The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-01-04
GEOLOGTCT PROVES
BIBLE MYSTERIES
Lots Wife Literally Turned
Into Salt Pillar.
SPEAKER SAYS IT WAS SIMPLE
DIR. J. F. Wright. of Oberlin Semi
nary, I'm Interesting and Instructive
Address, Proves Biblical Miracles
by Geological Reasoning - Crea-
ton and Flood Explained.

When Lots wife vas turned into a pill
lar Of salt she was. literally and scien-
tifcally, turned into pillar OF salt II
was not a miracle. II was simple and
reasonable. according 70 the light OF
modern science. whose searching eye Is
in all the dark places
This statement was made in the course
OF a sermon BY Dr. J. F. Wright Of
Oberlin Seminary. ObeTIin. Ohio IN the
New York Avenue Presbyterian Church
last evening. Dr. Wright is a geologis1
Of worldwide fame. and his word on
ScripturaI questions is law. His subject
was scientific confirmation Of the Old
i Testament"
How was Lots wife turned into a Pill
lar Of salt? The biologists answer is
cold and unpoetic. Lots wife lived IN 4
country OF salt deposits Of peculiar geo
logic formation. and seismic disturbances
were c0umon-
Undecided In salt Cloud.
She was imbedded in a cloud Of salt
that was thrown up. geyser-like, from
terra frna Thus geology explains away
one Of the favorite miracles Of the ages
But handed down 20 the future IS the
miracle OF the prophecy. which viii En-
dure as long as Christianity endGres-
DIT. Wright said there was nothing su-
pernaturaI in the destruction Of SOdom
OF Gomorrah. the crossing Of Jordan
by Joshua's host. or the fan Of the
walls OF Jericho. He sees In them the
plain facts OF geology
These are all easily credible now that
we know the geology Of the valley % the
Jordan and the Dead Sea" he said 1t
is an earthquake region. where internal
fires can easily be made 20 burst forth.
and loosely built city walls can be made
10 topple 10 the ground The ground .
soft and eIayey. and snakes Ike Jelly
as the result 81 a comparatively mild
quake Conditions were propirous for
lament relates
1T was a mediate miracle. Era which
God MAZE use 0f natural forces 20 &C
complish Superhuman results. The con-
formity Of these accounts with the nat
uraI conditions involved establishes their
truth beyond reasonable doubt"
The crossing Of the Jordan by Joshua's
host was made realistic by Dr- Wright
The opening Of the sea was not the result
OF an inspired Imagination. and the skeD-
tics are beaten on their oHn field Il IS
as logical and reasonable. said the speak
~. as frequent disturbances on Lake Erie
under terrific wind force The lake
waters are often fifteen feet higher at
Buffalo than at Toledo On stormy wealth
er. and even more remarkable conditions
have been observed.
1T was. indeed. a bold venture 20 pre-
face the Bible with a picture OF the prog
ress Of creation from the beginning Of
things 10 the creation Of man, con-
tinued Dr. Wright But modern science
has no occasion 10 criticise that brief
but magnificent introduction. II is con-
firmed rather than contradicted By
science. The story % the food seems
less improbable than Il Gid before our
knowledge OF the glacial period. and Of
its connection with human history The
early history Of man was interrupted By
numerous deluges connected with The
close Of the glacial period
Influence Of Genesis.
That Genesis has exercised a greater
influence than any other piece Of utera-
ture ever penned. and that the highest
geologic conception fuds its striking
accuracy in the story Of the formation OF
this planet. was asserted with some vigor
by the speaker.
Darius the Mede. said by Daniel 70
have reigned a year in Babylon after its
capture by Cyrus. has been regarded as
mythical person But within the last
year mathematical calculations concern
ing a total eclipse OF the sun in that re-
gion make corrections IN the accepted
chronology Of the period which prscti-
caIly Prove that he was no less q per-
sonage than Astyages. the last OF the
Medial kings.
And so we might go on indefinitely
The Old Testament bears the closest eN-
animation and oss-CUestiOuing, and
comes out Of il all with the increased
confidence Of sound-minded critics. Il Is
invaluable history. revealing the way
wardness Of man and the mingled good
ness and severity OF God in dealing with
him.