The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1906-07-26
Rev. Raldrldge Answers the OregOnian.

Editor Glacier-I desire through
your paper to answer an editorial In
the Sunday Oregonin of July l.
Therein | find an editorial on 1.-The
WAY of Nature" which, | wish to say,
does not appeal to my way of think
ing. The views OF the subject are in
deed very strongly put, the idea
tersely stated, but it does seem to me
that the premise is at fault. This,
of course is nothing new or strange
that should differ from it in opin.
ion; but wish to suggest some
thoughts in regard thereto.
The writer of the editorial assumes
that Nature is mere machine, pitt
less aud irresponsible and evolution
"blind process which begins nowhere
and moves to no end. 'But will this
statement bear the touchstone OF
truth, the test of a more rational
view? | think not. And why? For
many reasons, but chiefly because, as
| believe, the premise is not tenable.
Is nature mere machine? Ii so,
who or what constructed this mighty
machine? What set it in motion and
keeps it in perpetual operation! II
evolution "begins nowhere and moves
to no end" how shall we account for
its magnificent structure and its
wonderful phenomena? How shall
we explain the marvellous poise of
worlds moving in perfect harmony
To ask these questions is to answer
them. But Nature is not mere ma
chine. Nature is vast and complex
organism, potential with life, energy,
power. In the last analysis there is
no "dead matter All is pregnant
with life. Evolution is thus the nigh
tv unfoldment of line and growth and
progress in the process of world build
ing, and all is under law and guided
by infinite wisdom. But evolution
implies invoIution back OF all present
material forms, when God breathed
into Nature the breath of life and Ma
ture became "a living soul.
And Nature is neither cruel, pitiless
nor Indifferent. There is present in
the great heart of Nature an infinite
lover and ever abounding goodness.
Why not? But Natures plans are SO
great. her visions so vast in scope and
far-re aching in purpose, that there
does seem to be much slmIess grind.
ing. cutting, gnawing, and awful
carnage. And the mind that staggers
under this view has my sincere sym
pathy. But is this so? Certainly not
it is only apparent. For lnetance, the
plowshare of the sturdy farmer turns
out the cozy nest of the cricket, the
mole, the mouse but is the farmer
therefore without feeling or RESPONSE
bility? Surely not. But he has
large plan, wider view and a higher
aim. 1t must seem harsh indeed tC
the little creature whose home is thui
DESTROYED. But nothing of specia
importance can be produced either IL
Nature or art, nothing permanently
construct d without destroying somt
ting else of less value in its present
form of condition. And in the pro
cess of world building this may meal
the loss of grounds, houses, cities
people, nations. 1t does imply this
And evolution is not thus "blln(
process" without wisdom or purpose
or aim. For all is the outcome o
wisdom. But this wisdom is so clea
in vision, so vast in scope that mel
are blinded by it's glare. The pro
cesses of world building are beyon'
the ken of human vision. And VIII,
stand with covered eyes and content
that Nature, with all her wonderful
beauty, harmony, growth, progress
fruitfulness, muniticence, is nothin
but a mighty machine grinding o.
and on forever, a fantastic "proces
which begins nowhere and moves t
no end" For every tiny blade G
grass. every bursting seed, every u
folding flower and every grown
plant and shrub and tree; every crys
tai fountain, every ripling brook, an
every hill and dale and landscape, t
say nothing of vaster functions c
Nature, constantly Iefute our gropln
philosophy of Natures haDdlworh
So
"We close our eyes and call it might
And crepe and fall in seas OF light
Could we but understand.
Nor is nature wasteful in her pre-
cesses. Nature is conservative, prov
ident. palnstaking-supremely sc
There is no probability of her re
sources or materials in all the realm
of the universe. Nature conserve
every atom of star dust, every proE
elty within the scope of her wide dc
main. In economic science Natui
has no peer. Cosmos comes but
chaos. But Natures economy, unliA
much of mans is not of the niggardl
sort. 1t is on wide scale, and a
seemingly destroyed things al
wrought into Natures great temp
and its adornments. So
"God takes the dust that blows abo'
the street,
And turns it to a rose OF Deau'
sweet.
And thus, as l think, you mlstal
in sUpposjRg that modern society
IL SN NPfO -, IA ck-to N