The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-11-15
A LETTER from ssssefesssr slenard 4.

A letter from nsafessar Richard III.
ss a Proctor. i
GERMS OF MS 2raFsESr V,Ews IN ms EAaLiER
WRITINGS oattsEs RON now EMPHASIZING
BIS EXPRESSION, OF 1aesE VIEWS RELATfoNs
OF THE .EyoL ufioR THEORY 70 aIssRRLIdScts
BELIEF. p "a s 5sSs
TO The Editor Of the 7ribane
Sir. = May Iyentnre TO- correct q mistaken
impression which might, / fear, be conveyed
BY your editorial OF November 3, entitled
!" A Convert of Science9o Ny views In
science have undergone no sudden change.
The germs OF my present views an be re.
.eognized clearly In my earliest work., and
have sInce been gradually developed
to their present, which 7is, trust,
not their tiaal form. t,his g Is time
OF biological evolution as well ss OF cosmical
evolution. The review of Darwin,s ..3De-
scent Of Man In the leading EDglish weekly
paper, the Observer, was wrassen by me, and
was one Of the earliest ia which his reason
ing was correctly summarized, and its force
|indicated) At New YORK, on April 8, 1915,
as reported In the Tribune OF April s. fused
these words: " IL seems TO me Illogical 70
accept evolution an ufficlentlte explain the
history Of our earth during millions of yeare
PttVG W VIC ChtStcuSS VI fecy dnu " USuy 1tb
sufficiency to explain the development OF life
upon the earth" Where, then, may be asked,
Is the change 10 my views, apart, that Is, from
the professions, ] have referred tor Permit
me, without entering into details, to show
what has really taken place. FL go 80 sss'
Let the doematic teachings Of q particular
church be called a, and let the teachibgs OF
science be called B. Then either Q) A aud
are consistent, or, being Inconsistent, the
error lies ~ with A or 81, with B. Two
years ago was satisfied with che first of
fthese explanations. But you know what
happened aftersih he. Belfast address. Theo-
Iogians who ought at least to know what
their church requires, proclaimed, loudly
that the views B are utterly Inconsistent
with the views A.. They convinced me that
this Is so /; while remained as well satisfied
as ever that views B are right in the maiB.
My obvious Inference Is that some error tx
lists in views a. Theologians who teach A
sSsure me that must either accept A. with.
out question or depart from among them.
MY choice between these alternatives could
not be doubtful. Hence simply the most
marked circumstance Of my change Of posi-
ton. -
with regard to athe solemnity" with
which you say that T formerly dismissed
'.the grayer truths of which astronomy offers
glimpses," / trust my tone may reYer alter,
The mysteries of the universe grow more
impressive to me, more awful, the more 1
study them, They have never seemed SO
| wonderful or SO, solemn to science-Workers
as since science established the doctrines OF
evolution and conservation of energy. The
little light we have gained has but rendered
visible the infinite darkness enshro uding and
overshadowing us. a few links Of the mighty
chains which bind the universe together have
been traced, and others may one day be per-
cefyed, but&we know that the chains are end
less. Westapd in the presence Of many in
fioities, before which the, soul trembles, per-
picked and dismayed By in6nity ofmy stery.
g,,=u,t sue 1*..niIa RICHARD Al PRocroE. J
Boston, November 10, 1875, s,.;,.'5; 'aio