The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-10-11
WHAT rs GOD?
Is He an Atom ?---Dr. ]. G. Hollands
Answer to TyndalliSm.
PHILIP QUILLBET'S VIEWS.

PHILIP QUILLBET'S VIEWS.
II He an Atom s-Dr. j. G. Holla nd,s
Answer TO TyndalliSm.
But few writer's OF either poetry or prose are
more popular with the general reading public OF
she United States than DR.. ]. G. Holland. All his
writings seem to have peculiar adaptation to the
representatives OF almost every condition In lie,
and hence wherever they have gone have been
generally admired. In the comparatively new POI
sition which he at present occupies, as editor of
ScrioneT's Monthly, his functions as o public
teacher nave been greatly increased, for now more,
perhaps, than ut any time during his worthy lit
erary career. he stands directly between the pub
nc ana Its opinions, and by virtue OF his position
mas no little part to play In moulding
sne sentiments ana convictions OF the people. APP
preciating these facts. called upon MIN recently
with the purpose or ascertaining his views con-
corning the last address OF Professor Tyndal.
found the gentleman In the editorial rooms OF the
magazine, and below win be found his statements
In reference TO the question now so extensively
discussed:-
What do 3oa think Of Professor Tyndall's ad.
dress recently delivered before the British Asso-
siations" asked.
IL consider 1t q notable EFFORT" answered the
Doctor-"notable for It's brilliant panoramic pres
entaton OF the various PHILOSOPHERS and specula-
tons concerning God and nature and Tor MS own
personal confession. Democrltus, Epicurus, Luz
cretius, Plato, Aristotle, Coperntcus, Gior-
dan0 Bruno Pere Gassendi, Bishop Butler.
Darwin, Herbert Spencer and John Stuart Mill
are all passed IN review, their respective
discoveries, speculations and opinions presented
n cnyy nyy,an tad mt lot lact Sxa UatQ
Tyndall himself 1t would be hard to find In
equal compass so valuable mass OF Information
on the subject discussed, and tor this the lnteili-
gent reading public VIII be grateful"
'What does the English scientist teach us In his
essay about the origin OF matter and life ~ was
my next question.
Nothing" answered DR.. Holland, ave rise
from the perusal OF his address with no new light
thrown upon the great problems he presents"
According to Tyndall what Is the existence Of
RatterY'
"a mystery" responded the Doctor.
"What the origin aud perpetuatlon Of lie 2"
"Also mystery |" was the reply.
''Wnat Is Tyndali's God ?"
"A mystery. Indeed the sources Of the force
shat builds and holds and wheels the world, en-
dows every particle OF matter with might which it
never for O moment relinqushes in its myriad
eombinatiOns-vtal ana chemical-adapts organ
isms to conditions and conditions to organisms,
and weaves all into c0smical harmony, are
hooded over by clouds which science can never
PIERCE There are limits to thought" continu ed the
Doctor, 4" and none by searching can and out God.
But because Mr.. Tyndall cannot find God, does,
therefore, no God exist He says EITHER let US
open our doors freely to the conception Of ere.
alive facts or, abandoning them, let us radically
change our notions OF matter.'n
"What do you understand the expression you
have just quoted to mean ~ Iqueried.
II understand from It," answered DR.. Holland,
''that Mr.. Tyndali means to say there Is either
God who created all things and endowed them
with the principle or hie else matter OF itself
has an innate power TO evolve lie in organic
JOrmS. the alternative Is as inevitable as IT IS
simple, and our scientific teacher does not hesitate
10 say that he finds in matter the promise ana
declaration he endeavors to soften by intimations
shat matter Itself may possibly have no existence,
or IL Is that our senses nave been acted upon BY
powers ana Qualities which We attribute 70 IT,
weaf es SSes as Logic OF IyndaS doctrine
ny leads " what, N common language, Is called
annihilaton," was the return. "Ir lie Is to be
continual existence upon the potency OF matter.
Therefore, when any vital organism dIssolves, that
u the end OF It. Its matter passes into new forms,
aud evolves new lie. Tnought is product or
matter. Love, Joy, sorrow, heroism worship, are
products OF matter; all this MIR. Tyndail sees and
well, who knows but God is o product OF mat
Yer Mr.. Tyndah himself Is pretty brilliant and
powerful product OF matter; VINO knows but that
py this infinite evolution OF this eternal matter
Being has been produced SO powerful thai He hos
ana to have everything Ills own way It has
evolved men, and thus produced iorm OF life that
lords II over seas and storms That controls animal
ne, that builds enormous cities, that threads the
Eord with telegraphs, railroads and cables, writes
books, measures the heavens moves from power
70 power. Is 1t any more remarkable that It
DhOuld evolve or create God. who, going from
might to might, and glory to glory through intin-
lte ages, should have something to say ABOUT Mr..
likely TO possess the power to evolve moral and
lnteIligenr Governor OF the Universe AS to evolve
! man. so perhaps we have a COD, alter ALL
ado not Judge from what say or IRON my man.
ner OF saying 1t that do not synpatnize with Mr..
his enmity to bigotry ana ecclesiastical COMMA
ton, but the intolerance with winch science has
been treated ~ various ages o. the world deserves
ignorance have seen that certain doctrines which
they thought they ionnd in what they all honestly
believed to be tDe revealed Word OF God were con-
Iroverted by scientific men. They have chung
70 their Bible because they supposed that.
'n' ana ner the ses ss sns
tlon were identified. Let us be charitable
.osuch. We must NOT expect too much from men
who are evolved from matter. There must be
great choice in matter when the production or
men Is concerned, and really matter Is doing
what he says and do what he does without
lindrance, aud without any danger OF dungeon or
MkOL, IL SeellS rs IL uluttcr Huu QUue kOOu zeal
to deserve ms gratitude aud ours. Alter all, In
tolerance and bigotry were IN matter to begin
with. Iney have SIMPLY been evolved. The prom
lac VI them, ana the potency TO produce them,
we're In them at the start"
"But what do you think OF Tyndals material.
1smp' asked next OF DR.. Holland
"As lar as his materlalisn Is concerned" was
the answer 'wnat he says concerning the religious
element In lie s about as feeble nonsense as tnat
In which Matthew Arnold INDUCES III his 'Lttera-
ture and Dogma With Mr.. Arnold religion Is
morally warmed and heightened by emotion. Mr..
Iyndal speaks OF the Immovaole basis OF the re.
nRious sentiment IN the emotional nature or
man,"
"What do you understand him to mean by that~
questioned.
"Ihat Is the very query that .perplexes me-"
vas DR.. Hollands return. "Does he mean
that there Is the possibility OF religious SELL
hment In man who does not believe IN the
Existence OF God as his creator, preserver, Uene.
iactor, ather governor; the source and sum Oh oil
moral periectionsY
Suppose he docsW Intercepted.
'Weil, then" answered the Doctor heartily, "the
less he talks about religion the better, Tor ne can
An