New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-11-11
DRIFr or SCIENTIFIC THEORY
A LETTER FROM PROF. RICHARD A.
PROCTOR

LETTER FROM PROF. RICHARD A.
PROCTOR.
GERMS OF HIS PRESENT VIEWS IN his EARLIER
wRIIGNGs-CAusEs FOR NOW EMPHASIZING IEs
EXPRESSION or THOSE AUTHORIZATIONS OF
THE EVOLUTION THEORY TO ms RELIGIOUS BE-
LIEF.
TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR May venture to correct mistaken impress
ion which might | fear, he conveyed by your edi-
torial Of Nov. 3, entitled a Convert Of ScienceP
My views in science have undergone no sudden
change The germs of my present views can be
recognized clearly in my earliest works, and have
since been gradually developed TO their present,
which is. trust not their final form. This IL true
Of biological evolution well as of cos
mical evolution. (lhe review OF Darwns
Descent of Man " in tho leading English weekly
The Obs0T0-w8s written by me, and was
one of the earliest in which bs reasoning was cor
rectiy summarized and its force ndicatedl AT New
York on April g. 1875, rs reported in TilE IrIBUNE
of April >. used these words " II seems to me
illogical 20 accept evolution ~ sufficient to explain
the history Of our earth during millions OF years
prior TO the existence of life, and to deny us sum
cheney to explain the development of life upon the
earth" Where then. may be asked. is the change in
my views apart that is, from the professions have
referred TOT Permit me, without entering mo
details 70 show what has really taken place.
Let the docmatic teachings of n particular church
be called A. and let the teachings of science be
called b. Then either n and are consistent, or,
being inconsistent. the error lies (2l with or (5l
with b. Two years ago ! was satisfied with the
first of these explanations But you know what
bappened after tho Belfast address 1hcooeians,
who ought at least to know what their church re-
Guirrs proclaimed loudly that the views Il alc
uttorly inconsistent with the views A. They con-
WINGED me that that il so; while remained a. well
satisfied as over that views right in the main
NV obyious inference is that some error exists in
views A. Thcclogans who teach assure me that
| must either accept \, without question, or depart
from among them. My choice between these alter
natives could not be doubtful. Hence simply the
most marked circumstance Of my change Of
position.
With regard 10 the sOlcmuity v win which You
say that formerly discussed the gTavcr truths OF
which astronomy offers glimpses' l trust my
tone may never alter. The mysteries Of The universe
grow more impressive to ne, more awful the more
I studv them They have never seemed so wonder
f or 40 solemn 10 science workers rs since science
established the doctrines OF evolution and cOnscrya
ton of energy The little light We have gained has
but rendered visible the infinite darkness onshroud-
ing and ovcrshadowing us. A few links Of the
mighty chains which bind the universe together
have been traced and Others may one day nc per
ceivcd but we know that the chains are endless.
We stand in the presence of many infnittes before
which the soul trcmbles, perpcXcd and disnaNcd by
iuGnity of mystery RICHARD a. PROCTOR
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