Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1908-09-13

emit state OF our knowledge we are
ignorant as to the origin OF man,
though the earnest. painstaking in
\ vestigations and researches OF the
great body Of scientists who have de-
voted their lives in the past hall
century to the study Of such prob
lens point to the conclusion that man
has appeared upon the earth through
an evolutionary process, whether the
details OF that process be as Darwin
set them forth or not. Certain
Ily every teacher Of the State
should be informed as to the present
state OF our knowledge or ignorance
In regard to such an important topic.
The State Board OF Education acts
wisely In not attempting to get ex-
purgated editions OF scholarly works
for the use OF the teachers of the
State, because forsooth some OF their
teachings may runs counter to some
antique theological conception.
In the year 1888 the theologlans of
the day met in a solemn assembly
and after careful consideration pass
ed the following resolution: THE
doctrine that the earth is neither the
centre OF the universe nor immovable,
but moves even with daily rotation.
is absurd. and both philosophically
and theologicalIy false, and at least
an error of faith" II took nearly two
centuries to thoroughly convince the
theologians that the earth spins on
it's axis and yearly makes a circuit
around the sun. Indeed, ! am inform
ed that II was not until 1922 that a
decree was issued allowing books
teaching the motion Of the earth
about the sun to be printed and pub
lished In Rome" Now no one is ac-
cused OF being an atheist because he
believes such a thing, and Of course
we do not put our ASTRONOMERS upon
the index Of forbidden books" be-
cause they teach such doctrine. II
does not lessen the dignity of the
Great Power that rules over the uni.
verse to suppose that He has ordained
the earth TO move around the sun in
stead OF the sun around the earth.
Likewise II need not make an atheist
Of person for him to believe that
man has come to his present status
through process OF evolution. God
may be In the evolutionary process
as well as in the process Of instantan-
eous creation.
However, II Is not the purpose OF
this communication to enter into
defense OF the evolutionary hypothe.
sis. but sether to enter a protest
against any attitude that would tend
TO limit freedom Of thought and IN.
quIry, especially among the teachers
of our State, or Tint would discourage
them from acruainting themselves
with the most recent and best thought
OF scholars regarding any subject, be-
cause, perchance, some teachings of
those scholars may run counter TO an
cient opinions. am not among those
who would draw a line around any ter.
ritory Of thought and say that within
this territory Is a body OF questions
forever settled and therefore excluded
from the sphere OF intellectual in.
quiry.
As lover OF truth, and OF intellect.
ual freedom as an indispensable con.
dition OF arriving at the truth. and as
one who wishes to aid In promoting
the cause Of genuine education In the
State, ! submit this rather long com.
munication IN the hope that its pub
llcation may a. least cause those who
may chance 10 read II TO take sec
ond thought before accepting the con.
clusions so earnestly presented IN your
Issue OF September 9th.
ENoCH MARVIN RANKS.
September n. 1905