The Portland daily press., 1874-12-30
mECEHANECs' COURSE.
Lecture by >. y. Palmer, Esq.

The fourth lecture IN the Mechanics course
was delivered last evening by j. S. Palmer,
esq.,, to a crowded house. The subject of the
lecture was ''The Changes Wrought by Modern
Discovery in Scientific and Religious Thought
In introducing his subject, tba lecturer stated
lie would endeavor to present some OF the re-
suits of the general mental activity OF the pres
sent time, as exemplified in scientihcand relig-
ious thought, and to express the determination
of men of the present to handle all subjects
fearlessly and to penetrate all mystery, without
regard to the dctl of ancient authority.
Only fifty yoars ago it was pronounced i'm
possbie ever to know aught Of the chemistry
and mineralogy of the planets. To-day the
spectroscope has overeaped the barrier and
teaches us that the solutions of all mental and
physical problems are hereafter to be Limited
only by mans capacity. He referred to the
modern discoveries in chemistry, electricity, TO
that of photography. the telegraph, the ocean
cable, sewing machine, improved means OF
transit and the modern application of steam to
the mechanical arts, and briefly compared tne
rapid life of day to the slow days of our ia
theirs. wheR they waited patiently for months
for news of the result of a Presidential elec-
ton and for news from Europe and to the days
when manual labor supplied all mems necessi'
ties.
The same activity was traced into the world
of thought Improvements in machinery and
practica! inventions gave room for thought aud
study. By thought, men throw aside the cru
dities and absurdities in the mental and relig-
ious world and science is pressed into the field:
Science penetrates the old PHILOSOPHERS and
disturbs the old schools of thought.
The popular reading of the day is scientific,
rationalistlc. all showing the current Of
thought. The radical man of the present, de,
mands rational, common sense religion. Old
theology is disturbed. Skepticism prevails
even in the pulpit itself. The world in the
10Th century objects to the acceptance OF tne
science and theology of the LIST century, and IN
sists on the use of analysis, investigation and
experiment, with religious doctrines as with
scientific and practical.
The speaker alluded to the trial OF DE- Swing
for heresy, for admitting Socrates and Penelo--
ne to heaven quoting Heine's description OF
Socrates in hell as possibly more satisfactory
to the Presbytery, and to other familiar cases
of church discipline as showing the determine
ton of theology as an 0rgdnazdtaon TO
hold to antiquity and to old creeds and dog
mas, while there is an equally apparent move
ment of indiuiduals to break away from 1t.
Reference was made to similar facts occurring
in the old world, the contest OF Ritualism IN
the English church, the struggle In Italy ana
Germany with the Catholic church, the pertur-
baton caused by TyndalPs and Gladstone's let
tiers, arguing that so wide spread commotion
in the religious thought of the time was not ac
cidental, without meaning. He then referred
to the struggle of religious faith against science
now going on. Science demonstrates law rul-
ing everywhere. Darwin is the great modern
icOnoclast aud creed destroyer. Evolution, and
nodern science generally, holds the Mosaic
record as no longer the source OF all natural,
intellectual and spiritual blessings vouchsafed
to mankind. In this connection he spoke OF
the time of Calico as the beginning or
modern independent thought, of the struggle
of the Roman church to suppress his discov-
cries. So has it been in lesser degree IN
modern times. Discovery to certain minds Is
always unscripturaL, as illustrated by the
struggle of Columbus to establish his theories.
In later time chloroform, life insurance, use OF
gas for lightning, &c have been denounced by
texts of scriptures. From these historica! facts
the conclusion was drawn that intellectual de-
velopment has always been proportioned to the
decay of theological influence.
After referring TO the 10 centuries OF me-
daval darkness in our Christian era that was
useless to human progress and CIVILIZATION
when there was no voice for intellectual lib
erty-comparing it with the mental activity OF
the Grecian and Romau republics and with
the splendid development of science and litera-
ture of the Mohammedan Arabs-he traced the
characteristic tendencies of modern tme-viz
towards freedom in everything, law, medicine,
theology, government-the right to think
freely and discuss fearlessly and to penetrate
mystery-even the great mystery OF the uni.
verse and of being-cosing with vision OF
future dis covery and development.