The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-12-13

rOr the Comet
Presbyterian circles are just now
being considerably agitated over the
subject OF Evolution, on account Of
the teachings Of one Dr.. Hoodrow,
Prof OF Natural Science in Columbia
Theological Seminary. AS the subject
is now before the public, perhaps a few
thoughts on this line may not prove
undressing to the readers Of the
COMET.
In the first place, the average man
confounds Evolution with Darwinisn,
supposing the two to be the same
thing For long while many sci
entists have held that the striking re-
semblance between the organs OF the
different animals, as for instance the
nervous or circulatory system Of man,
the OK, the dog, the squirrel, etc, in
dicates n common brotherhood; or
rather common origin, these differ
cnt forms being individual members
of long lianiage of animals. AS
Stunning that this relation docs exist, Il
number of scientists have.attempted
to explain 1T, or to discover the laws.
by which the evolution is brought.
about. Conspicuous among, these theo-
ries is that OF Mr. Chas. Darwin, who
held that the supposed evolution was
due to two causes first, Natural Sc
lection" those animals pairing with
each other which possess the finest or
CARNATIONS; second, "the survival Of
the fittest," nature selecting those an-
imals which are best suited for the
propagation of the species.
twill be seen then that Darwinsm
is nothing more than one method of
explaining the supposed evolution
Many other theories have, been. ad-
vanced but none of them as vet, Oar
wins included, seem to be satisfacto-
ry. Some men are eyolutionists whe
do not profess to account for the evo.
luton. They simply accept it as a fact,
with an undiscovered philosophy. y
Of course all theories OF evolution;
especially those which include man,
are at variance with our present inter-
probation Of the Biblical, account. Of
creation. There is no denying the
fact that at present the two accounts
Of creation, as far as man is concern
ed, are irrcconcilable. The Bible evil
IDENTIFY teaches mans Divine origin.
Science his natural origin.
What then are tho churches to do?
Just what they are doing; hold on to
the faith of their old fathers, and
demand the right to have that faith
taught in their own schools. Eighteen
hundred years have passed away and
the simple teachings of the Savior are
still taught just as He taught them
Through all the long centuries nc
change of belief has taken place
Science boasts of her proves, and vel
"A single decade cannot pass away with
out great changes in her theories ! ole
ones are abandoned and ridiculed new
ones take their places, to PAST awir1
in their turn. The exact science
change slowly and never conflict will
revelation. 1t is the theoretical sci
ences that change and claim to be 0
such grand Importance.
The indications now are that Evo
luton can never be more than a thee
ry of The Scientist, incapable of dem
onstration. All the facts pertaining
to the supposed Evolution are hein
gathered, but there seems to, be II
known law Of nature that will. ea
plain it. It is worse than the riddl
! OF the Sphynx. 1t is probable tha
) Scientists may one day settle down I
a belief in the fact Of an Evolution,i
the organic world, wrought out by IN
known causes. But the Christian
: faith will suffer but little from any a,
$ emulation Of facts or pronulgatio
OF fanciful theories. NIMRoD.