The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1890-05-22
A Reply to revolutionary Sciences,

biIlou LVOluGioHdIy OcloHco. In IL the
writer goes over large area, in a tan
getical strain, from revolutionary science
revoluOnizing theology" to the "nebula
theory" without defining what he under
stands or means by ''evolution' and ..sci
ence." 1t is evidently meant as a cynical
attack upon theology and Christianity by
bringing together few scattered and in
coherent sentences without any logical
sequence.
[ do not profess or claim to be a Chris.
tian. but simply an inquiring student in
science and history. The more read and
investigate the more thoroughly am con-
WINGED that there is God. In studying
the ''origin of species" it is necessary to
bear in mind the natural afinties of all
organic beings. their embryological rela-
tons, their geographical distribution, and
their geological succession. All organisms,
high and low, have been modified by GER
tain laws so as to acquire a perfection of
structure and adaptation, which Justly
eXcites our admiration. But variation
under dOmeSticatiOn," and variability in
a state of nature" do not account for the
''Origin of species" without Creator. The
law of inheritance is inevitabe-lke pro-
duces like. Mans ignorance of the laws
OF modification, variation, and adaptation
is quite profound. The naked skin on the
head of the vulture is direct adaptation
for wallOwing in putridity. The sutures
in the Uranium of the fptuS may be con-
Sidered as beautiful adaptation for aiding
parturitiOn.
Many structures have evidently been
created to crafty mans taste for beauty
and variety. The beautiful vOlute and
cone shells of the EOcene epoch, the grace
fully sculptered ammOniteS of the Second
airy period, all tell us the simple story of
creation and design. Had insects not been
created there would have been no beautiful
flowers to cover this earth of ours and only
such poor varieties would have been pro-
duced as the fir, oak, and ash trees, grasses,
spinach, docks and nettles, which exude
no nectar and are all fertilized through the
agency of the wind.
If species have been produced by mere
chance, natural selection, spontaneous gen.
Grafton. or evolution, why has hair been
transmitted to all mammals feathers to all
birds, scales to all true reptiles? Why are
the arrangements of the leaves, the diviS-
ions OF the flower or the Ovarium, and the
position of the OvuleS all so well adapted to
each other and the good of the organism.
Geology, paleOntOlOgy, and cOnchology but
confirm the creation of species. The geo.
logical record is so extremely imperfect
that no scientist has had the presumption
to attempt to tell how old the world is. or
at what period the various forms of life ap-
peared, or even been able to tell us what
life is. God may only have created few
original forms capable OF self-develOpment
into other and needful forms; but He is
still the Creator of life and the laws of de-
velOpment.
When Mr.. revolutionary Science" can
explain to us the lowest forms of life, as
seen in the ameba and its unditferentiated
prOtOplaSm, with its powers of cOntractil
ity. irritibility, automatic movements, re-
ceptive and aSSimilative functions, meta
bOlc and secretOry offices, and its respira-
tory and reproductive powers, and how it
came into original existence. we may then
better understand the principles of evolu-
ton.
know myself" said the Greek sage,
descended from heaven to be engraven
upon the tablet of enduring memory"
What SELF is, no scientist or philosopher
has yet been able to tell. Man is being
of such mental proportions and cOmpleXity,
that he completely battles description.
Without going to the moon" or attempt
ing to solve the nebular hypothesis we do
know that this is world where Omnipo-
tence balances force and force, experience
and experience, personality and personality.
so that cosmos prevails over chaos. so that in
nature beatty and order reign in the end, so
that in human affairs the right ultimately
pays man, and the truth finally triumphs
in this world where the Eternal preserves
the balance OF things, the law of compen-
satiOn is as much of a law of the universe
as the law of gravitatiOn, and is constantly
in operation.
What is needed in prisons and in every
human life is the Light of the Man of Naz-
areth. That will irradiate the perpIexites