The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1909-09-09
HINTS At TRACE OF
/. DARW|k'S APE IN Us
IF We Come from Perfect Man
We Have Degenerated A Lot,
Says Schurman
OUR BRITISH STRAIN IS EVIDENT
Cornell's President Criticises Ameri.
can Constitution in Referring to the
Regulation of Divorce Great
Change in Religious Thought.


New York Whether we came
up from the ape. as Darwin reasoned,
or degenerated from perfect man, as
Milton held, President j. G. Schur.
man of Cornell University, in address
ing the Society for Ethical Culture
in Carnegie Hall, said it is certain
there is something radically evil in us.
and it is the business of modern ef-
fort to overcome it,
President Schurman spoke on THE
Development of Religious Thought"
! He confined himself TO the period
from Milton to the time OF Darwin.
whose centenary will be celebrated
next month. The influence Of these
men on religious thought was the
basis of his address
President Schurman spoke of Mil
tons championship of religious liberty
and the freedom of religious thought.
Milton was, he said, its greatest advo-
cate and the aspirations which be had
in that directiCi were similar to the
achievements and possessions which
we enjoy to-day. 1t was not alone in
the British Isles that the effect OF Mil.
tons advocacy was felt but it had
a great influence in this country.
Il am the last lhan in the world"
said the speaker ito allude to the
regulation of divorce as a bright feat.
ure of the American Constitution. 1t
is a shame and danger in the ex.
VI III f-
the other extreme would be Just as
bad. Milton advocated that under
certain circumstances divorce should
be allowed. We in America are en-.
joying to-day some of the best politi.
cal principles which he favored. He
was away head of his time in the
advocacy of many of the things which
we possess, and among them are some
of the best things in the world.
Milton had definite theology which
differs from ths. of most thoughtful
men of to-day. His philosophy was
based upon the Ptolemaic theory of
astronomy, while the Copernican sys-
tenn, with the sun as the centre of
the universe. is the accepted theory
to-day. With the Ptolema!, theory it
was easy for Milton to picture heaven
and hell as above and beneath the
earth but that pictorial representa-.
ton in Paradise Lost would not an.
wer to-day. So Millions philosophy
must be kept in mind in reading his
work"
In referring to the change in religi-
Gus thought President Schurman said:
In the eighteenth century there
was a great earthquake in Lisbon. Not
only was the earth torn asunder and
thousands killed but the religious
thought of the day was most pro.
foundly stirred Men of the greatest
influence began to ask how the world
could be governed by a beneficent
Providence if thousands of lives were
allowed ruthlessly - be swept away.
Much Yves written at the time. The
recent earthquake in Italy awakened
widespread feelings of horror at the
loss Of life and sympathy and kind.
ness toTaru he afflicted but | never
heard voice raising the question
which |as raised when the Lisbon
earthquake occlrre.. The thoughtful
men of to-day anG even the masses
have come % realize the Copornican
astronomy that the earth is not the
centre of the universe but only an
insignificant planet.
THE theory OF Milton was that man
was crea.ed perfect; that he fell and
needed redemption. So long as men
believed our first parents were Gre
ated perfect this theology would
stand but the whole scheme becomes
irrational and even superfiuous If the
hrst being was not perfect, but akin
to the barbarian. ! do not believe
that those who will join in the cele-
bration O. the centenary of Darwin,
next month, will contend that he has
established the hypothesis that man
and the ape sprang from a common
origin, but all history and tradition
tend to show that mans history is one
of steady ascent
"As for myself l don't care if I
came from savages or half brutes or
from perfect man. The important
point Is what | have arrived at, not
"HdI luey were, Dul Nnal am. AS
the Puritan idea emphasizes the need
of redemption, so now It is recognized
I by all, though we have our high ideals,
that we are sinful creatures and we
lave a british strain in us. The
problem is to get rid of this british
inheritance. No demonstration of
science will deny We are sinful. There
is something radically evil in us, and
it is the business of modern effort to
overcome ii.
Notwithstanding the great advance
in religious thought and the discov.
cries Of science. the great essential
truths remain. Though the Bible is
not regarded as inspired in every line
and word its value remains, and the
old precept to fear God and keep His