Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-12-05
Religion and Astronomy.

Ia q lecture delivered in Boston last
Sunday evening, Prof. Richard A. Proc
tor, the eminent English astronomer,
Iectured Oh "Religion and Astronomy"
He began by abiding to the anomalous
position of astronomy with reference TO
religion. "The undevOut astronomer Is
mad" said Young, because the subject
with which the astronomer has to deal
is 80 vast and. so laW-inspiTing. Yet
there has been a long feUd between as
tronOmers and the9lOgiaDs. Astronomy
first raised doubts respecting the central
positiOn of the earth in the universe.
For this Calico was tortured and Bru-
no burned. Eventually it appeared that
astronomy was in the right on the point,
and none now dispute the Copernican
system. But before long astronomy Of
f3uded yet once more. Mr.. William
Herschell pointed to the evidence given
by the nebula for the theory of the de-
velOpmento OF suns, and LaPlsce showed
| that the motions of the planets point to
| the development of solar systems. AL
| though the theory OF cOsmical evolution
was evidently opposed, it was not TIL
| biologists made another attack on blole
| chronology that an excitement was
caused like that OccssiOned when the
| Copernican theory had been advanced.
Then followed a fierce contest. First,
geological facts were denied, then the
| theory was advanced that fossil, fauna
and flora had been all created SIS they are
now found, simply, 80 that too lnqulsl-
tive men might be deluded. Lastly,
theologians found that the bible nara
tive was only practical way OF repre-.
senting the very facts now discovered
nv men Of science. 1t was now asserted
| tSst the bible account was even 50 far
in advance OF all thst was before known
that its miraculous origin was thus de-
monstrated. This showing OF the true
meaning of the bible narrative being
thus perfectly accOrdant (as theOlOgiani
lcopceded) with the most advanced
science OF any time, we may safely pro
coed to show how utterly incorrect tn
old probation was which men hat
accepted 50 many years. The lecture
now went through the bible narratlv
according to the old-fashioned interpre
tation, showing that the recurrence @
day and night before the sun was made
the apparent belief in waters above tn
, armament of heaven, the creation {
the sun, moon ana stars, merely fo
| SIGNS in the heavens, etc., were nc
, unite coincident with the results ofmoC
, | arm scientific research. He also DIVE
, ! ON the discrepancies between the az
! counts given in the fret and secon
chauters of Genesis. In one the plant
| were made after the separation Of To
: waters, then were created the gun, moo
| and stars, fish and birds, land animals
: aud finally man. In the second az
a count. after the creation Of plants ma
was formed, Eden planted an
I the various classes Of animals were the
; created and brought to Adam
/ be named. Adam then fell aslee
I and Eve was made out Of rib remove
: during sleep from his side. Howeve
s all these discrepancies are removed b
' the camo 1eViee which gets nd Of II
e scientific difficulties. The "days" Of Il
Q first chapter Of Genesis turn out to mea
a eras of indefinite length, and the who
9 account is merely practical descrlptlo
n of the appearances presented 70 perSo
o supposed to see in vision the Var:o'
. aspeets of the earth from the earle
h ages of her history. such persO
4 would note the gradual clearing away
K the great cloud envelope encompassir
3 the earth, day and night succeeding eac
q otherlong before the sun and moon we
a actually visible. Then the various ge
4 logical eras, from the esrboniferous e.
II onward, would correspond to the "days
q when vegetation, sea animals, bird
h land animals, and so On, appeared upC
Ie the scene. Possibly even--thOugh
10 yet theologisns are not agreed on tn
point-the development OF man mo