Year: 1874

FROM the New Nrk tribune.


The address of Professor 1'yndall before
the British Association for the Advancement
OF Science Is in many respects one OF the most
extraordinary utteranceS Of our time. EX-
actly how tar the leaders of scientific thought
were willing to go in that bOrder-land where
we are very apt to suppose that science may
come into conflict with religion, has been in
regard to most of them somewhat an open
question. Few among his followers have
equaled Darwin in the tender delicacy with
which he has approached the ultimate prob
lem-thc question whether there is or is not
the need Of il Creator to perfect the scheme
of creation. There is nothing in all his writ
ings of necessity in conflict with a religious
belief, and there is the furthest possible re-
move from direct opposition to 1t. The works
Of Herbert Spencer, partaking somewhat OF
the cOmbative tendencies Of the man, are
perhaps more ou!spOken in this direction.
But that he would draw All argument against
religious belief from the works of Spencer
must deduce it from his arguments; he will
not find it in his words. Even in the very
plain-spokcn ''Lay Sermons of Huxley. the
belief of their author in matcra);sm Is tar
from being affirmed Both Huxley and Tyn-
dali have frequently used language upon this
subject which translated into simpler words
meant that there was no necessary conflict ia
the case: that science and religion could pass
each other without knocking elbows. The
followers of these great men have, as is the
wont Of disciples, said far more violent things
than their masters. The opponents of their
views have rarely failed to hurl at them ac-
cusa,ions of infidclity and atheism, to which
for tic most part they have had good sense
enough not to reply While no doubt there
are many inquisi,iyc people who would like
Ia know precisely what such men think on
these subjects. it is by no means certain that
the world has not been ust as well off though
such curiosity has not been Sratiticd.


But into this neutral ground Prof. Tyndall
has suddenly advanced with uplifted lance.
ready for the fray. 10 put all doubts at a
rest as to his intentions. he dashcs into the
stream which separates religious from ire
lgiouS belief. by avowing his faith in mater
i,lism Having done so, however, he as
s,,res his auditors that there is bend in the
stream where he is tordng it, SO that il is not
quite certain that his landing will bc on the
opposite bank. lie dscerns in the matter


'the promise and potency Of every form and
quality of life" Yc, he admits that 'thc
whole process of evolution is the manifesta-
tion of Power wholly insCrutablc to the in
tellect of men," But he is thirsting for bat
tie. lie proclams that there is an irresistible
conflict between scientific tendencies and
ecclesiastical reaction. Two courses only, he
thinks. are open to us, and to one, of course,
lie leads the way. Citing the incidents that
have marked the progress of science fer
twenty-five centuries, he would have us be-
lieve that the forms of religious opinion have
ever impetlcl it. Science claims unrestricted
rights Of research He would Confinc religion
tO the sphere of the emotions and drive it for
ever out of the domain of knowledge.