The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1874-12-18
THE RELATION DE EVOLU-
TUON TO CHRHSTHA

H Ella = HUN III - N1AA4o / 8
TION TO CHRISTIANITY. 9
An Essay read by Joseph Hill, Of En- a
poris. at the raeeting OF the Agassiz
Club, Dee. IIths 1S14i
Perhaps the one topic that en-
crosses more attention than any
,ther at the present day, is that of
he true relation of religion and
Icience. Thoughtful minds are
asking: Are they in an
or are they in harmony
with each other; does one corFObor-
ate and build up the other, or does
the testimony of science disprove ,
that of revelation? In all the his
tory of scientific progress, there has
been an apparent conflict between
the two. Many of the truths of as
physics, and geology, each,
on their announcement, have been
assaulted IS false, because seemingly
denying the scriptural record, but
in every case where the scientific
Induction has stood the test of
proof not the bible, but our UNDER
standing and Interpretation of it,
have been found TO in the fault. |
Instead of oYerthroWing revelation,
science has afforded the most con-
elusive testimony in its favor. |
Thus, to my mind, one OF the
strongest evidences of the Divine
origin and authenticity of the scrip
lures is found in the fact that it has
anticipated geology by three thous-
and years. There has been q mis-
taken feeling in this matter, on the
part of both theOlogians and scien-
fists. On the one hand the theolo-
gian, it would seem, has feared to
let the bible be tried by the test of
its agreement with the revelation of
Rsture; while, on the other, the
physicist would exclude from our
knowledge all that pertains to the
realm of faith, wonId ignore this
important element of our nature,
4 and wonld remove from its high
place the Divine revelation, because,
forsOoth, it does not rest on basis
of scientific proof. In this l think
that they are both wrong, for faith
and reason should go hand in hand.
Religion and science are sisters, not
antagonists the one is incomplete
without the other. The true seeker
after knowledge will take the book
of revelation in one hand, and the
book of nature in the other; and,
drawing from both sources, he will
ever be impressed with the fact,
that in the. truths of God is har-
mony.
The subject assigned me tonight,
"The Relation of Evolution to
Christianity" is but a part of this
still wider field of thought the
agreement of science and revela-
ton. The question is not on the
merits of the doctrine of evolution
whether the origin of species is as
Mr.. Darwin would affirm that it is
whether man is descended from the
monkey, or not; but it is rather
what would be the effect on christi
) anity if the doctrine of evolution
were proven true? Is there any
essential conflict, CIR is there basis
, on which they may be harmonized
But in order to answer this ques
ton properly, it Is necessary to have
a clear idea of what the develop
ment theory is. There are variou!
: phases of this subject, representing
: the attitudes OF its several defen
ders; but all agree in this, that il
nature there is progressive ordel
of development, that, starting with
the germ, the cell-the higher form
of life are gradually developed from
the lower. They say that as In,
: earth was going through its stage
3 of development, and was gradual!
being fitted for the higher animal
and man, the very circumstance
which produced that adaptation, es
: sentially modified the structure o
a existing forms of life, producing
T, other and higher types. There ar
many evidences to support thi
theory, but we have not as yet SUI
: ficient data to allow us to regard
l as one of the proven truths O
sciences Scientists, however, arr
looking upon itiwith favor. Man,
are accepting il, while others ar
rendering the verdict. "probable
though not proven" DIR. BuchneT
for whom is claimed the honor O
originating this theory, may b
5 called the atheistic evolutionst. He
] AMI his materialistic associates O
! Germany, would make this doctrin
account for all the phenomena O
E creation, and would sweep from it
1 history all idea of a first cause
Mr. Darwin, on the other hand, doe
not go SO far as this. He is mega
lively theistic, for he makes no at
) tempt 10 account for the origin o
life, but only for the origin o
species. He leaves others 10 an
4 swer the question, Whence came
: this first cell, this germ-or, as Mr.
Huxley would have it, "this proto
plasmic basis of life." Others, t.
account for the beginnings of life
take refuge behind DIR. Bastien's so.
lutions, to which they boastingl,
point as an example of what they
are pleased to term spontaneous
generation. But suppose that DIR
Bastien has-and it is pretty clearly
established that he has-by certain
means, produced infusOria without
q germ, the question still remains,
who, in the beginning. set these forces
in action, which should produce the
| fret germinal creation? Ah, here
scientists are dumb. They can find
no better answer than the one
which the book of revelation gives.
SIN the beginning, God" This
i question, too, is asked: If man is
developed from the brute, whence
come the intellectual and moral
faculties with which he is endowed +?
Whence come the reasoning power,
the sensibilities, the inherent con.
viction in the mind of human re-
sponsibility? Whence comes the
idea Of the right, whence the ideas
of the good, the true and the beau
tiful? The tendency of the theory