New-York tribune., 1874-11-09
PROF. TYNDALL NOT An ATHEIST.

| EXTRACT FROM AN ADDRESS AT MANCHESTER
| ATHEISM THE REFUGE MEN OF SHALLOW MINDS
| NOT ALWAYS THOSE CHARGED WITH sKEPTICIsM
ARE REALLY sgEPTIC.
On the 2Sth ult. Prof. Tyndall delivered one
OF course Of lectures workingmen at Free Trade
Hail. Manchester, Eng. His subject Crystalline and
Molecular Forces. In the OF his lecture he
described tho mental process by which
| the present notion OF force bad been acquired,
and tho extension OF that notion the movements Of
planets and the vibrations OF atoms. He exhibited by
means OF the electric light tho crystaization OF sal
ammonao and acetate of lead-experiments which
| were among the most snowy OF those presented to
American audiences, he referred to- other marves Of
nature Ia the following words:
The way which atoms build themselves together IL
TO me perfectly astounding. You nave here a play OF
power almost wonderful as tine pav OF vitality itself
Perhaps NAV have expressed myself too strongly in
calling tnl5 beautiful experiment astonishing Sun
must say, although nave seen it, 10 speak moderately
hundreds and hundreds Of times. have never looked
upon IL without feelings OF astonlshment. And
science are not IN the least degree calculated TO lessen
our icehpgs OF establishment We are surrounded by
not sometimes but Oftcn-in the spri stde watched the
advance Of the sproutnR leaves or the grass aud
Of the howers and observed he general JOY OF opening
life IN natnre, and have asked myself this question,
Can IL De hat there Is no being o. thing IN nature that
knows more about these matters than do DO in my
Ignorance represent the highest knowledge OF these
things existing IN is universe. Ladies gentlemen
the man VINO puts that question 10 himself II he be not
a shallow man, II he b. man capable Of being pcne
traied Dy PROFOUND thought, Will the
question Dy protesting the creed OF Atheism wnch has
been so lightly attributed TO me. | will only
detnn You Que moment more. Everywhere through
out our planet we notice this tendency OF tho ult
III te PARTICLES Of mater to INTO symmetrc forms.
union ana growth aud question Of questions the
present day is aud 1t is one fear which will not he
solved IN our day. but Will continue 10 agate and oc-
cnpy thinking minds after we have departed. rms
question Of Questions Is now far does TINS Won
GrOus display OF molecular force extend. Does 1t
gNe the movement OF the sap Oh treeSi repB WIN
confidence asSnrrdy 1t does Does 1t give Us The beat
Ing OF oar own hearts, the warmth Of our own DOdies
the circulation OF our own blood. and all that theron
depends This l. point hIch offer no opinion
tid, INTO which don't ncnd To enlcr. and from which
have barely escaped, somewhat b'spattered ana he
grimed, but Without much loss OF heart or hope IL now
Is remains for mo Lot 10 enter this battlefield. hut TO
point out To yod tie position OF me contcndng hosts
from this wonderful display OF force mat have been
able to MAKE an II 10 !onr ewes here to-nYht 10 the
lowest forms OF vegetable Ife. Y0a from them to
Other FORMS niEher, al 80 UP 70 .uc hi-Hes' nay.
spoken oi contendng hosts aud their p0siton Is THIS
ions OF crystals that you nave seen formed be-
fore you tue pass sc from that crystalline action to
forms up the hIGhcs.-I say class of thinkers
regards th5 as The rOwth Of single Natural process
Ibey grasp 10 WerC ibis act of me- this development
OF life, an niissOiuby connec ed whOe one great or
s.aic growth from ;he beginning. Otners again say that
hot possible 10 pass from Inorganic, aS we are
pleased to call i-Or remember II Is only human Ian
guage VIC can usr-rOm tne Inorganic 70 the organic
witnOGt distinct CreiiYc act; ana wlth regard to
the toms that we observe not only IN the fossil world
These orn 10 i gei. or considered also require Tor
Introduction SPECIAL creative Here there
are two perfectly uisinct positions, and n YOU look
broad you VII HUI ncn OF equal honesty, equal
carncSthess, CqIal Inicll Icnce ranging themselves
ON two Upposte sides in relation to this Question.
Nlcd ar1 rIgnG aud winch are wrong Is. submit,
question Tor grave consideration ana nos for aDnss and
,iari names am AFRAID that many Of the fears that
are nov entertained thrsc subjects rea@ nave thtir
roots in a KIud Uf sk,piioisD. IC Is not always those
are charged witn oRsptcsn mat are the real shep
tIcstn cOutess ~ matter OF some grlcI 10 me ~
ab,e useiu and courageous men. runnInS To ana
lrJ upon earth, wrlnSing thcir hands over tue
threatened des ructIUn Inelr ideals. WOllu
say, II dared. 10 sucn men Wonii exhort
lncm skepticism, for this fear has lts
root in skcp his ~. Ia ms human NINA we nave tue
suosiratum Of all ideals, aud as surely string
responds string wn9l tno proper note Is sounlrd
so surely, wncn words of truln and uOOlcncSs are
uttered bJ Il iv ~ human soul viii those words have
resonant response III Otnrr souls aud III this iltn
abide, and In TINS way eaye tue question.