The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1879-05-27
written for The Spirit OF Democracy
EVOLUTION vs.. CREATION.
BY William Milligan.
CHAPTER III,

CHAPTER II.
There are two principal and conflict
ing theories on the origin of things
These two theories are known by the
names of special creation and evolution.
The former is the more popular from the
fact that it is what We have been taught
in our childhood and that taught in the
book of Genesis. 1t teaches that things
were suddenly and miraculously brought
into existence about six thousand wears
ago by self-existent infinite and abso-
lutte being. The latter is that which the
mind of the best scientific men have con-
ceived from long continuous observs-
tion OF existing and demonstrable facts,
and is at this time generally sustained in
the best scientific works of the day. 1t
explains that things were gradually
brought to their present state of exist
ence by the laws OF development aud
modification, which laws are coexistent
with matter, being the mode of the ex-
istence of the same. The theory of ev-
olution traces kinship between all ami
mails, including nan; shows that they
have resembled each other in :heir d.
ferent stages of development. from the
embryo to the adult stage.
Astronomers, Geologist, Paleontolo-
gist, Biologist and Philologist have p-et-
,y much all come to an agreement as to
the truth of evolution. 1t appears i'm
possible for men, when following the na;-
ural course of their rational faculties, to
come to any other conclusion. 1t is
scarcely denied at present by any respec-
table biologist that all existent animals
and plants have been developed from
existing forms; and sill deny that
they could have been suddenly and mi
raculously created The mind of the
mass Of people have heretofore been
considerably confused by certain class
of pulpit eloquence, and there are sharp
criticisms and even denunciations hurled
at science by quite Incompetent persons.
But the Rev. Henry Martinaau advises
that "theologiaus should not enter into
the discussion of the genesis of things,
because they do not know how to deal
with problems which must be left to SCI
ence to solve" But as aforesaid, the
theory Of creation based on the book of
Genesis, it is declared by no less per-
sonage than Dean Stanley that the book
of Genesis contains two separate. dis
tinct and conflicting accounts of crss-
ton. Dean Stanley, in sermon deliv-
cred in Westminster Abbey on the occs-
sion of the funeral OF the distinguished
scientist and evolutionist, Sir Charles
Lyell, says the book of Genesis was nc
longer authenticated as solid inspira-
ton. at has been divided by phiIolo.
gists into the elohistic and Jehovis.il
portions, so named from the different ii.
ties given to the Deity. The first portion
terminates with the third verse OF the
second chapter, and it is quite evident
that in dividing the text into chapters s
mistake has been made. With the sec.
ond portion a new account of creation
really begins, in important respects, at
variance with the statements preceding
it. The first account affirms that when
God created man "male and female Gre.
ated he them.' The second account a:
positively declares that man was created
a solitary animal, and that his female
companion was made afterward, not like
man and other animals.out OF the,ground
but as an afterthought out Of bone oil
the man himself. The events of creation
are given in new order. The Garden
Of Eden is also described aud located
and this although now possessing non'
OF the perfections attrib tied to it has
been lately identified with the mythclog.
ical center of the Chaldean panthean.-
Chaldea is the land famed for mytholo-
gy,and it is thought by some that grea
deal that now passes Tor theology has
about the same origin.
Let US now compare the account giver
in the first chapter of Genesis with ths
facts demonstrated by science. When
speaking of the days aud nights, an
of the opinion that it should be taker
literally as meaning twenty-four hours o
time, for this agrees with the context
notwithstanding the sun was made to
rule the day;it is only on the fourth day
that the sun puts in an appearance. How
| it is possible to compute days and nights
without the sun is not explained. But i
is claimed by some that the word day i:
used to express an indefinite period o
time, and by day they understand some
thing like a geological period, the sur
coming in at the fourth period. Nov
all astronomers are agreed that the sui
I is older than the earth or any of tn
planets known as the solar system. Thi:
account shows that vegetable life wa
created prior to animal life, while geolo
gists and paleontologists are satisfied
that animal and vegetable life are cotem
poraneous. 1t is not attempted to ex
plain how animal and vegetable life wa
sustained without the genial influence o
the sun, which is now found to be so cs
sential to both animal and vegetable life
The same account shows that there wa
assigned q vegetable diet to all animals
while the fossiliferous rocks show tha
carniverous animals existed at as early
period as any other animals. Again,th
distinction between the beasts of th
earth after their kind and the cattle afte
their kind, indicates belief that domes
tic animals we're created in state of do
mesticatiop. The biologist knows ths
such q belief is erroneous, and that a
our domestic animals have been derive,
from wild stock, and by process q
training through millions Of generation
have so effected their physical structur
that they are become measurably docilt
And the account winds up with the ez
preston, "Thus the heavens and tn
earth were finished and all the hosts {
them." While the philosopher know
that neither the heavens nor the cart
ever could be said to be finished, but al
perpetually developing, new planets al
coming into existence from time to tim
and the earth is perpetualy undergoin
transformation.
With regard to the account Of speci
creation as given in Genesis Herbe