The New York herald., 1875-11-29
RICHARD A. PROCTOR.

AND RELIGION THE OLD INTERPRETATION
or THE BIBLE IN THE LIGHT or SCIENCE
MIRACLES or SCRIPTURE AND THE EFFICACY
OF PRAYER CONSIDERED.
Bosros Nov. 2s, 1875.
Professor Richard A Proctor the eminent English
astronomer, delivered the closing lecture Of his Boston
series IN Horticultural Hall this evening AS on pre-
yious occasions the audience was sufficiently large 10
nearly I'LL the hall in every part and among the num-
Der were OF the distinguished scientists and
theoogans in the vicinity The subject selected
"REIIGIoN AND ASTRONOMY"
and the lecture throughout made clear and
interesting by the aid OF stereopca illustrations fhe
Professor began by aIuding to the anomalous po-
stion OF astronomy with reference to re-
ligion. 'The undevout astronomer is mad said
Young because the subject with which the
has to deal is SO vast and law inspiring Yet there
has been long feud between astronomers and theo-
logians Astronomy first raised doubts respecting the
central position Of the earth In the For this
Gaiileo was tortured and Bruno burned. Eventually
II appeared that astronomy in the right on this
point and none now dispute the validity Of the Copper
nican system But before long astronomy offended yet
once more. Mr.. William Hersche pointed to the evil
dence given by tho ncbua for the theory OF the devol
opment OF suns and La Place showed that the motions
OF the planets point to the development OF solar
systems. Although the theory of Cosmical evolution
was evidently opposed it not till geologists
made another attack Bible chronology that an
citement was caused like that occasioned when the
Copernican theory had been advanced Then followed
FIERCE CONTEST.
First, geological facts were denied then the theory
was advanced that FOSSIL fauna and fora had been all
created as they found, simply, that in
quisitive mon might be deluded Lastly, theologians
found that the Bible narrative only practical way
OF presenting the very facts discovered by of
science IL was now asserted that the Bible account
was even so far in advance of all that before known
that It's miraculous origin was thus demonstrated
This showing OF tho true meaning Of the Bible
rative being thus perfectly las theologians
conceded) with the advanced science of any time
we may safely proceed to show how utterly incorrect
THE OLD INTERPRETATION
was which men had accepted for many years. The
lecturer now went through the Bible narrative accord
ing to the fashioned Interpretation, showing that
the recurrence OF day and night before the sun was
made the apparent belief in waters above the drma-
stars, merely for signs In the heavens, &C not
quite coincident with the results of modern scientific
research He also dwelt on tho discrepancies between
the accounts given in the first and second chapters of
Genesis In the plants made after the separa
ton Of the waters, then created the SUM-
stars fish and birds land animals and finally man
In the second account after the creation Of
plants formed, Eden planted and the various
classes Of animals were then created and brought to
Adam to be named. Adam then fell asleep and Eve
made out of rib removed during sleep from his
side. However all these discrepancies removed by
culties. The "days" Of the first chapter of Genesis
turn out to mean eras ofinde6ne length and the whole
account Is merely
PRACTICAL DESCRIPTION
OF the appearances presented to person supposed
in vision the various aspects of the earth from the
earliest ages of her history Such person would note
the gradual clearing away Of the great cloud envelope
encompassing the earth day and night succeeding
each other long before the sun and moon were !
actually visible Then the various geological eras
from the carbonferous era onward would correspond
to the days" when vegetation, sea animals birds,
In min lie nd araA tho.
sbly even-though as yet theologans agreed
on that point-the development OF from animals
intended to be indicated by the fact that the crea
tion Of and the creation of ANIMALS occurred In
the same sixth day or era Sce said the lecturer how
science has thrown light on
THE REAL MEANING
of that ancient narrative long misunderstood Is
it not strange that instead OF thanking science
for thus helping them to interpret their sacred books
theologians should be angry with them even to this
dayS Certainly theologians have one difficulty still
left them explain namely why the writer Of Gene
sis inspired TO write narrative so exact should vet
have written II as TO be utterly misunderstood until
the truth had been found in another manner. After
rested and refreshed Hence tho observance OF
the week Of seven days. Nevertheless, have the
cearest evidence of the astrological origin of the Sabbath
Day-ndeed of all the Jewish festivals their morning
and evening sacrifices, new moons, Sabbaths and the
luni-soar festival Of the Passover
Here the lecturer touched the crueltes practised
by the Jews surrounding natives the nstgation OF
Moses and on the method OF divinaton by medicine
best described in Numbers v. He passed on
afterward to consider the miracle of the standing st
ofthc sun and Joshua's command saving that
the narrative manifesty corresponds to the belief in
central fiat earth round which the and moved
signs in the heavens this belief being further Illus
trated by the account OF that exceedingly high noun
tain whence Satan showed all the kingdoms of the |
earth The miracle Of the going back of the shadow
the dial next dealt with and the position taken UP
by science in regard to the question OF
THE RBPicACY OF PRAYER.
The lecturer described this the only possible posi-
ton for the students of science Ignorance processes
actually taking place alone justify explain prayer
intended TO cause the result of such processes to be
way medIled The student Of science extends to
processes he yet unable to understand the princi-
pie which he adopts for those whose ho an
tcpae for he feels that the former like tho lat
ter, are unier the dominion of law and never |
affected by circumstances not operating directly upon
their physical cause After dealing with the narrative
OF the star Of Bethlehem strictly accordance with
the astrological supcrstitions which prevailed when
written the lecturer closed his discourse by dwell
ing the extreme Importance OF recognizing the do
mnion OF uniform law throughout the universe This
great doctrine, he said when once thoroughly recog-
nzed will prove safeguard against religious excesses
and instead Of being rock ahead, many think, will |
be recognized breakwater against which have
been heavy and may be heavy hereafter.