The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-02-19
More About Science and Religion
Reply to Sej0urner.


more About Science and Religion
Reply to sejsurner.
Editors Of the Register.
And still they come. l see in Tues
day mornings paper letter from "so'
| journer" answering further my letter o.
Saturday. The seventh proposition
that he makes, leel constrained to
notice. He says; ia
7th. That many Christian writer's,
in former times have been governed BY
false rules OF Interpretation, and, there
fore, have brought divine revelation to
some extent into disrepute with the
scientific world is readily conceded,
And although he says this, be does
not say that the false doctrines taught
by these persons have ever been cor
rected. This is just exactly what l
have stated. / say that religious In
terprstafsou il behind the age. II il
is admitted that IN former times false
interpretations have been given, how
was it discovered that they we're ialse
Why, by the lighto of increased knowl,
edge that subsequent time gathered and
threw upon them. What ask is that
ministers take advantage OF the great
progress OF the last few years, drop the
interpretations that have been found
incorrect and conform themselves to the
advance Of the age. s.
have not yet said that l doubt the
authority OF the Bible, or that believe
in the doctrines of the scientific men
whom l named. do not believe th em
altogether; in fact, I dissent widely
from some OF their views. For instance.
I consider that Darwin has been mic
led into deducing from bis investigs.
tions, conclusions which were not war.
ranted nor supported by the facts. l
think that TyndArs researches for the
Ute principle, have done nothing more
than establish the fact beyond contro.
versy that there is principle, q power,
substance, o something which has de-
fed his chemical analysis, and has and
ever will eluds his grasp-aud that
principle which alone he lacks to coms
plete his theory. is q creative power.
Hero he is left baf1ed
although 10 does not
acknowledge it. He has discovered
that organic matter is composed princi-
pally OF but four chemical elements OF
four organic substances; and the very
slightest change in the combination Of
these element is sufficient to make Or
gauic matter widely different from
some other organic body, which bis
analysis finds is composed OF exactly
the same elements. But yet, although
be could thus destroy organic matter,
and find OF what elements it is compos-
ed, and in precisely what proportions,
yet he has found it absolutely impossi.
bic to re-confine these elements In such
a way as to form any organic substance.
The life principle has been fitting be-
fore him like an ignus Jatu,1, SEEM
ingly just within his grasp, but yet
nHSes, 1a%ha &fr IdslcissI .takv over
could not by design combine these Ella
ments into such form that lba v.s
euyolved, how absurd 10 the ides Lnas
by accident they combine themselves
with each other, 10 such myriad forms.
Very many OF the theories OF scien'
lists have but to be looked at careiuily
TO show their absurdity; TO show tna'
thew are in fact but theories. But there
are also very many persons who are
ready TO accept these theories 10
nrelerence to the teaching OF the Bible
because the church 80 pertinaclousIy
clings to doctrines which it can scarce
" help knowing are incorrect. IL "ss
we'll enough that the church should en-
t.rtsin and teach them before tne)
were found to be errors, but what neec
Of still retaining them because toe!
ware sufficient in the years gone by!
But il the church has discarded thes'
false doctrines, or false epterpreta'
IONS" why not say sor Why 60 OF
from week to week preaching as Q
wore without ever once referring I
these subjects? How are people =
find out what are the doctrines oi IN
church except through the medium q
those who are presumed to know!
, It is true enough that the religion
= Christ appeals more to the heart INA
! to the head, but it is also true that
T cultivated mind is superior to the pa
sioos of the heart, hence 1t 10 aoeoiu'
tolly to ask q man to accept throug
the assent Of his passions alone an al
r stract proposition which is utterly II
: pupnant to his understanding. In
r matter Of such vital importance u
II mind as we'll as the heart should De q
pealed to, when the question amor
It such scope for the exercise OF the min
o II the discussion which have Vi
g, Intentionally provoked, results IN 60,
to the church, certainly l shall be u
IT last to regret it. w