Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1897-10-15
A Strange Discrepancy.


been going on ever since his recorded
fall, say about six thousand years ago.
The birth of scientific research may
he placed at an even date with the
renaissance Of Raphael, or in round
numbers no father back than about
three hundred years.
Now to speak within reasonable
bounds and with all Difference extend
ed towards their sacred calling, preach
ers of the gospel are thousand years
behind scientists; results compared
with results in their respective fields
of operation. Here is an interesting
study, to say the least, for the histor-
ian and political economist.
Let us note the outcome of a short
analysis from common standpoint of
observation. There is but one school
of science, and its laws are very exact
ing. To labor for the discovery OF
truth, nothing short, and nothing
more, is professedly the mission of the
scientist. Science tolerates neither
drones nor dabblers, but all her devO-
tees must be master craftsmen. Not
until their finely spun hypothesis and
theories have been subjected to the
crucial test of rigid experience will the
authors be hailed as original thinkers
and benefactors of mankind. Not a
stone they have hewn from the rough
asher will be admitted as fit material
to help rear the temple of fame until
it has been fashioned into a polished
shaft to be inserted into its own niche
without the sound of hammer or ak"
Thus it is that science FORCES ahead
upon an upgrade causeway whose
foundations are as eternal as the de-
crees of nature themselves. On the
contrary, there are about as many
schools of religious belief as there are
minds to embrace them. We venture
the assertion that there is not an in
telligent member of the papal or
either of the evangelical churches who
can give lucid and absolutely defin-
lite statement as to what constitutes,
pure and simple, his articles of faith.
Hence arises the confusion in all
our religious systems. What one
preacher sows as good seed in his own
field would be tares in the field of his
neighbor; the seed time of one is the
harvest time for another; and thus it
is that there is hostile commingling
of sower and reaper to the utter de-
struction of such good sheaves of grain
as might be garnered did unity and
peace prevail among the laborers.
Now let it be understood that we
are not adopting the role of preacher
of the gospel or teacher of morality.
We are simply pointing out some
weak joints in the great system of re-
ligion which everybody will admit ex-
lists therein to the serious detriment of
all concerned. If there be one true
and living God, the maker and ruler
of all things, then there is one and
only one true religion through and by
means of which we may approach Him
with our homage and make known to
Him our wants and desires. We are
living in a distracted world; not dis
tracted for dearth of human wisdom,
the dissemination of useful knowledge
and the wonderful deductions OF SCI
ence; but rather for the dearth of that
moral integrity without which the
sons of men can never hope to become
the sons of God and joint heirs of Him
who came to redeem us.
One line from Bishop Heber's mis-
sionary hymn tells the whole story.
After descanting in grievous lament
upon the gorgeous and extravagant
beauties of nature in heather lands,
he exclaims in the travail of his soul,
where every prospect pleases.