New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-28
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.


u.pNONY OF SCIENCE AND RELIGION.
nm. surrrpss BOOK ON SCIENCE AND RELIGION, AND
THEIR RELATIONS TO PHILOSOPHY
.. ,he Edftor OF rae Tribune
g.. 1ha discussions growing out of the famous
pa,sast address NJ Prof Tyndal have developed
.ar;ors antaconism between theologians and scien-
.;s,. This antagonism is not indeed new, put IL
has hacome more sharply defined since tho OCCASION
inst named Among those who have contributed 10
the literature of the subject DR.. Shields OF Prncetoh
deserves particular mention, not merely for 'ne re-
markedly clear and comprehensive summary "hi0n
he gives of the questions at ssue but 1or 'he Po'
,,on which he takes, which is no less than an at
tsmpt 10 show that there is inherent or necessary
ground of antagonism between the con'ehuii's
parties According to his view, the great oeh""i
truths of the universe to be reached py hqiois
working in converging lines, and however iar apart
the workers may be now they are sensibly, from
aee 10 age, approaching nearer and nearer 10 ,na'
supreme and ultimate philosophy which Will mar
,non;ze them all Such, as / understand 1t, Is the
ro.;t;on taken by DIR. Shields in his paper read
hefora tho Philosophical Society of Washington last
FAN (reported in full in THE TRIBUNE OF Nov y ana
in TpIBIINE Extra No. 27). and now reproduced with
additions in a handsome volume under the tte VI
"Scienoe and Religion in their Relations 10 fhoso
ply"
Il ia impossbe to read page of this essay without
,ho conviction that no one could have written 1t
h had not piven the subject years of special study
DR. Shields had indeed exceptional opportunities LOT
the preparation needed for just such service as ne
has here performed. The chair which he holds IN
Princeton, that of The Harmony OF Science ana ne
ligon is unique. 1t grew out of a favorite IDEA OF
the Professor himself, was founded at the instance
and in part by the contributions OF his friends anu
has been occupied by him since its foundation in
1ba mir no been deVOt-
ING himself with singleness of purpose to the elaD
Grafton of q system which has for its object to
h,rmonize the religious and the scientific Thought
Of the age and his lectures this subject have be-
come one of the most attractive features OF the
College course He came, therefore, full-handed TO
the discussion of the issues raised by Prof Iyndas
address and the review which he has gwen is
signal instance of simplicity and comprehensiveness
Its simplicity grows out of its method which is so
clear that even the unlearned may follow without
difficulty the course of the argument and but for
this singular clearness of method the comprehen-
sveness of the review would be simply bewlderlng'
40 vast is the range of inquiry over which the reader
is carried As said before, the ability to bring so
wide q theme within the compass OF so small
volume. to give it such rounded completeness as
whole, and at the same time to make 1t IN all It's
parts so thoroughly ineligible to the ordinary
reader could result only from long continued special
study
The essay of DR.. Shields, while masterpiece Of
vigorous thought and of philosophical generaza-
ton, is likewise TO be commended as model OF
courtesy Not the least valuable Of the results Of
such treatment of the subject the lesson 1t teaches
of charity and forbearance toward all honest inquir-
ers after truth Dr. Shields is, in the best sense OF
the word optimist believing that, in philosophy
az in affairs all things are working together for
10, 1,a harm mia nd
and that meanwhile all honest seekers for truth in
whatever field of inquiry should be cheered on in
their labors. X.
EcsC- York, April 81, 1875.