The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1884-10-08

commission to teach science? What
could she do, for instance, with the
science of astronomy i: she insists that
we shall go to the Bible to get our natu-
raj science, rs we'll as our. theological
science, and that having first obtained
from the Bible our science Of astronomy,
the same science Of astronomy? This
would be the law of harmony! Dr..
Woodrow rejects it: he tcll; us there is
no natural science Of astronomy in tile
Bible it is waste Of time to search for
it where it is not: if you would find the
true religion, search for it where alone
it is to be found, in the Bible; hut if
you would find the true aStronon,u,
search for it where dl0nc it is to be
found, in the stars. So, too. in refer
encc to geology, he constantly cautions
against studying geology where no nat
ural science of geology is in the first
chapter Of Genesis: if you desire to
study geology, search for it where atone
true, geology is to b: found-in the
euTth.
Is it not manifest that if huyDlOnv is
demanded as the regulatire law and the
Bi6ic is claimed as the StundaiJ bv
which that harmony is to be Judged,
then we must first go to the Bible to
learn science and then go to nature to
find there the same science which we
have already deduccd from the Bible ?
Did not this course produce the shame
ful conduct of the Church toward Gal
ileo? Is it not. therefore, proved to be
an unsound principle Ergo, the mind
Of Prof. Woodrow, severely trained by
the accuracy demanded in scientific
studies, rejects it,.
The law of hdrm0ny, therefore. will
not do. The law Of contradiction will
not do. as is sclf-cvidcnt. E,yo. the
law of nOn-contradic;ion is the only law
which regulates the connection between
science and revelation.
1t seems, then, that Prof. Woodrow is
doing exactly what he was put in the
seminary to do, and exactly what the
Church ought to desire him TO do. Shall
we. therefore, for these things, lcnounce
him rs n hereto, remove from him his
prolesSorship, and so repeat the folly of
the seventeenth century? And all for
what ? Because, forsooth, he teaches
that the rcgulalivc law of the connection
between science and revelation is the
law Of non contradiction
~ IT seems clear that the Bible- in Gen.
vii: Z, formed man Of the dust Of the
ground" leaves it an open question
whether the expression. dust of the
ground" is intended to mean organic or
inorganic dust, and it seems equally
clear that no other passage Of Scripture
aids in the solution of this question. II
so, then this question. from the nature
Of the case, must belong to that science
whose proper study is the investigation
Of this very subject, viz matter-dust
-organic or inorganic. If this be so.
then is not any attempt to settle the
question Of organic or inorganic dust by
the Bible q persistent effort on my part
to invade the sphere Of science? And
am not attempting to violate the regu-
lative law Of non contradiction and to
enforce the law Of harmony But if so,
may not expect both the Bible and
science to rebel against me and refuse to
give me aid or comfort?
But if NIL these things are so. then in
the present aspect Of the question OF
evolution as to man, l am not called
upon to say that believe it or that
do not believe it. AS n scientific qucs-
tion it is still under discussion. AS to
the final settlement Of it as an accepted
doctrine Of science, | can afford TO be
profoundly Indifferent so far as an,
concerned as a student Of the Billie
Nor shall ] concern myself to settle the
question whether 'dust' in Gen. ii 7
means organic or inorganic dust, by way
of getting my Bible in readiness for the
latest conclusions Of science, for this is
a qn :>tion for the scientist to settle, not
for mo. tf science shah find TINT man
came from dust-inorsanic, all right
my Bible says it was dust; and if sci
encc shall finally conclude that man
came from dust-organic, still all right
my Bible says it was dust, without say
ing whether that dust was organic or in
organic. And so when this question is
finally settled shall hail it an a renewed
demonstration Of that which Prof. Wood
row taught mo in Columbia Seminary,
the law Of non contradiction. Sd shall
I learn from the past lesson for the
future. JAMES l.. MARTIN.
Remedy for Poison Oak.
] came across the following very use.