The record-union., 1892-07-11
BISHOP FOWLER.
The Distinguished Prelate Delivers a
Discourse Here.
He Combats the Scientists Theory OF
Evolution and Claims the Bible
Supports Him.

In commemoration of recent improve
ments completed at the Sixth-street
Methodist Church., and the addition OF
the fine new organ, Bishop G. ii. Fowler,
D. D. LII. D., was invited to deliver the
sermon yesterday morning.
There was a fine audience present and
the distinguished prelate delivered
very able sermon, which was intently
listened to and evidently gave his hear
ers much incentive to thoughtful re-
search.
After the opening hymn and an able
and earnest prayer by the pastor, Rev.
scriptural lesson the Esd psalm-''The
Lord is My Shepherd" etc.
His text proper was selected from Rev
Citations, the first verse Of the fifth chap
ter: And L saw in the right hand of
him that sat on the throne book written
within and on the back side sealed with
seven seals"
The Bishop stated that he did not pro-
Tess to clearly comprehend the literal
meaning OF this chapter of the Bible, but
he Ventured TO give his Interpretation of
what was meant by the seven seals"
lie thought that as the light of knowl-
edge and truth spread men would come
10 clearer understanding of the mean
lngs embraced in the chapter. AS to
what 1t meant by the "seven SEALS" Mr..
Fowler outlined his theories in plain,
simple words, and invited his hearers to
think upon the subject from his point of
view.
tie reverted incidentally to the theory
| OF evolution, and briefly intimated that
the conclusions arrived at by scientists as
10 the origin of man were false and
erroneous. With the views of the scien-
lists Of evolution, in regard to the forma-
ton of the universe from inorganic parti-
cles, he also differed, and turned to the
Bible to oppose their theories. lie would
! rather base his reasoning on the state
ments Of the Bible than upon the always
differing and changing theories of scien
| tific research.
He thought the creation of the world
and the universe, as described in Genesis,
| was more reasonable and tangible than
any other explanation, and said he would
| rather believe man was created by God
in his own image than that he was
evolved through long ages from atoms,
tadpoles or polliwigs. He believed that
man is not only the best animal, but that
| he is the best and highest animal posi-
! BILE.
AS an illustration of this theory, he
| instanced fishes, with their back bones
parallel with the earth, their brains all
back brains''-the front brain being but
in embryo-while their faces were parallel
with their backs. Then came birds, with
! their back bones set at an acute angle with
the earth, their front brain but slightly
developed and their faces in an diverse
angle to their backs. Then quadrupeds,
further from the level of the earth, but
set upon pillars, the face at right angle
with the back, the front brain largely de-
veloped, but the back brain preponder-
ating.
Last came man, standing in vertical
position, with his face in line with his
! upright back, and his front brain devel-
Oped beyond the back brain; the latter,
| however, being necessary, could be no
further diminished. Man, bein g the
highest perfection of animal type, he can
go no further, or he goes backward to-
| ward the lower orders.
! In support of his line of reasoning he
referred to man as differing from other
animals in his ability to originate intu-
! tive abstract ideas, and accounted for this
power as coming from the higher source
the same that directs the flight of birds,
and the instincts of the animal world.
The Bishop reverted to the origin of
the Bible, and the writers of its various
books, reasoning that it was the work of
q higher power than man, as it could not
have emanated from Jews living under
such various conditions of poverty and
obscurlty as they did, unless they were
guided by that power.
At the conclusion of his discourse, Mr..
Fowler gave a vivid description of the
crucifxion of Christ, His patience, suf-
fering and resurrection, instancing that
| as the foundation for answering faith
and as lesson fit to teach man to meet
death without fear or dread. We know
that we are here-that we eXist-and that
we do not create ourselves; that we are
bound somewhere for eternity, and
where, he would give all Imaginable
wealth to know.
The discourse altogether was a rare
philosophical treat, which furnished
many themes for conjecture and study;
and although it was rather longer than
the usual morning sermon, it was listened
to with rapt attention and with no evil
dence of impotence by the entire con-
gregation.
- After hymn the Bishop closed the
services with an earnest and solemn in
vocation.