Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-10-02
prayer for Rain.

Hartford ~Churchman.l
Professor Huxley is in the United
States on a visit; and as be has made
himself somewhat conspicuous by his
objections to prayer for rain, aud the
want Of rain lately has been excessive,
a secular paper has had to give him
aud his scientific skepticisu a Temporal
ry prominence. 1t half apologies for
him, and half condemns him; as we
might expect a paper anxious to please
everybody, would attempt TO do But
why is it that neither a newspaper nor
scientific men can bring their minds
fairly up to the conclusion that the law
does not govern nature inexorably, down
to minute; but, as in the State, under
general provisions gives a certain degree
of latitude2 Thus grsvitation aud cen
trifugal force may always remain es-
sentially the same; aud heat and cold
and the dry and the wet remain so
likewise. Yet for all that, there may be
extensive variations within this same
mes which do not all conflict with it
So lead aud anthony, which 90 into the
composition Of type, and vegetables,
which 90 into the composition OF paper,
may be in a sense invariable, and al
ways subject to certain natural regula-
lions; aud, still, human power can put
these together, in certain ways Of its own,
and 10, even q sort of miracle is the
issuel A book is born, a book which
may command the homage Of human in
t%ellects to the days of Immortality We
say a sort of miracle; for the art OF
printing, when first invented, was con-
sidered a magical imposture, aud was
a~scSibed-as the Christian miracles at
first were-te COLLISION with the devil.
Nobody now esteems printing as it wa
once esteemed, an interference with the
predestinated and habitual processes of
nature And why should prayer for rain,
or against rain, be esteemed a whit the
more so2 The grand machinery Of the
world will not be affected by the presence
of rain or the absence of it-hardly, in.
deed, as the Scripture represents the
case, if the rain amount to a perfect del.
uge. Eosh's dove plucked an olive leaf
as soon as the deluge had passed by, so
that leaves even were undisturbed By it.
Moreover, rain is comparatively a novel
ty in nature, and not the result of what
may be called constitutional arrange.
ments. Moses tells US that at first there
was no such thing as rain; that mist or
dews answered every purpose. Such is
the case in some localities now along the
western coast of South America. So
rain, both IN its presence and 10 its ab.
sence, is something which is fairly sub.
ject to what may be called in strictness,
a superintendent rovidencs-something
which comes in alter creation, like the
ensctments Of a Legislature after a con
stitution. A legislature hears and an.
swers prayers, which the constitution,
except indirectly, has nothing to do with
And Why may not what may be called
the Constitutional Mind of the Universe
descend a step, without in the least dis.
turbing a general order, and do the
ssne2
Rain seems TO be q sort Of family gift,
about which We may appeal to q Provi-
dence, coming in s%econdarily, as a child
may appeal to a parent for daily bread.
What should we think Of a scientist who
would tell q child it must not ask a pa.
rent for that bread-that the affairs Of
the household we're going on under invs-
riable and memorable regulations, and
that be must quietly suecumb and take
things as they Gamer that it was imper.
| tinent. il not foolish, under such regula-
tons, TO disssrb them by the offer Of any
such thing as apetiGon3 Yet this is just
the way in which proud SCIENCE often
ends, not in tender mercy, not gentle
consideration but in cold and disdainul
inhumaniiy. Even Jewish law, stern and
fixed as il was, could bs told by such a
doctor as Gamaliel that it was bound to
pause, and listen and ponder. But
| %scienca % not acquainted with compass
sion. She Is lis the deaf ascer that
stoppeth her ears. A prayer 10 her
would be Ike that most %forlorn Of pray.
era to Death, which s.. john alIudes to
10 bis Apocalypse. While Christ list.
ened to that CRY amid the tempest,
" Carest thou not that we perish2'
science would have drowned il ia the
deep.