The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-29
".

Tho relations OF tho Christian faith 10 the
discoveries and inductions OF physical science
are discussed by the Rev. J. r. IllinGworth in
IN essay on The Incarnation In Relation to
Development" The author undertakes TO
provo that the doctrine OF tho Eternal Word"
is compatible with all tho verified results Of
scientific teaching with regard TO en-
ergy. theology. the origin and antiquity
OF man, Lot US first begin with noting
Mr. Illngworths position with reference to
tho first point. Science" he says. may
resolve tho complicated life OF the
material universe into q few elementary
forces. light, heat and electricity; and those.
perhaps, into notifications OF some still sim
pier energy. or tho origin Of energy. however,
science knows no moro than did the Greeks OF
old. Theology asserts that in the beginning
was the Word and in Him WAS life. the life Of
MI things created; in other words that He Is
tho source OF all that energy whose persistenty
irresistible energy OF action is forever at work
moulding and clothing and peopling worlds.
The TWO conceptions are complementary. and
cannot contradict each other" Turning from
the origin to the development OF things, wo are
reminded that tho new way OF looking ut ma
ture las working through evolutionary proc
esses) was thought at first both by its adhe-
rents and opponents. TO be inimical to the doc
trine Of final causes. Hero was direct
issue joined with theology at once: for
the presence OF final causes. or design In
the universe. has not only been In all ages ono
OF the strongest supports for natural religion.
but 1t Is contained In the very notion OF q rn-
tional creation. a creation by an Eternal Rea-
son. Design. however. was supposed to be d.
rectly negatived by the doctrine OF the survival
OF the flttest through natural selection. MIR.
I'M, nd otf hnf III 81 Il
acted exclusively throughout the uni
verso. the result would be semblance
of design without any OF it's real
ity. from which no theological inference
could be drawn. But he points out that this
consequence OF natural selection depends upon
the exclusivenesB Of its action. II natural 30.
lection bo only ono factor among many in the
worlds development. while there are instances
OF adaptation In nature, and those the more
numerous for which 1t fails to account. what
has been called It's archaeological Significance
Is ut an end. Darwin himself saw and
admitted tho inadeluacy Of tho theory OF
natural selection. even in biology. to occount
for all the facts: while countless phenomena
In other fields OF Observation such as tho mo-
chanica principles involved In the structure OF
the universe. the laws OF crystalography and
chemical combination. tho beauty Of nature
mind, lrrosistibly suggest design and rcnder tho
alternative hypothesis from its more mathe-
NAUTICAL improbRbillty. almost inconceivab!s
In view OF these considerations the author
submits that the destructive effect OF
evolution upon tho doctrine Of final causes has
been ovorHtated.
Mr.. lllingworth lays stress. moreover,
upon an important difference brought to
Light IN tho discussion Of tho evoutionar
thonry. between external and internal pur-
poses or ends, Tho kind of design In nature
which first arrested early thinkers was its
usefulness TO man. Thoy looked upon all
natural phenomena "a having for their
final cause tho good OF man, ms II
corn should exist solely to provide food for
human beIngs This conception, 1t has long
been manifest. was partial aud Inadequate.
" We haNo now come" says Mr.. IllinRworth.
. to regard tho world not as machine. but as
an organism, system In which. while the parts
contribute 10 The growth OF the whole. the
whole also rests upon the development of tho
pnrts. and whose primary purpose Is its own
PERFECTION: something that is contained
within and not outside itself an internal end
while In their turn the myriad parts
Of this universal organism aro also lesser or
gAniSms ends in and for themselves, pursuing
each Its lonely ideal OF individual complete
ness. Now. when We look at nature in this
way. and watch tho complex and subtle proc
DssOs by which n crystal. y leaf. n lily a moth.
a bird. star realize their respective ideals
with undisturhod. uniailing accuracy, We
cannot help attrlbutnG Thorn to an
Intelligent creator. But. whom wo further find
that Ia the very course OF pursuing their pri-
mary ends, and becoming perfect after their
kind, the various parts OF the universe do In
aIa h..
yenuity OF correspondence and adapta-
lion. subservo not only ope but q thou
sand secondary ends linking and weav-
Ina Themselves together Dy their mutual /
into an orderly, harmonious. Z
COMPLICATED whole, the signs OF Intelligence |
grow clearer still" Mr.. IlInGWorth, In line.
believes that the evidence for design in nature |
now rests on q stronger base than ever.
The author OF this essay does not even hosi- |