New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-11-08
PROF. PROCTOR IN BOSTON.
CHANGED VIEWS AS TO SCIENCE AND
RELIGION.

|
ON THE SAME PLANE AS PROP. TYNDALL RE-
| sPFCTING THE ORIGIN OF THE GLOBE-THE
| DEVELOPMENT HYPOTHESIS ACCEPTED IN FULL
| As THEORY on INORGANIC AND ORGANIC
| CREATION.
| IRON A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT IIB TRIBUsE
| BosTON. Nov. 7.-PrOf. Richard A. Proctor
| Of London. whose lectures in America two years ago,
printed in full In THE TRIBUNE, awakened such popular
interest has many OF your readers already know re-
turned to this country, and ia delivering course OF
astronomical lectures before crowded sudences-sone
times many 300 hearersat the Lowell Institute
Since his last visit to America, however, Mr. Procors
views have undergone considerable change not with re-
spect TO the facts OF that branch OF science which he so
ably represents but with reference to their relation
to religion and revelation. Prof Proctor was formerly
Catholic He was recently offered PrOfessorship OF
Astronomy and Mathematics in Catholic College IN
England, but found that his views such that he
could not conscentiousy accept it, At the request OF
friends here he has consented to give four Sunday even
ing lectures in which he proposes to indicate the rola
ton of modern astronomy to the great questions at pres
ent agitating the scientific and religious worlds"
MY present position" says Prof Proctor In a recent
statement has indeed been reached by progress in one
direction all the timo but in advancing steadily along
road new prospects may come almost suddenly upon
view, the steady progression OF the student of
sclence In n definite direction may lead to changes Of
view, which TO others, who have not been follow ing the
road, may appear sudden and surprising BE this
may, the views now entertain such subjects as
the plurality of worlds cOmic evolution, the supervision
and control OF the universe the nntes amid which we
placed, and forth, altogether unlike those
which indicated In my Other Worlds than Ours, aud
others Of my earlier works The exact nature OF this
change OF view Prof Proctor will indicate In these lec
lures, first Of which given this evening at lIOrti
cultural Hall The ject the Birth and Death Of
the World" Prof. Proctor sad
LADIES AND GENnLuEs: II behooves al mon whohave
form or through the press 10 indicate clearly tie posi-
ton in which they stand with regard 10 matters OF public
no misapprehcnsions TO exist such points, either
through th' doubtful nature OF their own words or be
canse OF incorect differences from Known or Imagined
circumstances o their private life or opinions do not
think, indeed that the student the exposition of
ence is bouidor that it would be In good taste for
hnlto mako pnblic statement OF hiscp onrehsious
ceriam snppos"d views Of his about religion particular
scientific opinions are attributed TO him, and espc
ally II he he should lind that he is eIr0ncousy supposed
to hold position antagonstic to that occupied by
inrty of his feowwurkers in science, 10 becomes his
duty-not To indicate his exact opinions respecting
Igous questionsbut tn state definitely where he stands
as respects those scientific subjects on which he Is sup
posed 10 be at issue with his ieow-workcrs must CO
TESS that within the last two years have fet this
duty forced upon me by the very different
myself at New-York in April 1873. and again at the
Royal Institution Of London few weeks later respecting
the past history OF our earth aud those expressed by
Prof Tyndal President OF the British Association at
Belfast in the same year OF course there 10 no gu s'on
here OF priority; We each udcied nov new Vews nut
onr acceptance Of the views io which modern science
most lInstikable manner. Prof. lyndall
only accommodating views which for years he had been
known entertain, though he now enuncIated them IN
n manner and under circumstances which caused them
to attract Jar greater attention tban oi ySe. But the
point which would especially refer is this: that that
line address, his outsokcD statement or the present 20
sition science You prefer IT, the present position
great majority Of scientific men led to an ont
that address. rightly understood, opposed to attic
snl-,ye, and t0 materalism as commonly understood
the address denounced definite proclamation OF
atheiSc aud maeIiaStic principles. No form OF ytG-
perauon spared anu II threats Of personal violence
were
by warnings that an eternity OF tornent would reward
OF Prof. Tyndalls loyalty to the truth as he saw IT,
searched for my own part IN vain through the address
for the secret VI much anger. But gradually il APP
peared that the Objectionable features WERE first,
the statement that he diseeried n matter which We.
