The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-04-11

While some Of the Christian preachers
are being denounced for seeing discrep-
ancies between the Scriptures and the
stories told by the rocks. there Is one
great living example OF faith in the propo-
sition that they are not inconsistent. The
announcement Of the golden wedding Of Sir
william Dawson of Canada brings to pub
lie attention once more a man who is
the greatest living authority on the worlds
antiquity. and at the same time profound
and earnest Christian.
Prof. Dawson was the first to accurately
determine ard describe the now famous
Eozoon Canadese. OF the Laurentian lime
stone. the earliest form of organic life so
far known. To admit the existence OF
this primitive form OF organism and the
age OF the formation in which II was dis
covered. IL TO discard the chronology of
the Bible as calculated In the King James
version. The data OF geology carry the
earth far back Of four thousand years.
They turn into an sllegory the story OF
Genesis. Yet ths most learned OF 81 the
teachers OF the theory that the world Is
no clash between science and the everlast-
ing truths OF Christianity.
In the latest work he has written. ne vim
8icates the Biblical records OF the Penta-
teuch and locates the Garden OF Eden near
the Euphrates. He attempts TO approach
the meeting place OF geology and history.
II is not necessary for the Christian to be-
lieve IN any departure from the laws OF
nature. The working Of those laws forms
a perpetual miracle none .--e less marvel
Gus because We nre beginning To compre-
bend some Of them. To our wondering
sense the evolution Of the oak from the
acorn. ot the pertamed ard exaulsitely-
shared flower from the insignificant seed,
Of the homlnculps. - miracle beyond al
hope OF Imitation. There IS on every side
such stupeneoUs evidences Of workings be-
side which al human effort ia puerils that
! TnteiliE cnce needs no Instances Of perverted
saws 70 awaken is wonder and its admira-
ton. II Is no less incompTehensible that
the earth ard ths other planets have been
shaping themselves for millions OF years,
than that water can be turned into wine
hy word. o. rods transformed into ser
pents by a wand.
How TIE world was made forms no pa-t
OF the Christian revelation. Hcv man was
formed Is Irsnaterfal 10 faith In s. supreme
diving being. There t. no sign written upon
the rocks 70 tel ire story of Gods work.
nor IS there airy indication in ths proto-
plasm q tie ute ard form and intelligent
/ consciousness which develops from lt.
Nevertheless. they are there; ard since no
Creation % any conscious act can lie with
cue an Intelligent purpose behind Il. con
ceiving ara maturing e. there t. 10 reason
70 doubt thar behind al creation IS az IN
teI'iEent pu-pcse. hidden though Il may
/ nov be. as IS tae future e tas p-otoplasrn.
Ths cry cf heresy Genes too ia.a TIE
1ope q tha soHl Is ths efscernrnent Of the
/ truth The seaceAcr Tor Il leads men: TIE
teacAer % h,int uut-7ui-inr rafth IS pass
!as away. n Beccser's solemn last mo-
Ensnts. - ceuugnes wtth hyrnse.f ana de-
clte3 20 tell what - sas scar. He does 4
revs~ertly ara STA ths earnest sincerity
&C cyt-x 1aan. knowing h5w slowly the
sr1th hs5 cone sat 70 h.-n from ;As miss
@: many generations - soaooled thought.
. c: theological acauiescence. zns al amin
cg3-irg bsiss. - WaS genie Ia rs a.
aa7.ttoas bgt ths.- paspose Is uasnsstak-
able Y .o learn a. lzss ,hst tss-@ Is rnore
in God s purpose than q revealed N tAs
Elbis. tat AZ ia truta eas %. s.sesoses
10 tae lzssirv1 headers OF the ancient days: