Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-02-27
EVOLUTION VS.. REVELATION

1t is recognized generally, that growth
is the product of time, and that which
is to endure comes OF slow accretion,
particle by particle, yet each one minis
tering to the grand result.
Comparing one thing with another, the
earth was developed and fitted for its
purpose by such periods as seem TO man
to partake OF the infinite, or as human
phraseology goes-the eternall
Six days, says the record, which man
has interpreted according 10 his limited
vision, and thus created that conflict be
tween socalled science and theology
which is felt in certain religious circles
even at the present day, yet there is
abundant evidence that those DAYS or
periods far transcend all measurements
which are familiar to human calculation.
The foundations of the British govern
ment reach back at least to the days OF
Alfred, now somewhat over thousand
years ago, and probably our Welsh
brethren would assert that the founda.
tions Of rule existing there were laid
in the mountains OF Wales, before even
tn Roman invader pressed with his
triumphant foot the soil oil Britain, be-
fore or about the time OF Christ.
However far we reach backward for
the first planting OF the seeds of liberty,
or study the special epochs thereof,
such as that when the Baron wrested or
secured from King John on the field of
Runnymede, that great charter OF free
DOM which still remains, we are for
ever confronted with the fact that evou.
ton is mans order. begotten or develop.
ed by the processes OF experience, and
lat in k,r 80, &.
presented itself from time to time.
The brightest scholar that ever trod
the earth entered the portals OF pro-
gress through the FIRST elements of his
mother tongue, the masters OF musical
conception had TO utilize in their most
sublime efforts the initiatory qualities,
powers and value OF primary notes and
tones, all the scientific achievements OF
today potency and PROMISE
sprang from meagre observation and
small beginnings IN the not far distant
past.
lust as the child grows imperceptibly
to manhood or womanhood, as from the
tiny seed grows the mighty oak, as from
the egg the condor or the ostrich, from
the embryo the elephant and the whale
as from almost Invisible germs of life,
flowers and grasses gloriy the earth, SO
all things IN the order Of God shadow
forth in part ceaseless yet perennial
labor CT his children struggling upward
now from past or present conditions, to
iulhl the measure OF their creation, and
subserve tue fiat OF destiny or divine
decree, made and established in an in
finite past one to which the present is
but as grain OF sand or the mote in
the sunshine of summers dayl
First the seed and soil then the blade,
then the ear, then the iull corn in the
ear, is written in words Of fire on all
things by the invisible finger OF Deity.
and testified to by human travail and
experience, whether the great first
cause, or purport OF things is realized or
unders cod or not
So ingralned is this in the very CON-
slitution OF man aud things, that no
mother would set aside tne gradual
development OF her offspring from in.
fancy to maturity, any more than the
farmer or horticulturist would wish for
or expect to see springing to glorious
perfection instanter, the creatures OF his
patience or his care; some OF these may
appear to possess trsnsitory beauty.
may appear TO be like lonah's gourd
which came up IN night aud persisted
III uisHA, Dut uO iiOIt ID expected tNan
is determined OF experience, and found
to be inherent in their very constitution.
But there appears TO be in these
several items OF experience and obser.
vate quite difference between human
knowledge, mans methods and institu.
items, and those which are divine; this
may not Lave been set out in clear
phrase or as an essential difference
marked OF philosophy, but to the writer
it appears TO belong to the border land
where two great lorcts meet and then
sever, each working on its own plane.
harmonious to the higher power no
doubt, yet comprehended OF the other
only, as 1t may perceive by reason OF the
receptive character OF insight when
Illuminated of the Holy Spirit!
The word. or principle OF evolution,
seems to crcum cribe all mans experl.
ence and progress, he learns and that
hardly from experience; he changes.
adapis, provides for emergencies as
they arise from time to time; as he be-
comes educated SO does he evolve
auxiliary laws, regulations and inslit,-
tons. many oil these (most of them) are
transitory, they are expedients
their action is undetermined
and the results uncertain. There is
little stability, and changes are
made from partisan feeling. witbou,