The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-01-03

GOLDEN TENT-''In the beginning
God created the heavens and the earth"
I Gen. III.
GENEsIs.-The title Of the book means
( origin, creation, beginnings. Ii belongs
4 10 what Is known as the Penteteuch, or
4 i've books supposed TO have been writ
ten by Moses.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES. - John
4 ll-5; Psalm 1916; Acts 1877; P1mans,
THE CREATION.-The story Of crea-
uoB is told in the simplest and brlefest
ana most orderly way as if TO write i
I lndeliOly on the mind and memory Of
man; as, indeed, It has. II gives the Inn
4 preston Of an inscription on a monu-
ment. as some one has suggested, like
the Ten Commandments on the Tables
/ of Stone. It's poetic form aids the mem-
4 ory. The more science reveals of Gods
works. the more poetic do we find the
acts and facts of God.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
All are agreed that the Scriptures
were not given to teach science, and
do not teach science. They do not
use scientific language, they do not
teach science, but state facts in every
literary form, in the common Ian
guage of daily life Hence, the vary
ing theories of science do not affect
its truth A good example is the diff
ference between the plain statement
that the sun sets" and the scientific
statement about the sun standing still
and the earth revolving. Most of the
objections made to the accuracy Of
the Genesis account arise from the
disregard of this principle, either in
regard to geology or language. Rus
kin well says Modern Painters, Vol.
w., "Firmament''), with respect to
this whole chapter, we must remem.
Der always that it is intended for
the instruction Of all mankind, not
for the learned reader only; and that
therefore, the most simple and natur,
al Interpretation is likeliest in general
to be the true one"
Professor Rice, in his latest re-
vision of Dana's school geology, re.
peatedly gives the general order OF
development Plants, rhizopods (the
earliest animal hfe), mollusks, fishes,
reptiles, birds, mammals, man. A
biologist told me that while plant life
and animal life began at nearly the
same time, yet as plant life was the
sum Of fewer qualities than animal
life, plant life was lower in the scale
than animal life. and before animal
life in the sense that animal life d.
rectly or indirectly depended on plant
life. Professor Rice calls these periods
"the reign" or 'the era" "the king
dom," "the group" of fishes, of rep
tiles, etc; and adds this note: These
expressions care not to be under.
stood as implying that the several
groups Of animals mentioned were
confined to the era named in connec-
ton with them, but only that they
were the most characteristic species
of the era" That note should be
understood as belonging to the de-
scription of each day" in the Genesis
record, and the word day" should be
interpreted as freely, as are reign"
and Kingdom without any king, in
the common language Of great geo
logist.
"The opening sentence Of the Bible
IS, perhaps, the most weighty sen.
tence ever uttered. It is a declara,
ton on nearly all the great problems
now exercising scientists and philoso-
phers-God, creation, the whole, eter.
nifty, cause. time. space, infnity, force.
design, intelligence, will. destiny
Austin Bierbower.
The unity Of God. There is one
God. and only one. In the earlier
theological treatises, up to a very late
date, one Of the first things was to
prove by all known arguments the
unity of God. In Cur day science has
settled the question. The unity OF
creation proclaims the unity Of God.
So far as geology has revealed the
past, so far as the telescope and
spectrum analysis, which have marv-
elously widened our knowledge OF late
years, can tell us-all parts of the
universe are constructed on one plan
and of the same materials.
The everlasting God Is a personal
God, with all the characteristics
which make our souls personal, end
how many more we know not. He
has will, and wisdom, and affections.
and power. TIe is infinite, eternal,
and Interchangeable in his being, wis.
dom, power, holiness. justice, good
ness. and truth"
This Creator God is our Creator
and our Father If we sum up in
one ideal all that has been written
or imagined, or found in all history.
of the best that belongs to earthly
fatherhood, we can get some idea of
what the fatherhood OF God means to
us.
The fact that we have God and
Father brings with 1t certain dutias--
obedience. love. worship, prayer. Com.
pare the first four commandments.
It also brings great privileges. Com
munion with such a God, the constant |
presence Of such an ideal, has
mighty character-forming power.
There is comfort, hope. strength, life. !
all good in the consciousness that
the infinite God is our Father, guide. !
ana friend.
Practical Points.
Gods works are a revelation Of him
rn1f az xva1l ou he x.y1ra Nszt41