The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-02-12
WHERE OPINIONS VARIED
SOCIAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION HAS
A WARM DEBATE.

cates-Warfare of Religion and Science
Practically Inustrated-Rev. DIR. Me-
Lane Sets the Ball Rolling and Others
Keep it Moving.
At the meeting of the Social Science
association last evening Social Func-
tions of Religion and Science" was the
subject and it proved to be very
meaty bone Of contention, as all shades
of opinion We're represented by those
who took part.
Rev. William W. McLane set the ball
rolling in rapid fashion by a general
discussion of the subject. He based
his remarks on Andrew Whites new
book on 1.-The Warfare of Religion and
Science" He summarized briefly the
contents of the book, concluding by
saying that it traced the progress of
scientific knowledge from belief in me-
chanical creation to evolution, from
genesis to geology and from belief in
demonical possession to the knowledge
of insanity. 1t did not seem to DR..
McLane that the book was entirely just
in its criticism of theology. There has
not been, in fact, so much difference
between religion and science. Science
has been the changing factor in social
progress, while the central truths of
theology have for the most part re-
manned unchanged throughout the ages.
One would think because religion has
been defeated in the warfare of religion
and science that it was religion that
has changed, but this is not so 1t
seemed to him also that Mr.. White has
charged something's upon theology that
should be charged to science. Theology
took for the most part the science of
the time and founded their views upon
it. 1t is unfair, therefore, to blame
some false scientific ideas upon theol-
ogy, especially when some theologians
like st. Augustine seemed to be in ad-
vance of the science of their time. We
should not forget also that some of the
leaders of science have been taken
from the church, such We're Galileo,
Copernicus, Cavier, Agassiz. and many
others.
While science has been opposed by
some in the church it is to be remem-
bered also that some Of its most valiant
defenders have been found in the
church.
1t does not seem to me that Mr..
Whites view that the church has fa-
vored magic rather than medicine can
be substantiated from the Old Testa-
ment or the teachings of Christ and the
church has ever been the leader in the
foundation of medical institutions.
The tendency Of the book is to give
the credit for social advance to science
rather than to religion.
There are some branches, of science
which are of little, If any assistance,
to the social body for improving it's
fcondition. Such are the teachings Of
geology, and the ideas of the Copper
lnican system. Others like medicine
physiology and psychology have helped
in the progress. A certain amount
iof science is essential for social ad-
Ivancement, but scientific knowledge is
not alone sufficient to arouse men to ac-
tion. A motive is requisite and this is
furnished by theology in the idea of
love. We need both science to give us
knowledge and theology to give us love.
III confess to considerable sympathy
with the Roman Catholic church in re-
lfusing to have secular knowledge
taught apart from some moral and
spiritual training.
\ Both religion and science have place
Hin the development of the race.
\ Lawyer H. G. Newton had read the
book carefully and thought it was
rather unjust toward religion. He did
Inot know but that clergymen were as
honest and upright as some of the
this city. He thought that members of
THE church had done a great deal to
assist in social progress.
n Rev DR.. Lines had not read the book
lconsecutively, but thought from what
he had read that some of the views
expressed Were not altogether fair, as
At seemed to ascribe to the church all
the evil it had done without giving it
scredit for some good, as, for example,
the abolition of the slave trade by the
the help of Wilberforce and the meas
ure to improve the condition of fac
tory laborers. Both measures were
promoted by the moral spirit of the
church.
i AS to the belief in witchcraft, the le-
sgal profession was as much at fault as
sthe clerical. He welcomed the criti-
cism of the clergy by men of science
and thought that the spirit of good
Feeling between the clergy and men of
Science was better to-day than ever be-
Afore.
Il Mr. Walter Law here entered the for
zensic arena on the side of science, and
4 said: ut seems to me that the truth
Il has been hindered in the world be-
scause the rank and file of theology
have been bigotted. 1t is SO to-day
sThose in the church who are most lib
shral and advanced have been opposed
epy those in the church.
"One great leader in the profession
has been condemned by his brethren,
because he does not believe that the
Ssvhale swallowed Jonah; and DR..
Briggs was put outside the church for
slis advanced views.
!, These men are not opposed by the
zsgorld but by men In the church, and
E,his. it seems to me, is what Mr.. White
Sneans in his book, not that science has
Seen opposed by the great lights, but
R5y the rank and file of the clergy"
Mr.. Mansfield of Westville next took
!. he floor and sought to disprove, by the
Shagic of his eloquence, any stray hints
IF truth which had come down to this
ge unrefuted. One gathered from the
u rJe- h.,