The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-03-23
WILL SCIENTISTS ACCEPT THE
PRINCIPLE OF Design

science is that made by the Marquis
of Salisbury in his recent address as
President of the British Association
for the Advancement of Science.
The address has just been reprinted
in this country, and it is surprising to
see how guarded and qualified is the
adherence which Lord Salisbury
gives to the doctrine of natural selec-
ton as the chief factor in evolution.
He cites certain objections to the
Darwinian explanation, which, he
considers, appear still to retain all
their force; and he frankly admits
that, if natural selection is rejected,
there is no resource except to fall
back on the mediate or immediate
agency of intelligent design. He
leans to the conviction that the null
tiplying difficulties of the mechanical
theory are weakening the influence it
once acquired; and he claims sup
port in this view from many scien-
tific men. AS his own concluding
words, in the address alluded to, he
quotes impressively the striking Ian
guage with which Lord Kelvin, the
greatest living master Of natural
science, closed his address from the
same chair more than twenty years
ago: II have always felt" said Lord
Kelvin (then Sir William thomson,
"that the hypothesis of natural selec-
ton does not contain the true theory
of evolution, if evolution there has
been in biology. ] feel profoundly
convinced that the argument of de-
sign has been greatly too much lost
sight of in recent geological specula
tions. Overpoweringly strong proofs
of intelligent and benevolent design
lie around us; and if ever perplexities,
whether metaphysical or scientific,
turn us away from them for time,
they come back upon us with irresis-
tible force, showing to us through ma
ture the influence of free will, and
teaching us that all living things de-
pend on one everlasting Creator and
Ruler"
This is the view deliberately in
dorsed today by the President of one
of the most important and advanced
scientific bodies in the world. Lord
Salisbury is himself scientist of no
mean attainments. His position as
President of the British Association
is not simply an honorary one, but is
due largely to his acknowledged
learning in scientific matters. His
opinions were stated, not as in oppo-
sition to the opinions of those whom
he was addressing, but as dispass-
tomato and accepted summary of the
present point of view of natural
science. When such a speaker, from
such chair, gives utterance 10 his
deepening belief in the argument of
design, the effect must be incalcula
BILE upon the convictions of thous-
ands of sciolists and semi scientific
readers who have bowed to the ad-
mitted force of the doctrine of evolu-
ton, and have enormously supposed
that it's acceptance involved the de-
NAL of a personal creative intelli-
gence.
Science has been often accounted
witness hostile to Christianity.
While this is not and has never been
true of science itself, it has been I'M
doubtedly true of many scientists. In
SO far as this is SO, any statements
made by them of inability to explain
the phenomena of nature without
the recognition of design have the
effect of what. in legal phrase, are
technically termed admissions. One
of the most illustrious disciples of
Darwin, Professor Weismann, in
recent paper, gives full weight to the
admitted obstacles in the way of the
adoption of the theory of natural Sc
lection. And his conclusions show
the singular straits to which scien
tists-and others as welfare often
driven in defense of given hypothesis.
eve must assume natural selection
to be the principle of the explanation
of the metamorphoses," says Profess
sor Weism ann, "because all other APP
parent principles of explanation fail
us, and it is inconceivable that there
could yet be another capable of ex
planning the adaptation of organisms,
without assuming the help of prin-
ciple of design" 1t need not be
pointed out how unscientific it is to
stand by hypothesis in part dis
credited, merely because no other
seems available. "HUpotheSes non
lingo" The province of science is
observation and the collection of
facts. In cases of difficulty, frank
confession of Ignorance ia the honest