The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1923-05-17
REV. HOFFMAN PREAcHEs ON
EVOLUTION

John A. Hoffman. The Herald ~;
:, publish these sermons as tbev aro !.
liyered, believing that our readers ou
: and all, viii read with much ;ntares
g the discourses on subject that ba
= created more discussion than any toni
! that is now before the world of tbin,,
|. ing men:
/ What is evolutiong
The best definition of evolution !,
given by Prof. Luther II. Townsend
!. as follows: Evolution involves tbt
theory that living things originally
came upon the earth in the form Of
germs, supernaturally created. or i'm.
ported, or produced by spontaneous
generation. Evolutionists have been
divided into two classes-naturali
and supernaturalists The naturalist.
as the term applies, rules God out of
the universe from start to finish. the
claim being that nature is abundantfv
able to look after herself and al,
things committed to her care. The
supernaturalist, on the other hand. ad.
mits God into all the schemes of the
universe, including evolution, and
places all nature more or less under his
control. Evolution is little other than
Gods method in world building and
furnishing. The naturalist and super-
naturalists, however, generally hold
that all development of living organ
isms, whether with or without external |
supervision, are carried on strictly in
harmony with processes represented
by such terms as natural selection,
struggle for existence, survival OF
the fittest,' and transmutation ("
Two phases of evolution considered
Much confusion has been created be.
cause of the failure of most writers
on evolution to draw line of demar.
cation between the two phases of evo-
lution-the genealogical and the bio
logical. Genealogical evolution per-
tains to the formation of the universe,
not including life. Biological evoIu
ton has reference to the development
of hfe-life only. A great deal ofI
the smoke that has gathered around
the subject of evolution would evan Il
esce, if writers and lecturers took
proper precaution to point out which
phase of evolution they are discussing.
Not only orators like Mr.. Bryan are
guilty on this point, but also scientists
ike Prof Townsend and DR.. G. Fred
,rick Wright, not to mention numer- /
,us others. The majority of these (
nen-if not all of them-accept the i
phase of evolution. But
o read their writings, one would con i
.lude that they were opposed to evolu-
ion in any form. This as an examin- /,
.tion of their writings viii disclose, is
lot the case. y
Note for example, the case of DR.. \
]. Frederick Wright. He was great
,eologist and also an uncompromising Ii
efender of the Bible. He fought the n
biological phase of evolution with all
he scientific and theological power at 81
is command. But on the subject Of 0
evolution he expresses
imself in the following language: e.
"The Bible, indeed, teaches sys-
em of evolution. The world was not oi
lade in an instant, nor even in a day, J,
rhatever period day may signify, but
six days. Throughout the whole q
recess there was an orderly process
rom lower to higher forms of matter 81
nd life. In short, there is an estab- OF
shed order in all the Creator 8 work to
ven the Kingdom of Heaven is like d;
o,ain of mustard seed which, being
Ianted GREW from the smallest be- l.
innings to be tree in which the ds
wis of heaven could take refuge. so
there is first the blade, pc
ION the ear. then the full corn in the
W y III
careful perusal of the Book OF
enesis discloses the fact that 1t con
lnS n0tnlng lllstt ooupu
,nstrued to annihilate the cosmology IN
i phase of evolution. The fact OF di
cation is stated in these few words; en-
In the beginning God created me re
,avens and the earth. And the eartn sp
,s waste and void and darkness was co
ION the face of the deep; and the VI
,irit of God moved upon the face OF I'll
: waters And God said, Let there esl
light; and there was light. = OF
Several important items are missing 70
this brief statement of creation. gf'
ret the time of creation is not ar
,ted. One is at liberty, therefore, TO vi
back as far as the most extreme soi
olutionist may desire to take us. os
eond. there is nothing to indicate As
a condition of the earth prior TO the W.
cation of light. The universe, so Coz
: rs the biblical record goes, may tn'
We been millions of years in the pro- sn'
80 Of formation before God made the IOi
1t and divided time into specific