The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1883-01-17

sible for us to examine all the books sent to us,
and especially the innumerable little volumes
written for children.
STUDIES IN SCIENCE AND RELIGION. By G.
Frederick Wright, author of the Logic of
Christian Evidences. limo, PIP. 800 Ando-
yer: Warren F. Draper. 1882.
The previous work of this writer attracted no
little attention, and took a high rank among
the modern attempts to adapt our Christian
Evidences to the demands of our ever-increas-
ing knowledge and of our modern modes of
thought. The present volume is, like the form
er one, small in bulk, but contains the results
of many studies and of long and patient nves-
tgation. The work is dedicated to Prof Asa
Gray, which Is suggestive of the attitude of the
writer, Prof Gray being a Christian Evolution
list. This position our author does not avow
he offers in very candid spirit, and with an
understanding of the subject. the arguments for
and against the Darwinian hypothesis, leaving
the reader to Judge, and with the reservation
that, even if evolution be true, we must provide
for certain Divine interpretations of a miraculous
nature at certain points, and specially at the
apparition of man.
One chapter is devoted to Some Analoges
between Calvinism and Darwinsm," and Oar
winsm does undoubtedly lend great support to
the Calvinistic theory. Then follows an " Fs-
say on Prehistoric Man" Here the author,
like most who attempt to write on this subject,
follows too blindly the theories of the English
and French psychologists. We take special ex-
ception to his apparent acceptance of Prof.
Whltneys Caaveras skull and stone mortars
found In the Tertiary formations of California.
This piece of credulity on the part of Mr. Wright
Is a positive blemish an otherwise rather
guarded and cautious work. 1t is true that he
states that Prof. Dawson and others have ques-
toned Whitneys conclusions.
Mr.. Wright is geologist as well as a theolo-
gian, and the most valuable part of his book is
the last hundred pages on the so called palaeo-
lithic implements found in the Trenton Gravels
and on the Glacial Age, OF both which subjects
he has made a special study The investiga
lions OF Mr.. Henry Carvill Lewis and himself
have thrown great light on the age of the Tren-
ton Graves, and the attempts made by Mr..
Wright to fix approximately the date of the
Glacial Epoch are the most interesting and in
stfuctlve that we have seen on this point. 1t
is worthy of special note that, absolutely impair
tial as Mr. Wright evidently is in this whole
discussion, he brings down the date of the close
of the Great Ice Age to very moderate limits
only 10000 years ago. Mr.. Wrights views
with regard to the glaclation of North America
deserve every consideration from the fact that
he writes from the most careful study of these
phenomena. The statements in the present
volume on the boundary of the Southern extern
sion of the glaciers seem to have an especial
value. These observations of Mr. Wright have
been made in conjunction with Prof Lewis, and
were carried on in New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
and Ohio
We will only add that the book is in most re-
spects model of intelligent and impartial en-
deavor to ascertain the truth, and the work of
man of unusual accomplishments, both as a
thinker and as a student OF nature 1t deserves
careful perusal. We welcome all such honest
attempts from competent quarters to get at the
truth about mans origin and his age in the
world.