Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-06-11
DARWIN DEAD
Still Lives in His Grand Theory OF EVO.
luton, the Most Impressive
Thought Presented
To the Human Race Since NeWtOn's
Time-The Irresistible Evidence
of the Infinite.

since Newton propounded The theory oil
universal grayitation no grander or more
impressive thought has been presented 10 the
human race than that which underlies the
Darwinian theory. Yet, perhaps no theory
has ever been advanced which has, AT a first
view, seemed more startling TO men of re-
ligious mind. IL has been said of the the
DRY that "it sets the Almighty on one side in
the name of universal evolution" As rea-
=onably it might be said of the law of gray
ity that 1t leaves no place for heaven in a
universe OF stars governed by this all-preya-
lent law.
1t has not been noticed by those who fear
or by those who reject the theories OF evolu-
ton, which men OF science now, with scarce
ly an exception, accept, that these theories
simply involve an extension of our ideSs
with regard 10 the domain Of law in time
akin 10 the extension which We have been
compelled 10 admit with regard TO space.
When the Copernician theory was finally
established by the labors of Newton (for be-
fore his day the theory was only more prob
able than others, not certain) men were
obliged 10 accept the doctrine which 4 CEN
tury or two before seemed incredible and
irreligiOns-that this earth on which We live
is but one of the smaller members of the
suns family, and the whole solar system but
a point in the immensely of star strsWn
space. Seeing that they had been entirely
mistaken, too, with regard 10 space it should
nave been clear 10 them that their ideas
with regard TO time also had been made
quate. As the small region about which
they had before known aught had become
lost in the infnity of space, so the small
range of time over which they had hitherto
extended their survey should have SCENE
TO them the merest second in the eteTnities of
time necessary for the various stages in the
growth ard development of those mnltitud-
inous star systems. So also the processes of
growth in which they had heretofore be-
lieyed because, indeed, they could trace
such processes through all their stsges)
should have been recognized as but the
minutest portion of the scheme OF the
universe.
Yet somehow it so CHANGED that while men
accepted the practica ly infinite extension OF
the universe in space, they recognized 40
| logical necessity for a corresponding enlarge
ment of their conceptions respecting time,
| and still less did they perceive that laws ex-
| tending much more widely than those hith-
erto studied must prevail within the infinite
domain of the Almighty. When Laplace
| and the elder Herschel advanced theories oil
| the development of suns and sun systems
| even science rejected their theories, because
Of the vast time intervals which they were
| soon TO require.
The Darwinian theory OF biological evolu
| ton seemed at a first view less imposing IL
| this respect. Not the evolution of worlds OF
| system of worlds, but only the evolution o
| races of animals seemed TO be in question
| But precisely as the inquiries of Kepler int
| the movements of single planet led to tbs
| recognition of these laws which have beer
called the character of the solar system, ant
| precisely as the study of these laws l,C
| to the recognition of 4 law prevailin.
throughout the inGnity of space, so the dis
cussion of Darwin and his fellow-workers o
the evolution of races OF animals ha
brought with it the acceptance OF those wide
| processes of evolution by which systems o
| planets and systems OF such systems haV'
come into being. What had been waptir.
before was absolute, and, as it were, Langibl,
| evidence of the operation of laws having
| wider range of action than the laws accord
| ing to which animals and plants grow Il
| perfection. Other naturalists than Darwin
had suggested how such wider evolution
| might be, but it was given 10 Darwin L
show that it actually is. And with thu
recognition Of those laws has come th'
| recognition of still wider, still more stupen
dous laws of nature. For the time interval;
which are necessary for the generation OF q
/ species exceed SO enormously those belonging
| to the development of the individual mem
| beers of species to carry us by but lev
| steps in Imagination to the still vasteI
periods necessary for the development OF
worlds and world systems, whence the mind
passes to the evolution of higher and higher
orders in the universe, until finally We
withdraw from the mystic pathway satisfied
that TO such eternities there is no end as
there has been no beginning.
| 1t is here, in the presence OF these in
| finite mysteries, that las Pasteur has re-
Gently and ably pointed OUT science and re,
| hgion are brought together. What Is there,
he asks, "beyond this starry vault? More
starry skies. Well, and beyond that? The
| human mind, driven by an invincible force
will never cease asking, What is there be.
yond? 1t is useless to answer
beyond are unlimited spaces, times, oil
| magnitudes' Nobody understands these
| words. He who preclaIms the existence oil
| an infinite, and nobody can evade II, assert;
more of the supernatural in that affirmation
| than exists in all the miracles OF all religions
for the notion of the infinite has the two
fold character of beiBg Irresistible and in
comprehensive When this notion seizes oil
the mind there is nothing left but to benz
the knee. In that anxious momen
all the springs of intellectual hi'
threaten to snap, and one feels neal
being seized by the sublime madnes
of Pascal" Everywhere in the universe w
find the inevitable, the Irresistible evidence
OF the infinite. In every thinking mind, II
the depths of every heart, the supernaturs
exists, is seen, is felt. The idea Of God i
but a form of the idea of the infinite; lik
the infinite the idea of an Almighty Being
"working in and through all things" is a
once irresistible and incomprehensible. "a
long as the mystery of the infinite weighs oil
the human mind" says Pasteur, "temple
will be raised 10 the worship of the infnit
whether the God be called Brahma, Allal
or Jehovah, and ON the floor OF those temple
you will see kneeling men absorbed in Thu
idea of the infinite" If science recognize
temple grander than any raised by man, /
the homage of science is not expressed II
genuhections and in entreaties, the temple o
science is none the less Gods temple, tn
homage OF science is none the less real.
| This is her homage 70 the mightier powers.
| To ask her boldest questions, undisInayed
BY muttered threats that some hysteric sense
OF wrong or insult will convuise the throne
| Where wisdom reigns supreme