Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-19
Does Wizardry With Plants
Qualify Religious Teacher?

Newspaper comment on Luther
Eurbank'S statement of his religious
views reflects n widespread feeling
that plant wizardry is not a prime
qualification for a teacher of religion.
There have been numerous sugges-
tionS that the shoemaker should stick
to his last Yet some observers find
the famous naturalist. in his refusal
to believe in hell-fire and his faith in
nature and the present world. no more
of an infidel than many persons &C
cepted as orthodox.
so far" remarks the Utica Oh
server Dispatch, the white-haired
plant wizard has said nothing very
startling or upsetting to the faith Of
thousands. Modernists have said as
much from numerous pulpits. The
last article of Mr.. Burbank's Credo is
even more likely to strike popular
Chord-'Let us have one world at a
time. Let US trust the rest as we
trust life One world at a time is
sound doctrine and good sense. This
heaven on earth, which is the primary
purpose of all religions"
X x v
This is the Tulsa Worlds view:
while, last Sunday, Burbank talked
of love and of birds, and flowers and
trees, and people. in the terms Of one
who found good and pleasure IN all OF
them, the ministry was whooping II
up in blazing scorn of this same man
who dared to tread ground on which
he had no business. We hold no brief
for Burbank, but he, in his gentle
wonder as to man, his place in ma
ture, his Importance in the universe,
and his honest search for truth, comes
- 80 ho
sence of the teachings Of the man
Jesus than do his critics"
THE blaze of indignant controversy
is accepted by the Lincoln State Jour
nal as evidence Of emotion more than
intellect" and the Journal suggests
that when Burbank expresses dis
belief in a literal hell-fire and other
things Of like nature. he is only doing
what many Of the so-called orthodox
churches did in effect generation or
two ago."
sit is too bad" the Chicago Trib-
une. however, observes. that Bur-
banks dictum concerned religion.
Mans religious beliefs are best let
alone. He who has a firm religious
conviction is fortunate. He has a
staff to support him through life. and,
when death comes, an expectation Of
happiness instead Of fear Of the un-
known" Surprise is expressed by the
Portland Oregon Journal that che
who has been q privileged partner in
the creative processes of nature
should have consulted the method
and the result more than the cause. u
The Journal describes the attitude as
"bewildered cropping, which Is char.
acteristic Of a generation" and sug-
gests that Burbank might have seen
that spineless cactus or any cactus
an improved potato or any potato
could not be unless q vast and direct
ing intelligence was back of the cell
and the form 1t takes in growth"
at is more than q pity-it is some
thing of a misfortune" declares the
New York Times, that the very emf
nent and successful horticulturist sud
denly has taken to talking about
things concerning which he Is no bet
ter authority than anybody else. His
personal opinions as to immortality
have gained some attention merely
because he long since proved himself
better able than most people to select
one promising seeding from 10000.
And the Syracuse Herald exclaims
"why, oh, why, do so many Of our
i1lustrious scientists and inventors