The Earl of Shaftesbury, K G., on Science and Religion.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 2, Issue 368, 11 June 1881, Page 3

The Earl of Shaftesbury, K G., on Science and Religion.

— : ; A few yean ago the attacks made upon religion by : some men of science led to the foundation of a society to investigate all philosophical or scientific questions, more especially those said to militate against the truths of Revelation, and to publish the. results to its members in a quarterly journal ; this society, which was called the Victoria Institute, or Philosophical Society of Great Britain, has now a house at 7, Adelphi Terrace, London, and boasts of 900 members, each paying a small annual subscription, amongst whom are many leading men of science.. The Archbishop of Canterbury, . and several English, Colonial, and American Prelates have also joined it. ■ Having been founded under Lord Shaftesbury’s auspices, his Lordship takes much interest in its progress, which he recently ..described as follows : — “I was present at the very birth of this society; when an address was delivered in a small dark room. I had no conception at that time ; fi{ the work which the society would do, i and of the position which it would hold, not pnly at Home, but also, a* it is now beginife'ilng t° do, in America and our colonies. I expectation-whatever of seeing the assume such magnificent proper* {{pus, and from 1 the bottom of my hsart I I- "SSiitiMink Almighty God that he has so pros>>S|n#red oup efforts. (Cheers.) The object wiinPwith which this Society was formed was, i/Jl not merely to beat down the views of others, not to he antagonistic to the proScience, but to do all that we ;V&.&Sflld do for the development of Truth, I may' use the phrase, to give ‘fair play/' This Society was *to establish either one ICor another." It was not started r fbriihe ' purpose of setting up the Bible t ß^j»»n nm . - The object of the 1 Bccwas, 4hat Science should have fair that the Troth should be told on all '

s.hii id that wo might get rid of the desj. • m of certain scientific men. ; bear.) Because it is perfectly well know i; ihat men of science, with all their sublin er'd mighty notions, are as despotic ns t! u weakest of ihe human race, and they are exercising their deapolic sway to a icmailcable extent over a very large number of rising young men, who are either fascinated by what they have read and discovered, or are crushed by the authority of a few great names. It was in order, as I have said, that Science should have fair play that this Institute was established, and the blessing of God has so rested upon it that it has at last taken a hold in public estimation.”