The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-09-25
REVIEWS
DARWIN n GOSPEL J :; Il
Rev. John =. Robinson Discusses
Ultimate Triumph Of
# Good. Sise 3.s 81
DEVIL HAS BEEN BANS HE'D.
This 'Cons,r1ation Devoutly to
Be Wished Accomplished
BY Silence. a

Rev. John L. BEeobl nson, pastor OF the
First Unitarian Church Of this city,
preached yesterday morning on the Cos.
pei According to Darwin or the Ultimate
Triumph OF Good 9. n ~ As s
He said in part: i, III s W y q # ~ "A {. I
Tho gospel means good news" What
ever inspires hope Is good news. What
ever, teaches us that good will ultimately
triumph; that God Is greater than evil,
is good news. Whoever gives US o larger
vision Of truth is d benefactor Of the
human race. 8t. 3s,
Jesus said: ''t.And other sheep have
/ which arc not of this fold. I One Of tho
plainest facts of history Is the disposition
Of all people to look with suspicion upon
the religious claims Of their ncighbor.
But this spirit lis passing away. 7 am
happy to believe that tho spirit of roll
gious sympathy and Inconsistencies Is
growing to-day. This is true of the edu-
Gated, who have travelled in other lands,
and who have seen TINT sanity lives atid
beautiful character can n grow out Of
creeds. quito different from thsir own.
And we are beginning 10 see that men
can bc the teachers r,f great truths even
though they do not have tho sanction
Of church councils. S#a} & III
Darwin came before the worlds3ot as an
authority Of the church, nor as Il rell-
glous teacher, yet his teachings lave
and far-reachlng. kSs 4. Il
The discoveries Of Columbus gave us
larger earth; those of Gallileo a larger,
universe, and the discoveries and teach
ings OF Darwin n have given us larger
views Of God and life II 3 says truly OF
evolution: There Is grandeur in this
view of life, with#its several powers,
having been originally breu,hed b. the
Creator into a few forms or into one:
and that whilst this planet has gone
cycling on according to the iiXe'l laws
OF gravity, from 50 simple Il beginning
endless forms most beautiful and most
wonderful have been and are being
evolved.''6 .s;s$ ty38l
Neither Darwin nor The writer OF Ec-
clesiastes, nor some other writer's OF the
Old Testament, We're very hopeful on the
subject lof the continued existence of. the
soul after death. But the trend OF sell
ence has set in the other way, and upon
this point Darwin and Ecclsiastes must
be set aside for the clearer expressions
of prophets and scientists, who speak
a stronger faith in the life after death. q
Is Sublimely Hopeful.
But the constructive side of Darwin's
teachings is subimely hopeful He pro-
claims the rise of man. We now look
upon man not as having been made In
a day, but we look upon him as the
Towering of the love and hope and
struggle Of untold ages We see him
not as a finished product at the very
beginning Of his existence, but we see
him struggling upward in the midst Of
the wild beasts, which he has learned.
to tame, and amidst his own wild pas
sions, which he is learning to tame.
The last word OF science FOR the human
race is, Onward and upward forever
Good News This.
Science has banishcd the devil from.
the universe To many good people this
is doubtful blessing.
This Is a universe. There Is one CEN
trail power in 1t that holds sway. aud
that power makes for righteousness.
All the forces In the universe are on the
side OF the best. and the best will ulu-
mately triumph EVIL may have it's little
day, but 1t passes away, making room
| for the good.
Science teaches us the holiness Of
our animal nature. Our animal instincts
are as much the gift OF God as are minds
and souls. The desires for food. for
wealth, for position; the love Of Offspring
and holy. 1t is the pcrversion Of them
| that brings trouble and sorrow. Instead
OF combining our halos to Mary, the
| mother Of Jesus we should put crowns
of glory upon the brows of every good
| mother. 4
Sacred Motherhood.
| 20 sacred motherhood! How can we
call that base and ignoblc which God
has made the beginning Of a soul The
! noblest Incentive to the good life Is the
| fact that our bodies are too sacred to be
| defled. The temperance Of the hero
| proceeds from the same wish to do dis
honor TO tho worthlncss he has
Love and goodness are planted deep
down In human nature and cannot be
destroyed. This stimulates our belief In
the ultimate triumph OF the good We
have really scientific basis for mo-
| rality as well as n Christian
IAN truth is divine; AL good men arc
| prophets; all are the children OF God
all arc seekers after truth, This is an
inspiring doctrine, 1t is good news: II
helps us TO behold the eternal goodness
that is ever pressing upon the mind ant
heart OF man and enabling him TO Fighter