Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-04-05
SCIENCE AND REVELATION.
The Fourth Lsntsn Lecture by
Bishop Kain,
In Which the Great Problem Of the Origin
of Life is Handled in a Mas
terIy Manner.

At the outset OF his fourth Lenten lee
ture on the subject of Science and Reve-
lation," delivered yesterday afternoon at
the Cathedral, Ri. Rev. Bishop Kahn said
that in view OF the fact that many writers,
who uphold the theory Of life being evolved
or developed from inorganic matter, are
wont to appeal to Darwin in support OF
their insne theory, it would be well to
bear in mind Darwin's own acknowledge
ment, (Origen Of SPECIES, p. 56S) that
some liie.germs must be supposed as
PRE-ExIsTING.
Whatever differences therefore may be
drawn from his other statements, here ia
his candid confession that his system Of
Natural Selection" does not account Tor
the origin of life.
No greater mystery has perplexed the
minds Of philosophers in all ages than the
question: Whence does life proceed
Modern Science has indeed given US very
much important information about the
physical composition OF things, but Of the
essential nature of matter and Of the hrst
origin of life in any of its stages, it leaves
us lust as much in the dark as were the
| philosophers OF old. This is admitted BY
some of the ablest scientists Of our day
some of whom are at open war with Divine
Revelation. The Bishop quoted mum
Der of extracts from their writings to prove
that they considered these questions still
wrapped
IN IMPENETRABLE MYSTERY.
BE then took the position that the solu
ton of these mysteries must ever lie beyor Z
the search of mere natural sciences, ard
that it can be fully known only by Revela
ton. However, he argued, reason, sup
ported By Revelation, can penetrate Ger
tain distance beyond these mysterious veils
Here followed an exposition OF the teach
ings OF Christian philosophy as delivered
BY St Thomas Aquinss and other distin
euished schoolmen. These teachings arr
controYerted by Tyndall and other mater
islists, who have advanced coDjeciures arc
speculstions to show that the inorganic
may develop into the living organism. Th'
differences as well as the similarities be
tween the various orders of living beings
were pointed out in order to prove tina
they cannot have sprung one from the other
THE question. however" said the
Bishop, with which we are most concern
ed is the vindicstion of mans
Own SUPERIOR DIGNITY
against the debasiDg theory Of his evolu
ton or development from the lowest orders
of crestion-a theory popularizsd by such
men as Darwin, Spencer, Huxley, etc." A
great portion Of his lecture was devoted 10
an exposition and reputation of this theory
He pointed out what man has in his ma
ture in common with the lower orders, and
what it is that MARKS him as essentially
different from other animals. He ex
planned the difference between animal In
stinct, wonderful a. some Of its manifesto
lions are, and human Intelligence. In
stlnct proves beyond doubt tie existence
Of q predeterminiDg, intelligent cause, but
not in the animal which possesses the
instinct any more than in the
machine which obeys the laws Of
] lis COQSlEucIlOu. h0 buO"Cu ~" lIO
claim made by the infdel that instinct is
only lower grade of intelligence, proves
too much; for if instinct be intelligence Of
all, it is Of q far superior degree to that
with which man is endowed
After illustrating this point, the RI Rev,
Bishop passed to the consideration Of
THE FINAL END OF NAN,
both as to his soul and body. The argu'
ments which reason supplies in confms'
ton Of the doctrine Of Immortality were
briefly stated; and the usual objections
alleged by unbelieYers against the future
resurrection of the body refuted. How.
ever" concluded the Bishop, neither Of
these two doctrines can be demonstrated
By reason alone; we know them for GER
tain only from divine revelation.
The Bishop announced that next Sunday
evening he would consider the system Of
evolution as preached BY St Augustine
and elaborated in our day by Darwin.