The Ocala evening star., 1922-03-21

barbarous instruments of conserva-
ttsn in former times. Addresses such
as thai which Mr.. Bryan delivered at
Philadelphia will do very little to af-
fect the course of science, but we
think they are calculated TO do ire
parable harm 10 religion. We do not .
speak as partisans, or as foes Of re-
ligious conservatism, in which We
recognize a soul of fervor and a re-
ligious appeal meeting deep and !;
widespread need. There is a cold and
shallow liberalism that is in our judg- |
ment as much to be deprecated as is !
barren conservatism. Nor have we,
as few men have, either the knowl- |
edge or the competence to discuss in
telligently the scientific aspects of
the evolutionary hypothesis. 1t is
enough for US that men who have
such knowledge and competence, who
| hold to the evolutionary theory, do
not find it inconsistent with personal
/ Christian faith, displayed vitality in
| Christian character and purpose. Are
| these men, sincere and devout, to be
made so feel that they are interlop-
ers, with no rightful place in Chris
tian fellowship? If the language and
spirit of Mr.. Bryan prevail in our
churches, such men would have no
course but to withdraw"
The Christian Work of New York,
which has Presbyterian affiliations
and might be somewhat inclined to
favor Mr.. Bryan, gives page to a
review of his recent book, "1n His
Image" This paper speaks very
highly of Mr.. Bryan as a preacher,
and commends much of his book, but
goes on to say:
"The same thing is true when one
comes to the method of creation, but
here again Mr.. Bryan lets loose his
weapon of irony, which, gentle nature
as he IS, he can use as a master. He
is apt to be unfair to conditions as
they eve Evolution does not neecs-
sari1y deny God. 1t does not question
the existence of God behind creation.
1t is not a denial of the spiritual
origination of the universe. In the
hands of devout scientists it is simply
d theory (it may be a fact) of how
. God works, One has splendid illus
| tratiOn of this in the books of Henry
Drummond. Mr.. Moody and Sin
E George Adam Smith have both put
themselves upon record to the effect
that Professor Drummond was one
| Of the most Christlike natures that
: they have ever known. He devoted al
= his life to personal evangelism anC
yet he was thoroughgoing evolution
ist and believed so thoroughly that
| evolution was Gods method of crea
. ! ton that he wrote The Ascent Of
E Man to draw attention to the fac
that even in the natural world in th'
. long process of development of crea
4 ton before man arrived upon th'
scene, spiritual forces, such as altru
3 ism and sacrifice, were at work, thu
witnessing to Gods presence even il
the dumb, primeval world. On
. might almost feel after reading MI
- Bryan's famous chapter on evolution
that one could not be a Christian ant
hold that theory of Gods way o
. working, and yet, as we have said
Professor Drummond was one of tn
e sweetest and devoutest of Christians
y There have been many, many others
= He would be a brave man, too. VIII
would say that Lyman Abbot, for in
= stance, a thoroughgoing evolutionist
- who has for sixty years been preach
- ing the gospel through voice and per
:, had not influenced as many thousand
of souls, both young and old, to accep
y Jesus Christ as their Lord and Maste
~ as did Bishop Wilberforce, who wa
the great arch-enemy of evolution i
his day, as Mr.. Bryan is in ours"
49, We do not know just what Mr.. Bry
,, an would do with the thousands @
- earnest, devout ministers and layme
- who differ with him theologically. H
cannot, of course, burn them at tn
u stake, and we are quite certain that S
10 hlnuly man dS ne "oulu HoL uo 81
80 he could, in spite of the bitterness G
some of his language. He would nc
- even assume that he thinks they ar
- "hell-bent" and are to sizzle in tn
p, place of torment which his literal in
i depreciation of scripture makes neces
sary.
The attitude of intolerance doe!
a however, indicate metnal attitud
~ that does not make for the pleasantes
- relations. Few men enjoy being cal
~ ed insincere. 1t is possible that tn
thousands of religious leaders who al
IF cept the evolutionary hypothesis al
: mistaken. 1t is just possible, on tn
al other hand, that Mr. Bryan is mi!