The Van Buren press., 1875-06-15

| expectation that she has made discove-
ry that is worth the needing.
Two aged teachers, that rank amsng
the greatest minds as students of nature,
DR. w. B Carpenter and Prof Fiskc, in
their philosophical works Issued the pres
ent year, 1875, declare that, while they
recognize the truths of religion, its ne.
cessity and harmony with our nature. its
theology must be elevated, or, in other
words, a more enlightened Interpretation
of Scripture must be allowed, or, other
wise, the most advanced intelects will he
forced in opposition to many Of its teach
ings.
From the indications, the most en-
lightened of our race are approaching
accord on this subject. What does all
this mean? We see all the most ad-
vanced in intellectual culture, almost
without exception. the most eminent of
the learned of all the most cultivated ma.
tons, holding doctrines that the churches
consider opposed to their theology. All
the most advanced in mental culture are
students of naturc-how is it possible,
then, that any unbiased, reasonable per.
son can come to the conclusion that ma
turc has mislcd her votarics Whatever
may be said or believed ofanything else,
all that think at all, must feel that nature
as displayed around us, is the tangible
manifestations of God Himself. Is i,
possible to think that those who are best
able to investigate the laws OF nature, are
more likely to be misled, than those
whose studies are less efficient in devel
oping the higher powers of thought2
The philosophers Of Germany, Eng
land, aud France, and including those of
all other nations, are a motherhood of
one accord-in Germany, where educa-
tien of the masses is in advance, public
opinion does not restrain the advancing
philosophy Of the present day-in Eng
land and France where education is not
80 general, public opinion is not so lib
eral when their sapants dare to speak
openly, they do it to the injury of their
social standing. To use the words of
Helmboltz: Germany is boldcr; she
contiles in what has never proved false
that the whole truth is the best remedy
for the evils oftruth imperiectly stated
The Academy Of France refused to elect
Helmboltz corresponding member, on
account Of the a lvanced views connected
with his name A French critic rebukcd
his countrymen for refusing to bestow
upon Hclmboltz, the greatest physicist
OF this century, so slight an honor, with
this remark: "For his glory nothing is
wanting; but he is wanting for ours. "
This Hclmboltz. mathematician, physi-
ologist, and physicist; the highest au-
thority in Europe. in music, is one
among the very greatest living philoso
piers, the admiration of the most cult
waited portions of humanity His appre-
citation and love of truth lifts him above
all paltry opinions Of mankind. This
man, the Academy Of France hcsi,atcd
till the next year, to elect an honorary
member, not for aEy want Of appreciation
Of his almost uncqualed powers, but on
account of public opinion
Now that we see, whereas, at no dis
tant period in the past, all was dark, as
to the elementary constituents OF the ma
tcrinls of-whirh our globe is composed, /,
by the birth of chemistry, from the froth
and rubbish of alchemy. light and knowl
edge has been extended in every direc
tion, not only into the hidden recesses
| Of our world, but to the discovery OF the
elements of the glowino.orbs that circle
| thc immense void OF space around us
and that astronomy has emerged from
the dark shades and decisions ofas,rolo-
gy, and stauds forth for the contempa-
tion of man, in grandeur surprising far
any other subject that nature presents
aud that in all the other natura! sciences,
nature is yielding forth her secrets to the
brotherhood Of her students; and that in
all these departments o! the study OF this
stupcndous whole, there is no dlscord ;
one harmonious whole, pointing us to
the unity of design Of Him who voucli-
safes to us consciousness and reason IN
incxplicahle union with matte.-
From these truths may we no. reason
ably hope and expect that like the great
bl othcrhood Of the students Of nature,
all pei sons who wish to promote truth
in cutivating the highest and noblest
powers of our nature, may be of one &C
cord, so that our existence may be the
more devoted to the searching out Of our
earthly relations and duties, and enjoy
the fruition Of the highest advancement
of which our nature is capable.