The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-01-03
MoNcrBE coywtr's LHcrrRE.
science and Relicion-An Estimate OF the
Lending English Philosophers.


Mr.. Moncurc ID. Conway delivered last
night st the Masonic Hall a very able lecture on
the subject Of science and res!-o in England
The main object Of tho lecture war to ssnon-
strate that whatever progress scie,ce ANsht
m Ike, 1t Is not likely TO be brought into ht tile
relations with the Bible. This view he based
not on the sanctity Of the origin OF the Great
Book, but almost exclusively on its comprehen-
sive and poetical nature There were srcbbishops
and various other clerical authorities who, put
ting narrow Interpretation upon the Holy
Scriptures, declared at various times the discov-
cries made aud the conclusions arrived at by
science to be not only unorthodox, but even
atheistic and blasphemous. II would take the
fancy of some English bishop, for instance,
to imagine that humanity must be i've
or six thousand years old, and, n science hap
pened to argue that human life on the globe
dates from a much further period, the clergy
would Immediately begin to attack such theories
as opposed to religious teaching Yet there Ia
NOT n lima MOI n word in the Jihle ARMED Mr.
Conway, directly contradicting such an assump-
tiOn. The same thing occurred with the theory
tence concerning the descent of man from the
ape, and upon the strength Of that one sentence
the whole theory had been condemned as bias
phemous. Now, the Billie does not anywhere
saw that the primitive man was not a savage
brute more or less nearly approaching to tue
ape.
Describing science as being organized CONF
mon sense "a somewhat original definition. FOR
science has been always considered TO consist OF
organized experience and knowledge Mr. Con-
way passed a survey OF the lahurs OF the great
scientific men Of Engand-Sr Charles Lyell.
Prof Huxley. Darwin, Herbert Spencer aud
James Martineau. He showed how all these
men were particular and sceaiicnl. not only In
their deductions but in thr testing OF the data
upon which they had % tuiii the cdifice Of
science. \ description of The special commits
sion which went t. AbheNiilc to investigate the
ground ~ winch ha- been found the cciebrated
skul, and the comparative studio which have
hecn subsequently made IN England between
thar skui and huudre OF othrts which had
been disiutcrrcd from more moicrn cemeteries,
was one of tire Illustration. Wnich MIR. CONWAY
lrDuGht forward TO show NOW conscientious
the scicntil' men were and how great W - their
auSisty TO arrive at the truth, quite INDEPENDENT
OF any supposed party feeling a,air 80 tho teacn-
inc OF tie c.eigy. II was u MIR. Huxlev and
sir Ga rles L.cll that he particularly attributed
this genius oi vefiication Qi facts, us~iening 10
SIR. Herbert spencer and tp Nr. Darwin the
more eeneralizius hcld OF philosophy of COnbi-
nations.
scieniihc theories had been al their origin de-
Cidtcd athei~iic. Il was so With the teachings
~ Calico and also with Newton. And now
there is no pafson' however backward, who
dors not accent either 81 tN.m.
The illustrations brought f.rwatd In support
Of the lecturers view showed that he WAS not
ouly familiar with the lahors of the leading
sci'niltc mcn ~ England. but tina; he was pet
sopally acquainted wlth most ~ them. and this
gave an adli'i mol interest 10 the lecture.
Mr.. Conway made an attempt to introduce a
new fe ture In nj, lecture by inviting nny of his
listeners, who might feel so uispused. tu put any
question 10 him they desired to have answered,
provided II had relation - the subject under
discussion. lie expected thus 10 .iye CONVEX
satiorh character to the scauce. This expert
ueut did not prove great success. The lecturer
plal ed himself thus In the position Of an oracle,
aud WIS not always able 10 give thoroughly
correct answer To tue questions put To hun. One
gentleman. for instance, inquired why the
PO itiNist pliosophT of Auguste Com.e did
not make any progress In Englandl Nr
conway answered that IL was because
the lo-itiylst philosophy was too cut ana dried,
too dugiaatic a sy-tem FOR the English mind.
! Yet II Is well known thai the main obstacle in
! the WY of the spread OF the system OF Aueuste
C1mte j. that 81 ITS being thoroughly dfduciirc.
Wide the Ll.lish mind Is essentially iHducttrt,
| aui while ell the modern thinkers accept the
! deuuctlve method only a Il ver1cation Of
| inuuciye conclusions. Another Question
whether German pail 1sophy had any influence
| On In-lish thinhing-wAs al.oian- -wcrel rather
| yagueN MIR. Conway mentioned the name of
Mr. sterling. tns scotch adept OF Heel. and
| said word or TWO 90 tho system OF Kant be-
| ginnin. 70 be appreciated hy spiae of the Eng
! lsh thinkers. He aid not seem to be aware OF
| the fact that wherever tue history Of philosophy
! is studied in Euesui the German s,>tems are
| all included. and ti.t The absence uf knowledge
! Of German philosophy ha- proved frequently. as
! in tue case of ilerutu spencer, Tor Instance, ,
| consider. bile drtWuae X.
! On the other h9ni. a number II very stupid
! questions were proposed 10 tue lecturer. and
! tho patience ami grace with wLicn Lc replied t.
tnen were VerD pleasant to contemplate.