The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-24

OihiSidi figures from COnRreRa.
tional records indicate that the gain
in membership for the year 1922 was
1879, the largest growth recorded
in the history Of the denomination,
The strongholds of Congregational
ism are Massachusetts,, Connecticut,
New York, Illinois, Ohio. Iowa, and
Michigan. The benevolent gifts Of
the denomination have doubled in the
past five years. The greatest per-
centage gain was made BY the
churches in Florida. At the next
biennial council OF the church to be
held in October at Springfield, Mass,
President Harding will be one of the
speakers.
NO SCRAP BETWEEN
SCIENCE AND RELIGION
Representative groups of scien.
lists, religious leaders, and men Of
ington and Joined in declaring that
science and religion meet distinc-
tive human needs and in rounding
out of human life they supplement
rather than displace or oppose each
other" DR.. r. A. Millikan, one of
the foremost scientists of America,
In explaining the object Of the Joint
statement, said that the purpose is
to correct two erroneous Impressions
current among certain groups Il un-
informed persons--the first that re-
ligion today stands for medieval
theology. and the second. that science
Is materialistic and irreligious. The
statement that was issued was signed
by largo number of eminent min
number being Bishop William Law
renee. Bishop Manning, Bishop Nc
Connell, President Barbour e.
Rochester Seminary. President King
OF Oberlin, President Burton Of Chi
cago university and DR.. Charles
D. Walcott. president Of the National
Academy of Scientists The full text
OF tho statement prepared and
adopted at the Washington meeting,
follows:
We. the undersigned, deeply re-
greet that In recent controversies
there has been a tendency to present
science and religion ~ irreconcilable
and antagonistio domains of thought,
for In fact they meet distinct HUI
man needs. and in rounding out of
human life they supplement rather
than displace or oppose each other.
The purpose Of science 10 t. de-
velop. without prejudice or pr<con-
ception of any kind. = knowledge of
the facts. the laws, and the processes
Of nature. The even more imptr-
tant task Of religion. on the other
hand. 10 to develop the consciences,
the ideals. and the aspirations of
mankind. Each OF these two activi-
ties represents . deep and vital func-
ton Of the soul Of man. and both
are necessary fer the life, the pro-
gross and the happiness Of the hu-
man race.
1t 10 sublime conception of God
which H. furnished by science. and
one wholly consonant with the high
est ideals of religion. when II rep
resents him ~ revealing himself
through countless ages In the de-
velopment OF the earth a. an abode
breathing Il life into Its constituent
matter, eliminating In man with his
spiritual nature and all his God-like
powers.
In commanding the Joint statement
DR.. Edward e. Slosson said:
1T Is curious feature Of the
present situation that the laity is
science than the clergy. That is.
those who know the most about
theology and who who have most
at stake in the church are most will
ling to welcome historical criticism
and scientific research. The real
conflict Is not between science and
religion as such. but rather between
dogmatfc ana intolerant rsligionists
and scientists on the other side. 1t is
moro q difference Of temperament
than Of opinion. The sfftFt to fetter
freedom Of investigation or to force
thought into fixed formulas is
equally fatal in science and religion.
"Overmuch fear Of heresy indicates
lack of faith. Scientific men have
such absolute confidence in the valid
ity Of the scientific method that
they permit their most fundamental
principles to be challenged even in
their own societies. Chemists listen
without . shudder to destructive at
tacks upon the immutability Of the
elements and the indivisibility of the
atom. The Royal Society of London
even applauds speaker who sets an
upstart foreigner like Einstein
most venerated members.
The papers have reported q half
dozen cases OF professors who have
been dismissed from educational In
stitutions under ecclesiastical con-
troll for teaching evolution but there
has been no retaliation from those
whom some call tho enemies OF re-
ligion.' never heard Of the National
Academy of Sciences expelling a
member because he was suspected of
being q Presbyterian or OF the
American Association for the Adj
vancement OF Science black ballinE a
man because he had been baptized.
Girard college II the only institution
that excludes clergyman by charter
and l understand that the door
keeper there Is not very vigilant
in searching every visitor to see IL
he has . dogma concealed about his
person. II we begin TO rewrits our
textbooks In science to suit q single
sect, or section of a sect. we may soon
have Methodist and Baptist sGolo-
gists, Protestants and Catholic
chemistries. Jewish and Christian
theories of gravitation. a. we now
have northern and southern histories
and proletarian and captalistic
economies.
Science and religion. properly I'M
derstGod, need never conflict, but
should always cooperate In the ad-
vancement of the human race. for
each supplies what the other lacks.
Science provides the means by which
human toll and suffering may be
alleviated and shows how human
life may be heightened and enhanced.
Religion gives inspiration to the in
dividual as aspiration to high IDEAL
Science gives eyes to religion. Re-
ligion gives heart t. science.
knowledge Is power. But power Is
dangerous II set In action by the
wrong motive Religion. unless en-
lightened by science. wastes Its en-
ergies In vague lodgings or in
fruitless and sometimes harmless ef-
forts to remedy bodily or social Ills"