The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-12-03


CLERGY will he more and more recruited from
two sources-the lower classes, among whom
traditional belief Is etill strong, and those ~
the upper classes VIII o dislike the political sys-
tenn under which they live. and will, conse-
quently take orders with the desire to injurc II
in every way that presents itself On the whole,
Mr.. hivatt believes that the effect on CHRISTIAN
ity Of the continuance of the political portion
Of the great modern movement In the direction
so lorR followed will be to eive Increased co.
herencc and strength to the organization OF the
Roman Church, and efficiency to its action. II,
on the other hand, scientific or philosOphic evo-
luton should prove hostile to Christianity, the
progress Of such evolution would prove fatal to
1t, and political evolution. by giving them in
creased liberty, must hasten their fatal effect.
The conflict at present existing between the
two schools Of Christian and scientific thought
Is likely, In he opinion Of this writer, to lie 70
time yet further intensified from two specific
causes. Que Of these Is the action OF the prin-
cipe Of the division Of labor, and the other ia
the special character Of some physical science
teaching. There is no doubt that tie general
diffusion OF modern instruction will hereafter
render a certain acquaintance with the facts
and most approved theories Of science the com
mon property Of all who have the least prcten-
sion to be deemed educated, and Influences as
yet active only in q very limited field must soon
er or later become all hut universal. At the
same time the clergy, diminished in relative
number through the consequences of the Re-
Daissance movement, will come TO have less and
less time to spare for any special acquisitions In
physical science, and, far from monopolizinc
tho physical knowledge Of their time tas was
the Ia the earlier period OF the middle ages.
they must have even less and less chance OF
off diafi qhpd i'm ha
scientific arena. These conditions. accompany
inc as they win growing appreciation OF oh, vel
cal science, cannot but favor the already wide
spread belief In a real antagonism OF reason be-
tween science and Christianity. SO much Mr..
Mivart admits, but In connection with tho sec
ond cause, or the Especial character Of some
physical science teaching" he thinks he sees
compensating actions leading to results quite
opposite to those which have.as yet appeared.
But what. II may be asked. can be the peculiar
character OF science teaching which apparently
tends to prolopR the hostility above mentionedl
Mr.. Mivart maintains that II IL not the science
teaching itself but the metaphysics which, con
fclously or unconsciously, happen so often to
have been propagated with II. In considering
the teaching Of physical science, two very off
ferent things require to be distinguishod-the
facts as to the co-existence and sequences Of
ply which such facts may be made use OF TO in
culcate. II will be generally admitted that
physical science, being by its nature occupied
with phenomenal conceptions, may he capable OF
40 agitation to, or ex PLANTATION by, more than one
System Of philosophy. 1t is equally certain that
a materialtstic or pantheistic philosophical sys-
TEN is at present often associated with It. II
Is natural enough that this, to our authors
mind, Item porary and accidental" association
OF certain metaphysical teaching with physics.
should tend to make Christian ministers assume
a jealous II not hostile attitude toward physical
science, and also to allen a certain number OF
their disciples from them. Yet Of any real
tagonlsm between religion and science this
writer cl inns IA have found trace even in such
proof cases as the introduction OF heloscentric
tronomy or the application Of the evolutionary
Hypothesis to the appearance OF new species Of
animals. PHYSICAL science therefore should be
considered alike by the "philosophic Christian
and antl-Cbrstan as neutral aud Indifferent Ii
Is inferred that it Is only possible for the advance
Of science to influence Christianity through such
philosophy IA may be Incorporated with It.
Philosophy affords, then. the real battle ground
for the oontending forces, aud II Is on that field
that "the future % Europe, the endurance OF
an existing social system, and the fate OF Cnris-
tianity niust be decided"
The most characteristic and interesting chap
ter o. Mir. hivarts book is that IN which he con
slders tie sutreme question concerning the r.
suit Of the Renaissance movement, namely, the
philosophical direction II h likely to take. OF
cours- he cannot DENY that the prospect which
frat strikes the eye Of one surveying the {. Id of
contemporary speculative activity lie far from
encouraging to the lover OF Christianity. But he
takes comfort from the thought that the
various systems iust now Ia vogue are mutually
disco I'd ant and destructive Resting partly
upon tins observation, and 81 rtiy upon the line
Of ,rgument which he had developed In Les
sons fr M Nature" he holds 1t may be safely uf-
Grned that self con radiction. confusion. aud
speculative anuihiiation must he the Logical out
come Of all such modern philosophy as a her
ignores the distinctive characters OF reason, or.
denies our certainty Of our own continued sui
ST MI existence. "a does the philosophy alike
Of Mil, Of Huxley, and Of spencer. Quoting tne
the lut'er's remark that during all past times
mankind have eventually gone right after 'rying
all hostile ways Of going wrong" Miv IT be
lieyes that IN en- Will follow the same course in
uhitosopbic speculation. For the nihil-
i'm and intellectual paralysis which he
anirms to be the ultimate result OF ma
terlalism and ideaism, he sees a remedy in the
reinstatement Of the peripatetic philosophy-in
other words, return to the postulates and
methods Of Aristotle strange 10 sly. our au-
thor nnds actual signs OF such a resurrection.
Among other indications he has "positiye In.
formation Of the advance Of the peripatetic
philosophy in Germany. Prof. Uebetw 2 him
self bears witness to such movement" More
over. he thinks that Mr.. Spencer's own Writings
tend to force IL on, that MIR. Lcwers last book Is
calculated to drive II forward at an accelerated
rate, and that the testimony Of no less AN OPP