Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-02-02
EVOLUTION AND REVOLUTION.
Lecture by Rev. Henry Ward Beecher

Rev. Henry Ward Beecher in his new lee
ture on Evolution and Revolution" de-
scribed the theory of evolution to be that
somewhere back of man and back of apes
and monkeys there was point where the
two elements which mark the different classes
diyerged from one common stock SO that
we are related to apes and monkeys, not by
direct descent from them, but simply are 4
variation of the same creation. separated by,
we know not how many. geological ages.
And, therefore, the cheap wit we hear from
the pulpit and the press about man being de-
scended from a monkey is like powder in
Chinese crackers it has noise, but no virtue
To the theory Of evolution he did not believe
there would be an objection found, high OF
low, if it were not for It's supposed moral
consequences. There is no reason thAt
can Withstand the idea that man keeps
step with Gods method Of development,
and we must suppose that that is
the method in which man has been
developed. After giving reasons for
basing decisions upon hypothesis, Mr..
Becchcr said he was not going to express his
belief ia the doctrine Of evolution, hut to as
sumo that it is proved, that it is demonsIra,
ed that the human family have been gradu-
ally unfolding from tho ANNA! Kingdom be-
low them, and that man in his form, in his
passions and appetites was once an animal,
and that unfolding slowly, affections were
developed, reason began TO have existence,
Imagination came into play slowly aud grad
ually, and that last and most slowly the
moral sense, conscience, and all the spiritual
affections and appetites were developed He
then asked what effect the acceptance of this
doctrine would have upon morals and relig-
ion, and said Make it just as broad and rs
strong as you please, and say that religion
l,nE Al -, E.. a. L
evolution and much to hops ftOm IT, ]
think il will take away nothing that ought
not to be taken away ! think il will throw
light on many obscure matters and will
throw Into clear position aud aspect many of
those great problems which the theological
world has debated thousand years W tn.
out coming 10 any jus, and satisfactory
conclusion. After showing BY numct-
GUS examples that all science stands upon ny
pothesis, Mr.. Beecher asked why the belief
in the eyisancc of a God the highest of all
solCGocs. might ngt also be based upon nv.
pothesis liv then went on 10 apply the
same reasoning to the belief in the Inspiration
of the Bible. Speaking of the Bible, as
ten at peuols 5OQ years arnrt, he compared
1t to u book which might bemaie by blndiuA
together Lyelrs geology, one of llawlhorue's
charming stories, and spccch,s of noble
statesmen and said the Bible is now n col
1ectivo BOOK for only two reasons -iuXtapo-
sitiop in binding ana common neral duff
or intent, The doctrine Of literal, verbal ID
spiration, no added, ~ The broad roa, TO in
fidelity. Good men hold 1t but they arc IL.
norant, they are narrow, they do not know
which way they are beng drftei Mr..
Beecher then went on to slow ihlt while the
verbal relations u cslnts recorded in the Ri
bic differ widely In some eases. yet thdsalne
generic ideas are always expressed, and in
Ibis unity he found not only an evidence of
the doctrine ot evolution, but he strongest
evidence OF the reality aud importance ORE.
ligien aud morality.