New-York tribune., 1874-12-15
THE LECTURE.

The conflict between Religion and Science"
and the conflict between the Bible and Science" are
not equivalent expressions Religions are manifold,
the Bible is Religious arc largely objective Inc
b BILE in Its letter is objective. In its contest
with Religion as Religion 1t has been represented by
courts and councils Science has often gained decided
victory for she has been the advocate OF TRUTH whe
Religion was the advocate OF error Such contrast mas
often place, and IN these The word was lhoeotea
TO Science for deverance from the bondage OF super
stion and ignorance. But between the Bibie and SCI
ence we may deny that conflict ever existed 1t Is
common to this phraseology OF antagonsm, but II
ia from confusion Of ideas TO which nave alluded
That which has been supposed to be conflict between
the and Science whom reduced to its lowest terms
IA simply an attack by a few scientific men upon the
Bible. These scientific men assault the Holy scriptures
but the Scriptures make counter attack on Science
Tho Bible tho side OF Science. It is my purpose
this evening 10 s w. I'm very brief and imperfect way
know, that tine Bible Is scientific BOOK, and that,
Therefore, II any scientific inen attack the BDIc mus
What those motives are, perhaps the BDic sei hleh'
tel. -. 9, - ...-.,..
Is tins that the who have held the Bible as their
guide and who have rcycred aS the w0rI OF GOh nave
been The founders aud foscrcrs Of modern science TIE
10Th century marked Dy brilliant discoveries III all de-
partmonts OF scientific INVESTIGATION. I1e heavens
Science and the glory OF the sun anayZed 10y the
spectrum The material constitution OF the planets tue
OF comcts the OrDItal character Of what the
c1miinon language was wont 10 call "shoong stars"
the magnetic quality Of the aurora, the cycc courses OF
the Winds aud the laws OF progression Tor their crces
e formation ana dispersion Of Clouds and tue causes
and conditions OF eclectic phenomena have all been
out nv the ingenious aud devoted energy OF earnest
searclers a'tet tne great truths which lie about us ia
the REALM OF nature rae earth, TOO has Dcen pcceu
for its secrets, and IT, foundations successfully
examined for tho history OF It's maryelous
construction. The story of ancont races OF pants anu
animals man perhaps included, has been told us Dy tne
unrccored rocks aud the mind refuses to compute the
long ages which the WORK or earth-Dullilu7 was
In process TAe sea mas bcen SOuudeu auu IT'S Vditcu
floor made visible to thc senthc eye lIs eurr'ns, UP
and it's inhabitants studied and catalOgued IA II they
were the familiar inmates OF BARNARD ioat' ilgh
and electricity, nave been tesed uht tne laws ~, Ioe
their essence, been understood, ana through tnls
knowledge they have been made to minister to man ln
ways that would nave Oeeh lhcrot2o " our iatuiI
A discoveries multiply, much more do inventions ihu
tply, for every new principle may nave alhousAnu AZ
plcdtions, and 40 the means OF setthg anu c.'ILI
Inc whole earth have gwen our age an energy anu
kind. VINO before these lacls can peHtt'o oGcno VI
deny her claims to our profound respect and sincere
gratituJcl WAC can doubt that IN the advancement
Gf Science We oDeyinG the command gwen
by oar Maker TO the race at the beEnnlng, r.
