The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-13
ST. JOHNS METHODIST cHuRoH


The Harmony Between Science and Re-
liglon--Sermon by Rev. DIR. Newman.
The Rev. J. ]. Newman, D. D., of Washington, o.
cuped the pulpit of the st. Johns church, BEDFORD
avenue, yesterday, and took for his text Romans
X, 12-"Be not wise in your own conceits." Ths
theme was the harmony between nature ana
revelation and In its discussion he thoroughly ven
tiated the theories Of Huxley, Darwin, Agassz ana
other modern scientists. He commenced by saying
that the speculations OF modern scholars bold
and without parallel in the history Of
the Church. Those speculations had an UNI
happy effect upon three classes Of persons. They
confirmed the infdel in his infdellty, increased tho
aog9ts q those who had literary tastes without re-
glous inclnations and disturbed the peace OF Ger
tain Christians The idea was prevalent that there
was a natural antagonism between science and
religion, whereas between the two the utmost har-
mony prevailed 1t would be his object to show
that the God of nature is the God Of revelation,
that He whose glory the Heavens declare is tho
same whose projections recorded In the In
spired volume 1t Is the same voice which, In the
beginning said 'Let there be light, and there was
lightn afterwards said, 'Ths is my beloved Son, In
whom am well pleased" The idea that there was
an antagonism between nature and revelation re-
ceived prevalence from the conduct alike OF Sch0l-
ars and theologans; scholars who had claimed 70
with the pride Of intellect claimed to be the solo
interpreters Of nature, and who presumed to carry
their scientific deductions into theological con-
clusions On the other hand, theologians who
claimed an infallible Interpretation OF the Bible.
and who treated with measured contempt the
teachings OF nature, to both Of those classes
the Apostle said I ;M"Be not wise IN their
enumerate the apparent antagonisms be-
tween religion and science, observing
that that branch Of science which described the or
gansm of the human physique had been brought to
bear against the immateriality OF mind aud the i'm
mortality of the soul, French psychologist utterng
the infdel sentiment that the liver secretes bile
80 the brain secretes thought The chemist had gone
into his laboratory and attempted prove that 81
Peter was fool ne had tS tae as
passed through all the serial OF strata to demon
strate the chronology given by Moses as an error.
ana that mans residence on the earth
is OF greater antiquity than is received BY
the Church. The Scriptures informed us Of series
of creations whereas distinguished scholar has
traced oil life back to protopasm-a combination
Of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen The Scriptures
great scholar informed the world that he was
made In the image of an ape: How long would
controversy Was there not some ground Of har-
mony on which both could stand In the dignity OF an
missaS Of the scholar and the theooHan Is ident
cal-to ascertain truth-yet their departments OF
work were separate and distinct Society recognized
the doctrine Of specaes both In art science and t1
all the professions and it was but reasonable that
the theoogan should claim for himself what was &C
corded to the artist the geologist and the SCIENTIST
scientific scholar nom the course OF his .nyesti.
cations was not competent to decide whether his
deductions In science or are not in harmony
With the teachings OF the Bit,c. Isaac Newton, al
mathematician and ar astronomer, rose head and
shoulders above .nose Of his own day; but whe1
Newton attempted to write on the prophesies and
upon the teachings Of Christ, he was as week a.
other men; Agasslz Was a great natYral.
ist but whep he. asserted that the Bible
| ga NO: sustain the theory that all mon
4 have descended from common ancestry, he
passed the limits OF his domain and was not quail.
! flied to sit in judgment upon biblical question.
1 The preacher went on to say that the Scriptures
tatlon. God had revealed himself to man, but that
revelation came to him with all the poverty and
fmperlectlon OF human language. DIR. Newman
showed that recent scientific discoveries demon
| strated the truth OF many passages oil Scripture
that were thought to be rreconciable with science.
and said that Christianity had nothing TO fear from
the bold assertions OF the English scientists Theirs
/ was nothing to fear even from Darwin himself Ha
| book was o great one, but its name was misnO,
| mer 1t should have been called the ascent oil
! Man, rather than 'The Descent Of Man;u for
man came from the ape he Is the grandest ascen-
sion In the history Of the world since the days old
his present dignity from beginning SO humble,
may we not anticipate development beyond al
grand In the future as the present Is grand ovs,r
the pastf The speaker then dsscribeH. IN clio
%cr n' oendS G onron M D as
to lnfdel objections and Illustrations OF the grand
] est doctrine OF the Bible He said that knowledge
tanned that nothing but faith in the Lord Jesus
Christ c6nld give peace on earth and happiness In
the mtufe, It; s.-.!.s4 -. III -. 80
The Doctors discourse was so erudite that those
mercurial MctRodists who expected to DO lifted to
the third heavens ny highfalutin oratory have
| haen lsannOinted