The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-30
DIR. Patton and Miracles.

To THH EDITOR OF THE SUN Sir: That the
ultimate force or energy throughout the UNI
verso is sufficiently powerful to manifest
itself to the human mind in ways that arc in
scrutable Ia beyond question. Every ct udent
of science in its many departments soon learns
that beyond Appearances there svidon tly
exists a something that Is real-a cause ior
all surrounding effects.
From the history OF scientific investi cation.
1t has not yet been found possible to condition
that which is beyond the range Of sensible
knowledge or TO form definite conclusions
as to its nature. Within the limits OF short
letter it Ia impracticable to quote authority.
only the names OF some who possessed tho
ablest minds in the history Of the world may
be- mentioned. Among such. both SECULAR
and religious. are Aristotle, Locke. Hume,
Kant, Stewart Hamilton. McCook. spencer
and Lecky No one will deny that the lifework
Of these and others equally competent is en-
titled to respect and must be respectfully coz
sidered. When they conclude that the ordi-
nary course OF nature In ia manlioiu processes
has not. from the very nature OF lts develop
ment. been subjected 10 interference. persons
OF lesser reasoning powers have no warrant
for dogmatic assertions.
The immediate prede cessur OF DR.. PATTON
as president OF Princeton has written: no
result at which We have arrived Is that the
question OF the occurrence OF miracles Is 10 o9
determined by the ordinary laws OF evidence.
The problem then seems TO be not that the
first cause il incompetent to act in any man
ner suitable to its WILL but rather Il there
sufficient evidence to warrant the belief mat
the orderly development Of the universe, az
scientific investigation has practically proven
It to have taken place (and as II Is now ptV,
gressing) has, from the initial moment o. t ,o
change; or. in other words. has the primary
energy in nature included man In It's conti-
delce, and given him knowledge oil ms or's'h
The discussion OF miracles by Hume. the
conclusions Of Mansal, the comments OF hux-
ley, the elaborate survey of the s,lo)ect Dy
Lpcky plus the influence by workers among
physical phenomena, all conclude that beyonu
appearances there Ia an existence challehg-
ing all the resources OF the human nina 70
In addition. with scarcely an exception. an
scientific researches in physics point to an ~,
evolution that H. beyond the possi6iiitles OF
can be no question that DR. Patton is sincere
in his statements that they express not only
his belief, but also the belief OF others work
Evidently the diversity Of evidence pro-
petent minds, that can only be explained
been BEEN said that those who have made the most
important additions to philosophy are those
who have been deeply imbued With the splr.tt
s SCI 20 nave Seen fact further fact
viii be noticed, that those men who are pro-
fuse in dogma'ic assertions, ana nuenS IN
the laboratory OF the chemist and physical
apparatus Of the investigator are strangers
No conclusion Of speculative reason can out
weigh demonstrated facts. or force on tue IN
prejudced mind convictions not sustained by
preponderance OF evidence. These various
opinions OF theoogians can only be explained
by difference IN construction IN Their mental
While there Ia no immediate possibility OF
complete concord among those who deny or
affirm belief in miracles there Is, however,
aNid lam n ImDOrt-
indicating q general agreement Of opinion
among scholars that the finite mind has and
always vii have limitations, From the very
nature OF a subject beyond demonstration
1t would seem better to cheerfuly accept our
inevitable environment than to let our rea-
soning faculties constantly dwell on what can
only be hypothetical snrmises;
f., j, BERGEN
WASHINGTON, \. j.. Sept. 20,