Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-01-10
HEEcEzER On EVOLUTION.
ZEE Condemns the Doctrines Of EHeII
and Of Original Subsistence and the
Bible.
From the New York q arald, jan. 2.

From the New York raid Jan. 2.
The large hall of the Cooper Union was
crowded to its fullest capacity last evening to
hear Rev. Henry Ward Beceher deliver the first
OF the second series of lectures for the season
in the Cooper Union free course. The subject
Of the lecture was Evolution and Revolution. IS
and for an hour and quarter Mr.. Beecher was
listened to and warmly anplauded, especially in
his denuncation of the doctrines Of hell and of
original sin as expouuded by theologians of
the orthodox schsol. He commenced by stat
ing that the doctrine of evolution was i'm
accordance with Divine methods as pursued in
the creation of the world. The creation of the
world was accomplished in accordance with
the evidence furnished by science. which showed
that it was the product and growth of natural
laws. This view was held in a general way by
scientists up TO the point of the origin of man:
but here there was difference of opinion as to
whether the human soul was the product Of a
similar kind of development or OF special nill-
ences not brought to bear en- beings anterior to
man. He regarded the Darwinian theory as
r"pugnant to the feelings OF mankind. and he
did not iGdorse that view of evolution The
doctrine Of evolution permeated the philosophy
of ninety nine per cent of all the working scent-
lists and investigators of the present day. 1t
was also accepted largely by intelligent
men in most Of the learned professions. Its
duced into the schools and the news
papers, and any attempt to suppress it would
be a failure. The practice of disturbing mems
consciences by setting up the Bible aud the pull
pit &c ainst it was of no advantage. Mr.. Beecher
believed in the agency of the Divine. omnipotent
a9d omnipresent God with all heart and soul.
Though he was also firm believer in the doc
trine of evolution within certain limitations
After dwelling upon the impossibility of proyiE G
the existence OF God 10y any process of reasoning.
he said that intel'ects that had reached iiy::
state OF moral culture and development could feel
HIS presence as man might be conscious of the
existence OF the perfume Of flowers without being
able to weigh the PARTICLES which produced it,
Mr.. Beecher then condemned the doctrine of hell
and of original sin as being entirely at variance
with his notion Of the justice OF God. who was
to be regarded more as a loving father than
as me;ciless tyrant who punished men with
eternal torture for sins committed thousands Of
years before they were born. He rdculed the
IDEA that. because Of Adam having eaten the ar
pie in the Garden ct Eden. all the millions of hui
man souls that since lived upon the earth i'm
Asia aud Africa and who never heard of the work
of redemption should be doomed to an eternity
of misery. II that were SO he would not believe
in Or love and reverence such q Being He then
argued that ali tie cid forms OF theology should
give way before the teachings of science: that
the Bible and all the churches were to be regard
ed merely as human institutions. A revolution
had been accomplished during the last 30 years
IN religion and civilization greater than had
taken place for 800 years before that period and
he believed that the whole theory Of morals
would be profoundly benefited by the light
thrown upon it by the full development of the
doctrine OF evolution.