The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-04-26
FALSE TEACHERS.

True science (above art) is the best
thing in the world, after Revelation.
Both are forms of knowledge; this comes
to us through the Holy Spirit, it is a
communication that comes to us through
the exercise of our senses and our under
standing; God discovers himself to US in
these two volumes-Revelation and Ma
ture. True Science, therefore, cannot be
any more reviled than TRUTH, for it
means Truth. But what shall we say Of
False Science? 1t is, of course, to be
classed with False Revelation; it only
misleads. A chemistry of nature which
is not true is, in its own sphere, no better
than Romanism in the religious sphere.
A great genius who shall impose on the
world false Materia Medica is dis
penser of poisons, and will destroy the
body, just as Simon Magus or Pela-
gus may destroy the soul.
There is no doubt of the fact that there
IS much false science taught even in our
enlightened day-incorporated even in
many of our standard scientific textbooks.
Things are stated as facts which have not
been ascertained to be facts, and frequent
" high authorities on these subjects APP
pear to be reckless in the statements they
make. They give as the positive results
Of science, in unqualified language, what
they must Cor at least should) know has
not been established beyond question as
true.
We have before us the April number
Of the AtJaatic Monthly, and the leading
article in it is from the pen of Mr.. John
Fiske, (well known as sort of lieutenant
Of Mr.. Herbert Spencer in this country,
on Europe before the Arrival of Man.
There are statements in this article, given
in the most dogmatic way, which are by
no means established as facts, and about
which there is the widest diversity of sen
timent even among Investigators of an
thropological science holding extreme
views. On page AL, Mr.. Fiske is argu-
ing for the existence of man in the Mic
Gene age, and he remarks: No remains
of any such creature a semi-human man
have been found, but it is indisputable
that artifcally Clipped hints and the arti
fcially cut rib of an extinct species Of
manatee have been discovered in mid
Miocene strata in France" Now this is
not true; it is not by any means "indis-
putable" that artifcially Clipped fints
nor an artifcially cut rib have been
found in these Miocene beds. These OBJ
ject8 are not accepted as indicating traces
Of man by Mr.. Boyd Dawkins, by DR..
John Evans, by the late Sir Charles Lyell,
by Professor Virchow, nor by Professor
Hughes, Woodwardian Professor of Geol-
ogy land Of great authority in archaeology
IN the University of Cambridge. They
are rejected by almost the entire body of
English anthropologists. How then is it
" indisputable"? So far from being in
disputably" artificial, it is almost certain
that they are mere natural forms and,
if they were really of human or semi-hu-
nan origin, occurring as they do in the
mid Tertiary beds, they would be in ire
concilable conflict with the theory of Evo-
luton.
Again, on page 442, Mr.. Fiske asserts
that the brilliant investigations of the
Geological Survey of Portugal have
brought to light flint implements Of un-
doubted human workmanship, in great
abundance in the Pliocene strata Of that
country, buried under l 200 feet of super
incumbent rock" These discoveries"
ne says; set forth by M. Ribeiro in 1871,
are cited by Professor Whitney as fur
nishing conclusive evidence of the pre-
aenoe Of man in Portugal during the PHI
ocene period. In this case Mr.. Fiske
does not Gas above) exercise the caution
TO describe the Clipped aints as semi
human he asserts that they are Gun
loubtedly human" We have examined
.be cuts Of these so-called implements"
in Professor Ribeiro's Report and in the
Mat5yiaur pour Historic de J Honpn1e,
published by NJ. Cartailhsc in Toulouse,
and they are far rudez. than numbers Of
fakes and splinters of white quartz which