The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-10-26
Prayer for Rain.

secular paper approving Prof. Huxley's
objection to prayer for rain, the Hartford
Churchmdn asks: ''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 minutia; but, rs in the State, un-
der general provisions gives a certain de-
gree of latitude! Thus gravitation and
centrifugal force may always remain essen
TALLY the same; and heat and cold and the
dry and the wet remain so likewise. Yet
for all that, there may be extensive varia-
tions within this sameness, which do not
all conflict with it. So lead and antimony,
which 90 into the composition of type, and
vegetables, which go into the composition
of paper, may be iH "A sense invariable, and
always subject to certain natural regula-
tions; and, still, human power can put these
together, in certain ways of its own, and 10,
even a sort Of miracle is the issuel A book
is born, book which may command the
homage of human intellects to the days Of
immortality We say sort Of miracle; for
the art Of printing, when first invented,
considered magical imposture, and
was ascribed-as the Christiaa miracles at
first were-to collusion with the devil.
Nobody now esteems printing as IL was
once esteemed, an interference with the pre-
destinated and habitual processes of nature.
And why should prayer for rain, or against
rain, be esteemed whit the more sol The
grand machinery of the world will not be
| affected by the presence Of rain or the ab.
sence of it-hardly indeed, as the Scrip
ture represents the case, if the rain amount
to perfect deluge Noah's dove plucked
an olive leaf rs soon as the deluge bad
passed by, so that leaves even were undis-
| turbed by it. Moreover, rain is comparative
| ly a novelty 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 Iiist 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 in its absence, is something
which is fairly subj ct TO what may be
called in strictness, superintendent prov
idence-sOmething which comes in after
creation, like the enaciments Of legisla-
ture after a constitution. A Legislature
hears and answers prayers, which the con-
stitution, except Indirectly, has nothing TO
do with. And why may not (what may be
called the constitutional mind Of the uni
verse descend step, without In the least
disturbing a general order, and do the
same!
Rain seems to be sort Of family gift,
about which we may appeal to q providence.
coming in secondarily, as a child may APP
peal TO a parent for daily bread. What
should we think OF q scientist who would
tell child il must not ask parent for that
bread that the afIsirs OF the household
were going on undsT inyariable and inexora-
ble regulations, and that be must quietly
succumb and take things as they comet
that il was impertinent, II NOT foolish, un-
der such regulations, to disturb them by
the offer OF any such thing ~ a petition1
Yet this is jnst the way IN which proud
science Often ends, not in tender mercy,
not gentle consideration, but in cold and
dIsdAinful iphumanity. Even Jewish law,
stern and fixed as it ~as. could be tsld by
such doctor as Gamaliel that il WAS bound
to pause, and listen and ponder. But
science Is not acquainted with compassion.
She is like the deaf adder that stoppeth her
ears. A prayer 70 her would be like that
most forlorn Of prayers 10 death, which 81.
John alludes to in his Apocalypse. While
Christ listened 10 that cry amid the temp
es', Carest thou not that we perishp
science would have drowned IL in the deep"