Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-08-02
GEOLOGY AND MIRACLES.

ing researches In Central Asia and
Palestine, and as a result he has some
thing to say on some Old Testament
events, such as the food the destruc-
ton of sodom and Gomorrah, the d.
vlding OF the Jordan river and the fail
Of the walls OF Jericho.
As to the deluge, the professor says
he was everywhere confronted with EVIL
dences of the submergence Of the land
in recent geological times, For sew
eral hundred miles, while travelling |
through the region south OF Lake Bal
kash and the Aral sea, he was upon |
a terrace Of fine loan, called loess'
about $500 feet above sea level. This
extends continuously along the base OF
the mountains from the Irish river to
the Caspian sea- 1t Is found In north
ern Persia, around Mount Ararat, and
In southern Russia, and the dlstribu-
ton Of this loan IT, he thinks, the KEY
to the whole situation.
He further argues, that the only rea-
sonable explanation Of the existence OF
fresh water I'm Lake Baikal and the
Aral sea Is, that there have recently
been great changes both In the climate
and the level OF that region. SAT-
forms rapidly In such enclosed basins.
They are. In fact enormous salt watts
approaching nearer and nearer the
point OF saturation. II Is therefore
clear, that this region has lately emery
ed from below sea level, and passed
through a Transformation, from con-
dltion OF fertility TO that Of d dry des-
ert Geology, he concludes, confirms
the story of the deluge
Similar geological testimonies TO the
truth OF the description of the destruc-
ton OF sodom and adjacent cities, are
also found. The professor says, the re-
gion OF the Dead sea is a gas ana oil
field over deep fissure In the earth
leading far down toward Its central
fires. The story OF the catastrophe
reads almost exactly like that OF some
OF the scenes that are known to have
accompanied the burning OF petroleum
wells and surrounding inhammabie
substances.
or special interest Is the explanation
of the crossing OF the Jordan. Pro-
lessor Wright, after careful examina-
ton OF the banks Of that river near
the place where the people crossed
over. tells this little bit Of geological
history:
First there had been an elevation
OF about fifteen feet, during when
erosion had proceeded to that extent
Then there had been return OF the wa
ter to the higher level and resedi'
mentation. up to the old limit rms
was followed by Il rechanneling OF the
whole during which the river had cut
through both the later and upper sedi-
ment and also for fifteen feet lower
down.
THE most natural Interpretation OF
this succession II, that after the chan
mel had been cut down the first fifteen
feet, there was an elevation. through
subterranean forces, OF the bed OF the
stream a mile or two below. TINS
would dam up the water temporarily
and afford a dry Crossing-place Tor Il
few hours. or even longer, and make
the waters seem to pile up above as
described In Josh. III: 16. When, how
ever, al length, the water began to run
over the obstacle TO It's progress. there
would be opportunity to refli win
sediment q part OF It's bed above; so
that. on later re-erOsion 10 It's present
level, Il would present the phenomena
now TO be observed
A similar disturbance In the surface
OF the earth would account for the fall
OF the walls Of Jericho.
II is refreshing In this age OF sickly
criticism. when sacred history Is re-
garded as distorted fables, edited to
suit the demands Of superstition, to
read anew the scientific corroboratlon
Of the historical exaotness OF some OF
the most remarkable Of those so-called
myths and fables. A criticism that
lives and flourishes on deductions and
differences. is sllenced by facts.
Formerly, believers were timld in adj
hitting any explanation of miracles
that brought them In harmony win
natural laws. They were regarded as
supernatural God, IL was supposed
scorned TO work His wonders by The
means OF the laws ruling in nature at
around us. But lately 1t ls becoming
clear to the general student Of biol.
history that God does not perform HIS
works In any other way. Creation itsell
took place IN accordance with suef
laws. God and nature are not at odds
one operating in opposition to the other
To say that a miracle takes place ac'
cording to the natural law. Is not &c
deny its miraculous nature, nor TO ex'
eiude the divine agency in it's eNeou
lion. on the contrary miracles are OF
daily occurrence. and the hand Of GOD
slay be seen IN them all. Many how
ever. are 50 frequently repeated thai
they are almost lost 10 observation
Were they TO happen only once thel
would be greater miracles than am
un record In the Scriptures
Prof Wight puts che truth forciol'
when he says that in the miracles re-
ferred 10. the secondary agencies'--ih
instruments employed by the Almighty
are traceable. but that this does not de
tract from the divine power displaye'
In them. On the contrary They ma