The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-05-24
Twenty.Eix Students Graduate in the
Academic Course.
THE DEGREE OF A. 3. is CONFERRED
Two Ladies Graduate on the Pipe Organ, Being
Perhaps The First in the Stale. The
Diplomas Are Presented by
Bishop Rondthaer.
Bishop RondthaIer,
Especial to News and observer.)

number of years for the commencement
occasion proper of Salem Female Academy
and college. This morning there was a
new departure in connection with the
academic procession from school to
church. The senior class with their white
caps and gowns led the way from the
college to the church, bearing long fes-
toons made of field daisies.
1t was pleasant sight. AS the pro-
cession moved into the church Prof. Shir-
ley rendered an organ voluntary and the
exercises of the commencement began.
The attendance was large. Prof. A.
II. Patterson, native OF Salem, now
of the University of Georgia, was the
orator. His address was fine effort,
replete with deep thought and flowers of
rhetoric, evineing the familiarity of the
speaker with his subject, and made a
most favorable impression. Illustrations
of what has been, and is being accom-
plished by electricity were used to dem
onstrate the proposition that we live in
an age of science. Natural science is
adapted to the cultivation of the mind. 1t
teaches us to love the truth and tends to
federation. Strong examples of the reve-
lations of astronomy were given. The
fallacy that there is conflict between reli-
gion and science was dwelt upon. Religion
is always benefited by untrammelled
scientific research. AS the years go by
theology and science understand each
other better. The Bible is strengthened
by any new truth wherever discovered.
Science is the handmade of religion, and
is serving her faithfully.
Instances of woman's work in the field
of science were cited Her keen power
of intentions and her patience adapt her
specially to its study.
In the course of his address, speaking
Of the fallacy that science and religion
conflict, he said:
zone reason why science is not more
taught is that there is, l regret to say
a widespread belief that somehow or other
science and religion are at variance with
one another. This is a great mistake.
There never has been, and l do not see
how there ever could be, conflict be-
tween religion and science. There have
been in the past many conflicts between
science and dogmatic theology, but in
every such contest theologians, who are
cOnsecrated truth seekers, have sooner or
later yielded to the truths of science, and
have found, sometimes to their surprise,
that the cause of religion was always
benefited by their surrender to what at
first were considered very heretical scien-
tifc doctrines
Genuine science which is cautious and
conservative, has never yet had to recant
or recede from the positions it has taken
in the past, but it must be admitted
frankly that it has been so long persecu-
ted and forced to stand on the defensive,
that it grows sometimes aggressive and
dogmatic. Prof. Joseph Leconte says there
are at present two dogmatisms the old
theological and the new scientific. The
DID, he says, clings fondly to old things
only because they are DID, the new grasps
eagerly after new things only because
they are new. True wisdom, on the con-
trary tries all things both old and new
and holds fast only to that which is good
and true The new dogmatism taunts the
old for credulity and superstition the
old reproaches the new for levity and
skepticism. But true wisdom perceives
that they are both equally credulous and
equally skeptical. The old is credulous
of old ideas and skeptical of new; the new
is skeptical of old ideas and eredulous
of new. The appropriate rebuke for the
old dogmatism has been uttered by Job,
mo doubt We are the people, and wis
dom shall die with you,' while the appro-
pirate rebuke for the new dogmatism
should be mo doubt We are the people,
and wisdom was born with YOU"
"But as the years go by theologians
and scientists understand and appreciate
each other better and better, and are
fast climbing to meet each other on the
shining tablelands far above all bitter
ness or littleness of spirit, illumined by
the pure light from the countenanee of
that God who is very Truth who loves
truths seeking and 'truth-telling, and who
can never be pleased with a lie The
main question in dispute just now is the
doctrine of Evolution in Biology. The
principle of Evolution in Astronomy has
long ago been accepted by the world So
has it been in every other science, eX-
cept biology, but here we find difficulty
in accepting it. One reason for this is
that the doctrine is greatly misunder-
stood When we hear the word Evolution
mentioned we think at once of Darwin,
with his supposed theory that we are
descended from monkeys. Now Mr.. OAR
win never made any such statement, nor
does any intelligent scientists hold such
a view. People generally seem to think
so however, for we hear the doctrine
denounced by press and pulpit in unmeas-
ured terms, and the dangerous argument
advanced that if we accept the truth OF
Evolution we must give up the Bible. We
have heard this dangerous argument many
times before st. Augustine held those
accursed who believed thatthere were
people living on the other side of the
earth; the churchmen of the sixteenth and
seventeenth centuries declared that to say
the earth moved was FALSE and heretlcal
and was a denial of the Scriptures, Tor
do they not declare, "The world also IS
established that ID cannot be moved?" Ana
later on the CopeMic1n theory that the
sun is the center the solar system,
and that the planets Eevolve around him.
was bitterly fought bg Martin Inther and