The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-04-16
The Scientists and Religion.

The world appears again ayape after OIL in
tidel tastes. Curious thoughts, though planted
in what we are assured are certalties in science,
are run after with an avislity, we may say
phrenzy, that woltld better have become the
rabble Of Paris, or her skeptics, in the age
when the Goddess OF Reason lsurped the wof-
Islfip of the true God, and blood and l.tpine and
| death chung to the skirts OF Revolution. One
philosopher, Tyndall, discovers that there is no
efficacy in prayer, and metaphysics glibby to
prove that which is the only consolation of the
distressed and the hope Of the poor, IS abs.lr-
dity, as he dilates on relations Of sta. sun
! inphyscal science. Another presents stise,
and it is no.new thing. on the divinity lrist,
and endeavors to throw clouds Of doul IL
round the blessed hopes OF redemption hui
mainly in another sphere Of being, i'll pa
ges OF Ecce Homo. The evolution stem
| treats OF growtlls and modes Of groWthy and
modification and metamorphosis in plants and
all animated being, and one class of theorists
trace the origin OF man back to the ape with
as much composure us il this ancestry afforded
as proud a Lineage. as sail the blood OF all the
Howards.''
We have no design Of entering into any sci
entific dissertation on this subject Men whose
eruditon can follow the skeptics through all
the labyrinths Of lore and logic and history,
are the men to deal with them with their fl-
vorite weapons. We only say, that mans own
consciousness affords an arena where the still
small voice OF conscience is recognized and
that there are sweeping ever through the cor
ridors Of the heart appearances, phantoms, if
you chose to call them, and swelling up emo
tons which are more omnipotanJ than conclu-
mise of the syllogisnl. Reason is grand, we
know, but it deals with mental powers which
are in themselves fallible, and with objective
facts which are not certainties. There is a
primitive principle as strong in its influences
on Our mind and organism telling us to believe
in Christ aud the Revelation as we believe in
our own being is strong, and we have the tes-
timony of men Of the chrlcE--pious men Of the
church, we should say, who bear testimony in
their own experience Of this wonlerous change
Of heart which is claimed by religionists and
more especially by the followers Of John Yves
ley, vouchsafed to the true believer.
There is a fact in government in connection
with this subject, which is mportant-namely:
That a republic cannot exist where society is
drifted away from its moorings to God and the
Bible, and the necessary sequences of a want
Of trust in a mediator and q God, Of a want Of
trust between man and man follows. Freedom
and religion are twin sisters. We may say
further, civilization in its richest phases, is de-
veloped only among a people who believe i'll
God, and his gracious offerings.
We speak not OF denominations, Of churches
i, whether the cross is carried by the good
Catholic or the stern Puritan, is bowed before
: by the Armenian, Or Lutheran, OF Baptist, Or
the Episcopalian, so it is the cross symbolizing
: Christ's sacrifical mediation and the blessed
promises that he taught to his dscples-along
with this cross, inevitably follows refinement
in social lfe-the highest scientific attachments,
: aale most beneficent systems Of Government.
: + We look with apprehension then on these
scientists teaching to crowds in large northern
cities who are so readily led away by novelty,
: and anxiously embrace any errors which may
4 serve as loop-hole of escape from judgment
3 for sins. Our talented ministers should brace
themselves to resist this tidal wave of intidelity
and all christian philosophers. should assist il
: the work. Infidelity and freedom, and Law
: and order, cannot exist in the same orbit.
Remember there is more danger in the insid
I ious attacks of such a man as Tyndall, who
seeks to sap the true faith of man, than in the
9 bold sneering, leerng deviltry of Voltaire. The
last attacks without mask; he shows the
black flag all the while and ventures no meek
civility to blind the unsuspecting. The firsi
hesieges by stealing away the means, the in
strrlmentalities of the christian. He strikes nc
blow at the cross direct, utters no blasphemy
of the Redeener, but essays to demonstrate
the inefiicacy of an appeal to God. Voltaire
7 sneered at Christ. Tyndall destroys the means
by which men arrive at Christ's love by prayer
These teachings cannot overcome the truth, we
know, but they do great damage, and quickly
may the hour come when some earnest worker
like Hugh Miller, shall rush to the rescue, wrest
E. ing the infide1s own weapons from his grasp
a and driving him in dismay and confusion from
the field with the science he has appealed to il
: support OF his skepticism.
I ETnn II M IT. EEuB,fop