The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-07-13
Science sustaining Revelation.


To THR EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
In the recent lectures NJ Cambridge by Professor
Agassiz, on the method OF Creation" he not only
conclusivey reutes the theory OF Darwin, but, in
his eighth lecture, In treating on the "mental
iacuties" adduces such c0gent reasons on the part
of science to the UNFOLDING OF our religious belief
that would claim portion OF your columns to
lay them before the public in your Sunday issue.
He ays:-"Are ali mental powers 0nes Is there
only one kind OF mental power throughout the
whole animal kingdom, differing only in intensity
and range OF manifestations In series
OF admirable lectures given recently in
Boston by Dr. Brown-Sequard. he laid before
his audience a new philosophy OF mental
powers. Through physiological experiments.
combined with careful study and comparison of
pathological cases, he has come to the conclusion
that there are two sets, or double set, OF mental
powers in the human organism, or acting through
the human organism, essentially different from
ordinary conscious intelljgence: the other as SUI
perior power, which controls our better nature,
solves, sometimes suddenly and Unexpectedly,
nay, even in sleep, our problems and perpexitles;
suggests the right thing at the right time acLlng
through us without conscious action OF our own,
though susceptible OF training and elevation.
Or, perhaps, should rather say our own organism
may be trained to more plastic instrument
through which this power acts in US. do not see
why this view should not be accepted 1t Is in har
mony with facts as lar as we know them. The ex-
periments through which my friend DR.. Brown
Sequard, has satisfied himself that the subtle
mechanism Of the human frame, about which we
know so little IN connection with mental processes,
is sometimes acted upon by power outside OF us,
as familiar with that organization as We are ignO-
rant OF 1t, are no less acute than they are curious
and interesting II this view De just the ques-
tam degree and within certain limits in all higher
animals, and whether they are found at all in the
lower animals In the decision Of this question
portance."
the point whether anatomical considerations can
possibly be OF much Importance In determining
whether Il quote his own wOrds) "0ur ewn organ
ism may be trained to a more plastic instrument.
in few lines previous, IS termed "a power outside
OF US. as familiar with our organization as are
ignorant, are no less acute than they are curious
and interesting"
The scientists, humbly submit, have evidently,
from scientific standpoint, discerned "a power
outside of u.s." as above quoted, which revelation,
through Paul and others, had long before taught
us: Not that there possibly is double set of men
| tai powers in the human organism, "but that the
| alternative must concluslvely be adopted that
there is power outside Of as familiar with our
power is the spirit OF God. And that (Romans
viii, LAY 'led by the spirit of God" which Paige
suitably exempifes thus:-"To be led by the Spirit
OF God is to CONFORM to His will because We believe
| 1t to be His Will; to obey His influences, because
| same chapter read at verse 16, 1.-THE Spirit
itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are
|
Andover, who is surely sufficiently orthodox fol
| any one to follow, says thereon 1.-THE Divine
| Spirit impresses on our minds the consciousness
that we are the sons OF God; bears witness to us
that such relationship exists, and thus eXcites III
our hearts lial spirit, or spirit OF adoption, OF
spirit proper to adopted children. SO Tar as either
precedes the other it is easy to conceive that
the consciousness OF sOnshlp is the cause OF fila
| spirit than that Mia: spirit causes the conscious
hess OF sonship. He who loves not God as a Father
| has no good reason to believe that he Is character
| istically son of God" Science, therefore. I'm.
Willingly confirms revelation.
| WILLIAM COVENTRY II. WADDELL.
| VALHULLA, June, 1873.