The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-22

sition of the globe. The second day GOD made
the armament. and divided the waters under the
armament. He constructed it from materials
already created the first day. No lapse of vast
ages was required for the work The words of
Moses will bear other construction than the
ones which put on them.
1.-THE theory of both the evolutionist and the
geologist can be exploded. Hugh Miller. the
great geologist, aScribes the work of creation to
God, but teaches that the work went on gradu-
ally and slowly, requiring the lapse of thousands
OF centuries, and also that the days of creation
were not natural days, but vast geological peri
DDS. This theory, within the last quarter of a
century, has made such progress as to be enter
taired by some young ministers of the gospel
Mr. Miller adopted it because of the fossils found
in the rocks. He did not seem to know what all
the biologists now teach-that all the continents
now inhabited were ocean beds less than five
thousand years ago, which were upheaved at the
date OF the deluge, and never again submerged
He has pl9oids in the silurian age. This is
the name he gives to the second geological
period, answering to the second day OF creation
We know, according to the Mosaic account,
that there were no fishes created until the fifth
day. The same contradictions run throughout
all his arguments. The geological theory re-
quires to believe that the seventh day, or the
Sabbath, must be likewise vast period, not a
natural day of twenty hours. If the theory be
once established, our weekly Sabbath Is blotted
out. This, | say must prove fatal objection
to the geological Interpretation"
Rev. Haines on Darwinism aud Christianity.
"Darwnism and Christianity" was the sub
ject Of Rev. NJ. l.. Hanes's discourse, at the
First Presbyterian Church, last evening. Four
years have passed by, said Mr., Haines, since the
mortal remains of the most distinguished nat
uralist Of this generation were borne to their
last resting place in Westminster Abbey.
Charles Darwin was a man of great learning in
certain departments of science; man
respected for his frankness and fair
ness, as we'll as for his immense stores
of knowledge, his skill in observation and his
clearness in description. He was Columbus in
the realm of natural science. The great princi-
pie which he first brought clearly into view is
called by some Darwinism, II is a principle
which has been exalted into philosophy by
others. and is called the theory OF evolution.
For tho last twenty five years this hypothesis of
| philosophy has been the subject of a
| fierce controversy. In making clear the
attitude of the doctrine of Christianity
! regarding God and toward the various phases of
| the philosophy of evolution, the speaker said
that to assert that man believes in evolution is
| very indefinite. There evolutonsts who
| deny the very existence Of God. There are
| others who ignore Him, and will not allow the
IDEA of him to be any factor in their philosophy,
| and there are others who believe in the Bible,
| who find ia the developmental theory, rightly
understood, that which is in accordance with the
| teachings of the Scriptures. 1t is not
fair to say that Mr.. Darwin is atheist, for he
| acknowledges that there must be- some mighty
creative power behind development. In fact, he
asserted his belief in an intelligent creator
Neither is it fair to assert that he rules purpose
and infinite intelligence out of nature, for he
never developed his theory into universal phil
osophy.
the theory of evolution does not touch the
heart of the question Reason compels us to
fall back upon the truth of the Scripture, Every
house is built by some man, but he that
built ali things is God" On Darwinian princi-
ples where neither an infinite intelligence nor a
controlling presence is postnlated, the appear
ance OF llfe of man. and of consciousness must
be recognized a series of fortunate accidents.
The apostle Paul faced these questions that
now trouble the human mind, and he thought
deeply upon them, and he had special enliehten-
ment from the divine spirit. The conclu-
slons to which he came were that whatever
may have been the processes through which the
forms of life now on earth came to their pres
ent developed state, the Creator OF them all was
the eternal God, who made the world and all
things therein; that God is in all the progress of
life in its manifold forms, as preserver and
guide. He has not left the universe as great
machine to run itself; that not only is the Dl-
vine Being back of all substances and forces as
the Creator. and in them the preserver and
guide, but He is over them as the one whom
they glorify. and that the being whom we adore
in creation and Providence is no far removed
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