Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-12-17
DARWIN AND CHRISTIANITY
Lady Hope Says Great Scientist Was
Believer.

a Believer.
Lady Hope, a British woman of IT,
tie, we'll known in religious circles for
her lifelong activity in Christian work,
has been spending considerable time
in this country, attending the Billy
Sunday meetings, the Northfield con-
ferences, and other similar gather
ings. To a prayer meeting in North
field she told remarkable story con-
corning her personal experiences with
Charles Darwin that is so at variance
with the popular conception Of the
great naturalist's religious beliefs
that Lady Hope was asked to write
down her story for the Watchman-
Examiner. According to the recollec-
tion of Lady Hope, Darwin in his la
ter years was devoted Bible student
and an outspoken believer in Christ.
Darwin, it will be remembered, set
out to study for holy orders in the
Church Of England and completed his
course in Cambridge university. His
mind was of a scientific bent, how
ever, and he welcomed the opportu-
nifty to go on The Beagle to the South
Seas. where he spent five years pur-
suing his Investigations and gathering
the scientific data on which his sub
sequent revolutionary works were
based.
During the two years which elaps-
ed between the return Of The Beagle
and his marriage he pondered the
subject Of religion seriously, so that
to use his own words, Disbelief
crept over me at a very slow rate,
but it was at last complete" That
he never felt prepared to have his po-
sition on religion quoted in contro-
versy upon the general subject Is
clear from the following extract from
one biography:
His attitude was that Of the toler-
ant, unaggressive agnostic, sympa-
thizing with and helping in the social
and charitable influences Of the Eng
lish church in his parish. He was
evidently most unwilling that his
opinions on religious matters should
influence others, holding, as his son,
Francis Darwin, says, That a man
ought not to publish on a subject to
which he has not given special and
continuous thought"
Lady Hopes Story.
What Darwin thought toward the
close Of his life is thus reported by
Lady Hope, in her written statement:
1T was one of those glorious au-
tumn afternoons that we sometimes
enjoy in England, when l was asked
to go in and sit with the well-known
Professor Charles Darwin. He was
almost bedridden for some months
before he died. I used to feel when
I saw him that his fine presence would
make a grand picture for our Royal
Academy, but never did I think so
more strongly than on this particular
occasion.
He was sitting up in bed, wear
ing a soft embroidered dressing-gow
of rather a rich purple shade.
"Propped up by pillows he was gaz-
ing out on a far-reaching scene of
woods and corn-fields, which glowed in
the light of one of those marvellous
sunsets which are the beauty Of Kent
and Surrey. His noble forehead and
fine features seemed to be lit up with
pleasure as I entered the room.
HE waived his hand toward the
window as he pointed out the scene
beyond. while in the other hand he
held an open Bible. which he was
what are you reading now?' I
asked, as I seated myself by his bed
side.
Hebrews he answered.; still He
brews. 1.-The Royal Book" I call it.
Isn't it grand?'
"Then placing his finger on certain
passages, he commented on them.
Queries Taken as Religion.
II made some illusions to the
strong opinions expressed by many
persons on the history of creation,
it's grandeur, and then their treat
ment Of the earlier chapters Of the
book Of Genesis.
He seemed greatly distressed, his