Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-04-27

study of nature be one part Of the
study Of God, is it not true on the
other that he who believes only in ma
ture is a theist, and has a theology? If
we look at things, and not merely at
words, we shall soon see that the sci
entIfc man has a theology and a God,
most impressive theology, a most awful
and glorious God. say that man be-
lieYes In a God who feels himself inthe
presence of a Power IN the contempla-
ton of which he is absorbed, In the
knowledge of which he finds safety and
happiness. And such now is nature to
the scientific man. > In so
many Christians the idea of God has
been degraded by childish and little
minded teaching; the Eternal, the In
finite and the All-embracing has been
represented as the head Of the clerical
interest, as a sort of clergyman, as a
sort of schoOlmaster, as a sort of phi
lanthropist. But the scientific man
knows him to be eternal; in astronomy
and geology he becomes familiar with
the countless milleniums Of his life
time"
By studying Nature, Bruno made
the universe larger than the theology
of his day, and for so doing was burnt
as a hereto. Dogmatic theology, and
plenary power to punish what is called
heresy, must pass as relies and fossils
into the anne templesw with the Godsand
GOddesses of Roman and Grecian my
Theology. Humanity is in its nature
progressive; and it is difficult to under
stand how any system of non-progres-
sive piety can keep company with it.
There is not so much a conflict between
science and religion as suggested by
DR.. Draper, as an apparent growing
separation, because the one is rapidly
advancing and ever pursued as an "en-
thusiastic study" while the other
cIaimed perfection at the start, some
six thousand years ago, and denies to
itself all progress with our common hui
mainly.
In an early age, whenpopular educa-
ton was alike unknown and unthought
Of, no provision was indispensable to
meet the growth Of ideas from one gen.
to another, for very little de-
was ever witnessed; but now
the condition Of. mankind in civilized
nations is entirely different. Precocious
school children are studyinga thousand
natural phenomena, and many are
curious to learn how EYES eating an
could possibly cause the death of
all the Posterity Of cur first parents to
the end Of the world. The human mind
has become excited to research and
earnest enquiry to a degree which is
itself a marvellous phenomenon. DR..
Washburn told the graduating class Of
medical students:
"The result Of our study Of nature,
it Is justly claimed, Is only the knowl-
of phenomena; but IN this claim
science has rid us forever Of the notion
IF material substance; it has resolved
all into one original force; it has thus
Lifted matter into a domain above the
physical, and by its own induction
brought us back to the necessary truth,
which We al only interpret by our
Jvn personal intelligence and viii. If
evolution, whatever its amazing chain
IF growth, is forced TO admit that the
principal world.stun has IN it the ca.
Ct all the thinking, conscious,
moral being begotten from it, evolution
is but a vague name for the living ac-
ton Of a living God"
1t is nothing less than the profound
study Of this Giving action" as mani
tested in Nature, which commands so
much attention from grave, thinking
That science has rid US forersr Of
the notion of material substance is
fact that viii mark the beginning of
3 new era in mans mental, moral and
social development. Public interest
,enters largely in the strange phenOm-
enon that materialism has become as
sincerely a spirit as that in which "we
i've and move and have our being"
In the opinion Of many, all matter has
passed INTO the condition Of phenom-
sna, or never had any other existence.
A heavy clap Of thunder attended by
vivid lightning and heat enough to
melt iron, burn a house or ship, is a
very common phenomenon; but does
my known form Of matter IN the at
nosphere develop suddenly, and ap-
3arently from nothing, this tremendous
Force is conspicuous, but
What set it IN motion at such a rate?