New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-14
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL
THE BIBLE AND PREHISTORIC MAN.
MODERN DISCOVERIES CONSIDERED TO PUT BIB
LIcAL Chronology OUT OF JOINT

MODERN Discoveries CONSIDERED TO PIT BIB
IIcAL Chronology OUT OF JOINT
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir. ono of thu, most interesting articles which
have lately appeared in Tho Tribune was that on
"Prohistoric Man." heinz IN account trom the
London publication, "Naturo'D Of lecture on inter-
rlcdary links between man and the lower animais,
delivered by DR.. Munro at "a meeting OF ue I'oS"'
Society I'm Edinburgh 1t can hardly have falled 20
recall to the minds of your readers Dr DuIHeiu
letter on evolution which appeared In your col
umns some days previously. The Wild" dissmiiarHy
Of the views entertained by these two distinguished
scholars WAS certainly remarkable. Nothing could
possibly have been clearer or more Ioelca imam 'lc
Princeton professors statement OF his case from
the orthodox Biblical standpoint. Those however
among your readers who incline to the opinions eX-
pressed by Dr. Munro will, of course. diner alto
gcthcr with Dr. Dufficld I'm his premises.
He starts with the assumption that Adam was an
historical parsonage and refers TO the incidents
narrated in the early chapters OF Genesis as MS
torical events. This necessarily implies his accept
ancc of the Biblical chronology, which puts the
cicatlon Of man at b. G. 44, or thereabouts
Thouch those marginal figures Archbishop
I'shcr'a and not an integral part of the Scrptura
text they were nevertheless. derived from data sup
piled in all essential details by the Bible itself The
g,n,alogcs Of the fifth and eleventh chapters OF
Genesis combined with other passages more espe-
cialy Genesis Ky. 10: Exodus Xii 40 will give the
exact number of years clapsins between the crca-
ton Of Adam ard the depar'ur" Of the children OF
Israel from the land Of Egypt Usher's figures re-
laing 10 the latter event are no doubt Inaccurate
but whether it occurred IA the thirteenth or in tn
fourteenth century p. &. Is matter OF small I'M
portanec In tho present connection. The most
trustworthy scholarship assigns Il. c. 1920 as the
probable date OF the Exodus. b. {. 1874 being the
Rabbnical date Turning the New Testament
geucdloGcs find that the thirdsynoptc Gospel
gives seventy-hve generations from Adam down to
me beginning of the Christian era "hiie the hrSt
gives iiftecn generations fewer ,
~ describing Adam. therefore. as an historical
pcrsonace. DR.. Dufeld virtually puts himself upon
record ~ still adheriug the traditional belief that
man first inhabited the earth less than 67V years
ago. II l. surely unnecessary 10 show by the best
autnortics how thoroushly Geology has under
mined exploded and demolished beyond hope OF
resurrection this once universally accepted theory
In discussing Scripturdl chronology tho Teachers
Bible significantly remarks: difficulties increase
the further we ascend the stream OF tme.
with the progress of discovery we shall doubtless
IN the twentieth century be- In Il better position TO
furnish definite results mar we are now III t!e nm
tcenth." whether or not the recent excavations a.
Nrpur indca{e th4i 5tate OF I2nparatSSo c'
years ago there can no longer remain any room for
douht itAt ne carry GmHpiotS It ne m
csrcclaIy mos" pdSSaErS uTS'llniis VIZ / an vi
Man and the Flood are based upon Babylondr ANA
Assyriau legends. Professor Saycc in his Verdict
OF The Monuments" tells IL that the word Adam"
is neither hebrew nor the name Of pers3n nlt
and 'Chcrub" are also Assyran while the week Of
seven days, the tree OF the knowledge of good and
cVii. the creation or woman OUT OF man, the Ia OF
man from state of innocence and various Incl
dents connected with the Flood even TO the sending
forth Of tn" dove ana raven from the Ark, Will al!
be found described on the Babylonian tablets and
cylinders.
In the preface to work entitled "Assyrian and
BabyIonilr Religious Texts by James \. Craig.
the militia! volume of which was recently published
by IInrichS of Leipzig, occurs the following very
Interesting passage: The supreme and all-sustain-
ing power Of the gods. belief in the efficacy Of
prayer and of sacrifice that IS well pleasing stern
doctrines sin ana guilt, redeeniing doctrines OF
grace and pardon belief in tn" abiding presence of
I'm divine communications through drc1ms. visions
and oraclcs. by which direction was given In times
OF doubt-thesr We're all prominent doctrines in
Babylonian religion
As for tho Hebrew text of Genesis the extremely
composite characto, of it's authorship and the very
late dat" ot it's Oldest passages VIII be revealed with
startling diSiinCtncss IN the first VOlum" Of the
"Polychromc" translation Of the Bible. shortly to be
issued 5v the Johns Hopkins University.
NeW-Nork. Feb. 9. 1897. A. H. O.