingenious hobby
Of some devotee, others claiming an
equal right Of speculation, contradict
and undermine the opinions previously
formed, to throw to the world anoth-
er view of it, perhaps no more reason
able than that of their predecessor.
Scientific research has, however, es-
tablished a few leading principles
which appear to be facts. That the
earth was once in a fluid or even gas
eous state most scientific men admit.
That the interior is now a molten
mass, glowing with intense heat, and
1 that the crust of the earth on which
we dwell is about fifty miles in thick
ness, and has gradually cooled down
to its present state, through an i'm
mense period of time, almost all be-
lieve. That an approximate idea OF
the length Of time this crust has been
cooling is even possible, but how long
previous to that it might have been
in gaseous and darkened state, we
have not the least data upon which to
build the semblance of a fact. Though
the study Of the solid crust of the earth
in its varied forms has become a sci
ence known as Geology, of its creation
and prior gaseous state we have moth
ing but vague speculation; a store
house in which imagination has full
scope, aud though your ideas be ever
so absurd, and your reasoning vague
and indefinite, there are no facts tc
gainsay your theory, and you car
ride your widest hobby without dan
| ger OF being thrown.
The nebuIous theory of creation
though shaken to its centre bv the
great telescope erected at Chicago bI
Prof. Clark, Of Cambridge, Mass.
which readily resolves many nebuIa
which were supposed to be system.
( in progress Of creation into definite
stars, still has the favor of most sci
entifc men. Ia the beginning, then
suns, planets, comets, nebuI&, resol7
able and irresolvable, were the undi5
tinguishable parts of a measureles:
mass Of a diffused nebulous vapor
"a fire mist, to which had been civ
en- the action of gravity towards cen
tiers. which centers have become syS
tens, individualized stars and worlds
Here God is inseparabIe from science
He is the Overrulin., power; and thC
laws upon which all scientific lact
are founded flow from this great frs
cause. And the earth was withou
form and void (what could be NOR,
true p land darkness was upon tn,
face Of the deep Here we in imag
ination can see the earth, with all it
minerals condensed in q solid, moltel
mass. with its aqueous vapors sur
rounding it with dense, fog like en-
velOpe, making it fit emblem of dark
ness and desolation. "And God said
, Let there be light, and there wa
light"
Having radiated a part of its hea
into space, a crust in some parts be
ing formed, and the aqueous vapor
partially condensed, the world NIGH
have even shone dimly as a STAR
With this first crust the science of Ge
, ology was founded. There was
record made in the rock, to renal
until the end of time. Then follow
the division of that fog-like vapor fror
the ocean, causing it to float high i
, the atmosphere in the form of cloud:
, God calling the air thus purified tn
ornament. Then come tumultuou
heayings of the heated interior, spuI
red into action by waters permeatin
: the new-formed crust, and thus by tt
addition Of steam power rupturin
, and upturning this geological STRAIT
2 50 newly formed, elevating portion
Of it above the waters, thus formin
dry land.
AS yet the skeptic may with som
justice reason that immutably fxe
laws have governed the whole. Br
how can his fixed laws of attractio
: create? How from this previousl
/ heated mass, destructive to all veget;
ble, as well as animal matter, could
5 plant spring up? Here is an imposs
: bility to science. Here, again, tt
! Christian God must create. Thel
is no bridge that will carry US ovC
> this chasm by natural cauSation alon
t There is no one that can here der
4 an absolute beginning There is L
. one but what can here so detect d
: Unable changes beyond the power
! scientific men to investigate. Tt
u handwriting of God in the rocks r
3 cords equally as definite as the Bib
d that these things were SO. This ca
l. ly vegetation Geology reveals to I
/ in so definite a manner that none ca
q gainsay it. That those periods
d visionary sight recorded by Mos,
were days of an indefinite length, pr
g ducing the changes recorded only
e long periods of time, are equally co
o sistent with the Bible and geologic
% facts.
q That the first plants should be pr
= duced by the hand of God in hum
. atmosphere from internal warm
. alone, without the aid of the sun,
:, - equally consistent with Gods pow
10 and mans reason. That light viii
- is now in no way confined to the s.
= could have existed previous to t
= suns shining upon the earth, all mu
y :, admit, as it thus exists at the prese
~ ~ time. That long periods of til
- - were used to perfect the creation
" things, and that vegetation was fl
y in an imperfect state, the remains
plants in the. rocks show. The
mensity Of creation also shows v;
periods of time anterior to mans
in istence. Light which travels at I
m vaIooitv of ono hnndrad r;potu q