The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-10-05
cTn1sTIAy1TY's CHALLENGE.
Darwin Defends It's Doctrines and DIR. E"fo"
Shows How Agnostieism Doe W.
its FoIIcwers--Inacrsolr Morn' D''"o"e'"'
,r,,,r,n,l. october 2d.l

rropr,cr-Journal. October 2n.l
Among the thinking minds OF Louisville
,hore has lately .te been considerable talk con-
carr,r% some statement about the great
Annstle ~ The Henostics, Charles Darwin,
nude Inv Dr Eaton i'm his missionary ser
mon M the Walnut-Street Baptist cfurcn'
Yesterday n Courier. Journal reporter call
cd nj DIR. Eaton,s study, and asked 10 see
the exact language wherein Darwin de-
tended the missionaries OF the Gospei.
"Any one CAM said DR.. Eaton, ICON.
vince themselves OF the correctness Oh
what said by calling at the foiytechh,c
and examining Darwin's works. | maze
The ,oIlowinp quotations from Mr.. Charies
Darwin. the great naturalist, about iorelgn
missions: when one reflects on the cliect
| ~ intemperance on the ab0rigines OF the
two Americas, think it will be acknow.
lodged that every well-wisher OF Iahiu
owes no common debt OF gratitude TO
tbe missionaries -rVoyage OF Naturalist
Around the World, Vol. H., p. 1S9. by
Charles Darwin, NJ. A., f. r. S. New YORK !:
Harper & Bros, 1911 'There are many
who attack even more acrimoniously than
Kotzcbue. both the missionaries, their sys-
tenn and the effects produced by ii. Such
reasoners never compare the present state
with that Of the island only twenty years
AGO. nor even with that OF Europe at the
nresent dav, but theycompare it with the
high standard OF gospel perfection. They
eynect the missionaries to effect that winch
the APOSTLES themselves failed to do. In
asmuch as the condition OF the people falls
short of this high standard, blame Is at
tached TO the missionary, instead OF credit
for that which he has effected. They for
get. or will not remember. that human sac
rifices and the power OF an idolatrous priest
hood-a system OF profligacy unparalleled
in anv other part OF the world-infanti-
eide, q consequence of that system-bloody
wars, where the conquerOrs spared neither
women nor children-that all these have
been abolished, and that dishonesty, intern
perance, and RIGHTEOUSNESS have been
greatly reduced by the introduction OF
Christianity. In yoyager to forget these
things is base ingratitude, for should he
chance to be at the point Of shlpwreck on
some unknown coast he will most deyoutly
pray that the lesson OF the missionary may
have extended thus far. But it is useless
TO argue against such reasoncrs. | believe
that, disappointed in not finding the field
of RIGHTEOUSNESS quite so open rs formerly,
they will not give credit to a morality
which they do not wish to practice or to a
religion which they undervaluc, il not de-
spisc.' [Same, Volume H., pages 1921
This" said DR.. Eaton, "was the testimony
OF Mr.. Darwin of the good done by Christian
missionaries in Tahiti after he had person
ally investigated the field, and he bears
similar testimony OF the missionary work
in New Zealand. Let the agnostics," con-
tinued DR.. Eaton, "send missionaries to
the degraded people OF some island or
country not yet reached by Christianity, to
teach them the principles OF agnosticiSm.
and see if they can do for any degraded
| tribe what Darwin says Christian mission
aries have done for Tahiti. II agnOStcs
will try this experiment and succeed III
showing that their philosophy can elevate
| humanity As well rs Christianity can do,
! then let them come and ask lis to give
ND our religion for agnOSticiSm; but ii
not. then let them for very shame hold
their peace. II agnoSticiSm is better than
Christianity il ought TO do even more III
| bcnefiting and eleyating degraded people
! than Darwin says the Gospel has done. Ii
it has any power to make people better. let
the experiment be- fairly tried on some be-
nightcd tribe. Surely the agnostics will
believe the testimony Of Darwin. for it is
chiefly upon his facts that they build their
theories. Here said Or. Eaton, "are the
works OF Darwin (handing the reporter two
volumes); you can read for yourself"
| "lIaS lnecrSOl ever made such m en-
dorscmcnt?"
.'No. indeed; on the contrary, lie wrote
commcndltory preface to the Chicago
doctors book that contendcd lying and
stealing were natural and proper, not
crimes. fear IngerSOll lacks moral hon.
csty as much as he lacks literary honesty"
[Rev. DR.. Eaton. it will be remembered,
was formerly Of Petersburg, Val