The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-05-10
NEU BOOKS.

ander Winehill, LID. New York: Har-
per & Bros. New Orleans: Kahn & Co.
A popular exposition of "The Doctrine of
Evolution-its Data, its Principles, its Spec
uations, and its Theistic Bearings" by Alex
ander Winehill, man whose scientific and
literary attachments have placed him in the
front rank of American authorities, and en-
title him to fill the honorable position Of
Chancellor of the Syracuse University; an
author whose "Sketches of Creation" had
he written nothing else, would give him an
enduring reputation, will be hailed with de-
light by all thoughtful readers.
Originally prepared in the form of two
lectures, delivered before the Drew TheOlog
ical Seminary, this essay embraces scien-
titic discussion of the theme, and also an in
quiry into its theological bearings.
Setting forth, with equal impartiality,
both arguments for and objections to; neither
defending nor attacking the doctrine, but
placing before the reader facts, principles
and theories, and leaving him to draw his
own conclusions bearing in mind that the
most opposite opinions have been defended
by learned scientists, profound thinkers,
honest hearts and earnest lovers OF truth;
this little book is most admirable cOmpen-
dunn of the science and philosophy which
have contributed to modern discussions on
the subject of evolution.
Evolution is "a mode of succession OF
phenomena, exemplitied in all pro-
gress, whether in the development of the
earth or of life upon the earth, or in the
growth of society, government, language,
literature, science or art"
There is but little opposition to the doc
trine of evolution as applied to the physical
world. The succession OF cosmlcal states
from the primitive state of igneOus vapOr to
the cooling globe of liquid fire, the wrinkles
in its incipent incrustation forming CONT
mental germs, its surface oscillations up
heaving mountains and developing the long
toreshadowed features of the land, are suf-
ticiently visible in the existing conditions OF
Other plants, to be regarded as demonstrated
facts, forming that succession OF phenomena
connected together by the relation OF cause
and effect, which constitutes evolution.
Prof. Winehill therefore considers this
portion of his subject very briefly, saying:
"The common consent of scientists renders
these conclusions inevitable. If they are
inevitable we must not shrink from them.
1t is probable they represent truth. 1t SO,
it is Gods truth, and the truth OF God, 1t Is
mans religious duty to embrace. We are
bound TO admit the existence OF a method
of evolution in the physical world"
The modern controversy chiefly exists IN
the domain of organic nature, and the vol
ume before us is chiefly devoted to the dis
cussion of this aspect of the subject
Tracing rapidly the geological succession
of organic types, the gradual advance OF
the series, and the structural +. latlonshlps
of successive forms, outlining the theories
of Lamerck, DeMaillet, Godfrey st. Hllalre,
Darwin and Wallace, Haeckel and Zegen-
baur. and other evolutiOnists; he then with
equal candor and impartiality points out
and discusses the various obligations b0tn
physical and metaphys cal, the testimony OF
the Egyptian mummies, the types OF the
age of stone, the testimony of paleontology,
ETC., etc.
Especially valuable are the sections de-
voted to the consideration of the popular
assumption of the supposed atheistic and
materialistic tendencies OF this doctrine,
and the demonstration of its compatibility
with a devout recognition of the being and
providence of God. "But suppose tue old
doctrine of specific creations to become I'M
tenable. Suppose it is proven, by
and-by, that man is descended from mon
KEY, an ascjdian, or mOnad !" What then!
"The Creator no less made man it He caused
him to be derived by descent from an
ourang- outang Ifspecitic types came
into being derivatively, the utmost that can
be said is that this was the divine method OF
creating. Shall it be proven that
organization comes forth from certain forms
and conditions of dead matter, we shall
simply say that this is the divine method OF
creating; and having seen organl-
cation energies from inert matter, we can
believe more easily than before that God
made man of the dust of the earth.'"
Shall we say with Prof. Barnard, when he
maintains that it is better to close ones eyes
to the evidences than to be convinced OF the
truth of certain doctrines: " If this, after
all, is the best that science can give me. give
me, then, pray, no more science. Let me
live on in my simple ignorance, as my
fathers lived before me-" or with Prof.
Winehill: "Nay, if it be truth, it is Gods
truth, and to reject it superstitiously or I'M
reasoningly is an insult to the author OF
truth"
A splendid time awaits those taking the
Henry Tee for excursion trip to Bonnet Care, att
!,