Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-01-19
OLD-TIlNE RELIGION
BY BISHOP W. 4. GAMBLER

which man existed in various grades down
to the animal state. The distance between
the lowest form OF man and the highest
form of one, however, is too great even
to be passed by mutation, he declared
"Three tfsps to Europe, during which he
studied the results or excavations made in
central European countries, have convinced
him, DR.. Hrdlicka said, that that district
and not Asia or Africa or other remote
points were the cradle Of humanity
''Indisputable traces of men who existed
almost at the beginning of the ice period
of 100000 to 900 years ago, have
been found in various places in Europe
he declared and even these are not the
first traces Of the existence of the human
race there. Some implements of a more
primitive type than those used by these
people and which apparently were the tools
Of the men Of ages before also have been
discovereG."
Now, what will the oId-fashioned evolu-
tionists who accepted without reservation
DarWins theory of evolution, say to all that?
We'll, if they are as scientific in their think
ing as they claim to be, they will say this
learned Doctor Hrdlicka knows no more
about the origin Of man than did Darwin
little more than a negro washer woman
in the street. How could he know more?
His figures about millions of years might
as well have been trillions or Quadrillions
0
contain.
What shall plain man think of such
preposterous calculating? He need not
think seriously of it at ALL Let him laugh
at it, if he likes; and his laughter will
not be out of place. In no event, let him
be deceived or dismayed by it. In all this
wild guessing there is not one idea that
by any possibility can contribute to the adj
vancement Of science or the overthrow of
rnlipiOn ct bn
famous character in Judge Longstreet's
Georgia Scenes" was not really fighting
for science or against Christianity but only
showing "how he mought have fout."
Years ago in an address before the British
association, Mr.. John Tyndall talked with
equal confidence about his having found lin
matter the promise and potency of every
form and quality of life" His high-sound-
ing words alarmed some good people, and
threw certain type of preachers into
duck-ft by reason Of his desire to accept
Mr.. Tyndalls materalism and continue to
believe the teachings Of Christ at the same
time In truth, as all now know, Mr. Tyn-
dali had not found any such promise and
potency in matter" at all. He had simply
coined a neat phrase and having uttered it.
he set all the bantam variety of preachers
to cackling, He is long since gone, as have
also the cackling clerical cockerels whom he
stirred up to strident growing
A wise and calm essayist, who was quite
qualified to discuss the address of Mr. Tyn-
dali, was not easily excited. He said in his
serene manner, Does Mr.. TyndaIs materi-
alistic view dignity human life and destiny
tend to enlarge and strengthen the motives
which bind us to virtue, give us comfort in
a1flctlOn, add new meaning to existence and
experience? Not at all. He brings us out
Of matter; he gives us back to matter He
makes us indebted to matter for all our joys
and for all our sorrows, and places us to
walk on level with brute life, our heads
only being above it. That is ALL and he
must not be disappointed to see the Chris
tan world turning away from his conclu-
sions, with content in its faith and pity for
him. He knows nothing on this subject be-
yond the rest of u.s. He offers us a ma
terlal universe that made itself stamped
with laws that made Themselves and inform
ed with the promise and potency of all forms
of life. This is his speculation, and it is
worth just as much as the speculation Of
peasant and no more. He offers it to those
who believe that nothing was ever made
without a maker; that nothing was ever de-
signed without a designer; that no law was
ever given without a Iaw-giver-in short |
that power and intelligence necessarily pre-
cede all results Of power that betray inteIi-
gence, through the analogies apprehended by
the human mind. We do not see how his
confession can do more than prove how ut
terly incompetent the pure scientist is to ap-
prehend religion and its fundamental
truths"
We do well to think and speak in the
same manner concerning the materialists of
our day. No one of them is wiser or more
learned than was Mr. TyndaIl. Something !
mad gone to the heads of many of them, and
they are dizzy. So also many preachers of
the Would-be scientist type are suffering |
from swimming in the head They should |
sit down awhile and get their breath They |
have been whirling around too long and too |
rapidly.
An observation of Lord Kelvin Ca real |
sclentist) is submitted for the consideration |
of all whom it may concern: 81 marvel at !
the undue haste with which professors in
our colleges and preachers in our pulpit5 |
restat9 truths in terms of Evolution, while |
Evolution itself remains an improved by
pothesis."