The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-06-22

subject Of evolution. This he did in Il
carefully prepared address in which he
frankly admitted that his views had
undergone change. His investination
Of tho phenomena Of nature led him to
the conclusion that the science Of evolu-
ton was applicable to body Of Adam as
it manifcstly was to all other animals.
This announcement started the whole
church. The editors and d. DIS
through the land cried out, "sHere-
sy," "hercsy!' This is the theory that
Darwin, Hulcy and Tyndall arc WELD
ing against the Holy Scriptures Arc
we to have such teachings propagated in
the schools Of the Prophets ? If the
fountain Ire corrupt will not the issuing
streams be the same? soon the cry is
heard, clown with the hereto - cast
out this evil from your nids; >" Under
the pressure Of great excitement the
four SynOdS having control Of the Semi
nary instructed the Directors to put n
stop to such teaching. These were soon
called together, and in a very summary
manner elected DR.. Woodrow from his
chair. He appealed to the Synods for
some trial before he is executed. IN.
action of the Directors was not sustain
cd. and DR.. w., rs Professor, continued
to lecture i'll the Seminary as before,
but under il pledge not to promulcatc
his views on evolution.
This did not satisfy his enemies He
was victor in the struggle to drive him
away, and now his very presence may
contaminatc the students, and he must
be removed. But how IS this to be
done? His own Prcsbytcry, without n
dissenting voice, says he is not her
etIc His associate professors say the
same What then is to be done We
must get rid Of him, hercsy or no her.
esy.
We can arraign him for teaching
things contrary to Scripture. His Pres
hytcry says they find no ground even
for this charge. But Il certain ID. d.
says 81 will assume the rcsponsibirity
of making the indictment and proving
his guilt y day is appointed for
trial
In the meantime tho General Assem-
bly, of the whole church is to meet in
Augusta. The order goes forth from
a ID. ID. in Kentucky, "Lct all the Pres
bvterics send up anti Woodrow dele
Satcs.' 10 ensure some action by the
Assembly he further urges the Prcsby-
terles to send ovcrtures asking for de-
iveranccs that will silence evolution
forever
The General Assembly meets. A
special committee Of the best mon are
appointed on the first day Of the meet.
ing to consider the ovcrtures on the
subject. They come together to COM
pare notes. What shall we recon-
mend We cannot condemn evolution.
lh's is purely scientific question. and
our Confession of Faith forbids orr
handling such matters. Well, we can
bring him to Scripture and test him by
that. We read that the Lord God
formed man Of the dust of the earth.
This, Of course, refers to his body.
"Bnt,' interposcs friend, "Dr. w.
believes and maintains that as sincerely
and earnestly as You do He is firm
believer in the plenary inspiration of
the Scriptures. They constitute basis
for all moral truth as immutablc rs
Their divine author" This sounds
rather strange. We thought he was a
little skeptical. But it will never do to
stop now. The pressure is too ercot
Something must be done to quiet tho
commotion. Let us take Gen.. 81.
When We read ''dust of the earth, we
mean dust /; it may not have been sand
or clay, but humus or mould il must
have been. 10 make sure of the mat
ter, we will add little to the text. so
as to clinch him fast. "The Lord God
formed man Of the dust of the earth,
Immediately, instantly. on the snot.
IN the latter part Of the sixth day of
creation; and day is day from sun
rise to sunrise
DIR. W. and his friends obe,ted to
any such addition to the word of God.
but in vain. The cdict had gone forth,
and in no other way could their prc-ar.
ranged plans be executed. Even this
action does not satisfy ihc onrmicr nj