, 1874-09-03
PROF, TYNpALL'S RUBICON,

Prof. Tynda1l, in Lis capacity az President Of
the prithh Association for tho Advancement Of
Science, has made speech boldly avowing his
boliof in natorialism. It cannot full to pre-
clpitate discussion which men of religion aud
mon Of science havo alke carefully ayoided.
Tho conflict between the two Inns been somo-
timoa mtter, but the English scientists havo
hitherto always stopped short Of tho goal at
which they 'sore supposed to really aim. Dar-
win has resolved the different manifestations Of
Life. low and hgl into an aaeillan clinging stolid-
ly to arock, but ho has rado no attempt to answer
the question: !" How came the aacidian to be 2"
Huxley, who has actod, as Tyndall says, as q
commentator upon Darwiu. has nowhere openly
declared himself to be mntotia1iHt. Nay, ho
las recoilod, in celebrated pasHago, from tho
terrible vision the scientist conjures up under
tho name Of Mattor. Herbert Spencer, pushing
hiB doctrine OF comparative knowledge to tho
uttormost, has found i'll our consciousnoas rs
did Coloriage before him, tho proof OF God.
But now Tyndall strips or tho disgulsos from
his fiuty creed. In a caroful]y-prcparod
speech beforo tho most famous body Of ecion-
tists in tho world, he las crossed the Rubicon
and has aoiled theology to force him, to rotraco
lis stops. Tho collision could not DO much
longer delayed, Now TINT It has CONC, wo may
hope that the combatants will bear themselves
,nanfully, mud that tho blows Of their arguments
may stsike out some sparks Of truth lilo right
has nothing to fonr, and wo do not hesitate to
say that wo believo Blr. Tyndall ia wrong-alto-
gethor wrong. And yet, II religion has woak-
enod itself by trying to cover too much ground
it will 10 strongor when forced within narrower
limitH. II science has boon making propostcr-
oua claims. It. too. though crippled, will DO tho
gainer. It's concentration on the legitimate sub
jocts Of It's roaoarch will insure eroator prog
rcHa+
We publish this morning Home extracts from
Prof. Tyudalls speech, lie claims that lnoloo-
ular force has boon proven to DO structural.
The question then remains, IL 1t oroat,yo When
the philosopher, tracing backward tho limo OF
life, tinds 1t constantly drawing noaror to pare-
ly physical condition, whom ho finds It's lowest
manifostatlon in typo dlstipguiBhablo from a
| fragment OF a!bumcn only by ita finely granular
character" le-if ho DO Tyndall- -dlscoycrs
" III that Matter which wo, in cur ignorance aua
notwithstanding our profesHod reverence for its
Oroator, hayo hitherto covered with op-
probrlum the promise and potency Of
every form and quality Of lifo." The
usateralisn hero indicated IL not Of tho raukost
kind. Tho nature OF tho Power that endowed
hlattor with theHo qualities is still uucertai,s
"In fact, says Tyndall, title whole prooeas ot
evolution IL tho manifestation OF powor wholly
insorutablo to tho intolloct Of man." Religion
mutt, however, ho says, loaye this question ol
| creation alono. It is wholly tho province oi
science. Religion rightly concerns tho emo
tions. nothing elao. II must 10 recognized thorf
aa fully ~ aolonoe Is everywhere olse. "uose
howovor,' tho sposker says, ~ must quit ,
thame too great tor mo 10 handle, but wMot