The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-29
TALMAGE VS.. BEECHER.
The Tabernacle Divine Denounces Evolution
as a Humbug.

Humbug.
New York Letter in Pioneer Press.
At the desk of the Sunday Magazine, on Mon
day met Dr. Talmage Beecher's anti-pathetic
neighbor. He was in his usual mood, amiable
and laxative He was writing the editorials for
the next number, and, as he leaned over the pa
per, silently scratching his massive jaws worked
automatically, as if he were addressing his great
congregation in the tabernacle
well, he said, looking up, what is the lat
estq'
Evolution, I suggested
1.-THE greatest humbug and delusion of the
nineteenth century, he exclaimed. smiling as he
laid down his pen. ''It is doing heap of mis-
chief and there's nothing in it but degradation"
Nothing at all, Doctorl" / asked.
Nothing to speak Of he went on, 'Of course
it is true that all affected more OF less by
our observation-disclosures have their in
fuence-but the tendency of such evolution as
there is is downward, and not upward: backward,
and not forward. Evolution and Christianity
are Incompatible
I inquired of the Doctor who he thought the
first man was.
1.-THE first human beings were perfect" he
said. without trying to specify the very first in
dvidual, perfect, with perfect surroundings
They fell-how farl-into sin which is an i'm
measurable distance, and they have been falling
ever since. Instead of having originated in the
oyster OF the pig faced baboon, as evolution
teaches, the human race began; as the Bible
teaches, in a species incredibly perfect-fne,
healthy, wise and good-and it has been falling
like Lucifer ever since, its condition ameliorated
only by Christianity. There has been no evou-
ton except that Of which Christ has been the
lever"
".You think the antediluvians were physically
our superiorsW asked.
"Why, certainly" said the Doctor ''Mer were
eight or ten feet high, like the sons of Anak-
splendid fellows! Hardly any of our diseases
were known to them. They lived to be six or
seven hundred years old, and occasionally one
lived to be eight or nine hundred. When child
dropped off when only couple of hundred, his
mother said: Poor boy! dying so young! I was
always afraid we shouldn't raise himr Read the
accounts of the strength of the men OF those
days. And all their surroundings were more
perfect than they are row. Just look at that
horse that Job describes"
He reached for his Bible in the pigeonhole be-
fore him, turned to that thirty ninth chapter and
rem arked:
There is no horse now living that is the equal
to that splendid animal that Job described. His
neck was clothed with thunder Now it is
clothed with hay seedp
Ee laughed at the preposterous, unkempt stall
hol of the present day, and went on:
1.-THE glory of his nostrils is terrible He
paweth in the valley and goeth to meet armed
men. He mocketh at fear, and is not alright
ened; neither turneth he back from the sword.
The culver rattleth against him, gittering spear
and the shield. He swalloweth the ground with
ferceness and rage-oh! there is no such magni
fcent animal on any battlefield at the present
day. He saith among the trumpets, ha! hal
horses laughed in those days, and they have not
laughed since. Probably all animals have de-
gernated on account of coming in contact with
man. The forces of nature work for universal
degradatiOn; nothing but Christianity sets man
on his feet and gives him a chance to recover his
lost estate. Yet you agnostics fancy that there
is redemption in evolution"
Zone thing we can do Doctor" I said taking
leave, 1--WE can correctly report those with whose
doctrines we do not agree"
He smiled broad smile, held out broad
hand, and resumed his work with "Let us see."