Gilpin observer., 1909-02-11
Evolution in Conjunction
With Christianity

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The term evolution in conjunction
with christianity, is to the orthodox
churchman what the red flag is to
the angry bull in the arena. He will
not admit that one can be chris
tian and an evolutionist at the same
time, and will assert as one has done
in this place very lately, 81 cannot
tolerate such ideas" He is a bigot
with a narrow mind who, when cor
fronted by a theory contrary to his
idea, will make some witty or flip
pant remark on the subject, which
will cause his hearers to laugh, and
dispose of the argument in that
way. The great theory of evolution
is so firmly established and so uni
versally accepted by all who have
given any consideration to the sub
ject, that it should at least be toll.
Grated, if not accepted, by all who
are looking for solution of the grea
problem of creation, and of present
and future existence.
The orthodox preacher and teacher
will admit and also assert, that such
men as Darwin, Spencer, Haeckel,
Huxley and La Conte and host of
others are mental giants, and yet re-
fuse to accept the results Of their
lifelong research and study. If they
are intellectual giants, "as is admit
ted," is this not an argument in ia
vor of their ideas? When those idea
were given to the world, the church
was thrown into panic and said if
we allow such ideas to prevail it will
overthrow the church, because it does
not admit the place of creation as
given in Genisis.
The object of the church is to
establish the religion of Jesus, and
there need be nothing antagonistic in
the idea of evolution and christian
ity. The reason why we think there
is a conflict is because We are trying
to make the theory of evolution and
that of special creation agree, which
would not be necessary If We would
admit that the record Of special crea-
tion was given by mind ignorant
of facts that have become known to
the student of natural history and an
thropology. Instead of the new ideas
tending to overthrow christianity and
the belief in the Creator, it has
CT, nth cd
by refusing to accept erroneous state
ments it has made the plan more
reasonable and such that the think
ing man can accept. There is only
one of the great evolutionists who
refuses to admit Creator and that
is Haeckel. So when the Creator is
universally admitted it is easy for
us to see in his plan a systematic
method, and then evolution is simp-
ly Gods" way Of doing things.
The great system of evolution not
only prevades every phase of life, in
the earth but is understood to con-
troll the laws of the universe. 1t has
been traced by the great scientists
beyond the possibility of doubt, from
the Monera or Unicellular organism,
step by step, through the lower forms
of life up to the full developed and
highly organized being-man. Then
we find that 1t is the plan Of de-
velopment of the whole human family
In their varied conditions, socially,
morally and spiritually speaking. So
cially, mans first impulse was the
care of the individual, on the prin-
ciple Of an eye for an eye and
tooth for a tooth. The next the care
and protection Of mate, then the
family, then the clan, then the tribe,
next the nation and finally broth
erly and altruistic feeling for the
whole world. Morally speaking, he
has evolved from condition of dis
honesty, idleness and licentiousness
common among the early inhabitants
to high standard very far in ad-
vance to that which even the old
bible characters we're familiar with.
Abraham, Jacob and David are held
up by the bible as patterns and In
David's case as man after Gods
own heart" who would not be toler-
ated by the higher classes of society
IN this day.
Spiritually, the race has advanced
from vague idea Of a supreme