, 1877-12-08


respective ages been held mp to tie view
ot the more ignorant class of society as
dlsOrganzrrs, teachers OF pcmiciuuS doe.
trincs, detrimental to the morals aud
destructive OF all true science, and in
open violation of the true principles of
religion MS taught by the ininllible cX.
Founders of divine TRUTH
Such ARE their teachings Ms CuntMstcd
with the mere facts of natural law dis
covered and applied by these So wicked
scientists rs they are deemed while living
but established scientific authorities alter
II couple of generations have past away,
and II decent regard Tor the interchangeable
nature of their theology will allow the
clergy to come forward and endorse,
what their fathers, protesting the same
comprehensive allsullicicnt system of
theology, looked upon as iittlc better
than II bargain VITA the evil one.
Referring to this well known feature
Of the clergy in every age Agassiz cX-
pressed the idea that every leading scien
tliic truth must 80 through three stages
at their hands. First, it Is neither
worthy of heIict or attention, no iounda-
ton fact Il merely idle theory.
Second, after it has attracted consider
able attention, and awakened more or
less uncaslness MS to its effect on society,
and especially the popular theology Of
the day, the clergy would he very for
ward in condtmning it, us being preju-
dical to religion, IN conflict with the
Billie and opposed to revelation.
After awhile, when the doctrine had
been carefully examined, found to he
supported by facts, and generally accept,
ed, the clergy would proclaim that they
always believed and taught it, that it
WAS in strict accordance with the teach
ings of their particular sect, that it would
prove handmaid of religion, and afford
cl nobler, grander views OF natural relig-
ion and fresh evidences of the truth Of
revelation
The great Agassiz, himself wns u strik
ing illustration oi the way this change is
effected; when he first settled in the Uni
ted States something over thirty years
ago, he stood in the fore front OF Euro
penn Natumists and scientists generally.
He found there had been but little attcn.
tion paid in America to Geology, Natur.
al History, or Kindred ,scences he be-
came teacher, and fortified the thought
and trained the present generation OF
American scientists, Although he gather
ed together a vast amount of scientific
data, yet he was SO absorbed in his great
work as "a scientific teacher, that he made
but few great, original scientific general
izations after coming here. During all
this time, these sciences IN Europe and
particularly in Britain and Germany
where progressing with unexumpled
rapidly. excited by the competition and
co operation Of great numbers OF very
able men.
This progress was so great in Europe and
America, that here the general progress
of science was fully up to, if not gone
beyond Agassiz position before his death.
While in Europe, it was nearly a genera
tion ahead OF his position upon the lead
ing scientific topics of the day.
When Agassiz first came,..to the Ameri--
can clergy as class, his doctrines upon
scientific subjects were so new, so strange
and presented so many stsltlng features,
that they excited in them horror, dismay,
and aversion. Neither Paine nor VoltalEe
ever received more abuse at their hands
than this inoffensive, devoted teacher VI
science. First, what he taught was too
absurd, ridiculous and opposed to the
common sense judgment of all to BIZ
listened to by any one. That Kind oi
talk last tor a few years. Then from
about 1850 to 1860 the usual argument
was, that what he teaches cannot agree
| with revelation.
About 1860, when the clergy, with q
very bad grace, were trying to see il they
could not begin to partially endorse hls
scientific position, upon condition thai
they might be allowed at their leisure t6
patch up their theorie, OF reconciliation
between their theology and the cher
state of science, and that science would
stop there, make no more discoveries
and permit them to say they had Mt last
| rrachel the md of thosp ,IrpnlfuI scien