New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-11-20
,lR. pROcTORS AEGUMENT.
FLAW. N HIS REAsONING-THE ATTITUDE OF TIE
cAinoMc CHURCH TOWARD THE EVOLUTION
THEORY NOT YET DECLARED.

FLAW, N HIS REAsDNING-THE ATTITUDE OF TIE
catholic CHURCH TOWARD THE EVOLUTION
THEORY NOT YET DECLARED.
To he Editor o. The 1rtbVhe.
SIR: In the letter from Prof. Proctor pub
li,hed in to-day TmBGNL, well as in other public
uitefances since hs late arrival in this country, that dis
tn,ishcd scirnti, seems DESTROYS 10 draw attention to
The recent change in mis- religious opinions. This
rather aggressive attitude which ne is naturally
calculated to provoke criticism to the adequacy of the
motives which, according e. his own statement OF them,
led him TO renouncc the doctrines of the Catholic Church.
Mr. Proctor has mistaken the attitude Of that church
toward science. This is the mental process through
which Mr. Proctor passed prior to his newest religious
departure Let the dogmatic teachings of particular
church be called A. and let the teachings OF science be
called b. Then, either % and are consistent or,
being inconsistent the error lies t2 with or 0 with
b." stripped OF scientific symbols the meaning OF this
seems to be that the teuots of the Catholic Church to
which he here refers, beleye and the teachings Of
science are either contradictory they not II they
are contradictory OF them must be false If the other
Il true Mr. Proctor believed the teachings Of science to
Ice true; therefore the tenes OF the church false if
they conradiced the teachings OF science This rcason-
Ing is based umpion that does not give one n
high opinion OF Mr. Proctor ~ losican-naincly that
the truths of science be opposed to the truths of
on i'm both which orders Of truths be believed at
that time, which this reasoning refers Bat let that
pass Let us Mr. Proctor convinced himself that
there was a conflict between the doctrines Of the
church and the truths OF science. "IheOlOginns, y
lee says, "WhO Orght NJ least TO know what
their church requires, loudly proclaimed that
the views utterly inconsistent with the views y"
This decided him. ic did not wait to whether those
fheolovians really did " know what their church re-
qurcd but took this dread step on evidence such a. no
smart man Of business would act Oh IN any matter OF
Wcshty concern. hir Proctor seems satisfied thHt II
some hrOlOcns misunderstood the doctrines OF their
church. In r Ignorance Is sufficient excuse for ul who
act on their mistaken ideas Perhaps IL might excuse
some hut would hardly declare such person. qualified 10
become popular teachers themselves. " tr Proctor had
been little better acquainted with the history OF the
church. he would have known that theolDgans often diff
And the church never has pronounced on the truth
fasy of the ucbular or evolution theory On the con-
trry, many learned ana sincere Catholics believe IN the
nebnir theory far ~ the origin anc Development Of
matter l. concerned myself though Catholic believe
that IL hArnOniZcs IN the man WIN The Mosaic Cos
mogOny Prof Proctor refers 10 the storm raised by
Prof. Tyndliis prOnunciamento Mt Belfast Here the
eminent astronomer IN again. II amy te0lcgians
al that time raj ID their voices against the teachings Of
nceucr few needed them Those entitled To speak for
the Catholic Church protested not against science ITSELF
order unwarrantaby drawn 10y men OF science from
phH steal data
This doubt what Mr.. Proctor refers to when he
says the theoogans pronounced the teachings ~ science
INCOMPATIBLE with dCguas Oi the church. lie i ap-
paTcuty unable 10 the difference between the facts
of science and the teachings Of men Of science. The
often than the moon. OF this the British astronomer Is
IA conspicuous example lie says; My views in
sCeuce hsyc undergone no sudden change. The germs
Of my present views cen be nzed clearly In my
earliest works and have since been gradually developed
10 their present, which Il, trust not their final furml
And 10 ~ such PfOcan views" he has EXCHANGED
the unalterbe and certain and fixed dOgmas which he
must ut one time have believed the Author OF that uni
son 60 establish ON earth ,. no
IOnkers n. L., Nov. IL, 1870