The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-10-04
Prof. Huxley and the Bible

To many minds, Prof Huxley's tone in
regard to the biblical account of the crea-
ton, and his arguments against it, in his
recent lectures, have seemed subversive of
religious faith. We believe, on the other
hand, TO sound biblical scholars, even when
thoroughly imbued with modern science,
this narrative offers no difficulties, and, on
the contrary, strengthens faith. A cos
mOgony cannot in the nature of things be
what sir. Huxley called testimonial ev-
ldence." Moses or whoever was the au-
thor of the first two chapters of Genesis,
was not present at the occurrence of the
events he describes. lie merely gives broad
pictures or visions of certain great changes
in the present order of things.
II our readers will compare any other
cosmogony of the Semitic tribes, or viii
take up those of the Aryap, the Hindoo, or
the Persian race, or those believed in by
the halt-civilized nations of this continent,
they will see The immeasurable superiority
of the Jewish account. Opposed TO the
notion of accident or chance among
the Greeks, or that of the eternity
of matter so common in the Orient, or the
superstitions of many gods and struggling
spirits, the Hebrew narrative gives US the
sublime truth of the whole present order
of things having sprung from an intelligent
and supreme will. The date of the first
creation it leaves behind in an immeasu-
rable past. 1t only finds in the beginning
chaos, and the first germ of the organic or
inorganic world called forth by Supreme
force. This certainly ia in harmony with
the very latest researches OF science, and
is at the basis of whatever may be called
religion in the world. So long as man be-
leves in an order of things which did not
come by chance or accident, but which de-
rived its forces from the original and in
telligent force, he is no longer material
ist, but is bound by unseen Ties to the world
invisible. This grand truth the Hebrew
record teaches above all others, and with
simplicity and dignity unsurpassed in the
religious traditions of any other race. The
philosopher believing this has an anchor
against all.tides OF skepticism. If the B!-
bic had transmitted no other truth but this
to mankind, it would deserve eternal rev
erence.
The remaining visions or pictures in the
narrative of Moses are obviously not i'll
tended to be translated literally. They are
extremely dramatic and poetic in form
though of severe simplicity. Mr.. Huxley
sneers at the various interpretations, anc
especially of the word 'day." But it is II
the nature of such poetic narratives or Wis
IONS that they should be susceptible Of
| broad differences of rendering, No schol
ar need be told that the word "day" changes
| in all languages according to the context
| Certainly the interpretations OF even sucl
vague terms as poetic expressions are no
| half so varied as Of whaE are supposed u
| be the definite facts in geology. Exegesi'
| l.. G..,, foundation
| from fossiliterous strata. The testimony
of the rocks" changes under each interprete
even more than the testimony OF Scrip
ture.
There is nothing in any reasonable inter
| probation of the first chapters of Genesis t
| prevent accepting the doctrine of evolution
Tor the Divine Creator can as easily worl
| through links OF inheritance aud va
ration as by direct and special acts OF cIea
| ton. Creation, il il originated "three o
four kin sdoms of life, "a Darwin expresse
it, would be as truly creation as if ever,
germ in each Individual were special,
made. The language of poetic cosmog
ony must of necessity be the language o
appearance Human vocabulary ha, n
terms or even powers of comprehension TO
the evolving Of things from nothing TO
creation.
AS to the sequence of creation or appear
ance of different orders of living things,
is doubtful if Mr.. Huxley himself is thu
far in condition to affirm or deny, and Ger
tainly the Interpretation of the Hebrew
record Is equally doubtful with the conclu
sions of geology. What MIR. Huxley call
ed "great whales" may mean many othe
monsters of sea or land, and as he himsel
has fallen back OH "the imperfection O
the geological record" to explain obviou
gaps in the evidence, the biblical schola
may do the same. When Mr.. Huxley ha
explained the existence of the Cocoon i
the Laurentisn, or of trilobites in ancier