The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-07-28
BRYAN HELD
FOR BIBLE IN
LAST ADDRESS
Argument Prepared for De.
livery at Scopes Trial
is Made Public
FIAYED EVOIUTIONi:SIS
Denounced Attack on Chris.
tian Religion Through
Public Schools
FLAYED EVOLUTIONlSTS

' '"N WIZ July 20. Nv III iS'T
nesscc case" am address prepared by
WIham Jennings Bryan in defense
of the Tennessee anti-cvolution law
which the late commoner was pre-
vented the delivery Of the speech"
ton trial because Of an early termin-
alton Of the case, was made known to
the world today by Mrs. Bryan.
"A sudden decision Of the defense
to submit the case without argument,
and permit a verdict Of guilty, pre-
vented the delivery of the speech
said an Introductory note to Mr..
Bryans address.
AS it presents the issues involved
and the reasons for the law pronibi-
ting the teaching in public schools
of any hypothesis that makes man
a descendant of any lower form Of
life, it is printed for the information
of the general public
Becomes Battle Royal
Mr.. Bryan declared in the address
that the case was no longer local.
but that it has aroused the proper
tions of battle royal between un-
belief that attempts to speak through
socalled science and the defenders Of
the Christian faith, speaking
through the legislature Of Tennes-
see
1T is for the jury to determine
Whether this attack upon the Christ
ian religion shall be permitted in the
public schools of Tennessee by
teachers employed by the state and
paid out of the public treasury" was
y conclusion drawn.
Asserting that 'ths law does not
violate any rights guaranteed by an
constitution to any individual" and
was not an interference with free
dom Of conscience, Mr.. Bryan in
dicted evolution on five broad
counts, the first Of which ''is that it
disputes the truth Of the Bible ac-
count Of mans creation and shakes
faith in the Bible as the word
of God"
This indictment we prove by
comparing the processes described
as evolutionary with the text Of
Genesis" he said, mot only contra
diets the Mosaic record as to the
beginning Of human life. but it DIS
putes the Bible. doctrine of repro
duction according to kind-the great
est scientific principle known
Disputes Bible Truths
"Our second Indictment the ad
dress said, "is that the evolutionary
hypothesis as carried to its logical
conclusion disputes every vital truth
Of the Bible. It's tendency, natural
If not inevitable, iS I" lead those
who really accept it. first to asnosti-
cism and then to atheism.
Here Charles Darwin was referred
to to illustrate what was meant by
this charge. 81 did not in the least
doubt the strict and literal truth Of
every word in the Bible Darwin was
quoted as saying in the period from
1928 to 1881 "Then," said Bryan, "the
change wrought in his (Darwin's,
religious views will be found in u
letter written to a German youth in
1879 x. X x
"'Science has nothing to do with
Christ except insofar as the habit
Of scientific research makes man
cautious in admitting evidence. For
myself do not believe that there
ever has been revelation. AS to fu-
ture life every man must judge for
himself between conflicting vague
probability
Trifling Speculation
The third indictment against evo-
luton was "that it diverts attention
from pressing problems Of great i'm
portance to trifling speculation"
He decried attempts of evluotion-
lists trying to imagine what happen
ed in the dim past and also to pry
open the door of the distant future,
declaring that the science Of "how
to live" is the most important of all
the sciences. 1t is desirable to know
the physical sciences, but it is nee
essary to know how to live Xxx.
"While not more than two per cent
of our population are college grad.
yates, these, because of enlarged
powers, need heavenly vision even
more than those less learned, both
for their own restraint and to in
sure society that their enlarged pow
ers will be used for the benefit of
society and not against the public
welfare.
"Our fourth indictment against the
evolutionary hypothesis is that, by
paralyzing the hope of reform, it
discourages those who labor for the
improve meAt Of mans condition." Mr..
Bryan said.
Seeks to Lift Level
Every upward looking man or
woman seeks to lift the level upon
which mankind stands, and they trust
that they will see beneficent changes
during the brief span of their lives."
he held.
Evolution chills their enthusiasm
by substituting aeons for years. 1t
obscures all beginnings in the mists
of endless ages. It is represented as
a cold and heartless process begin
ming with time and ending with
eternity and acting SO slowly that
even the rocks cannot. preserve q
record of the imaginary changes,
though it is credited with having
carried an original germ of life that
sometime from somewhere.
Its only program for man is scienti-
fic breeding, system under which
q few supposedly superintellects,
self appointed, would direct the mat
ing and the movement Of the mass of
impossible system"
Evolution" Bryan said, "disput-
ing the miracle and ignoring the
spiritual in life has no place for the
Of the individual. It'll
no cry Of repentance and
SCOTS at the doctrine that one can
be born"
Would Eliminate Love
The fifth charge brought was that |
'if taken. seriously and made the
Continued on page three) = J
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