The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-03-04
SAYS THE SIX DAYS OF SCRIPTURE
Were in Reality Six Periods of
Indefinite Length.
WHAT OF THE -FOUR GREAT TRANSITIONS?
Scientists Find It Difficult to
Reconcile Matters.

The Liverpool Catholic Times prints
the isAowing learned and interesting
paper by Right Rev. Monsignor John S.
Vaughan:
II made the earth, and l created man
upon ii. My hand stretched forth the
heavens, and have commanded all their
host" (Isaias xiv, 12) The inspired
writers tell us that the vast universe, in
the midst Of which our little earth floats
like tiny mote, was formed during the
course Of six days. I'm six days God
made the heavens and the earth" But
we mast bear in mind that the Hebrew
word "yom,' or "iom," which has been
translated day" embraces in reality a
very mach wider meaning 1t signifies
rather period; SO that the more accu-
rate rendering Of the text would be: "In
six periods God made the heavens and
the earth" Now, what was the length
Of these periods? For many generations
it Was taken for granted that they were
perioas of four-and-twenty hours. For
In the absence of any reliable indication
AS to heir actual duration, such was con-
>sidered the most natural Interpretation.
AS tinae. however, wore on. and men be-
:saa to study the earth more closely, and
~as science advanced and extended its
boundaries. this opinion gradually lost
ats bold upon mems minds. Biologists
learn little by little how to read the his
tory Of the world in the rocks Nature
itself taught man much concerning its
own uondrous formation, and delivered
;up to him. one after another, the secret OF
its OWE gradual development. So that,
just as you may judge Of the age OF a
tree by counting the number OF concen-
tric rings forming the trunk, or the age
ot stag by noting the number OF
branches or shoots on its antlers, so we
may. BY studying the character and COM
position Of the strata OF the earth, form
"a tolerably correct notion OF the stages
through which it has passed, and the du-
ration of its existence. The result of
:shese Investigations has been to convince
mea that the days or periods of creation
twere not terms of four-and-twenty hours,
but loag cpochs OF hundreds of thous-
'ands, or even Of millions OF years. Ac-
eoFdinS 10 the nebular hypothesis OF La
place, which is, perhaps. the most gener-
ally accepted theory, the earth once FORM
ed part Of the sun. The earth was then
throwA off the larger mass and began its
independent existence as vast ball OF
fiery vapor. revolving round a central
point. All the existing material elements
which 80 to make up the earth-the rocks,
the metals. the metalloids, the crystals
.aaA al else-were then existing indeed,
bet = condition of such intense heat
that hey we're maintained in gaseous
forn. In the course of ages, however,
the earth began to part with its heat by
radiation. and to cool little by little, un-
It'd hard crust was gradually formed on
its outer surface, surrounding it as the
riad s1frounds an orange, or as the shell
surrounds an egg. The aqueous vapors
thea. coming into contact with frozen
space beyond, condensed and fell on to
the earth in the form of heavy and con-
tinsous rains. forming little runnels, in
All directions, which gathered into
streams and rivers. These flowing to-
gether filled the hollows and more de-
pressed regions and so formed lakes, seas
aud oceans. Then the warm, streamy
atmosphere of the still heated earth
brought forth the green grass and the
herbs and trees and shrubs of all kinds
SO that by the time the carboniferous pc
riod set in the whole land was covered
with the most luxurious vegetation. Vas,
forests of huge trees stretched their gi
gaatic limbs many feet into the air, and
creepers and trailing plants, with soft
succ~Ient and spongy stems and large
broad, porous leaves spread themselve:
over almost the whole surface OF the hot
soppy and swampy soil. Then came :
period, a little later, when great mon
sters moved in the deep, and when won
drous forms Of birds and beasts. nov
long since extinct, might have been heart
crushing through the underwood in tn,
glades of the forests, or splashing ant
ganbolling in unmolested freedom OF
the shores Of lakes and inland seas. Th
remains OF these enormous, unwield.
creatures are still met with occasionally
embedded in the rocks. A foot or claw
or even single petri6ed bone. is oftel