The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-10-03
T,,e noctrine of Csanccs.

EGttOTS OF DlSpQtCN. III 'fOHft isSNcL VI
to-day you quote an extract from the I0pu-
lar Science Monthly under the above head
ing which is calculated to do more or less
damage to mems religious convictions.
It is popularity OF this age that every
thing that is spoken in the name OF science
becomes the fetish Of popular superstition.
and it is the popularity Of the Popular
Science Monthly to await itself of this fact
to propagate on every possible occasion the
nonsense Of Auguste Comte under the
name OF science. A Positivist may con-
slider it very comfortable doctrine to say
that elf man were immortal he would be
certain or seeing the day when every
thing he bad trusted in should be-
tray his trust. and, in short, OF
coming eventually to hopeless misery"
.sIn the place OF this we have DEATH"
We could not conceive OF anything SO cal
culated to shock the Christian world. 1t Is
as complete an inversion OF our established
ideas OF life and death as anything well
could be. In the place Of life as an era OK
consistent aims and purposes, terminating
in the entrance into higher world, it re-
presents man as mere inert object, subject
to the laws of chance, and finally flung into
an abyss to avoid being made hopelessiy
miserable.
Such IN absurd doctrine. fortunately, is
calculated to attract few believers; but
since it is set forth in the name OF science,
it is proper to say that science says no such
thing.
II man indeed were, rs the Positivist as
serts, mere object wherein The forces OF
nature displayed themselves, such thing
miqht be true, but We have no positive
knowledge upon this point. The doctrine
OF chances bas never been fully developed
except upon assumption. We do not know
the limiting agencies in all cases, and with
out a knowledge OF these there can be no
| absolute mathematical expression. TO Illus
trate: The unrestricted theory OF chance
may say that in a given number Of times
the player OF poker may hold six aces, yet
there are only four in pack Of cards.
| This limits the chances. and the expires
| sion, to be of value, must include that
| fact in the statement of the problem.
| SO in matters effecting human life no state.
| ment on the doctrine OF chance is possible
that does not take cognizance Of the actual
| limitation. Now, no man knows what these
are. The deduction OF the learned editor
| is ONLY correct on the assumption that man
exists subiectively to the universe. Then,
OF course, it makes no difference what the
limitations are, for they would be at the
boundary Of all possible events, and man
would be finally crushed somehow. Yet,
as said before, this is purely an assump.
ton or The Positvists, with which science
has nothing whatever to do. One cannot
help feeling a contempt for scientific man
who thus attempts to palm Oft his religious
| opinions as science. 1t out-Jaspers Jasper.
| The law Of chance is gcometric curve OF
varying form, according TO the primary ele'
| nh ic npfo
the introduction of new element after the
curve is started it Is destroyed utterly
From that point the curve has to be recon.
/ structed anew. Now, If we attempted to
/ express series OF chances OF human lie.
such as is indicated by the talented editor
OF the Popular Science Monthly, we would
need an assurance that the object be de-
prived OF any freedom OF action. SuppoS.
| ing we could obtain an integration OF the
universe, the man would be bound to con.
| fine his action within this limit. II
/ he should originate any idea, or eX
ert any inherent force, and by so do
ing in effect bring new elements into
the problem, the expression wouC
fall to the ground. Thus we see this appa
renty innocent article IS stab at the free
agency Of man and at the power and i'm
mortality Of the soul. II the doctrine o
positiyism be truth, then the article in ques
ton is undoubtedly truthful. Man in time
would be crushed, and his soul fall before
the chance impact OF matter. But il th'
| doctrine of Christianity be true, man by th'
inherent power Of his soul would defea
| every combination OF chance, and ride
through the war OF elements to triumph
ant Immortality. Science says this much
but does not say which theory is correct
That is us yet, and probably will be forever
q matter Of faith. Respectfully.
! G. P. LEAvITT.
| R;rbrnond 0otober 9. 1878