Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-05


OWho Delivered the Eloquent Oration)
presented Rev. Mr.. Barr as the orator Of
the evening. Mr.. Barr stepped gracefully
to the front OF the stage, and after ac-
lnowledging the introduction, spoke as
follows:
BY the word physician we understand
one who devotes himself 60 the art OF
healing bodily disease. But there is a
growing tendency among writer's to en-
large the meaning Of this word, and make
il stand for one who deyOtes himself to
the study of the physical sciences in
general The word then becomes Synony-
nous with physicist or, what Is popu-
larry known as the scientific man. and
the names of Tyndan. Lyell, Huxley, and
Darwin stand forth amongst the great
physicians of our age. IL is not strange,
however. that word which etymOlOgi-
cany carries this broad Specification
should have been restricted to the class
popularity known as physicians for in
all our civilized communities il is the
physician who stands for science, in dis
tinctiOn from art or letters. or law, or
commerce. or religion And, indeed, the
physician. SO far forth. must be scien-
tinc man.
with the science Of anatomy and ply
siOlOgy ana chemistry, and CORE atcd
| branches he Is supposed to be familiar.
And because he is "a scientific man. he
must inevitably acquire the scientific
habit OF mind-a habit which is supposed
TO be more or less suspicious OF the rel-
giOus habit. And indeed. | suppose the
temptation TO skepticism is stronger
among medical men than among amy
other class; a temptation that Is often
nObly overcome so that the figure of the
early Christian disciple. who gained for
ever the appe!latiOn of the good physi-
cian' is beautifully reproduced in all our
communities.
"Stnl the fact abides that not only is
the physician trained in the scientific
habit. but from the circumstances of his
calling. he is likely To be brought into
more or less intimate contact with the
great body of scientific thought that Is
the heritage of our age and 10 feel some
thing of that desperate struggle between
the devotees Of science and religion that
has taken place in this century.
A YAWNING CHASM.
"Of the reality and ferocty Of this
struggle, every intelligent man Is aware.
At the funeral of Charles Darwin in
England, a French saVant was heard 10
remark that the same scene could not
have been enacted in France. Either no
priest would have consented TO Ofhciate.
or. I'm case such an one was found. no
scientific man would have been present.
But even when the rupture Is not so
severe. there still appears TO be q yawn-
ing chasm between them. There are
instances where scientific men are de-
vout believers, but seem to occupy both
grounds. by engendering in themselves
a.
their nature into two distinct compart-
ments. and by no possibility permit the
denizen Of one ever TO peep into the
other. for fear Of some awful catastro-
phe that might ensue.
Indeed. there are doubtless some sc!en-
fists whose hold on religion IS much
more airy then appears TO the outer
world. They are in something or the po-
sitiOn Of the old French woman, OF whom
the story is told, that she said she did
not believe i'm a God at all, but made II
a rule TO go TO church once month,
lest there might be one. IL IS purely
case of stalking a little on the dark horse
"In view of these facts, i have thought
1t would be both appropriate and ser
Viceable To use this occasion IN Speclfyihg
some Of those crucial points that seem
To produce the variance between science
and religion, and i'm the endeavor TO show
that the conflict is only apparent Nor
do / forget that ] am addressing a popu-
lar audience. AS well as men of science.
But this conflict has not occurred in
corner. The news of il has spread
through all our literature and life. and
there are doubtless those in this audience
tonight who entertain the notion that
were the Church 10 grant the claims OF
modern science she would sign her own
death warrant. And still others may
carry the vague suspicion that 10 finally
ioin the issue means that religion must
give way because science Is founded on
fact while faith rests only on plausible
hope.
PATH OF RECONCILIATION.
Permit me, then. as simply and clearly
az | can. 10 Indicate the path along
which reconciliation may be founds or
by means OF few illustrations To show
that the supposed conflict between science
and religion is unreal" The speaker
then proceeded 10 show that one diff
Guilty with scientific men is found IN ihs
distasfe for miracle. The fundamehtdi
postulate OF science is the uniformity OF
nature and miracle seems 10 them IKE
caprice. Bot not only Is miracle pos
sible If there be living God but II IS
urobabie that God viii interfere with me
phvsicai order 10 establish higher
order. ,..,
"nesides. miracle may not be setting
% sidc of natural law but the defeating
~ Tho ordinary operation OF law. by in
telligent combinations Of existing laws
SO The great doctrine OF evolution Is sup
nogcd 70 set aside the Christian doctrine
Of creation. but Darwin himself showed
,~oxc1t-DL,p ON SEVENTH PACED