The University daily. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 18??-????, 1880-06-11

degree be modified, but not indefinitely
/ postponed IS here at work. Nations do
not escape this controlling destiny they
are young, middle aged, old, decrepit, ex-
ltinct
We see them, despite those who would
stab or those who would lift them from
anarchy 70 perfect freedom, advancing
BY 4 steady progression 70 I higher plain
Of morality and virtue, Or, falling to de
day: Having passed the over con6den-
tial period Of youth I'd the more mature
meditations Of manhood, we are wont to
l8exclainl
Rough hew them IS We may, ~
These are individual Or specious cases,
but when science attempts to grasp the
laws sf thought and nerve iorce, she may
well bow her head and do reverence.
When she takes in her embrace the laws
Of material substances then passes to the I
solar system to explain the revolutions Of
the planets-their laws Of development
and journeys back TO the nebula from
which they al sprang, there is something
here fl engender our awe and yeneration
something beyond, above as.
Then attempt 10 comprehend the
mighty universe with its millions of solar
systems, all controlled, as it would seem.
by some intellectual soul and your veneer
alton, ever ascending, mounts toward the
starry Irealul.
Wecan here catch the the inspiration
Of the Psalmist, as he sings Of the
wonderful works of his God. Nei-
ther IS il strange that r. a., Proctor, the
greatest living astronomer. after studying
our solar system and passing to the
Expanse#of Heaven, should have been
50 struck with the insignihcance Of man
and our solar system; and that he should
have concluded that there is some intel /
lect controlling all, incomprehensible by
US, but m whose presence we should
do reverence.
It secns[plain that science zealously
studied produces most teachable, obedi-
ent and reverential statesof mind
But as our task draws to close. it is
we'll TO bear in mind that this is not an ar
gument TO prove the existence of a God,
nor to strengthenhor weaken theological
ereeds.
We have attempted to- show that sci
ence,. honestly studied has what may be
termed areligious spirit.
We have taken the Three ruling elc-
nlentsI in religion, viz: teachableness ODE |
dience andreverence, snd,6nd them equal
" dominant il science,
Of the great desire and earncstness Of
the scientist for truth we have examples
challenging the. possibility Of doubt; such
examples as Newton spending IS years Of
patient study to demonstrate the laws Of
gravitation,a and Kepler's oyears Of bodi,
ny pain aud mental agitation to establish
his laws Of planetary motion, should re-
move all ineredulity. Of the analogy that
this finds III the universal claim Of the
Bible. 70 truth, time will not allowus to
speak further.
The one thing more, necessary to relig-
Eious worship, prayer to a personal God,
cannot be asserted Of science as univer-
sal proposition Science treats with re-
spect the efficacy Of prayer, acknowledg-
ing that certain things look in this direc-
Etion, but whether it results from a faith
and a hope, which are not given up till
the desire IS fulfilled. OF through God, it
cannot as yet decide.
The number of scientists who are wor-
shipful. however large faction, is not the
whole. But the same is the case with
those who are not scientists, and to con-
denim science on this account would be
fallacyof objection.
IS Shall we reject that which has supplant,
edignoranee and superstition by knowl
edge. that which has driven devils from
the sea and angry gods from the air, that
We may no longer fear them that which
has told US the true shape Of the earth, its
position in the solar system and applied
mathematics to establish the laws of plan
fetary motion that which has made US
acquainted with the return Of the comets,
the special messengers of Gods wrath
that which has supplanted saint cure and
sorcery BY pure medical discovery and