The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-03-18
CRITICISES THE TIMES.
SAYS SCIENCE AND INTENTION OF
 NO VALUE.

NO VALUE.
 Nemarka ble Address of Dr. Mackenzie at
 Mems Club Said the Philosophy of
 Cain is Practiced in South Africa
 RidicuIed Massachusetts' Legislators.
 An address that several times visibly stirred its audience and seemed even Of a mildly sensational type was that de- lvered last night by Dr. Alexander Mackenzie, of Cambridge, before the Mems club of United church. Dr.. Mackenzie's subject was the rather non- committal one of An Adjustment to the Time" in which he indulged in sev- eral astonishing reflections upon our present advance in civilization.
 He announced that nowadays people have got through speculating about the life hereafter and are concentrating their attention, as they ought to, in finding out so far as they can about the life they are in at present, and noted the great discoveries of science and progress in social questions Yet" said he, "the times are filled with dis tracting doubts. We have learned about evolution, it is true; but what of it? It tells us how things develop, but doesn't tell us what things are, any more than David did in the nineteenth Psalm. We have still this problem, and besides that the new one of what evolution is. So, every time we answer scientific ques- ton we advance no farther and each answer breeds new questions.
 We say we have advanced in art and science. Take architecture, for in stance. We don't know so much about 1t as our fathers and forefathers, and this old church we are in tonight is better suited to its purpose than the various modern structures. As for acoustics, we know no more about 1t than the ancients, and it's lottery if the holders of the best pews can hear the preacher.
 With all our science we can't yet build fireproof building. Only last night the fire in Boston showed that the Boston Daily Advertiser, one of the best established newspapers in the coun- try, one of those centers of intelligence that Is keenest and most up-to-date, was utterly helpless to furnish it's em- ployes adequate fire protection.
 "Only last week the legislature of Massa chusetts, which is composed of men of about average intellgence-of only fair, average intelligence-had up before it four questions that show how utterly helpless we are to cope with matters that should have been settled long ago.
 'The first question was whether re- publicanism is better than despotism. They didn't put it that way; they put it, whether prohibitive liquor law can be enforced or not. Now, we all know how the prohibitive laws are being enforced in Maine Kansas and other states, and it only means that representative form of government Is futile.
 "The second question before this in- telligent body was, what to do with man when he has killed another man. whether to kill the man, thus making two murders, or put him in prison. The senate by large majority voted to the man rather than send him to prison.
 '"The third question concerned tortur- ing animals in order to lessen the pain of men, How that question was settled do not know
 '"The fourth question do not like to here because it does not seem agreeable; 1t is one less nearly settled than 1t was year ago. I mean the question whether women sholl go to war and to the ballot box. It seems to me this matter should have been disposed of long ago."
 In regard to the developments in South Africa Dr. Mackenzie said: 'There is another ancient question that seems never to have reached solution, and that is, whether larger nation can profit at smaller nations expense. It seems that what is now being done in South Africa Is very much after the old ! philosophy which Cain practiced when | he killed his brother Abel.
 "I also observe in this age that edu- cated men believe in the profane doc Lrine-not that trade follows the flag i but that the cross follows the flag in 1 the track of conquest; and I am asham- sd to say that Cambridge professor las said the way the gospel is propagat- d is by conquest
 You see how wholly unsettled the .imes are If we discussed arbitration ! we couldn't agree on it. The United . States has been concerned in forty sev- n cases of arbitration which have pre- vented wars; yet our government does not believe in arbitrati tion."
 On the missionary question pr. Mack 'nzie said that we were ourselves origi- 1ally the objects of foreign missions. We got the gospel from the Italians Now" said he, q know intelligent peo- ole who seriously believe foreign mis-