The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-03-15
NO REAL CONFLICT
narwaEs soInNon AaD nELIaIoN.
A Learned and Interesting Exposition By
Rt. Rev, Bishop KAin OF Catholic Doc.
trlns-A View of the Harmony Of Rev.
Citations of Nature and the Bible,


trIns-A View OF the Harmony Of Rev.
Citations of Mature and the Bible,
A large congregation was present at the
Cathedral yesterday afternoon. In open
ing his course Of tenten lectures on
'Science and Revelation" Bishop Kahn
expressed his regret that 80 many Of the
educated classes are now tinCtured with
infldelity, and he attributed their anti.
Christian sentiments to the erroneous i'm.
preston that the doctrines Of divine rev.
elation had been retutsd by the discov-
cries OF modern science in ita various
departments. He admitted that many Of
those who are moulding the scientific
thought Of our day are professed mstsri-
Alists, and at open war with the Bible,
Their teachings are not only spread broad.
cast over the world in host OF literary
periodicals, but unfortunately they have
been introduced into many OF the higher
educational institutions.
Therefore, he considered 1t most oppor-
tune 10 collect the main points in this
conflict between Science and Religion
and to show that there is really no clash.
ing whatever between the Bible aud any
well-established theories Of modern sci,
enCe, 4 priOri the Bishop Contended
there can be no conflict between the
revelations Of the great Book Of Nature
and those Of the Bible, because both have
the same all.wise and all.truthful Author,
God cannot contradict himself.
In support OF this position he quoted
the dogmatic definitions Of the church.
which 90 so far as to maintain that faith
and reason are ever OF mutual service
one to the other. He then reGited whole
army OF illustrious men OF soienCe who are
or have been most strenuous upholdeIs oil
Christianity. He called attention to the
many severe restrictions and obligations
which Christian morality imposes, but
from which the unbeliever fancies him
self to be altogether exempt; herein, CON
tinued the RI, Rev, lecturer, we may
easily detect the strong motives which hui
man passions supply for casting of Rlleg'
lance TO God and His law.
Then followed full and clear exposi'
ton OF what is meant by the inspiration
OF the Bible, with a candid admission that
errors there may indeed be OF minor i'm
portanCe, owing to mistakes Of copylsIt
and translstors. This he illustrated In the
matter OF chronology, Moreover he
argued, with Mr.. Gladstone in his late
contention with Professor Huxley, that Il
Is not the purpose Of the inspired writerG
TO supply US with knowledge in the vGri
Gus departments OF human science, fol
the acquisition OF which God has enriched
us with our natural faculties. This prin
cipIe being understood, many biblical ex
pressions which, to the superficial reader
seem to antagonize the results Of late scien
tihc Investigations, are justified as mos
appropriate in the circumstances and timet
In which they were employed.
The Bishop then stated the position oil
his own church in reference to the pro-
gress OF science, maintaining that 80 fal
from impeding she had ever aided and
lostered science, and reiuting IN pasIan
certain thread.worn charges to the con-
trary. From these preliminary remarks
he passed directly in mediGS rGS. He ex
posed the doctrine OF the Bible in regard
TO creation, and replied to some OF the OBJ
jections alleged against it by unbelievers
In clear but comprehensive resume he
laid before his hearers the grand resultG
attained by astronomers in their investiga
cations into the wonders Of the siderea
worlds. Magnificent as Is this display o.
Gods power and wisdom, the inhdel fndl
therein only ground for disappearing the
Divine Creator and Conservor. The ar
guments thence sdduced by infdelitJ
were considered and answered, and much
interesting information given touching thu
oit-mooted question whether any OF the
other heavenly bodies arc inhabited
Even were this fact granted, the ConCes
sion could not initiate against tho Chris
tian Religion. For God was not at al
bound to create the race OF Adam fol
heaven; to give them this wondroug, super
natural destiny with supernatural mean
to attain 1t. He might have created us II
q state Of pure naturs--with only nRtura
end, a certain rational happiness, followed
perhaps by utter humiliation. II othel
worlds are inhabited, may not this be the
ultimate end OF all, even Of their rational
Intelligent inhabitants? But II created
like US for heaven, who can assert thai
they have not been more faithful in theii
allegiance TO their Divine Creator than the
race OF Adam, and in no need consequent.
| ly OF the redemption wrought for usT
The second Of this series OF timely and
instructive discourBes will be delivered at
8 p. N, next Sunday.