, 1874-03-01
LIGHT AND DARKNESS F20a TIE BIZ
TEENTH Century,

TENTH CENTURY.
The Interior, in its issue Of Feb &c, indig~
nantly repels the Independents suggestion that
it has 's weakened on the scientific accuracy Of
tho word dny in tho first Of Genesis" It pro-
tests tho contrary with desperate energy such
as could be caused only by d fcar lest any weak
ening whatever in such feeble sheot should
insure its speedy demise. It SAYS:
We think 1t is scientifically accurate; we are I'M
pressed with the fdea that tho scientific accuracy OF
the rst Of Genesis demonstrates its inspiration by
Ona who not only knew moro ti.n Moses, but more
than Sir Charles Lyeu, Sir Rodcrick hIurchison,
Pref Agaasiz. We Ike to turn the first Of Genesis
and mount that high tower, e word "day," and look
OF into the magnificent vista which is presented by
to tho mind.
The editor Of this advertising medium for
quack doctors and sharpora should be put on e1-
hibition. He is unique. Years after theological
and NEUROLOGICAL study have combined to show
Of symbolic figures intended to uvidly impress
rude race, to give it somo hazy idea OF tlat be-
ginning of lifs which Is shrouded In as much
mystery as its end, he prates OF its "ecientiae
accuracy" Tho record IS written in Language
Of almost unc1ampled poverty, in which q word
often has different and contradictory meanings.
The word which ia translated to mem the whole
earth in the first verse OF Genesis signifies land
az distinguished from water in the tenth, and
figures as the name OF particular country in tho
eleventh verse Of the second chapter. 4 book
published by the Christian Evidence Committee
OF the London Society for Promoting Christian
knowledge says: *Tlo whole question Of tho
universally Of tho deluge turns, in great de-
gree, upon the Specification which is assigned to
this same word" The young man Patton, who is
now battling Dr.. Swing with tho weapons and ideas
Of the sixteenth century, talks about the t.scicn
tifc accuracy" Of such record written in such
q language!. But what does ho mean by basing
his belief in tho inspiration Of this first chapter
Of Genesis On its scientific accuracy7 Are wo
justified in inferring that, it inaccuracy were
proved, the Interior would disbclieve in the
inspiration2 Suppose it considers these facts:
The record says the first appearance Of animal
life vas on the fifth dny the rocks show that
there was animal life before there WIS vegetable
life. The record says all living creatures arc
fifth, the other on the sixth day, and each COM
ing into existence IN an instant; the rocks
show that each class slowly came forward
through ages Of almost inconccivablo duration.
The record says that death WAS not until
man fell fossils provo that thoro WIS death
from the frst. These contradictions we havo
taken from the book already mentioned. They
do not initiate against the doctrines Of Christ
But they grind to powder the si1teentl-ceutury
bigotry of the stripe Of men who busy them
selves in
Fighting like devils for conc!liaton, >.
And hstng each other for the lore Of God,-
tLe men who nro responsible for the unseemly
broi1s Of tho Presbyterian Church hero, tho men
Who are now using the Interior to advertise
quacks and bespstter their bettors with holy
blackguardism. In its last issue it rates Prof.
Swing Tor his failure to preach about he'll. It's
beau-deal Of Christian eloquence is doubtless that
particular Father Of the Church whom Lecky, in
his u History Ct Rationalsm,'' mentions ~ the
auIAo1 u tNe e6say tuaE pa1nIa aa one OF the
chief pleasures Of heaven tho joyous Bight Of
souls in the torments Of heu-fre-
The Interior gets painfully astray in the
magnificent vista ~ that this word "day" pre-
sents to his mind. After making all this ado
about scientific accuracy,-which means, it it
means anything, that the day in question WAS
tventy-fon1 hours long and no mo1e,-it states
that the first chsptez Of Genesis Gays: stood