The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-12-27
A WHEELING TIIEOLOGIAN.
Science anil tho bible Lectures OF the
RoV.J. +. Mcclure, ID. D., of wheeling,


Science anil tho Bible Lectures OF the
hewitt. Mcclure, ID. D., of wheeling,
W. Va.
We are indebted to the author for n copy
Of little work called "scienco and the
Bible just issued from the press. Itcon-
tains in its 100 pages series Of lectures de-
liyered by him in his church i'll this city
on the subject OF Geology, Chronology,
Evolution, Miracles, &C., us connected
with the progressively and Interpretation Of
the Bible. There is much that Is interest
ing in the work, and those who have not
time or opportunity to consult more VOLT
mihous records on the same subjects will
find ii 4 rGadNble compendium.
Mr.. Mcclure has undertaken 10 deal
with u subject that is engaging vast
amount OF attention at this time In
Europe and America. lie does not pre-.
tend TO treat 1t exclusively or even CO.
piously. He admits that the lectures "are
rather the conclusions that hive been ar.
rived ut" than presentation Of the
data by means OF which lie has made up
his opinions. He starts out by an examl.
nation Of the record both Of science and
revelation us 10 the age Of the world, and
takes his position with the modern school
OF theolOglans who have discarded the an.
Client chronology Of 5000 years. lie also
iayOrs the modern idea in regard TO the
lcngth OF the days mentioned in Genesis.
\ He does not pretend to know how old the
world Is. All lie knows is that "in the be-
ginning" the heavens and earth were made,
but when the beginning was neither science
nor theology has disclosed. Geology is yet
nnimperiect science, and its data Is under.
going constant revisiOns, and II will not
therefore do to rely on geology.
One Of the most interesting topics OF Mr.,
MCClure's book Is the generation OF the
human race. We have now 30 many peo.
plej q hundred years agO we had so many
less, and thousand years ago very much
loss number, and away back in the earliest
historic times not scarcely more than 1.-THE
OF what wo now have. Reasoning By this
process the authorgOes back 10 Il time when
We come 10 the origin OF the human race,
We must 20 back, and we must 70 back on
d constantly diminishing ratio, until we yet
10 the original pair. Who begot them ?
All men and women are Degolten Whence
originated the first man and wonianP
Alr. Mcclure argues for the unity OF the
htimnh race. True we havO many varieties
d 1t now. But the structure Of I'LL human
beings-t their skeletons-are 80 nearly alike
that oily an expert can tell which iswhiCh
as between Caucasian and an African.
Man will reproduce himself OH any cross of
the human race, thus showing TINT they
are all Of tho same genus homo. There Is
no cross where stoppage, us in the case Of
The nule, occurs, Al tho crosses do not
Hcraso OF even change single bone or
MUSCLE"
When Mr.. Mcclure comes to "science
and the Supernatural" he finds himself in
conflict with those theological writers who
ARE inclined to COncede the eternity of
nattef-ior instance, that the earth has
existed from eVetlasling-neyer had be.
ginnihg, ETC., and who hold that not even
God himself could have created something
olit Of nothing. This Is regarded by Nj.
Mcclure a. d fatal concession, rs IL mill.
iales at once against the idea Of ombipo.
tenCe, "lf God be not able 10 produce
matter by an act Of creation, and this be
accepted rs conclusion OF science, then
the sooner We abandon the doctrine Of the
supernatural In the world the betlef.n
In regard 10 Miracles, the author holds
that the Biblical record Of them Is lust "A
Wen established as the general record OF
ancient history, lie has no respect for
those who arc Inclined to eliminate mira.
Giles, and yet pFOiessedly hold OH 10 whit
they call certain truths Of Christianity,
Either Christ wrought miracles or he lid
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