The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-02-02

combination OF the chemical elements o
the revolutions of the planets In tn
physical. And true science will attemp
To account for the one class no rathe
| than the other. And acting on he
| method we try to discover principle o.
law or power that will account Tor thes'
numerous and varied political and mora
! phenomena; and We again assume God
And observe that from this standing
ground we must assume Him rs possessing
a moral character, for these are mora
phenomena. Now, is not all this pure
induction, pure science? And no one,
think, will take it upon him TO say thai
the assumption does not cover the whole
field of the facts and phenomena. AS
sumo that there is God, possessing
moral character, and He must be accepted
as adequate to the production, and SO IS
furnishing 8 solution of the facts and
phenomena.
Now let US take our second Canon
When Science has made an assump'
ton that explains all the
phenomena that ara already
discovered she retains it as true and valid
until other phenomena in the same field
are discovered that it cannot explain. Ii
is on this principle that we retain the
atomic theory of matter and the undula'
tory theory Of light. And on this prin.
cipal, and so on purely scientific grounds,
NAV we not retain the assumption OF
God as Creator and Moral Ruler? What
and where are the newly discovered
facts, in all the numerous and varied
physical and moral fields for
which this assumption has failed TO
account? Surel y IN sll fairness,
and if we are to have regard to scientific
methods, the burden Of proof in the case
rests upon those who would reject or dis
place this assumption.
have said that if it would draw to 1t
and under Its influence many of the
deepest and brosdest thinkers Of this age.
theology must prove Its willingness snd
power TO be tried BY the tests OF Undue
ton. Now the great induction test is
YsrifGbii,ty. THAT method" says q.
II. Lewes, (which has led 10
success in every department Of To-
guilty., alAO U RASBNA
tlonal to the rigor of its employment,
does not, as many suppose, lead US to rely
solely or manly on observation, to the
neglect of ideas, but to rely solely on
those facts and ideas which have with
stood the tests Of verlfcation."
Again, he gives US as the rule which
Science inscrlbes on the pcdiment OF
her temple; no formula admissible unless
veriaable; none admitted, except as
an hypothesis, until verified tne
verifcation having two different
criteria-one conformity with the
positive laws or thought; the other con-
iormity with the observed order of phe-
nomens." Now, rs for ourselves, We
have no fears whatever of our assump-
ton OF God as the Moral Ruler being
brought under these tests or criteris.
We believe that it fully conforms to "tne
positive laws OF thought as these have
been formulated and euuncated by our
best logicians, and TO "the observed
order OF the whole phenomena" rs these
have been discovered by the deepest
physicists and moralists; and fur
thermore that no other assump-
ton that would antagonize and displsce
It does so conform.
In this line of reasoning 1 have no
doubt that smong some who pride them
selves on their pre-eminent orthodoxy,
yet know not what is passing or how cur
rents are setting in tho great and busy
world of thought outside of the limited
srea in which they have hedgcd them.
selves, l shsll be regarded SIS taking very
low ground. There is, however, such a
thing as meeting men on their
own ground. Thus only often
times can we meet them at
all, a. least in the wsy OF drawing them
near to US. And the ground to which
Tho thcologian is to-day challenged, and
on which he must present himself il he
would have any common platform Of
thought with many of the great light
bearers ci our age, is the inductive. Nor
is this ground by any means polluted,
nor need we fear being polluted upon l..
Theology should claim and take part
possession of it; and over the
gate at its entrance she may see
printed MS solemn warning to
herself as we'll as all others who
would pass in, the hurning-bush sentence,
Cast tiny shoes from oil thy feet, for the
place whereon thou standest is holy
ground"
And If l have been able TO show that
the fundamental propositions Of
Christianity, rs far as | have considered
them at least, are not, as they have often
been pronounced, unscientitic, but can
stand the most sesching tests OF induction,
or If have started tram of thought y
pursuit of which to lis legitimate issue
will lead any one who loves the scientific
method to this cOuclusion and conviction,
If this, then | shall bear without MUIR
muir the charge of having taken too low
ground and | shall feel richly rewarded
for this article j. G.. ARMSTRONG.