The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-08-04
GeOI Ogy and Genesis over Again.

To THE EDITOR OF The SUN-Sir: Fifty
years ago the student of geology was told by
the Bucklands, the Hugh Mllers, the Hitch
cocks and the Danas OF that day that, although
there was not word Of truth in the account
OF the creation as given in Genesis. neverthe-
less it showed, when rightly understood. the
perfect harmony between geology and Genesis
and proved that it's author was divinely in
spiredl
Next came the so-called Higher Criticism.
with its more rational methods Of investiga-
ton, by which it points out errors and incon-
sstencies in all Biblical records. but notwith-
standing the multiplied evidences ofbaseless
fabrications and groundless claims. as In the
case Of geology and Genesis. we are repeatedly
reminded that all this does not controvert the
doctrine of Divine inspiration for what is left
And now comes Prof. Haupt OF Johns Hop
kins, who. after telling us that the Eden story
was all borrowed from Babylonia and was not
inspired at ali. says that 'the saving truths
that ar declared In the sacred Scriptures
cannot be affected by any legitimate re-
search and no Christian investigator need be
afraid Of the consequences OF his researches
And. again. according to THK Sun. Prof;
Haupt is Of the belief that modern BIBLICAL
lions Of Christianity What it is endeavorine
to do is TO reconstruct the Scriptures as nearly
as possible as they left the hands of the in
Now, such stuff, which might be tolerated
or passed by II coming from one In the clerical
profession. is scarcely worthy Of respect when
put forth by one claiming TO be scientist
Will Prof Harpt put his finger on a singl line
Of at y va; a tSa other an
human origin2 Nay more, will he or any one
else put his finger on a single basic truth in the
Esypflsn, Ph@noian. Babyionian. HebTaic,
Greek or Roman; or for that matter medieval
or Christian-I mean a purely theological
Take the Hebraic doctrine OF Messiah or
the Christian derivation from II Has it
anything but wish or dream for its founda,
,ion' Yet for nineteen centuries the world
has waged merciless wars and prosecutions
over IL
It was not possible for any Oriental people,
degree In Greece and ACKNOWLEDGMENT geog-
raphy. geology. astronomy. biology. or to
any extent even with mathematlcs. 70 form
the universe, And this is Just as true Of what
are held to be cardinal doctrines in Christian
fT9 tbs
creation and Fall Of Man. or the later doctrine
Of his Redemption through the sacrifice q a
Of Gd or M taT osef
have had no founda tion but in the ina ginaton.
Can Prof Haupt or any other teacher WIG
Biblical claims should be required az in any
basic truth IN the theologies Of any OF the great
religions Of the world, ancient or modern that
will stand such tests2
Why not begin the twentieth century by
telling the plain truth? Can it do any one
any good 70 believe thing TO be true that Ia
not true2 Let the sole question be, is this or
that true-upon what evidence does this or
that claim rest2 SCIENCE demands this and
will be satisfied with nothing less As Tyndall
said. science has wrested the whole domain
OF cosmoo gical theory from theology.
One thing more What the world needs to
take the place of baseless and WORKOUT theo-
logical dogmas and needs badly. IL a system
of ethics 80 well worked out that its applca-
ton to all questions az they arise between man
and man will so inquest Toned and be every
where enforced. The principles of equity in
law have thus been worked out through ages
of experience Why not extend them into
system OF ethics applicable to all the affairs OF
mem. Make right righteousness
not theological beliefs, the test Of character
and life A j. W.
INV YORK, July 81.