New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1929-01-02
sim HAS NO Place
AMONG SCIENTISTS
Dr.. Osborn Says Barnes Takes
UnWarranted Step

New York. Jan. . Rl-Philosophi-
cal disc ussions of sin and religion
have no legitimate place in the
forum of the American Association
for the Advancement OF Science. in
the opinion of DR.. Henry Fairfield
Osborn. its president.
His statement was aimed at
paper read before a section meeting
of members interested in the medi-
cal sciences and the history OF SCI
ence by Prof. Harry f. Barnes of
Smith college, on Science versus
Religion as a Guide to Life"
This is scientific meeting" DR..
Osborn declared, land science has
to do with what can be understood
by weighing. measuring and analy-
sis of the universe, and it covers
the whole realm of what can be
estimated and understood. 1t stops
there"
The Barnes paper declared that
science and relegated sin into the
limbo of ancient superstitionS' and
called for a new order based on the
discoveries Of science In place OF
the old theological dogma, and rec
ognizing the right to be happy"
he specifically mentioned 'funda-
mentalist Christian" doctrine and
Christian solemnity," and his state
ments aroused immediate and fire.
quently heated response from the
clergy OF various denominations.
Paper Sensational"
DIR. Osborn. presiding at the gen.
eral session. last night. described
the paper as "sensational' and
scientific" and said it might
give the impression that the asso.
citation did not believe in Provi-
dence.
The function of the association,
he declared, was to carry the pub
lie into new realms Of knowledge
gained in the pursuit of the different
branches OF science, and to bring
scientists working in each field into
the realms opened up by workers
in other fields
Referring to the wretched drizzle
through which the large audience
had come to hear DR.. Harlow Shap-
ley, the famous young Harvard as
tronomer, announce the discovery
that intergalectic space is trans
parent and not clouled with cleo
irons. mcteors. nebulosity and free
planets. DR.. Osborn observed:
Il am reminded of an anecdote
about a negro preacher who on a
rainy night. after the Invocation,
looked around the congregation and
seeing how slim it was. added:
And We thank Thee. o Lord.
that despite the inclemency of the
weather. Thou art with us tonight"
lie did not allude further to the
Barnes paper during the meeting.
but afterward gave his views in
more extended form to the press.
Unwarrantcd Step
DR. Barnes" he declared, ''took
an unwarranted step in introducing
metaphysical, philosophical and
religious subject. 1t was an unwar-
ranted intrusion. He took advan-
tage OF this great platform OF the
American Association for the Ad-
vancement OF Science to give ex-
preston to his own opinion on a
subject that was totally unrelated
to the subjects under discussion.
AS president l desire to have the
public understand that DR.. Barnes
statements do not reflect in any way
the program OF our meeting. They
were calculated to give wrong i'm
preston.
1T they had been a philosophical,
theological or religious group, it
would have been appropriate. We
nave been very DESTROYS of request
ing the clergy to relieve the public
mind or belief that there is any con-
hlct between science and religion.
There Is none. There can be none.
Some of the greatest men OF science
have been very religious.
III I had been present. I would
have protested against continuing
the reading OF his paper"