The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1898-03-11
THE CLAIMS OF SCIENCE.

lite SLAlW0 Vt 9CIEtSOE,
THERE Isl great deal of food for thought in the following editorial
/ which we take from the Popular Science Monthly for March:
Apofcssor Of biology in one Of our leading universities has lately been
discussing the question how far an acceptance Of the doctrine Of evolution
is compatible with religious orthodoxy OF the evangelical type. The an
saer he gives is on the whole comforting to those who desire to recognize
now truth without breaking entirely away from old and cherished opinions
lie acknowledges that science has recuded our understanding Of the word
9creatc, " and so far thrown new light upon the Interpretation Of a Hebrew
term We are ready TO admit that a term in present use Of our language
may undergo a change of meaning, for this "a process which we see in
constant operation; but it seems a little arbitrary to say that a word I'M a
virtually extinct language must be taken in a new sense simply because
te ne" sense better fits lately discovered facts. The point, however, is
not one which we care to discuss at lengths and II the learned professor says
that the Hebrew lexicon should be revised from time to time, oas to keep
1t abreast Of modern physical science, we see no reason to object. Let the
authorities on Semitic phloogy took to 1t.
Ills admitted by the writer to whom we arc referring that evolution
eonpels US to "yiew types and design in a new light" Types are not to be
considered as artificial models to (Which all actual cases must more or
less closely conform We must rather look on them as the "generallzed re-
suits Of variations during past generations, the accumulated effects Of growth
and variations somehow or other acquired in tile past and, we know not
why, pea3Jng by heredity.' They are not, he distinctly says, "a stamp
Impressed from without As to the manifestations Of design. we must
regard them as dependent on some internal qualities by which organRyE
became accommodated to the exigences Of their place In the world" TN
choice Is presented to them, we are told, Of becoming so accommodated nj
pertshIngi some manage the accommodation and some perish. Its needlesN
to say That there Is very little left here Of the old and venerable doctrine
Z" design, and that in the account above given of type the classical idea is
0iu1U! Mv7nualo1 Inere Is, nevertheless we are assured, no reason why
we should not regard all these phenomena as illustrating the method oil
dYinq creation and government
Coming down to particular theological doctrines the writer claims that
they may one and all be held consistently with a full acceptance OF teI
evolutionary s]audponti and here again we have no desire whatever To dis
pNIe ms contention. What science demands above all things is intellectual
'NN''1 '"" i"NN9th4 D.NlCc IN lS mlnlte variety interests df6nrentI
minds ~ many different ways and he who has the true scientific spirit
will, 80 far as the order Of facts IN which he is especially interested Il con.
cerneai FOLLOW to the very best Of his ability a rigorous scientific method
III oJaer regions of thought or speculation he may be less exacting as toll
and more disposed to indulge what Bagohot called 1.-THE emotion ot
Science grows by what is done for her in different fields ~ man
themselves may be widely at variance with one another 4 ro,,rdsI
large sections o their thought II is therefore unwBe for any one 10 a.l
tempt to set up in the name of science, one scheme Of mlnlop mon mil
subjects Ir all classes q minds, We have known, or at least heard Of
gtaceless Jealous Of materaism who called in question Faraday,s claims tl
q Ioe man OF science because he did not carry the inductlye method i-
to questions Of religious belief. It is fortunate that gog interests az science
no5 committed to The hands Of such; for po possible rigor of method
makeamends for the incuable narroNness Of their imagination
Science we have said, demands intellectual integrity. and n rests v,tt
5ach individual, upon his own responsibility as an individual to satisfy is
demands Science means TRUTH it exists to establish and advance truth
build up in the world coherent system OF doctrine valuable for M
guidance of human life and the further enlargement Of human tbopgbt I'll
$ n5 ir oS worker unnecessarily to Judge another, or to impuqn bs fdel /
" "n'cn all owe q common allegiance All that we can require of apy
n@" ~ WJ ne shoud honestly present any facts with which he NAV he
upon ideal, and that he should not refuse a candid eraminstionE
Q any relevant evidence in matters that lie within the scope Of his IN. I
Its no part Of the business on science or Of anv one s,o,yino i,I
nc nme OF science to say how a given individual shall assess the evidence
m q given question. There is such a thing at times s f,e notgm a
Intellectual as wen as in political or military matters; and where tbt. mantg
esty exists for one who works strenuousy for science III hlsown aeld otbar.
ru0 " ny. nee We stress may properly refrain from disrespectfuI comments
We mold that the message Of science comes home to every man IN somo
9 other bidding him to work for the truth, to rid his mind NH
elusloo' OF Partially, Of prejudice, OF dstorting self interest Sam
pond to the appeal more perfectly than Others: but Il vog5 N, beso.,
ny tAat' where the most complete oJua rasr has been produced there tbo
amount Of scientific energy win be dsengapod K
Holding these views we are prepared to allow The f11sst r...aoz .Ih
gy y. y reconcile IN any way he peases his religious convictions with
!eotlnc views How the reconciliation Is eaected is not our concern. \
~ 'c t"V5h oL eaehIndlYtdudl that 1t shall be an honest M RI t,beIg
,n'efn ana i is his responsibilities why should a stranger NEEDLE tbere !
- lne message OF religion, reduced to It's simplest terms is identical ii
~ ue message q sciences 'Be true" and the man who CONSCIOUSLY Al
ls 81 intellectual sincerity win not feel much hammer n NV .sItatm
'u o0 me purely intellectual side tits high time that Ephraim 1900 Is
gN 1uulH1 ana judah 70 vex Ephaim. There is ample work IN ~ "
Al Wn iF science and for religion. 1t is for science u establish o,do, e
wv ''htalhea phenomena aud to deduce from them te iaws. II ameof IA
law wuehs govern the succesion Of events and prescribe tie condition
human lHe It's for religion to uphold the sanctity f te rorl "a. =
"l scene might be tempted not to assign any special pre-entne0,o Al
! ] hep Vpeu ~ outlook ino Che origin ana essential nature " alBrs
tH' tNNtdS yet uHtAiEeQ possibilities Of arfrfnnr~ whf4L- lido
upon c'fantcs might be disposed 70 ignore. science and nlIgton 70
Y sWn "aeh oer the other With advantage seeing that ecb M qu
s1eng sn-sctence q tendency 70 bard iuteIertugl nHde ara -et.t, mi
uoenCy " superstition and general indifference y external evidence. + Y
"~ "'so1e % own weakness and accept 90 good Bart tic srvicas -
Is oOQef te result would hea higher type n moral snd fntsl.,tna, "a
thar has heretofore prevailed. II
: @usI however be understood IS uByildfng Ia he demand vi
= w adhesion e the mtnd toapy opinion or conclusion sba1 y As
" U'ueaoe " We determined bg mere views ii expedisncv + mn. Ia
aemo iulies therefore somewhat unscentac time IL ts rsmarts
81 professor when he sysi eve win continue y believe tsf s m. M
"a NJ esefea im SOD moral nature and % Immortal spifft trt II
qfoqAe aenontze3 ana hat the taipt a ouf Sseeaemv
Aa a~snsas - ay I'VE EN- coBsHas ~ sfsea