The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-02-22
ARE GROWING BETTER.
MARSHALL SAYS THE
WORLD is IMPROVING.
Physical, Mental and Moral ETolu-
ton Ably Treated in the Lecture
Mt the University Last Evening.

''Design in History was the subject Of
Prof. Marshalps lecture at the Universe
ty last night The aim of the lecturer
was to show that the world is growing
better and no doubt his audience became
convinced of that fact.
The theory of evolution from a geo
graphical standpoint was first treated.
Scientists have determined the relative
ages OF rocks and they find the lowest
forms of life as fossils in the oldest
rocks, and that in later periods of the
worlds history higher forms of life
existed. AS conditions changed SO the
forms of animals changed to meet those
conditions. This does not mean tnat
man descended from the monkey, but
that he is a superior being TO What he
once was. This is but a theory, not an
absolute fact; we accept it as an e4pla-
nation OF present conditions.
Mental and Moral Evolution.
Assuming the theory Of evolution to be
true in the physical world; has there been
an evolution in the mental and moral
world? As the former is traced in the
study of geology 50 the latter must be
s2gght out in The pages OF history
The lecturer proceeded to answer his
jquestion by speaking Of the inferior in
tellect and moral characteristic of early
imam, and read some selections describing
lllt odAOll CIldIdCItI, GLONluS HOW Tue dH-
imal passions predominated in the begin
ming and how there had been gradual
Improvement in morals.
There was a great tendency among
ancient peoples to STAY their nefghborS
without cause. A mar thought he had g
I right TO kill another, who was not of hiS
! tribe or nation. and he regarded all az
enemies except those who We're tmmedi
! ateiy connected with him. But this lin
lit Of relationship was gradually extended
| until he finally came to see that man
J kind is one great family and now man:
rights are respected by his fellows where
! ever he may so.
History of Leading Nations.
The speaker then traced the history O
! the leading nations of the world, begin
ming with Egypt Some writer's suppos'
that the people Of that nation must haV,
had great knowledge of mechanics, o.
else they could not have built the pyra
jnlidS. 1t is not so. Those Stupendou
by thousands of men who were compelled
ITO work under the masters lash. TIL
people were held down by a religion Whicl
was but a superstition, too foolish to b
believed by the priests themselves. w
boast of the glory. Of Greece. But III
igOod and the true did not exist there, tn
beautiful did. Among the Greeks ar
Preached the height OF perfection, and lit
ier2ture attained very high standard
yet its moral sentiments We're corrup
and revolving.
| Their Religion Was WicL1edness.
Their religion was but wickedness
their gods being endowed not win tn
Virtues, but with all the vices of mer
In Rome morale We're some better. Me
began to be ashamed OF immortality, lal
icanne TO be recognized as something 70
the benefit of all, In Greece the indiYid
nal existed for the state, in Rome tn
people began to realize that the state eS
lists for the benefit OF the individual.
Nh, funn n
land fewer slaves, Notwithstand
ling these improvements ther
was much wickedness. The Romans dt
lighted in war and bloodshed, and thi
constituted their chief amusement
| In the Middle Ages Christianity az
peared as a light TO d dark world Whic
had been still darker. In Roman time
Christians We're too few and their perst
: to be widely felt True, the church wa
! corrupt during the dark ages, but wit
the Reformation in Germany came tn
reformation of the Roman church. Chri;
tians began to conform to the principle
: OF Christianity and as result virtue il
creased.
. To modern times. and especially to OF
own country we look for the rise of I'll
principles Of equal justice. Now the GOO
? things OF life are not all for bfngs an
; mobiles, but for the people. We read
the great number Of crimes that haI
been committed, of the frauds in polite
and are apt to think that the world
growing worse. But compare the presel
, with the past; read the political histor
of England during the reign of Geors
: III. Think how the Roman c0nSuls s
cured their elections, and you will 81
how much better conditions are toda
Our politics is like a great White wa
with q black spot on it The spot is eY,
before our eyes.
This the Purest Age.
>, The present is the purest age of Il
worlds history. The condition Of labt
I is better than il ever was before. ~
7 nottingham is dissatisfied because I
has acquired greater intelligence al
more freedom.
In conclusion it was shown that the
had been q moral growth and q desie
: In the development Of nations. WhateY
!, theory Of creation he accepted. the scie
J fist must acknowledge God and that E
4 things are governed by law. The law
q the survival of the fttest holds true
q the moral world as well as it does In Il
physical world. and thus the natiol
= grow better. righteousness eXalteth
nation" and 1.-THE soul that sinneth shs
die" are truths that have been demo
| Strated in history. Christ is the patter
Y his life is the acme of morality; he WI
). the teacher and divine example All n
tons must confol1n TO that pattern
:. perish. The good old days" never wei
b They are 20 come.