New-York tribune., 1877-08-07
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
WINCHELUS RECONCILIATION OF SCIENCE
AND RELIGION

The unity OF tins volume, ny writer eihlncut d>o
in the field OF scientific and philosophical discussion,
consists in IT'S UNITY of Thought which aims at the
estahl:shmeutof a profound harmony between reason
and faith rather than in the form of complete and
systematic treatise. It is composed of a variety of
independent papers some of them written for an
occasional purpose with no apparent connection IN
details but all convergng toward the focal point OF
rational union between science and religion.
The author takes his stand. IN tie first place, on
the fact of religion essential element in the ma
ture Of man. Religion, he maintains, in some form
or other is the Characteristic Of humanity In all the
conditions of its existence. Although lt has been
cOmha,ed by the power OF intellect. as well as ihe
force of passion, its influence has prevailed among
all the nations of the earth. Vast systems OF
thought and speculation have sprung up 10 Illus
trac its character and 10 analyze is principles II
has been reflected in the poetry Of all ages and Las
impressed ITS seal the philosophy Of ancient ana
modern times Therelicious feelings sway the life of
man with transcendentpOtency Unuithe reflective
intellect has been brought into active exercise they
preside over all his judgments and all his acis The
earliest and strongest beliefs OF the race are religious
The agency of the Unseen Power is recognized IN
the phenomena ofthe Universe
But the habit of closer observation soon dscloses
a certain hyarahlc sequence in the order OF
physical phenomena The necessary idea Of cause
which is inherent IN the mind, suggests the exist
erco of n causal relation between the terms OF an
inyariablc seoueucc. Events which under the in
fucnoe Of the same idea had been ascribed to the
direct causation of the Unseen Power, are now
accepted as the result of physical causes THIS is
the first step in the road TO science. Hence the first
step at reasoning on scientific data tends TO deprive
the religions nature of one Of the occasions to recog
nize the presence of the Unseen Power. But thus
far divine causation wond be removed but single
step from visible phenomena. The soul Of man
would still recognize divinity in tee physical cause
which held the place Of inyariabe antecedent with
the progress Of observation. however this would he
revealed as the invaTiaLe consequent of some other
physical auteccdcIt still religious faith would
cling 10 IFS cherished objects; and the strife with
searching intellect would be fomented. Thus step
BY step religious faith is compelled to recede more
and more into the realm Of the mysterious, but she
mover doubts that divinity abidcs behind the veil.
Meantime science pursUcs her onward march, and
exposes the fallacy of many accepted religious ira
ditions Faith and science have thus lived IN per
petual strife. Faith has appropriated whatever has
fallen within her reach, while science from time to
time has thrown doubt on the validity of her claims
This conflict has necessarily arisen between the
conservatism of faith and the progressycness of III
tellect But il is not to be regarded as war of eX-
ternination ItsOnlvan example of progress through
antagouism. Hence, Professor Winchell ailirWs
that instead of the conflict Of religion and science ne
should prefer 70 speak of the ntcractOn of the re
gOus and intellectual faculties. 1t is not war IN
which one Of the combatants has no rights The in
teractiOn of the religious and intellectual forces as
il is the OrerOf Nature and of Providence must be of
benefcent character. The results Of this influence
are manifest in the religious history of tine
race The interests of religion have not been
prejudced by the progress of science, but religious
systems under the action of the intellect, have
dcrgone gradual advance This progress consists
in tine elimination of cruditieS, excess 5, and uu-
meaning adiuncts. The religious nature is q blind
instinct feeling for its Object an infant crying III
the night" Ii accepts whatever the intelligence
offers as real and true, and cOusecrates II aS the
revelation of real divinity. The body OF accessory
beliefs adopted at a given epoch, clustering around
the ceuiral facts of religion, constitute for the time
the religious system With the enlargement OF
the intellectual horizon, the cruder accessories
disappear; hence the religious system always con
sists Of constants and variables" Progress be-
longs only TO the variable factor which is the hu
man and imperfect element of religion. The COLI
slant factor Is eternal truth. which Is the infinite
and unchangug element of religion. The variable
factor represents weak and struggling humanity;
the constant factor the certainty and rcpOse of the
Divine Mind. The former is practical or actual re-
liglon the latter is the absolute or ideal religion.
The former is the nearest appTO ach which humanity
has been able to make toward the perfect standard
the latter is the perfect standard towards which
humanity aSpiies.
After these preiimn aIy considerations the author
deyotes a large space TO the discussion of the doc
trne of causality in its various aspects Concluding
that the cOnsummatiou of the caUsa act implies the
exercise of will there must be executive deter
mination Of conscious efficiency toward the contcm-
plated effect that has awakened desire and purpose.
All the other steps in causation here converge.
viii is the last condition Of effect. Being the last
condition, il IS the "synthess of and power"
Bnt il is impossible TO think of viii except as the at
tribute of personal existence. Stll in the opinion
ofthe auhor the term personality is appropriate and
misleading. 1t is The feeble expression Of anthro-
pomorphism. Adopted as the antithesis Of panthe-
ism its associations open to the mind point
of view Personality is not the alternative Of divine
immanence as is usually supposed, but is conpati-
bic with the recognition Of divine agency in all the
phenomena Of the natural world. This view. ac-
cordug to Professor Winchell. while il represents
the simple thesm Of the primitive world promises to
be the Ultimate but not distant, conclusion OF the
most advanced science and philosophy
The of science is sometimes heard to object
to these theisic conceptions OF the universe; but
that remarks the author, is due to defect in his
philosophy. lie declares that the admission Of II
divine viii would introduce caprice or chaos into
Nature. and is inconsistent with the regularity
which prevails under the dominion OF law But Pro-
fessor Winchell contends the other hand, that
theory of the divine immaneuce conflicts with the
doctrine Of law, with the science based on the
atomic doctrine
With regard to the views of Professor Tyndall on
this point Of which the author presents lucid eX-