pienlsh the earth and suOdue H." Is not knowledge
OF tue elements OF which the material world Is CON
posed, ana u their laws. necessary preliminary 10
image God. indedl Tnls IL tue very place
o SCIENCE and to oppose her is to rebel against God
But whence have proceeded these grand discoveries
and Inventions OF the present az nave LAY my sIun5
attalnments. have they history OF inception ana
growthi Have they roots Ia the past-=erms whcn
have been uuscd into their present fdtIg'I IL VIII
require extended research to see that me scen-
tile studies OF the molern age nave proceeiod from Tue
SCHOOLS tnat throughout Europe aud America Stud tue
law the bright stars stud the sky The great inveou
gators have either been coiegebred men, OF tncy nave
used the appliances OF coil gcJ ana unlVorS
ties for their successful work. F:om tho cot
leges they received tine taste for exploration. the
incentive to II. These foster-mOthers nave been
proud of tho children and make them farm their
own property. Aud whence the colleges and uni
versiliesl Who founded Prague and Vienna. and HeIe
berg, aud Leipzig, and 1uJingon and jena ana ila,
aui G0tlngeu, ani Berlin, aud Bonui VINO foanded
and Cambridge, ST. Andrew and Aberdeen could
add scores more distinguished names in all the coun-
tries Iropc, that are very dear y science,
wlsre her streams have been conserved aud widened
and deepened the centuries went on. WHO, say,
founded these great centers of learning, iuto which
Whatever OF knowledge Greece and Arabia has gathered
flowed as INTO appropriate honest Inc men OF the
Bible founded them. Iney were pressed TO such granl
works just bt the impulse OF that grand old Book OF
God, When G the rest Of mankind were caring either
for the mere necessities physca being or for wars or
ACKNOWLEDGMENT, Bible inca were holding up the torch OF
science aud striving by its light to read aud I'M
derstand the wonderful works OF God In the monas-
teries even. amid dark and supcrstitious souls.
is true, found the Roger Bacnns who were tho
predecessors OF the NeWtols and BOarhaayes and La
vocrs Of atgr ag:5 II is vain to say they were perse
cured That makes only against :heT aKe, not a..pst
themselves the Bibc impetus under which they
acted The Universities wero always on the side OF
liberal study and opposed to the restraints OF superst
ton and them under God science Is Indebted for the
high ground on which SHE stands to-day. IL the Bible
opposed to science, think you that these things
could be
But again let me ask. Who founded the colleges OF
Amercai VINO set up these hundreds OF schools, whero
the sciences carefully taught Who provided, by
endowrnents and sacies continual instruction IN
every branch Of scientific researchl Again | answer,
Bible men. With very few exceptions. Bible men did
II all-nen who hOnOred the B,1e tie OF all
wisdom. and VINO, by mbDing Its spirit provided for
their fellow
Now | ask every candid man If it is likely that the
Bible can be the enemy Of Science, or even apahetlc
with regard Science, and such results tAcoe Ip-
peari Are not thc few scientific men who arc
attacking the Blbo acting an ungacous and ungrateu
H. now turn to another fact 1t is this that the
very first scientific minds marked IN tue anna.s u
science their discoveries have been Bible ld
than merit attracts attention. One would think
by the blast that Is now being made III the world Just
now that all scientific men must necessarily be
arrayed against the Bible. Toe young and inex-
perienced overcome by the camOr not having yet
learned that an empty barrel makes % than \
full one Aud so Ii becomes necessary for sobermlnded
to call attention 10 some facts that are awkwardY
in the way OF the miscaders. Newton only
one Of hundreds 70 M his sy day Who sHSn to science
this the succession has been complete. not in an atten
mated line, but in broad road stream OF faithful
Faraday, It's Forbes, lis Carpenter is Hitchcock, Its
occupying hostile position towards the Bible IL tho
Bible Is opposed 10 Science, how strange that these
from study, hould perceive IT, while it
10 others who do not know 1t at oil 10 make
than in such proceeding} To enlarge this
point would be simply 10 quote the names OF men dis
tngushed In every department or scientific study wh0
have been no occ isonal exceptions showing per-
sona eccentricy. which could account for the reyer.
for the Bible but never In the OF their natural
reds0n and never suspeong their fellows OF incon
sstency In upholdng with equal hands the claims OF
men who had felt the power OF the SCRIPTURES
the inner life OF the heart had received the Impress OF
their truth In region where faith is assurance, had
seen the God OF truth In the glory OF his
oracles, and were ready 10 say with tho late
President OF Amherst College. himself a scientific
or mean rank f the supposed results OF scientific
discovery should be found to be antagOnstic to tho
Bible. should cleave 10 the Bible and suspect tue
suits" This deep inward experimental knowledge
bindered not their course OF explanation IN the realm Of
external nature but rather gave IL divine sanction
and To such men the prOrt argument (which to
Others would De OF valur) would fun
weight. that the God OF truth could err III His