The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-12-21
WOODROW'S REMOVAL
AND HIS DILUTED FORM OF
EVOLUTION,
Condemned by Presbyterlaus as IT.
reeOncilable With Their Dogma
and Doctrine.
TO the Editors of tho Appeal:

tempted to show The dilemma IN WnlcE
the APPRAL's critic would place some
Of the most eminent Presbyterian
theologians. The critics position II
that no farm Of the evolution doctrine
can be reconciled with the Presbyteri
an creed-not even DIR. Woodrow
diluted" form-and that If evolution
be proved true, we must perforce give
up the immortality of the soul, the
fall in Adam, and "the scheme of sal.
vAtion." Against this position have
presented, instead of technical argu-
ment, this fact, that if our critic be
correct, then many of the most honor.
ed theoloqiaus of our church are in
the dilemma of saying that there is
such thing as "theistic evolution, "
and that such evolution is entirely
compatible with the Presbyterian
creed. If the smiable critic is correct,
they have spoken" as Moses did on
one occasion, "unadvisedly with their
lips" My position is not weakened
by the fact that some of these theo
loeisns are OF the opinion that evolu
ton is not proved-is, in fact, or may
be scientifically disproVen, for they
can be suspected Of no bias in favor Of
the new opinion. My list could be
ex ended indefinitely by adding such
names as Prof. Cslderwcod of the Edin-
burg University PRESBYTERIAN and
from the Church OF England, the
Bishop of Exeter, but forbear.
2. Now, let us see the dilemma into
which the APPEALS critic will drive
some Of the most illustrious scientists
of our time. The critic thinks that
no form of the evolution hypothesis
can bs made to haImoniEs with such
fundamental doctrines of Christianity
as has been named above, and also
that the diluted" form of Prof.
Woodrow is disowned by Science"
Some of us heard such things from
ecclesiastical sources ad abundsntiam.
We well; how does the statement
affect the position of eminent men OF
science who happen also to be Chris
tiansp
Of these, l shall name more par
ticularly three whose pre-emipence as
scier lists none will dispute
Dana, the geolcgist; Prof. Gray, the
botanist, and Prof. Joseph Leconte,
OF the University of Caifornis, and
and author OF many scientific works,
a pale ontologist second only to Dana
in world wide reputation.
These three scientists are sll Of
them known as decided, active Chris
tians. DR.. Leconte is a Presby terrain,
and Profs. Dana and Gray Congrega-
tiouaiists (Evangeiical), but one short
step removed from US. AS devout be-
levers in the Bible and science evolu-
tionists, they must nee ssarily believe,
of course, in the harmony between
their scientific beliefs and their Chris
tan creed; and, Furthermore, they
must beliepe in just some such rec0ncilia-
ton as DR.. Woodrow proposes. Differ
ing perhaps on minor points, they
must, of course, hold in the main with
him. This is too plain to require
proof.
Now as to Prof. Leconte, who
through bis Geology" is teaching
his scientific opinions in many acsde
mics and colleges all over the country,
among them in Presby terrain Church
schools--ss for him, l happen to know
that after reading DIR. Woodrow's now
famous Address on Evolution" he
said: ~ can adopt every word as my
own"
"What of Dana, confessedly the
first OF living archaeological The
first, / say, not only in America, but
in Europe also. OF this fact a friend
not long ago had a most pleasing testi-
monial. Meeting the geologist of
Saxony, my friend said: II have the
honor to address the most eminent
paleontologist of the world" No,
no." cried the great German with en-
thusiasm, you forget Dana. While
he lives he is the first" Dana con-
cludes his Manual OF Geology by a care
full comparison between the first chap
ter OF Genesis and "the record made
in the rocks" His main proposition
is that If science shows that Genesis is
true, the Mosaic record is thereby
proved to be divinelv inspired, for no
merely human intelligence could, at
that early day, have possibly known
the facts which modern research
brings to the light. And his conclu-
sion reminds one Of the eestatic shout
with which the immortal Kepler
hailed his great discovery: 81 can
think the thoughts OF Godp Dana
ssysin conclusion: "The record in the
Bible is, therefore, profoundly philo-
sophicsl in the scheme of creation
which it presents. II is b5th true and
diviHe. 1t Is a declaration of author
ship, both OF creation and the Bible,
on the first page of the sacred volume.
There can be no real conflict be-
tween the two books OF the Great
Author. Both are revelations made
by Him to man-the earlier telling of
God made hsrmonies, coming up
from the deep past and rising TO their
hight when man appeared; the later
teaching mans relations to his Maker
and speaking of lofier harmonies in
the eternal future. "-Ddna's Manual
Of Geology, revised edition, PIP. $40, $50
Prof. Gray, Of Harvard, is, / am
crediblY informed, the highest living
authority in his own special depart
ment, botany, His devout mind has
long dwelt upon the conflict between
scientists and theologians, and many
of his contributions to the press have
been gathered into volume styled
DdrsOinianG. 1t is q pity that our
reading friends should have been at
trac ed 30 exclusively to the religious
discussions Of Huxley, Tyndall and
Spencer, all Of them skeptiCs, while
the able writings Of such Christian
scientists as Gray are not known.
One reason which occurs to me is that
many OF Prof. Gray's papers appeared
during or just after the great civil
war, when communication between
the two sections was greatly inter-
rupted.
The chief topic of Prof. Gray's OAR
WinianG published by D. Appleton &
Co., New York; is the effect, or sup.
posed effect, of the new scientific opin-
ion upon religious faith, and especially
upon the argument for the existence
OF an Almighty Person, the Creator Of
all things. His proposition ia that
evolution" leaves the "design argu-
ment" in full force. But for the mas
terly skill with which our world re-
noWned botanist handles the theme
! must refer those who love strong
force put forth in classic and forcible
English to the volume Of itself. There