Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-08-05
After Darwlmism, What
NEWMAN SMITH,

of historical fact" while the per-
verse reviewer persists in regarding
organic evolution as "fgment CT
the intellect" Between forces of
argument working in opposite d.
rections, | find a tendency of
thought TO strike off IN some result
tant motion toward point not
aimed at exactly either by the
Darwinians or their antagonists.
1t is not quite possible that the
end of ell this controversy may be
some conclusion which shall be
real advance of knowledge, yet not
be the generalization go confidently
grasped in the beginnings of this
new science? After Darwinism,
what? The possibility of Darwin.
ism may not Prove to be the last
word of the science of life would,
doubtless, bo cheerful!y granted by
Mr.. Darwin himself, If not by some
of the disciples who have outrun the
master; and by historical Undue,
ton from tho usual fate of success
sive scientific theories we might be
led to expect that Darwinism, after
coming of age, must soon pass be.
yond iss period of vigor, enter upon
its declines and be followed by some.
thing else. But what and of what
manner of spirit shall the Child and
successor of our Darwinian science
be? 1t NAV seem too early for any
confident prophecy; but there are
present tendencies of thought which
may justify us in bazarding ono or
two general predictions. Thus it
would seem safe to say that Oar.
winism will have some heir and
successor before many years. II
has shown during the past twenty,
five years its ability 10 gather up
and arrange around its leading prin.
ciples o great many facts which be.
fore it came had either 1een unob>
served or left tangled and unex,
planned by Daturalists. 1t seems to
have indicated come probable laws
or modes Of operation of natural
forces. In the hands OF students, it
is 81 present the best working theo~
~ Of biological science. But il can
hardly be considered as yet an ca.
tirely selfsuffic.3nt and adequate
theory, without helping hypothesis
or further Development. Besides it
is usually the case thai, so soon az
theory in science ora system 10
theology is finished and complete,
son ebody discovers that something
has been left out Of it, and the whole
realm of human knowledge or faith is
not contained within its forces.
Bodies of divinity rarely last more
than threesco.e years and ten, and
if by reason and strength they be
fourscore yeArs, yet is their strength
labor and sorrow, "a those who
would bolster up aged and WORKOUT
theological systems, which have
done their work and mad their day,
have reason enough to learn! The
same litigation of age and necessity
Of periodic renewal attaches to sci,
entific systsms. This is. indeed, q
vital law of growth in knowledge.
What reason, then, is there to sup
pose that Darwinism will escape the
customary fate of finished systems
One other prediction may be
made with some confidence. If any
devout people imagine that Darwin
ism will pass in time away, like
other theories, and leave the world
Of faith just as it found it, doubtless,
be very much disappointed. There
is not the least reason to expect
that the post. Darwinian science will
suffer US to steal back to the ante.
Darwinisn theories of the creation,
and the old, undisturbed views of
the Mosaic genesis. Those literal
and mechanical ideas which we used
to entertain Of the world was made
arc pushed out of the field, what.
ever may come in to take their
place, We cannot &c back into the
seventeenth century. Tho only rest
for faith is before Us, not behind
Christian is tho expectant religion
and all of its doctrines have fer,
ward look.
Il seems impossible for human
mind, efter any great and genera
disturbance to eettls back into Tx
old ways. Darwinism, whatever
be l,s own issue az acionce, haI
wrought q change in our modes O
theological thinking.
May we not, however, wish squa
confidence, predict that after bar
winism there shall be no return o
she old atheism ? The child ant
heir born of Darwinism science anC
tho spiritual philosophy of tn,
human heart will not be grost
and i'll bred materialiem. In th,
: failh Of man God haa thus far sur.
vived every advance of knowledge
Win he not also survive this latest
born Of the sciences AT presen
Darwinism seems to stand at tn,
} meeting Of two ways The Que fol
lowed by Haeokel turus cut 70 be .
perfect cM de sac. 1t leads Us 10 q,
upenetrable wall, and though. can
n.t get beyond matter. Bat tn,
other way, for the Darwlniap stand
point on, leads to longer prospects
Reason ID not blocked by matter
The present tendency of such evo
luiio-ary though! ia toward hap
pier thsisiic Interpretation of M
; tare and hfs Ttis vsria1ioa {
Darwi0ism seens best f'Ied TO sur
visc in ne general envirvsment o
modern thought. We venture 4
: predict, therefore, that she heir .
our present science will posses
b5th larger Knowledge OF richer
tai.n. After Dsr~ a;sm which hst
toa come to Yir9~sus ags, shall
have done it, WORK aLd passed on
w may h0pa 10 see . sciecce en-
la~ged and enriched by it, theolo
gy in sumo IF its methods modified
by ii; but mea shall still live il
Gods world and prsy to the Father
OF SDirits.