Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-11
Theology and Heaven OF Science.
observations Of Philosophical Friend
of Ours)

our DcliiB.
"To make empty the soul or the hun
grv and cause the drink of the thirsty 10
fail" isaiah
Truth Is mighty. The lying tongue is
but for a moment. But the lip OF truth
shall be established forever. All that Is
So Moreover, the mind of man is en-
lightened by truth only. The soul feeds
upon. lives upon, truth. But abstract
truth unapplied does not enlighten; Away
from the things it applies TO, 1t merely
bewilders. The frontlight OF the engine
shows plainly to the engineer his track a
long way ahead-a lamp to his feet a
light to his path. The same light, TO the
people on the right and left, who only
look at It, blinds their eyes and dazes
them. The application of truth, its life
giving power. is its excellency. 10 a
hungry and thirsty man it is poor salts
faction TO be told the truth that bread
and water will strengthen and refresh
him, and have it demonstrated as physi-
illogical truth. But to show him the
bread and water, and by a truthful direc-
ton bring them 10 his mouth; that is
soul-satisfying truth. All these simple
statements seem to apply TO what is
known as scientific truth. 1t is great
light But II is of the earth earthly. 1t
enlightens our immediate surroundings.
But it leaves the remote past, the dis
tant future, the infinite beyond all dark.
1t leaves man cropping. hopelessly STUN
bling towards his graye-fatherless, help
less. He grasps for the living truth. HIS
soul is athirst for God. for the living God.
Now, here is a little philosophic truth
popularized for the people: There is on
all hands growing repugnance to inoke
the supernatural in accounting for the
phenomena of human lie; and the
thoughtful minds just referred TO, finding
no trace of evidence in favor of any other
origin, are driven to seek in the inter-
action of social forces the genesis ana
development of mans moral nature. II
they succeed in their search-and 1 think
they are sure to succeed-they exalt So
cial duty to a higher level of significance;
and the deepening sense of social duty
will, ii is 10 be hoped. lessen, If not oblite-
rate, the strifes and heart-burnings which
now beset and disfgure our social life"
How perfectly absurd Chemistry ana
natural science are to set the world 70
rights Reactions and precipitations are
to bring us peace! The Great Creator and
Supreme Ruler is to be counted out! How
utterly materalisuc, mechanical, and
chemical is all this What becomes Of
the soul Of man with its cravings, aspira-
tons, and longings without its God and
Father-its Light and Life!
The Being in which we live ana
move and have our being wrapped
up in our earthly atmosphere. ana
all the heavenly bodies exist.
is Ether. 1t is luminiferous and
has mechanical properties. So we,
such as we are, can take it in. 1T is
cOextensive with space and must at all
events extend as far as the most distant
fixed stars. In fact. it is the vehicle Of
their light and without it they could not
be seen. This all-pervading substance
takes up their molecular tremors. and
conveys them with inconceVable rapiditv
to our organs Of vision. 1t is the trans
ported SILVER of bodies countless millions
IF miles distant, which translates itself
IN human consciousness into the splendor
IF the armament at night" This IA.
gives us for Truth in place Of the God
and Father OF us all. The heavens de-
clare the glory Of Ether: and our Holy
Religion is mere sentiment.
These "tremors" and "shivers" of ycien-
-ifc truth recall those splendid words of
Clandio:
Ay, but to die, and 60 we know not
where
10 lie in cold obstruction and TO rot:
This sensible warm motion to become
A kneeded clod: and the delighted spirit
TO battle in fiery floods, or to reside
IN the thrilling regions OF thick-rbbed
ice:
To be imprisoned in the viewless winds.
And blown with restless violence round
about
The pendant world: or to be worse than
worst
If those that lawless and uncertain
thoughts.
imagine bowling, IT'S horriblei
The wearest and most loathed earthly
life
That age. ache, penury. and imprisonment
IAN lay on Nature is paradise
TO what we fear of death"
And that is the vision and idea Of the
soul that scientific truth
uggests
And see what the prophet has 10 say
# the despiser of the supernatural, The |
nateralist that Ignores the soul and its !
,henOmena:
Cursed be the man that trusteth IN |
nan, and maketh flesh his arm, and |
whose heart departeth from the Lord. |
Tor he shall be like the heath in the |
esert, and shall not see when good |
ometh: but shall inhabit the parched /
laces in the wilderness, In a salt land |
nd unnhabited"
Now gather and popularize and simplify
II the truths and natural facts and laws
hat all human science has discovered
nd recorded, from the beginning. from
he remotest ages when pots and arrow
eads were all man had 10 leave for his
osterity, down TO the latest discovery.
ut all together in their most clear and
eautiful form: put all those on the one
land; And, on the other, set the Book
{ the Psalms Of David. Set both before
learned and ignorant. rich |
nd poor. great and despised: and upon
,hch will their soul devouringly la
old. to satisfy its cravings?
Then. on the one side, hear the voice
f Science shouting: 10 Triumphe! |
sureka Great is Intellect Reason
hat has been on every side Of every
uestion from the beginning: Reason Il
upreme. Rejoice in her brilliant mis-.
hat obscures the face of God and sets
nan free and hides his head In Agnosti-
ism! Then hear the lowly. kind voice of
he Good Shepherd. the Son OF Man, the
divine Ideal: Come unto Ne. all we that
lbor and are heavy laden. and l will give
on rest!
Abeste profani!
~
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