Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-01-24

tneS are lHSOiVOu IN the acEeptett
belief that Gods plan is perfect
from all eternity.4saa sz8 sIlg smia
/ do not consider Mr.. Darwin's
theory of natural selection sufficient
TO account for the evolution OF spe-
eies. look upon It as one factor
| (perhaps an important 0ne1 among
many other factors TO US unknown.
IL seems TO me unnatural, not TO say
unnecessary, TO iIn4gine that for
every one OF the hundreds of thous-
andS OF species of plants and ami
mails God should introduce His di-
vine and miraculous power to form
from inorganic material primal
pair, or single progenitor. Having
utilized inorganic matter for the
purposes OF organic bodies, why
should he not utilize organic bodies
IN the development of his plan in
regard to higher organisms
In regard TO man, as to his physi-
cal nature, consider that he differs
but little from the lower animals !;
the characteristic element is the i'm
mortal soul; ii is this which is the
image of God within him-and it Is
this which consider was given to
him when it Is said God breathed
into him the breath of life, and thus
he became living soui-this was
the seal OF his manhood. 8f5at1a
LII evolution was the law of crea-
tion in regard to lower species, / see
no reason why it might not have
applied also to mans body. III the
Divine presence in the person Of
Christ, could hallow and dignity
the body of weak, sinful human
being, / do not think the suggestion
just made, need be considered so de
rOgatOry to man. @ ~ are
do not believe that the Bible
was ever intended to teach natural
science, nor do think that system
of science colud ever be made out
from it, AS used to be taught. On
the other hand, hold that science,
like philOlogy, history, antiquarian
research, ETC., may be and should
be used to shed light upon the sa-
cred text. The reference to natural
science made i'm the Scriptures are
casual, and given, as would be ex-
pected, in phenomenal language.
The Mosaic account of creation, as
/ understand 1t, was given, not so
much for history, as for the purpose
of emphasizing the great principles
OF MOnotheisIn-to teach the world
that the heavens and the earth and
all things therein were made by
God, by the one only living and
true God. TO have given detailed
account Of such an event as the Gre
alton of the heavens and the earth
would have been not only iinpossl-
BILE, but useless; hence only u few
typical points are presented, and
these in such form rs 10 be compre-
hended and accepted by all ages.
The fact of the work of creation be-
ing described AS occupying six days
(Which, of course, understand to
be @ons of indefinite duratlon), to-
gether with such contained express
sions as s'let the earth bring forth,
''let the waters be gathered togeth-
er," seems to me itself TO indicate a
process or a series OF processes rath-
er than instantaneous miraculous
acts. believe that II a human eye
had been present to witness the en-
tire series of events during the So
called creative week, there would
have been presented nothing start,
ling in its suddenness, moi, any prod
igy more tremendous than may be
Witnessed upon the earth at the
present time-but only a quiet, or
derly and natural progressive
march. 1t seems TO me that those
who oppose the idea OF evolution in
the past arraign the wisdom of
God in His plan of dealing with the
universe to-day. God in history,
God in providence, undoubtedly
carries on His purposes by means Of
natural law-the unfolding of his
plans is effected without any mi
raculous intervention. Why should
1t not have been thus in the past
These are the sincere expressions
of sincere man, in the line with
the opinions Of by far the larger,
portion OF the scientific world. 1t
would seem that scientific teacher
could not afford. in a literary insti-
tuition, to ignore these things; he
cannot talk by prescribed rules un-
less he il chameleon or a hypo-
crite. TO say this is certainly no
reflection upon the earnest and
faithful men who look solely to the
future good of man; but they may
yet have to acknowledge, as the
church has often done before, that
the antagonisH they saw existed i'm
their own imaginatIen5. Calm and
candid minds will not grow angry
or ,lenounce one side or the other in
this conflict between conservatism
and progress. True. right and
wholesome progress is only attained
through such conflict and because
there isa rigid conservatism as well
as aggressive progressive thought.
God help the church or the country
that lacks either.