, 1876-03-18
/, ES There o Conflict Bctwcen
Them e
The Question Of the Evolu-
tion and Dissolution Of
Worlds.
"Natpre First, Bibles After "---An-
other Theory as to tie Earlt's
Centre.

ful mind, capable OF appreclating tho moment
.ous influence Of tho subject upon tho world =
century hence, tho relationship Of sc,enco to
Religion, that which 1t haa heretofore assumed,
and that into which tho wondroua intel
.lectusl activities Of tho present day arc
cryskallizing, Is Of the deepest interest,", II
not Of the profoundoat anxiety With
peculiar powor docs tho subject impiugo
upon tho minds Of intelligent mombora Of such
ChrlstiAnized lands as this, uhoae atmosphere
Ie redolent with tho OF prayer and praise,
and whose hills still echo tio grating Of that
first kool upon old plymouth Hook. The sober
man may we'll be startled at tho baro auggos-
lion Of "con1ict " botwoen the truth Of
truths Of Colts works and tue truths
Of Gods most holy Word,-for, IL
\ conflict Is even admitted ns possib!e, whsther
Il can bo shown to axist or not, ho faccs the
gravo alternative Of tho overthrow Of ono or tho
other. Dotwoon two contoatiug TRUTHS 80
callod, thcro is no middle ground Of compromise
ono must stand, tho othor full, Al the result of a
conflict OF amp kind or possible degroe. Ttutl.
Is unqualified, absolute, okernal unohangoable; !;
and sooner or later, In n1ch ovent, mankind
must bo called upon to decide the quea4ion
Nho!har God bo God or DaAL
Whore Thru are doubt and porplcxtsy respect
Ing tho existing status Of those two weigtty and
most active forces, 1t Is natural that ono Hoizes
with nvtdity orory argument touching thoir 1o-
AsioDship. It IL 30 dosirubIe that 1t should bo
demonstrated beyond ncradyonturo. that
thDro is nns pnly no inception Of
q conflict botweon Science and Religion, but That
tlero IL possibility OF T. TINT ono s do.ightoa
Wien ho Secs aono astaching Bc'nutist uauorsed
and his dtEasy weapon bfoUon over bis owu pate,
~ ho hGow,so roiolces with tho victor, aud
somehow himself feea saier bcnsath that ehan-
p,ons protecting arm. It is with feelingH
of tho most pleasant anticipation, then,
that ono alights upon such an article
~ wsa published IN your issue OF Feb. ~, en-
titlod ls ThoEo a Conflict" and notes the
complimentary words Of Introduction. Tho
watera aro deop. az yot1 havo suggested, and 1t
will do one's heart good TO zoe tic strong swim
mcr emerge from them. after bufrotng their
swelling blloWs manfully, in smiling safsty.
Dut Is nos your metaphor ra.hsr marc
suggestive than was. intcuded, in that
there :arisos from the juxtaposition Of "doep
waters and c1editable "swlm F" IN them MI
idea ot aupernclalty In tho petformanco7 just
throw OUT tho Inquiry as q speculative nut for
you to crack, adliug, ,howovor, that tho reBult-
sut i1oa xefatyed to Ia rather my own opinion as
I shall DO glad 70 demonstrate with your kind
y permission: The, article In question
passed under my observation, which havo all
very l1nBattBfRctotily answered tho query pro-
pounded, II tndood thoy havo not rather tended
TO sustain TIC growing opinion TINT there Ia in
push 6hrist.Sity .o shs wall. auch - issus to to
tho championship Of its own friends il
most lameutable, and 10 he deprecatod
by oFery one who anticipates the mortal results
q struggle between two syste1na Of truth, as
forcBhadowed above. from MI inspection Of tho
ground which theso chnmpionB havo occupied,
thoro BOONE to be = necessity Of prescribing itn
bounds more definitely, lost thoy continue valnly
ti]sipg at shadows Or othor illnaoyy enenios, and
w fft1rFf tC3N ar tn
suppression OF glant-lk0 windmills.
In artlor most apoedlly to arrive ut statement
Of sho questions sruo status, lot the ordinary
argument, which ia very veil stated In tho ar
arc harmonious; Panthsis,n is lntenab!o tho
progress Of Hciauco is fatal to Atheism Science
ia uot In conflict with hcllgiou or Theology"
At ono word the diota aro granted. And yok
VIC have received but a Hkonc Nh91o bread was
nB4cd for. sinco tho vital question A1 iu no wise
heon touched. Il Las bcen unfortunate that
tho tcrms, aosenco aud Religion, have been OPP
posed; tho latter IL not sufficiently definite, anl
unwary. It ia safo to state, pasiug tbs assertion
upon the worry nature Of humanity, that 1t Ia an
Instinct Of tic heart to Worship, to lovo, and 10
nbey God, and that uAnkind will always bo 10
will bo At 10 tllne in tle future, az ii has boon
At uo time In tho past, In hostility to bcicnce
but the rather, "a history has demonstrated,
will It bo moro deeply grayon on tho
ASA1t I'D hAo AA1AA Flt1~ OF N4$HF4 l4
expanded, deeponad, and elevated. We "]pok
through Nature up to Natu1c's God" and find
everywhere tue choicaat ..sormous {n stones,
boohs in tho running brooks, aud good in eyory-
from tho inatinot Of ycnerastan for tue good
God whose workH. aud character for viaaon1,
love, and mercy are everywhere 10
ssaaanty 'ssra ay,t aisp'aysa:a "Day unto dsy Ut
sowoth knowedgo Of Him: fhe aeasaus n ooolsIs nsns
Tho glory OF God, and tho casth IL full Of His
henliwork thoFo il no place wAcro Ills voice ID
not heard" Tho lloligion OF Nature pn.sts
nau ettor Gods own heart" md tho = ssp,s
besutifM faith fills the .breast OF every
!, simplo oi,iid. who stands resersptly
on tho floor OF thin gorgeous templet the eartG,
pf eky. Hanco ne aIn compelled to exclude
Natural Religion from this alleged conflict with
science, and tho Enthor to regard It ~ dependent
bn, and cnhanced or gloritied BY every now dit.
eovery that sclence makes. Hero, VIC can ccr-
tainly Affirm, there is no co1.tost, and hore there
ECO full concord and awect union, because "All
truths are in harmony with each othor."
It can serse no purpose, In tho discussion OF
,pd theology, ~ though lhore woro a wids diver
aity In their sguihcanca lioligfon is tho generic
term, mud compzahepda within 1t both Theology,
OF the science Of tho character and attr1b-
u e. e ' duas iss xsssa or baopfp sh H
from meu our Religion causes us 10 know and
love Him, comprelicndlng In \ word, Gods rolls
tionhh!p to man, aud mans obsd!ent reverence
to God. any moro ciecumsc1ibsd ase Of tho
word lit1G10n II improper, and must lead to cf-
ror finally. In the eame senso as there ID q
Natural Religion, 80 also IL there Natural
Theology. Wo cot only naturally worship u
6upscme Dalng, but NO franc q ecunee OF
ployment Of pnF God-giyon FessoI. Uy these
tro mediums, Nature Rnd Reason, uniting into =