The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1878-03-02
Science VS.. Religion.

DClCiCt VS. hClISlODs
Editors NeeU Domtnion.-
The congregation of the M. E.
Church was favored on Sabbath even
lug last with a highly entertaining and
instructive discourse delivered by the
worthy President of our University
from Isaiah xiv-15-"Verily thou art
God that hjdest myself"
From this passage the distinguished
speaker drew, as his theme, the Incom~
prehensibility of the Divine Being.
The writer of this communication is
believer in the Divine call to the
ministry, and believes the speaker re,
ferred to is one of the number so called.
But re is also believer in the exist
ence of an eternal enemy to all that is
good-a belief which many, at least of
the speakers audience, inferred that he
is not disposed to accept-and, that the
ubiquity of this enemy is not so limited
as to have prevented his presence on
that occasion to misconstrue and mis;n,
terpret what the speaker, in the exer-
else of his profound intellect and in the
sincerity of his heart, expounded to US
as Divine Truth. Impressed with such
conviction, humble layman, however
misguided he may be, feels impelled to
review, briefly, the topics of that dis,
course.
The eloquent speaker commenced by
stating the fact, that great deal is be-
ing said, at the present day, of the con
fict between science and religion, and
took the position that not only is there
no conflict, but complete harmony be,
tween the revelations of science and the
revealed religion of the Bible, giving
as instance the declaration made in
connection with the Decalogue, that
"the iniquity of the fathers" shall be
visited "upon the children unto the
third and fourth generations" averring
that this declaration of the scriptures
is physical fact confirmed by the OBJ
servations Of science.
He stated also, in proof of his posi-
ton, that among all the distinguished
scientists of the present day. not one of
them is an atheist; that Tyndall, in all
his scientific inquiries and in his beau-
tiful explanations Of physical phenom-
ena, comedies the existence of a NOV,
ing cause behind the forces of matter;
that Darwin, in his grand conception
OF the theory of evolution, perceives a
primal cause; that Herbert Spencer,
in his searchings after truth, always
reasons from the Known and the
movable to the unknown and UN~
KNOWABLE, and. as evincing his
reverence for that something which is
Unknowable he always writes that
word in capitals or, at least, its initial
with capital letter.
After paying very just tribute to
these and other workers in the field of
scientific research, the speaker proceed
ed to criticise the narrowness of certain
theological teachers who assume to
know all about God, his nature, plans
government, and, even arrogate to
themselves the ability to estimate, with
mathematical precision, how many of
Gods creatures shall be saved and how
many, eternally lost.
After descanting on the want of
christian charity herein manifested and
upon the bigotry and intolerance of
many of the creeds, the speaker en-
deavored to explain how little We know
Of the Divine essence, Of his plans and
providences, and how much is necessa-
rily beyond our comprehension, aver>
ring that in our finite state we can have
no conception of spirit except in con-
nection with matter, and that when we
begin to extend our contemplation of
God as spirit we are lost in the mazes
Of Pantheism. Among the mysteries
beyond our comprehension he mention
ed the Origin Of Evil, remarking that
no explanation which had ever been
given would stand the test Of ration
al examination thirty-fiye minutes. In
this connection he alluded to the Bible
history of the subject in a manner
that some Of his hearers doubtless