DR. ELLIS'S LECTURE ON THE FIRST MAN.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1695, 24 July 1875, Page 4

DR. ELLIS'S LECTURE ON THE FIRST MAN.

The fourth, aEcl certainly one of the ablest of the fceries of lectures raven at the Young Men's Christian Association was delivered last evening, in the large room, by Edward Ellis Jisq., M.D , M.R.C.S., on the question "Was A darn the First Man?" The Venerable Archdeactii Maurs-11, president, occupied the chair, and with a few words, introduced the lecturer, who was greeted with loud and prolonged applause. The lecturer commenct d his speculative discourse by referring to the anxiety so generally manifested by thoughtful men in respect of date ; the age also, was distinguished by an earnest spirit of enquiry, and no subject was considered too sacred for philosophic investigation. Teachings which our forefathers accepted without doubt were now submitted to examination and analybis, and the verdict of " not proven " iv Scotch fashion, was frequently returned upon subjects once considered unimpeachable by unenquiring minds. It was not lemarkable, therefore, that the Bible, in the midst of scientific enquiry, should receive a very prominent share of attention, and be submitted to the test of modern analysis. The lecturer held the opinion that this could not be a matter of regret to the devout believer, for if th« Bible be true it could lose nothing by such investigation, whether in relation to its credibility as a history of human life as swayed by Divine influence, or in its authenticity regarding the books of Moses, the fulfilment of prophecy, or its benign glory touching the Christian system. Sn proceeding to his immediate subject, Dr. Ellis said that men had been accustomed to r> gard Adam as the first of the human race, but it was his duty to vvairn his audience that the idea, in the opinion of scientific men, was no longer tenable. L<arned men thought that Adam could not have been the first man by millions. This opinion need not, however, -be a matter ot app ehension to the Christian. There were five witnesses to be consulted on this head, geology, achseologv, history, lanuuago, and the Bible. Tne lecturer then, at some length, referred particularly to ttiese studies, and related many interesting facts, which modern discovery had brought to light, in relation to each. He also described some of the more distinct of the races, such as the Caucasian, the negro, and the Mon-

golian. He also dwelt with the question of language, and shewed that there were three distinct classes of languages : the radical, the termination, aud the inflexional ; and that the races speaking these languages are equally distinct iv their habits and civilization. " Adam was the child of God ;" made in his likeness, and in many parts of the Scripture a like significance is indicated by the words being placed opposite, or in a suitable position. The banishment' of Cain and the building of a city by his son, implied that if Enoch built a city it must have been inhabited. Then came the natural question, which could only admit of one solution : by other races of men. The lecturer remarked that the^Bible was the best testimony we have as to facts in relation to the conditions upon which human existence is based, and passed to the new Adam the founder of the Christian system, which was the noblest and the best, and had stood the test of critical examination for two thousand years; and they owed their prosperity and happiness, as England did, to the great blessing conferred by the second Adam, who came to regenerate the world and give, above all the storms of doubt, the glorious prospect of everlasting life. The lecture of which we have given but a mere sketch, was learned, frequently eloquent, and listened to with marked attention. A lady performed several pieces of music on the piano at intervals during the lecture, which closed with a unanimous vote of thanks to the lecturer, and the benediction.