The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-06-26
some GruaG BioloEists IN the Catholle
Church

From No American CafAoiic ouarsrip
Perhaps tho most interesting feature q
the recent history II biology In what con-
Germs the attitude of Science % faith Il "a
h. found In the fact that a number %
Catholic clergymen have been among the
most distinguished workers and most sue
oeasful Investigators In this department %
science.
Only In the last ten years have We come
b realize Il. but Il IL universally conceded
that the greatest worker In the biological
sciences during the latter half 81 the nine
tenth century was the abbot of an AuEustln-
ian monastery at Brunn In MOravia Our
biological journals are now filed with dis
cusslOns Of Mendel's works and Mendels
laws our biological INVESTIGATOR are
mainly engaged in confirming and extend.
ing his observations on animals and
plants. our biologists are mainly occupied
with studying out the complete significance
Of his discoveries. and we have entered
on the period Of Mendelism 10 succeed Oar.
winism In biology. % science and faith 10
Mendels case there can he no doubt though
there Is also no doubt Of the depth Of hia
knowledse Of biological principle. After
he had spent some ten years In the study ~
the plants In his monastery garden and
elucidated problems that we're % remain
utterly obscure for a full generation after
his time. because his work did not receive
the attention that II deserved, he was elected
tho abbot Of the monastery and spent tho
last fifteen years Of his life in this position.
His election was mainly due 70 the convic-
ton % bis brethren that he was a man OF
deep piety o. well a. profound Learning, and
he died almost In the Odor % sanctity.
d has
churchmen who have reached noteworthy
distinction In nineteenth century biological
science one Of the best known Of these is
eth alive. the Jesuit Father wasmAnn, a
J.. Who 4 looked upon 40 one Of the greatest
Of living entOmolOgists. 70 whom We owe sew
eral articles on ants and their parasites. and
who has described some nine hundred new
species OF Insects. mainly ants and creatures
that have relations 10 them. A number Of
The Catholic missionaries have attained dr..
tinguished names fof their discoye cries In
foreign countries and for their collections
IN zoology and botany. The most diStin-
! gutshed OF these was Father Armand. WHOSE
studies In zoology and botany in China made
him famous throughout tho world tie en-
riched the iardin des Plantez In Paris 90 az
20 make IL a Mecca for students from an
| over the world Who wanted 10 know some
thing about Chinese zoology and botany.
Scarcely less distinguished was the Jesuit
rnissionary Father Peter lieuds. Who died
at Shanghai In 1902. Ills articles on The
cOnchology Of China aud his studies in tho
zoology OF the Philippines. Batavia. tho
Celehes. tho Moluccas and japan attracted
widespread attention.
10 this list should he added the names Of
Father Bernard Aitum, some lime president
Of the German OrnithUlOgicnl society. whose
book The Bird and its Life" y widely
khOwn. and Father Iatreille. one Of tho
pioneer workers In entomology AZ the be-
glazing Of tho nineteenth century whose
work was 80 successful that he j. not likely
10 be- forgotten Nor arc these all. none u
whom found any hindrancc To faith In his
biological studies