New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-08-31

PROF TYNDALL CROSSES TIE RUBICON
The address of Prof. Tyndall before the
British Association for the Advancement of
Science, of which very full and comprehen-
sive abstract is furnished by our regular cor
respondent, is in many respects one of the
most extraordinary utterances of our time.
Exactly how far the leaders of scientific
thought were willing to go in that bOrderland
where we are very apt to suppose that science
may come into conflict with religion, has been
in regard to most of them somewhat an open
question. Few among his followers have
equaled Darwin in the tender delicacy with
which he has approached the ultimate prob
lem-the question whether there is or is not
the need of Creator to perfect the scheme
of creation. There is nothing in all his writ
ings of necessity in conflict with religious
belief, and there is the. furthest possible re-
move from direct opposition to it. - The
works of Herbert Spencer, partaking some
what of the cOmbative tendencies of the man,
are perhaps more OutspOken in this direction.
But he that would draw an argu-
ment against religious belief =! from
the works of Spencer, must deduce it
from his arguments he will not find it in his
"Sermons" of Huxley, the belief of their
author in materialism is far from being af-
irmed. Both Huxley and Tyndall have fire.
quently used language upon this subject which
translated into simpler words meant that there
was no necessary conflict in the case that
science and religion could pass each other
without knocking elbows. The followers of
these great men have, as is the wont of dis
ciples, said far more violent things than their
masters. The opponents of their views have
rarely failed to hurl at them accusations of in
fidelity and atheism, to which for the most
part they have had good sense enough not to
reply. While no doubt there are many in
auisitive people who would like to know pre-
cisely what such men think ON these subjects,
it is by no means certain that the world
has not been just as well off though such
curiosity has not been gratifed.
But into this neutral ground Prof Tyndall
has suddenly advanced with uplifted lance,
ready for the fray. To put all doubts at rest
as to his intentions, he dashes into the stream
which separates religious from irrehgous be-
lief, by avowing his faith in materialism.
Having done so, however, he assures his audi
tors that there is bend in the stream where
he is fording it, so that it is not quite certain
that his landing will be on the opposite bank.
He discerns in matter "the promise and po-
"tency of every form and quality of life"
Yet he admits that "the whole process of
evolution is the manifestation of a
Power wholly inscrutabe TO the intellect
(" of man." But he is thrsting for battle. He
proclaims that there is an irresistible conflict
between scientific tendencies and eccleslast-
cal reaction. Two courses only, he thinks, are
open TO us, and 70 one, of course. he leads
the way. Citing the incidents that have
marked the progress of science for twenty
two centuries, he would have US believe that
the forms of religious opinion have ever i'm
peded it, Science claims unrestricted rights
of research. He would condae religion 10 the
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