The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-07-13

OF the present age is undoubtedly, Ma
! terialism. Materialism Cor else that mod
flied form of Materialism, called Agnos-
tlclsm) impregnates the thought, and per-
meates the literary atmosphere of the
age. " If this be the tendency of
the age, it is still more the tendency of
modern science, for it has been largely
originated, and is chiefly directed by
science. AS citizen of the age, I have
deeply sympathized with its character
istic tendency. AS scientist, and es-
pecially as biologist and geologist,
have still more deeply felt its force. Dur
ing my whole active life l have stood in
this stream of tendency just where the
current ran swiftest, and 1 frankly con-
fess that I have been sometimes almost
swept off my feet"
We think we can point out an instance
IN which he was not only almost, but al
together swept off his feet: In his book
on Religion and Science, PIP. 319-321,
DR.. LIE Conte treats of the Efficacy of
Prayer In the realm of nature beyond the
reach of our activity" and among other
subjects, discusses the propriety of our
praying for rain, or sunshine, and pro-
lection from tempest and lightning, floods
and drought. He says: "My friends,
again repeat, still more emphatically, we
cannot, ought not, must not expect inter-
terence in external nature" 1t is true,
he partially RECEIVERS himself, and adds,
Must we not pray for these things,
them Consistency would have required
him to answered decidedly, "No: for
how can we pray for what we have no
right to expect?" But his faith would
not allow this, and although it could not
quite overcome his theories of mechanical
law, 1T was strong enough to hold them
IN allegiance, and to extort the irrelevant
but pathetic reply: my Christian
friends, cannot say, no. If we were all
strong and calm and wise, if we could
appreciate the transcendent Importance
of spiritual blessings, and the insignif-
canoe of material blessings in compari-
son, L might, perhaps, answer, no. But
when remember our weakness, our
darkness, our ignorance, I cannot, 1 dare
not say, no.
But though this Christian scientist be
perplexed, he is not in despair; though
he be cast down, he is not DESTROYED.
He resolutely addresses himself to the
difficult task before him, by declaring
that: 1t is the part of reason-yea of
manhood-not to float on the surface,
but to stand at the bottom: not to follow
a mere fashion of thought, but to test all
things, nd accept only what is rational, -
Princeton RecaeaO, p. 154.
His discussion Of the genesis, plausi-
bility, and falseness Of materialism is adj
mlrable IN the clearness of its statements,
and the skill Of its dissection He utter
ly repudiates materialism as being a gross
fungus upon science, and labors to detach
the doctrine of Evolution from all COM
plicity with it" "Let it ever be borne in
mind, he says, "and strongly insisted
on, that Evolution is one thing, and Ma
terialism another, and quite different
thing. The one is sure, or almost sure
fact Of science, the other a doubtful and
more than doubtful inference of philoso-
ply Let no one then imagine, while
under the guidance of certain material
scientists, he is carried step by step in
the raths Of Evolution, from the inorganic
to the organic, from the organic to the
animate, and from the animate to the ra-
tional and moral until fnally he lands,
as ne supposes, logically and inevitably
into absolute Materialism-let no such
one, | say, imagine that he has been
walking all the way in the domain OF
science. On the contrary, he has stepped
across the boundary of science into the
domain Of philosophy. But under the
skflful guidance of these leaders the step
seems so easy, so natural, and so neces-
sary, that most persons do not perceive
any such boundary at ALL They do not
distinguish between the inductions Of
science, and the differences Of philosophy
and all is accredited to science and seems
| tn GARRY with - A. -.