New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-01-21
THE Uses or EVOLUTION.
A SUBLIME DOCTRINE-wITH GOD IN IT.
WITHOUT HIM IT CONTRADICTs ITsELF-MR. BEECHEF

WITHOUT HIM IT CONTRADICrs ITsELF-MR BEECHER
oN "THE SIGNS OF THE TINES. "
In his sermon yesterday morning in Plymouth
Church. Mr. Beecher sad "Of the doctrine of evolution
rests on mere forces and leaves God 1t Is full Of
trary doctrines complain OF the difficulty of finding
the continuity OF and the lower animals and talk of
the gulf between them and of missing link, but far
greater gulf lies between the moral consciousness OF man
and that ofower animals and how Goddess theory OF
evolution explain the transition from the appees and
passons to the nobler sentiments Of aud moral
consciousness and show man nfodedl But II the theory
OF evolution shows the decree Of God and He is
behind It and under It. 1t il sublime
In showing how He waits and works causing the ascend
ing development Invisible. finer. and nobler ele
ments. II Is God in man mightier than the animal.
Evolution is thus the explanation OF the Of true
growth and contribution to the faith that God thinks,
plans and executes scope time and universal power
and relieves the doubt why the world is left as IL is
Goodness developing steadily though slowly through
the ages. There is something msking the way
OF the human up. call 1t God All the assaults
on religion only exalted and purified IT, and made 1t
more practical Every period Of transition has been
period OF waste but made way for the better This
is period OF agnoscisim when all are know nohings.
But 1t IL only between the lower and the higher,
Ours is time OF lOOsing old faiths when feel that
they have fooled and they let the owl But Is
no gn that the OF God is failing There has been just
as much doubt and agnostcism many times before But
the remedy IL not to go back the old age. Some say
that We must hold fast the old theology and they bolt
H. ~ they don't believe t-swalow II whole. All
birth causes OF trouble The truth Ia not to PERISH
for mems interest for 1t to live. This time viii
lead TO higher better aspirations and the next
alton will go and up Many great topics are now IN
settled fl mems minds The nature and existence Of God
IL unsettled. There is no use In hiding IT, 1t is pro
found question: and sympathy and respect for the
honest man WHO labors over tho question. II
can't be settled By science; and no one
eyer pretended that It could. God Is Spirit
and you can't demonstrate His existence you demon
strae matter. When stand In the presence OF God
we know that His power is not In air earth and water
aud that the encompassng Inspiration lifting us up must
The anatomy and structure Of the Bible now the
subject of much research Men used to think II as much
the direct work or God as II Il nad been printed edVen
and dropped down to man, But folks know now that II
not in that W2 g God used sf te r s9o Of
the development OF man for many centuries
IT, GGds sAt qad 1t Sg@inat Christ in To
take away the old Views is not to destroy faith indee
pie win read outside and say n they are misguided IN one
Thing they must he IN all. and will kick the whole thing
over. II Is thOusaudold more dangerous TO the com
mnnity TO conceal facts The Bible is not dead book,
but living reality II is chart. but not the ocean.
lament one II would he better to substitute Christ for
IT, but the essential truth is the Christ the wis
dS Of Cod e ana old 5ae Gocne " las 90 So a
under docs not peep mutt aud where used to
thunder, ana tue lIulu sllcS Jul VIC "a u tu ~
did not destroy astronomy change ts errors SO In
ligon may lose way up, but ain In TIE end
"Another vexed quest on that OF mmOra ity life ere
and destiny II never more Investigated, add no
theme should engage more concern Is the grave a
homel experience after deatht the fruit
OF lie all guuel VIII there be happineSsf How many
will secure NJ Will most all be Destroyed Is there hope
for the imperfect and smii All these questions are
important To investigate, and though 1t may shake the
faith OF many larger power and more stimulating view
of the facts Immortality will result. II have only
hone here we are all men the most miserable The law
OF God III suffer the truth 70 be CXtnulshed or long
hid with beIcf IN God there comes faith that tue
world is marching its royal way TO millennla happl-
ness ana the rescue of the human race BE not dis
MAYED by progress OF free hit Gods DEGREES Will
not be OverthTOwn 10y investigation and discussion"