The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1894-11-03
TUESDAY EVENING.

Rev. Marion D. Shutter D. D., of Min
neapolis. Subject: Gain of Religious
Thought in Science" Text: "For we
can do nothing against the truth but for
the truth" The story is told that a
Brahmin once shattered microscope to
pieces because he thought it was against
his religion. By it's use was revealed the
presence Of animalcula in water and as
to destroy animal life was sin, people
knowing they were doing SO would re-
frain from drinking water. To prevent
this knowledge he shattered the instru.
ment. There is no conflict between re-
ligion and science; on the contrary re-
ligion has been an actual gamer by sci
ence. Science has done away with a
great many mistaken notions, but has
taken nothing from religion itself. Sci
ence has quickened the sense of truth
everywhere in the church and among
religious people as we'll as outside and
among secular people. Science has
taught the value of evidence. 1t has
been too common in the church to de-
pend upon the authority of the church or
of the book and not go behind these. 1t
has been said of statement This is
Gods truth; this you must believe or be
damned.
The story in Genesis concerning the
origin of man was then referred to, and
the query made Where did the narrator
gain his knowledge?
Science has also taught us something
about correct methods of reasoning. Re-
ligion is not entirely something of intui-
ton and Of reasoning. Objective truth
in religion must be reached in the same
way as objective truth of any other kind
Science has taught religion to do away
with many of the pious frauds which
have been used in the pulpit because it
has been thought that they were useful
When will the church learn that the only
thing that is useful is truth? What
shall be thought of church built upon
doctrine or creed which no one in it
believes? What shall be thought of the
sincerity of church which asks, not
what shall we teach for the truth. but
what shall we teach to increase our
power? Let us open our minds to the
new light which is constantly coming
into the world. When we have found
the truth. let us be ready to receive it,
Science has given us new conception
of the universe. Science has nothing to
do with human origin and destiny; these
belong to the realm of philosophy.
There has been marvellous extension of
the universe in space. The old concep.
tions of the earth as the center of the
universe, were exploded by Copernicus.
After him came Galileo with his tele.
scope and confirmed the conclusions he
had reached. Then came persecution.
1t was feared that this discovery had
shattered the foundations of Gods
throne, but the truth came gradually to
be accepted.
There has been marvellous extension
OF the universe in time. The old concep-
tion placed the earth's age at six thous-
and years. Then came geology, and
added infinite time to the six thousand.
Again there was the old story of perse-
cution and the fear that the foundations
of religion should be shaken.
The,most marvellous discovery of all,
was that Of the process by which men
and animals came to be what they are at
the present time. when Charles Darwin
wrote. "The Origin of Species" and THE
Descent of Man." There was a great
outcry for the time, but now there are
very few churches which do not accept
in some form the doctrine of evolution.
We can look back and see man in a con.
dition not far removed from the beast
and the savage. How far back? One