The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-11-12
PROFESSOR TYNDALL NOT AN
ATHEIST.

Extract from an address at M1nctsSter--
AleiSm tho Refuge Of Men Of &'GIIot0
Minds.
On the 2Sth ult. Professor Tyndall de-
liverel ono Of course Of lectures 10
workingmen at Free Trade Hall, Man
chester England. His subject was Crys-
tslinc and Molecular Forces. In the
course Of his lecture he described the
mental process by which the present
notion Of force had been acquired, and
the extension OF that notion 10 tho move
ments Of planets and the vibrations Of
atoms. He exhibited by means of the
electric light the capitalization Of sal am.
moniac and acetate Of lead experiments,
which were among the most snowy Of
those presented 10 American audiences.
lie referred to other mSrvels Of nature In
the following words:
The way in which atoms build them
selves together is 10 mo perfectly astound.
ing. You have here play of power
almost as wonderful as the play oil vitality
itself. Perhaps l may have expressed
myself too strongly in calling this beauti-
iul experiment astonishing. Still must
say, although have seen 1t, 10 speak
modeStly, hundreds and hundreds oftimes
have never looked upon 1t without
feelings Of establishment. And depend
upon it, trust me, that the revelations Of
science are not IN the least deg.ee calcu.-
lated 10 lessen our feelings OF astonish-
ment. We are surrounded by wonders
aud mysteries everywhere. have some.
times-not sometimes, but olten-in the
spriDgtide watched the advance Of the
sprOutiDg leaves, and OF the grass, and Of
tho flowers, and observed the general Joy
Of opening lie in nature, and l have
asked myself this question-Can it be that
there Is no being or thing In nature that
Knows more about these matters than l
do2 Do l in my Ignorance represent the
highest knowledge Of these things ex-
istlng in the universe. Ladies and gen.
tlemen, the man who puts that Ques-
ton 10 himself, If he be not a shallow
man il he be man capable Of being pene-
trated by profound thought, will never
answer tho question by protesting the
creed of Atheism, which has been go
lightly attributed 10 me. will only de-
tain you one moment more. Everywhere
throughout our planet we notice this ten
denCy OF the ultimate particles OF matter
to run into symmelric forms. The very
molecules appear inspired with a desire
for union and growth, and tho question OF
questions at the present day is, and it Is
one | fear which will not be solved in
our day, but will continue 10 agitate and
occupy thinking minds after We have de-
parted. This question OF questions is
how far does this wonderous display oil
molecular force extned. Does 1t give the
movement oil the sap of trees? I reply
with confidence, assuredly 1t does. Does
II give us the beating Of our own hearts,
the warmth Of our own bodies, tho cir
culatiOn Of our own blood, and all that
thereon depends? This Is a point on
which offer no opinion tonight have
brought you to the edge Of battlefield,
into which l don't intend 10 enter, and
from which l have barely escaped, some.
what beapattered and begrimed, but with.
out much loss Of heart or hope. 1t only
remains for nc not TO enter this battle
field, but to point out 10 you the position
OF the contending hosts. You can pass
on by almost imperceptible gradations
from this wonderful display Of force that
have been able to make manifest to your
eyes here tonight. to the lowest forms Of
vegetable life. You pass from them to
other forms higher, and soup to tho high.
est I have spoken Of contending hosts,
and their position is this: One class OF
thinkers supposes that these actions OF
crystals that you have seen formed before
you, the passage from the crystalline &C.
ton 10 the lowest forms OF life, and from
them to higher forms up to the highest-I
say one class Of thinkers regards this as
the growth OF natural process. They
grasp, Ns 1t were, this act OF life, this de-
velopment OF lie, as an indissolubly con-
nected whole, one great organic growth
from the beginning. Others again say
that 1t is not possible to pass from inor.
ganic, as we are pleased to call it-for re.
member 1t is only human language we can
use-irom tho inorganic to the organic
without distinct creative act; and 80
with regard TO tho forms that we OBJ
serve not only with the fossil world.
These forms, 1t is alleged, or con.
sidered, also require for their in
PRODUCTION special creative acta. Here
then are two perfectly distinct posi-
lions, and il you look abroad you will
find men Of equal honesty, equal lntelli-
gence, ranging themselves on two oppo.
site sides in relation 10 this question.
Which are right and which are wrong Is,
Isubmit, question Of grave considera.
ton, and MOTTO abuse and hard names l
am afraid that many Of the fears that arc
now entertained on these subjects really
have their roots in kind OF skepticism.
1t Is not always those who are charged
with skepticism that are real skeptics-
and confess 1t Is matter Of some grief
to me 10 see able, useful and courageous
men running TO and fro upon the earth,
wiring their hands over the threatened
destruction of their ideals. would say,
II l dared, TO such men; would exhort
them 10 cast out this skeplicism; for this
fear has Its root in skepticism. In the
human mind We have the substraIum of
all ideals, and as surely as string responds
to string when the proper note Is sound
cd. 80 surely, when words Of truth and
nobleness are uttered by living human
soul, will those words have resonant
response In other souls; and in this faith
ahIda a1A In fhin xuov laaua tho ouos