Evening star., 1924-10-28
DECLARES SCIENCE
CAN AID RELIGION
No Incompatibility if Prop.
erIy Understood, Editor
Tells Students.

That science, properly understood.
can be of material aid to the clergy
in the advancement OF civilization was
the challenge laid down to critics Of
the incompatibility Of science and
religion by DR.. Edwin E. Slosson. edi-
today of the eighth annual convoca-
tion of the school Of religion of How
ard University.
DR.. Slosson pointed out that both
science and religion meet a distinct
human need and are not irreconcilable.
Jesus. he said, used science to illus
trate many of his ecclesiastical teach
ingS. A curious feature of the present
situation between science and religion.
he added, is that the lay mind is more
alarmed over the advancement of
to matter of temperament.
The National Academy Of Sciences.
DR.. Slosson explained, has never
"black-balled" a member because he
was Presbyterian, although a num-
Der of ecclesiastical colleges have
dismissed professors for teaching the
theory of evolution.
"Science and Religion"
Speaking on Science and Religion"
DR.. Slosson began by criticizing the
product of many of the theological
seminaries. "A great many graduates
of theological seminaries," he said,
are Smartly up-to-date about all
subjects except theology. The modern
theologist can give you the glad
hand at the church door or teach
a Boy Scout how to salute the flag,
but he is not capable of leading a
congregation. AS a result, serious
minded people are going places other
hnv hn nh,,r f0r ,afo ophx %
church is going to be more than a
boosters club, some one. who can
lead, has got to seize hold"
1.-THE world is in the midst Of the
greatest revolution of thought it has
ever known" DR.. Slosson continued.
The flood Of new theories coming
into science requires accommodations
in our brain"
Urges Work at Home.
A plea to the negro ministry of
America to solve it's home problems
before undertaking to uplift their
by Rev. George c. Clement. bishop
of the Methodist Episcopal Zion
Church of Louisville, Ky. DR..
Clement explained that there are
100000 negroes in the United
States, 100000 of whom are men,
bers of the Christian Church.
Conditions in rural communities,
where religious services are held only
once and twice a month, were depre-
Gated by DR.. Clement as the great
weakness of our pulpit" A large
percentage of the rural ministers, he
pointed out, live away from the peo-
pie whom they are expected to serve.
thereby losing the personal contact
so essential to strong leadership.
Many country preachers, also, he said
are small farmers and their interests
are divided.
Drawing an analogy between the
rural and the urban churches, DIR.
Clement said that the pressure of So
ciety, Sunday amusements, strenuous
living conditions, industrial uncer-
tainties and unrest and criminal
tendencies are detracting from the
ministers influence in the cities. ...
Work in Africa
DR.. James H. billiard. president Of the
Slater-Jeanes funds, described educa-
tional and religious conditions in Africa,
stressing the rigid entrance require
ments at a new native institution in
South Africa.
DR.. D. Butler Pratt, dean of the How
ard University School of Religion, for
mally opened the convocation. The gen.
eral subject for the convocation confer
ences is THE Christian Ministry
Sessions will be held through Thurs
day. The convocation sermon will be de-
livered tonight by Rev. w. S. Abernethy,
pastor of Calvary Baptist Church.
Speakers at this afternoons session
are Rev. William Stuart Nelson and Rev.
Sterling n. Brown. A round table dis
cussion of the education of negro min
listers will follow, at which Dr. Robert
l.. Kelly, director of the negro theologi-
cal seminary survey Of New York, will
speak.