St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-01-16
SCIENCE AND THEOLOGY.
Rev. William Wilkinson Tells
How They May Dwell Together.

Rev. William Wilkinson Tells
How They May Dwell Together.
Yesterday morning, in st. Andrews
church, Rev. William Wilkinson
preached on the attitude of theoIOgians
to science. He said:
There are two very real worlds in
which earnest, able and honest men are
at work with all the ardOr of enthusiasts,
and when they keep within their own
proper spheres, and speak as far as
possible about demonstrated facts. or
principles, they make all men their
debtors. The nan OF science mas to
deal with laws which operate with
never-failing incidence. In his realm
there are no chances, accidents or per-
adventures. Under exactly like condi-
lions exactly like results follow. Nature
and natural laws make no mistake.
Nothing is ever lost. Nothing can ever
be destroyed. This fact gives to the
II an who understands Alright any one
truth in any department of science an
authority, and to that extent power
which cannot be galnsaid. The
scientific inquirer has not to de-
pend upon a resolution being passed
by the British association for his au-
thority, or to look for it to the leaders OF
thought in America. He is in too sure
ara proud a position for that, and he
knows that in understanding and accu-
rately explaining any part OF natures
handiWOrk he has all influence, and
might it is not in the power of any body
of men, no matter what their learning
or advantages, to give; and ne IS sure,
also, that as against him, so long as he
keeps to what he knows, No weapon that
is formed against him can prosper The
man has another advantage, which iSaa
very large one. and filled with good.
There is no field Of investigation into
which it is wicked for him to inqulrs'
No name is so hOnOred, no principles
are so truly demonstrated, that all queS-
tons concerning them are resented.
Any young man who has the scientific
gift. who has adequate knowledge to
do 1t, may submit all sorts of Ques-
lions to the earth beneath his feet.
All this is as it ought to be. Every
Teverent soul should look upon 1t with
grateful delight as a sign of progress
which Will elevate and bless the chill
dren of men. The world is one vast
scroll. written in characters designed
by an all-WiSe God for the highest and
hottest of purposes; so they dO not tell
their story to every one, or sing their
highest song to every paSser by. we
are yet only in the dawn Of day in re-
gard to the powers of nature. 1t is
fact 10 make a man sad that so many
generations lived and died, not know
ing how many things of beauty, COM
fort and use lay all about their path.
in all the wide world there is absO-
lutely no man so benighted in a dark
ness so dense and so injurious as the
man who limits the domain of knOWl-
edge, who is quite sure he knows what
can and what cannot be done, or how.
or when; who sets bounds to investiga
ton, and is certain he knows it ali, or
that all is known by his clan, or church,
or school. or trade. This is the vision
of Iittleness and of meanness, which
has placed upon the records of all his
tory chapters which wise men and de-
vOut men would give great treasure to
have blotted out. This spirit has built
fires and prosecuted patriots; it has
chained progress as far as it could; it
has, if not stopped IN ages the clock of
advancement, made it go slower. and
filed hearts which could and which
would have yeen glad with the music of
| heaven. with sorrow in life and made
them still i'll the darkness of death. No
words of mine. or ever found in the
vocabulary of men, ever can be too
severe or strong TO speak IN con-
domination of the spirit of gertrude,
which led to persecution. and, in some
instances. cut off the lives of men who
might have advanced knowledge, past
anything we now know. For one, say,
let us have light. Give any man the
opportunity and supply him the means
who can give us knowledge and increase
power. | say all truth is harmonious,
constant and related. That anything
ever Will be upset by truth, which de-
serves to stand, no man shall make me
believe. Theology is my delight. the
science which has to deal with things as
real as hills and mountains, stars and
suns, whose founder is God, and whose
service has been made to aGOrn all
which is best in human hope and calm.
| all which is most hopeless in human
fear; which has a song to sing. and
which has sung it to the perennial Joy
/ of all the ages OF historic men.
When the men who study alone
! the architecture of the material
! world. have LAID down their pens. when
they have spoken their last word and
/ done their last deed, find men asking
| questions, full of anxieties and desires.