New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-21
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
pAwsoNs EARTH AND MAN.

7, 81 ,.,,;,;on of this work the author, who
~ az the head OF prominent seat OF leainlhs III
Montreal has had equally in view the interests OF
science and of religion unless indeed, IN case of APP
pa,ent conflict his deepest sNmpathes are with the
iatter Az all events. he cheushes profound aver
sion 10 the scientific theories which to threaten
the principles of religious faith, and does not hest
tate 20 exercise towards them the open hostility
which is due to the enemies of society He would
fam preserve the received traditions of religion
intact he clings with piOus fervOr to the literal
construction Of the Bible; and If compelled 10y the
force Of evidence to sacrifice dogma, it with the
yearning tenderness with which one submits 10 the
death Of Grst-b born. For instance toe six days
creation, literally. understood, is inconsistent
with the nobuar theory of the universe VINO"
was suggested 10y Kant, confirmed by L"pi"'',
aud is adopted by large pIOpoi'Io" VI
modern astronomers But this theory sluce
The discoveries Of the spectroscope has been Iehu'ou
40 highly probable, that it has gained the ssSen' VI
tie author in spite of his theological productions
Instead of The beautiful order Of six successive days
for the creation and arrangement OF the hla'erlh
universe which Is 50 wildly described IN the
loot Of Genesis. and which, until within recent
date has formed an unquestoned article oil rehgious
faith he ASSUMES period OF enormous dHIatloh
before the beginning Of geological time. FROM the
f-,oatioo Of a solid crust ON the earth to the modern
time from theyaporous condition Of the solar system
10 The prescut must have been still greater than
oven this enormous series of ages. These long pro
,.sees Of creative work, the author aihnms do not
exclude the Creator, nor resolve the universe into
mere fOrutOus COucOurse Of atoms. Thus lar d.
Dawson is in unity with the results OF modern scen-
Tito speculation. lie boldly accepts the results OF
inquiry which pIesuppose, as COwpcr planuvely
laIueuts i'm view Of the progress of geology, that
"God who made the earth aud told IT'S age To Moses
was mistaken in the date
But when il comes to another celebrated theory
of modern scientists the doctrine of evolution tie
case assumes another aspect This the author
hsSails with the same style of argument that was
long directed by all sound theologaus against the
idea 6f successive acts of creation through long
period of ages He regards the doctrine as one Of
the stranGest phenomena Of humanity II IS well
characterized, he asserts as the baldest OF all the
philosophers that have ever sprung up IN the world
Itis system destitute of any shadow OF proof sup
ported merely 10y vague analogics and figures OF
speech. We may almost regard It as token that
the human mind has fallen into its dotage and ms
takes for the deductions Of science the dreams OF It's
youth.
But IN spite Of lis luminosity to the doctrine Of
evolution. Dr. Dawson expressly admits many Of the
principles which lie at its foundation. lie now here
attempts 10 explain this Inconsistency. and leaves
fhc reader in state of confusion that is 10y no
lnsaus favorable 10 the acquisition Of knowledge.
The utility Of his work is thus greatly impaired
When we are told page that evolution is
atheism. AID another that it is a fact OF ma
tine the uulearned reader must be thrown into
bcwidcnment, and lei to distIust the authority
,Ihis teacher But this is precisely the which
the author adopts, Tie theory lie tells excludes
The knowledge of Creator and the possibility Of
his work. We have TO choose between evolution and
aud creation On the same page, however, we are
81 ioIDed that there is place in nature Tor ovOiu
zion as well for other things. The authors reason
Ing, IN other words, amounts 20 the statement that
evolution is atheism. that evolution has place i'm
Stature, and hence atheism has a place in nature.
Not that the author would fail To ice duly shocked
BY such conclusion hut II is the inevitable
EucnCe Of his argument. Nor. lie maintains, does
tile idea Of creation exclude law and second causes
The eyoutonist does not necessarily contend that
IT does. Mr.. ST. George Mivart, an eminent English
eyolgtiOnIst, has even written book 10 show
that creation 10y second causes was the or
thOdOx doctrine of the Catholic Church.
A. we have seen, there is alternative. according
g. Or. Dawson, between evolution aud creations We
must accept the or the other; for cannot adj
NIT both: the two ideas are incompatible with each
other; and evolution is atheism. But in the
of a few pages we are told. that creation does
may be evolved in different ways creation and
derivation may be complementary 10 each other.
" Created things may ice more less modified 10y
influences FROM within and from without and deIi-
WALTON or evolution may account tor certain subor-
duate changes iu things already made Nothing
further Is needed than this language Of Dr. Dawson
10 show the talacy Oh the charge all eyed bS himself
that evolution aud atheism are and the same
Thing But after this. what can De made Of his re-
peued denial that evolution may be held i'm c0unec-
ton with amodifed beicfin creation!' The contro-
NerSy in fact sroduc,d within "a small compass Dr.
Dawson asserts, u the first place. that the doctrine
of evolution is inconsistent with the idea Of cIea-
ton. d. Dawson asserts, in the second place. that
the idea Of creation is not inconsistent with the
doctrine Of evolution. III this dilemma the reader
may fall back the confession OF tie worthy
Dr. Brown of the Evangelical Conference who de-
clsTed that no held with equal strength to the
theory of evolution and the doctrines 81 The West
minister Catechisn.
Considering that DR. Dawson gives proof ~ the
fallibilIty Of his judgments, that he was not born
without original sin. II is somewhat amusing To
read his diatrbeS against the scientific men of
the present day. One would think from his lam
entations that we were fast lapsing into a state
OF intellectual barharisn. The time he says is rife
with bald metaphysical speculatIons. Nature is
robbed of the spiritual element by materiastir in.
fidelity which makes science dry, barren and re-
pulsive. Geology, at present, is in a peculiar state
Its eultiyators are little better than scientific
bandittI Their OutIsges on common sense
and good taste bring an otherwise good cause into
disrepute. Few Of our present workers he CON
finues have enjoyed that thorough training IN men
til and physical science which is necessary TO take
large and lofty views Of the scheme of nature The