Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1882-11-25
BEECaER AND EVOLUTION.

BIN liz
On the 18th inst, as we learned by
telegraph, a grand farewell banquet was
given to Herbert Spencer in New YORK.
II lasted from ! P. NJ. until midnight, and
some of the speeches made were extra
ordinary. The most wonderful speech
was made by Henry Ward Beecher, % n
points OF which we copy from the Spring
field Republican, as follows:
MIR. Beecher said he had read Spencer
for 20 years, and that the doctrine OF
evolution would revolutionize theology
in the next 20 years. Whether there IS
established a direct continuity OF descent
between the lower forms OF life and man,
said he, it is clearly established that man
has risen from a state of brutishness but
n little above the animal. The idea that
man was created perfect III Adam II
fell. and that Goa has been trying Tor
1000 years to punish Adams posterlty
Tor that iail-why, SAID MIR. beeeher
with dramatic emphasis, 1t has go1 TO
20 The idea that there was one family
and such A family-chosen for Gods
special people, and that He had a special
care over them, is inconsistent itself WITH
the breaks of hundreds OF years at dit-
fgrsnt times IN which that people went
into slavery or captivity and Idolatry.
L is a far greater doctrine that COD,
under the plan and method OF evolution,
as laid hare by Mr.. Spencer, Is bringing
the whole human family slowly, but
surely. upward, ~ennobling the spiritual
man and bringing under control the ply
steal. Paul tells the story OF sin IN the
eth of Romans. The Bible itself is a
proof Of evolution in religion and morals.
The patriarchs OF the Old Testament
would not to-day be allowed in good
society. The Ola Testament did not even
brooch the Immortality OF the soul,
Professor Parks and the Andover theo-
logians will not let a man preach unless
he believes all the impenitent will 60 to
everlasting torment, when Tor thousands
of wears after Moses men had not learned
there was a future life al all. But the
making Of life and character was the end
OF the gospel OF Jesus Christ, as 1t Is OF
the philosophy Of Herbert Spencer.
The New Testament idea, said MIR.
Beecher, IS that Of putting men on an
anvil and hammering them out into per-
feet manhood. There is no difference
between that tendency in Mr.. Spencer's
work or Mr.. Darwin's. or the galaxy OF
eminent writers that shine in the East,
and ourselves. on that subject. On the
other hand, the whole business OF re-
ligion IS not merely to insure a man
against FIRE in the herworld, buttoereate
an insurable interest in him, The bust
ness before men is the making OF them
selves while they are making also the
world in which they dwell
Mr.. Beecher was brought up in the
s~trietest sect Of religionists, but he re
volts, at last, says the Salt Lake Tribune
from what pure hearts have secretly
revolted for years, and declares tina
the religion of the future must create al
insurable interest in man. 1t is a bolc
stride for a minister to take, but it /
right in the line Of modern civilization
The old man must have been in splendid
trim for talking, for every word of hi
speech was a telling one. If any on
believes that his reputation has beef
ONefuraND, OL tbaI MS FACULTIES w wan
dering, let such a one read over the closini
lines, the benediction to Spencer, an
see how he would get along were he t
try to take one word from it, or to ad'
one word to it. 1t is as follows:
MAY He who holds the storms in hi
hands be gracious to you, sir, and ma
your voyage across the sea be prosperou
and speedy, and may you find on tn
other side all those conditions Of healt
aud of comfort which shall enable you t
complete the great work, greater tina.
any other man of this age has attempted
and may you live to near from this con
tinent and from that an unbroken test
mony to the services which you hav
done to humanity: and thus, if you ar
not outwardly crowned, you will wear Al
invisible crown on your heart, which vii
carry comfort to death, and I will gree
you beyond"