crence Creator have hitherto covered With oppro
sna @,a live Of e se"ondy his IMPLIED pro 1ot
against the assumption Of knowledge" Prospecting Deit
(which must long, If not forever lie beyond ne, aud the
claim which In the source OF manifold confusion upon
earth" ,,,
rcneb,r red that in NewYork, on April 3, 1873, had
traced the origin of every form and quality OF life not
then as deny now. that any absolute beginning be
conceived by I n tpt AND I'd WA. d b h @s
my strong belief tat the ways Of God are incOnceya le
almigtty. we cannot nnd Him out" why should opin
ions which ohense a. expressed by Tyndall, be
iatering or unhiterng, junction. 10 my soul, tlat my
opinions lad simply escaped attention beoau few
thought IL worth while 10 note them But there would
aectation in accepting this explanation, especially in
this country, where consideration 80 kindly has been
extended 10 my opinions and stateinents And apart
from this it was not me ely .hat what said was not
commeuted upon nnivorbiy but That my name was
sZs) a5 that OF who opposed himself most strongly
TO the VERY seTs h @c Rs 1 6s esSSn noI IN e
conceive simply, that common report lad attributed 10
was thought with the toctrine OF eyoution-lt least
with doclrine Ia ia oo1IpleteSt and, az
become my duty-in mere Loyalty 10 truth
not TO indicate what Is my Ireese BELIEF IN matters
ever be the rgt, OF the science w9rker but
!, rratrn my respecting the great doe ne of
rosmic evolution which has become within the Last few
yeas e tombstone OF scientific men, even as u mas be-
e1nf Que " VIZ in wat NJ flrtr raco thai Iis Doc
time no to than IL does 10 Iyndall-and
no more lyndall tna it does 70 me-oppoSed To the
ellsous senim in The tine OF man That religious
sentiment like the desire for knowledge Is phase OF Ie
energy of nature may say Of 1t what rs nda has
Irresistible the motion ~ the DIES or the howig of te
Gull sircam" it, domain is however, apart from the
domain OF scence-the region OF XII wledge is commanded
b. the one the region OF emotion Wy zoe othr indeed
il religion IN In associated WIN science II IL Ia
hs-it teaches the man OF science the dnty OF loyalty,
aud his glance is due 10 tie truth rs lie sees IT,
With the Of this duty before me now address you
need rot tina occasion Institute any direct cOnirlsOn
bewe account lam about ~ give of the past history
Of and that wuicb Is found III The first chapters
of the first hook tia. little library OF books called the
Bible. Nor need touch upon other attempts which were
wat eSists-n the heavens above, and in the earth
aeasah and IN the ~ ss16 COR nd nde es
propose Of The Old cosmos 1lsts ala 10 is
BEGINNING 81 ai t,iiIs ao 1nt -. am. 49, tne,, beur
with chaos will 0 back to state of things correspond
ng IA closely be desired with our ideas oi Il
chaotic condition. NJ this point the room was dark
rn and the first picture presented On the screen was
seen 10 OF the gaseous nebule, extending over
LARGE portion Of the sphere, the great nebul III Ago
You may he disposed perhaps To ask why Speak of
going bach when AN In reality showing you what exists
now or the present ondiion OF any region vi space
can be held indicate tue past condition of or solar
Az stem might answer tl,t, apart from tine different
progress Of development In different rtglohs OF space
am showing you past condition OF things. Light hiis
certainly many years ana may nave taken millions
nj yes in coming from the great nebuious region
- hf.r1 Mlnn ih. nsfrnnuner nOkn AL