The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-04-02
DEATH CLAIMS
DR.. MIvART.
The Noted Scientist Passed
Away at London Today.
he WAS LECTURER ON ZOOLOGY
Al 81. MaT's Hospital Medical School and
Professor Of Biology
At THE UNIVERSITY Of loUvAIN,
unil . fow Msnihs Bsfos His esmlss Hs wn
Regarded as Tho Greatest sosatsl wilhIn
Tho Catholic Church in England.
Al 81. MaU's Hospital Medical School and
Professor Of Biology
At THE UNIVERSITY OF luuvAIN,

LSndon, April 2.--Dr. st. George
Mivart, former lecturer on zoology at
st. Mary's Hospital medical school, and
professor OF biology at the University
OF Louvain, long recognized as the lead
ing scientist within the Roman Catholic
church in England, is dead.
He was born in Brook street. Gros-
venor square, London, Nov. 80, 1897.
His interest in theological and eclesi-
astical subjects early led him to a
study OF church history. and in his 18th
year he was baptized in the Catholic
church. His purpose OF going To OK
ford was abandoned, and he entered st.
Mary's college, Oscott, instead. Study
Ing law, he was called TO the bar at
Lincoln's Inn IN 1861. and practiced for
a time, The bent of his mind, how
ever was toward the natural sciences
In 1862 he was appointed a lecturer In
ST. Mary's Hospital medical school. In
1867 he was elected a fellow OF the
Royal society; in 1869, and again in
1882, vice president OF the Geological
society; secretary OF the Linnaean So
ciety from 1874 To 1850, and it's vice
president in 1890. In the last year, on
invitation OF the Belgian episcopate, he
osophy of natural history I'm the Uni
versity of Louvain.
For years he was, as he himself said.
hearty and thorough-going disciple OF
Darwin. With his characteristic inde-'
pendence, however, he began an ex-
haustive investigation of the Darwin
ian theory, and the result was his work
on THE Genesis of Species" which ap-
peared In 1870. One purpose Of that
book was to show that, while the theory
of evolution is perfectly compatible
with the strictest Christian orthodoxy,
yet natural selection" could not ac-
count for the origin OF species. Prof.
Mivart called down the wrath both OF
Darwinians and of many Catholic cler-
gy. The latter pronounced his book
heretical and dangerous in the highest
degree. But Prof. Mvart sent a copy
TO the supreme pontiff. and Plus TX.
conferred upon him a doctors hat in
recognition of his services to science
and religion.
His Illuminating articles in the Nine
teenth century on the Happiness in
He'll i'm 1898 provoked discussion
among thinking men. Catholic and
Protestant alike, the world over. He
broke away from all Catholic precedent
and denounced the old doctrine which
asserted that all sinners would be eter-
nally punished. The Pope. naturally,
condemned any such doctrines, and
these articles were forbidden fruit for
all good Catholics. Mr.. Mivart sub
mitted for a time to the papal edict
and recanted.
A few months before his death, DIR.
Mivart contributed a series OF articles
to certain scientific publications. In
which he claimed for members OF the
Roman Catholic church liberty to re-
ject Il number OF biblical statements
which are generally understood to be
accepted as literally true by members
OF that communion. Cardinal Vaughn's
attention was called to these articles.
and he placed DIR. Mivart under an in
terdict. DIR. Mivart was the author OF
an article in the current number OF the
North American Review which has cre-
ated decided sensation.