The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-02-23
"LOOKER ON" ANSWERS "R"
HE DISCLAiMs ALL PURPOSE TO
MIsREPRESENT,
Aud Holding 10 Science ny Pro
gresHIve He SIN Adheres 20
Christianity.


To the Editors Of the Appeal:
1t is not convenient TO reresd IRE
formers" article, but this will be said
yery sincerely, that if there was any
misconstruction it was not williul, and
IL there were any misstatements,
reckless or otherwise, they were not
intended, as such course is fatal 10
the argument and contrary TO the
present writer's disposition. And il is
not clear what eternal aud fixed laws
scientists believe, for a law of nature
is n generaliEsd statement based on
numerous facts OF observation by
which the orderly occurrence of phe-
namena is predicted. But these laws
and beliefs arc subject to change, "for
science" as some one has said, sis,
ike Chronos, constantly devouring
her own children. The CoperniCan
theory of the universe eNtinguished
tho rtolemaic. Sir Isaac Newton's
dot trine Of attractions extingulshed
Descartes's doctrine OF worthless; as
tron omy extinguished Rstrology, chem
istry alchemy and electricity magic.
In natural philosophy the corpuscular
hypothesis Cf light has been discrHd-
tied by tie uudulatory hyTo hCsis; in
geology the convulsionists have been
devouTed by the unilormitarians, aud
in natural history evolutionisls are
eEdeavoring, il they have not sue.
| ceeded, to dispose oi thu creauonistH,
and the advoCs ties Cf the thto.y of
transmutation Of species 10 make
short work OF the persistence ana inn
mutability OF species"
Before the British Association, some
years ego, in an address fpr the en-
! couragement Of abstract studies, Prof.
| q. @. Foster said: Euclid was jeered
at in his day and his book remained
20O0 years unappreoiated and but lit
tie known; but Kepler came and
found the work ready to his hands.
He in turn wrote g hook, and closed It
! with the remark The book is writ
ten end may remain 1000 years for an
interpreter Sir IeeaU Newton came
and found Kepler's work, and II il
safe to say" said the professor "had
there been no Euclid there would
have been no Kepler, no Kepler no
Newton, aud had there been no New
/ tn, phyaical pui0rce would not have
reached ils pleseLt proud eninonce." "
Nov, the science of our own day,
~ compared with Christianity, is Il
thing OF yesterday, ard may be dead
tomoIoY, aud what possible intu-
euce could il have had in ciyilizlng
mankind? It's fixed, interchangeable
and self.existent laws have been
mostly formulated in our own day,
and what possible belief can one have
in thing 30 recent, and how could IT
influence the pastP And If science
had no influence, what other intln-
ences were there that were not de-
rived from belief in the supernetu-
raj that can be credited with the pres
ent advanced state OF civilization Z
There is very little effected by any
fixed laws or other influences except
when backed by powerful organized
society. II any such existed that was
not Christian it 10 not prominent in
history. No, IL was not science or y
belief in fixed, Interchangeable and self
existent laws, but faith in Christ, thai
urged the apostles Peter and Paul to
step into the seething mass Of corrup
ton that existed in pagan Rome in
the days of Nero and found the soci
ETY. which raised woman from being {
slave aud mere instrument Of pleasure
to an equal dignity with man, and t
establish the Christian family" the
keystone Of the moral arch.
II was not scientists or iDhdels, bu
Christian missionaries that, after thu
sacking OF Rome, returned with thu
barbarians under Atilla and Atari,
aud settled with them at and arounC
. what are now the great cities OF Europe
from the Mediterranean TO the frozeI
ocean, and taught our ancestors 8gri
culture and how to raise the neces
: saries OF life. Ii was no ether thar
: Christian Influence that collected tn
> ohivalry OF Europe under Charles Mar
/ tel TO drive the Saracen from Southern
, France and Spain, or to organize tn
/ feet that fought the battle OF Lepant,
and swept the gloomy crescent iron
the waters OF the Mediterranean
There was nothing but Christian prin
ciples to induce the gallant Sobiesk
. and his $4,000 brave Poles to marcl
southwark raise the siege OF Vienn
and drive Suiemamand the ungpeak
able Turk out OF Western Europe, an
save our civilization and our science
TOO. Finally it is not scienCe or inf
deity, but Christianity, that is CON
batting and curbing socialism and a
the other isms TO which men ar
driven by oppression and poverty Il
all populous cities.
/. Science is knowledge verified an
knowledges-is progressive, and eacI
generation has had doubtless all tbs
was necessary for II. knowledge
increased in the order Of Providence
!. and tomorrow is sure 10 bring an &C
dition to the ttock, but ChTit tian me-
raity is unchanged and Interchangeable
The truth of GOD remains forever. l.
conclusion the writer wishes to 81
that he is as much devoted to scienc
y and loves it for its own FAKE a5 niue
az the average man, but he has nc
T. yet seen It proved that the church hs
!, combatted science or any advance
! learning; also 10 say that he believe
in the words Of -. Augustine, this
"the world is governed by fixed law
az far as we know" but not in an
"a selfexistent law, or that ii is futile
}, seek for the cause OF any law OF ma