The Portland daily press., 1873-08-25
THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION,
Fourth DAVIS Proceedings.

|
elected; Robert Fl. Richards, Boston: Mrs.
Elizabeth Whittier, Plymouth; N b. Whitta-
ker. Providence; Serene Watson, Providence;
j. C. Munroe, Lexington, Mass; 5. ID. McCol-
lister. Akron, Ohio; Miss Chadeague, Jersey
CITY; j. w. Chickering, Washington; DR.. G..
F. French, Portland; Josiah Curtis, Washing
ton.
Ten new papers were received: one referred
to Section A and nine to Section B.
Asa Gray, F. B. Hou Oh, G. B. Emersno, j.
d. Whitney, E. W. Hilgard, j. S. Newberry
L. III. Morgan. Charles Wht;tlesey, w. H.
| Brewer, were appointed committee to me-
moralize Congress in regard to the preserya-
ton of forests
DR.. Hill moved the appointment of COM
mite consisting of the four highest officers of
the associationto wait upon Mrs. Elizabeth
Thompson of New York, and tender the thanks
of the association for her generous gift of
| $1,000, the first ever made to the association.
The standing committee recommended that a
| committee be appointed to obtain an act of in
corporation for the association, to enable it to
receive requests and hold properly. The rec
ommendation was referred to the committee
on the revision Of the constitution,
Prof. e. L. Youman's moved a committee to
consider the matter of general scientific educa-
lion. beginning with the primary schools and
extending to the universities. He thought
such action would do immense good for science
The committee would furnish the plan of a
complete curriculum. On motion of Prof. Hill
gard, the matter was presented in writing.
Notice of an excursion to Old Orchard to-mor-
row afternoon was given, when a social recep-
ton and clam-bake would be rendered by the
citizens of Portland. Trains leave at 2.30, and
return at $50 p. m. Prof. Morse extended an
invitation from Prof. Pierce of the coast survey
to take trip in the steamer Bache. now in the
harbor, to witness dredging.
SECTION A.
In Section A the only paper read was one by
Prof. w. w. Wheildon, on the geography, eli
| mate, ocean currents, and other phenomena of
the Arctic regions, considered with special ref
erence to the atmospheric theory of an amelio-
rated climate, and an open polar sea. The
ground was taken that the existence of an open
| polar sea was probable.
| SECTION B.
| The sectional committee recommended that
the section be divided into two sections, one of
geology to meet in the Aldermens room and
one of biology to meet in the Senate chamber
The biological subsection organized by the
choice of DR.. Morris as President and Mr.
Grow as Secretary.
The discussion on Prof. Swallows anti-Dar-
winian paper was opened by Prof. Morse, who
said it was useless to prolong the discussion,
for time was wanting. He felt cooler than he
did no pipht hofora Ha
to DR.. Dawson, perfect master of the anti
evolution side of the question.
DR.. Dawson said he opposed the evolution
lists, not alone the Darwinians, for the young
American scientists held Darwin's theory to be
but partial. The question is rather philo-
sophcal, than a scientific one. We must
| grant to the evolutonst power and force, as
we do to the chemist. These do not negative
the act of creation. Bastiat claims that life
can be educed from dead matter and that veg
etable passes into animal life. OF this there is
no evidence. The evolutionist claims next that
there is constant tendency to pass from
lower to a higher state. In support of this he
adduces embryolngy. But there is no connec-
ton between embryology and the relation of
distinct species. The making of the monkey
ments one of the other The next process of
the evolutionist is the development of mind;
| this is metaphysical, not scientific question,
| and has no place here. None of these postu-
laies claimed by the evolutionists have been
| proved. The question is in the domain of spec
ulation merely,an not profitable speculation ct
that. There is "a bad tendency to enlarge the
number of species, and then to ridicue spec
| ial act of creation for EACH The tendency of
The inquiry has been to point out the laws
which govern creation, and is useful SO far as it
goes. You can't argue with the evoutionists, for
| you can't corner them: they have several modes
of escape. If the skeleton mentioned by Prot
Swallow is type of the antique man, he was a
splendid fellow, big-limbed and big-brained.
The cave excavations show that the ancient
man was of very high order of intelligence.
| The present is the period of decadence of
species, not of their production in development.
All the questions of the evolutionists are being
| decided in the negative.
Prof. Morse said the anti-evolutionists
erred in thinking they had found the
antique type of man. We claim that men
in their savage and developing states, ex
listed ages before the date assigned by our op
| ponents. We claim that the older types were
more complex than the modern. In the oldel
| types of man the traces of the ape are very ap
parent, as in certain muscles in the temporal re
gion of the head. In the skulls found in Tennes
see the foramen magnum approximates closet,
to that Of the ape, and di ffers considerably from
the modern skull. The prophecies of evolutionist
in regard to the teeth of birds and other marks O
a common origin have proved true. Evolution
accounts for more facts than any other theory
Many of the arguments adduced in yesterday
paper are old and have been discarded as use
less by their originators.
DR.. Dawson arose and said that the peculia
formation of the foramen magnum in the ole
skulls is thought to be a distortion caused b,
the peculiar cradle-boards.
After an exchange of compliments betw eel
Messrs. Dawson and Morse, and growl from
Prof. Swallow, the discussion of the subject wa
dropped.
Perhaps the two schools of science could hav,
no filter representatives than Messrs Dawson
and Morse. The one grown old in the cause O
science, clinging to established theories, eau
tious and skeptical in investigation; master O
details, but bitterly averse to accepting tn
broad and perhaps hasty congratulations of the
evoiutlonists; man who believes meta
physics are good and science is good, but win
objects to the minglng of the two. The Other
yonng, ardent, enthusiastic, perfected in the
new methods of thought, holding all knowledge
to be his province and deducing from natura
phenomena a few all embracing CONGRATULATIONS
in which he has perfect faith. The earnestnes
with which he insisted on his llneal descen
from the ape was very amusing.
The discussion of Prof. Fowler's paper wa
followed by Dr. Dawson's exposition of spec
linen of sigillaria, showing marks of fructifca
ton At the conclusion of DR.. Dawson's re
marks, the section adjourned in order that thu
members might go on an excursion down thu
harbor in the revenue cutter McCulloch.
The subsection of geology organized by thu
choice of t, Sterry Hunt as chairman and W
ID. Niles as Secretary. The only paper read wa
the admirable descriptive paper on the geolog.
OF Portland, by Prof. G. H. Hitchcock. This
paper will be found in full on the first page.
DOWN THE HARBoR.
The McCulloch left Custom House wharf a
noon with the greater portion of the member
OF the Association on board The excursion wa
under charge of the chairman of the committee