SCIENCE AND RELIGION.

Dunstan Times, Issue 999, 10 June 1881, Page 3

SCIENCE AND RELIGION.

A few years 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 No. 7, Adelphi Terrace, London, and boasts of 900 members, amongst whom are many loading men of science. T_b_ Archbishon of Canterbury, and several English, American, and Colonial 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 then of the work which the society would do, and of the position which it would hold, not only at home but also, as it is now beginning to do, in America and the colonies. I had no expectation whatever of seeing the society assume such magnificent proportions, and from the bottom of my heart I thank Almighty Cod that he has so prospered our efforts. (Cheers ) The oi'jcct with which this society was formed was not merely to beat down the views of others, not to bo antagonistic to the progress of science, but to do all that wc conld for the development of truth, and, if I may use the stereotyped phrase, to give religion, ‘ fair play.’ This society was not founded to establish either one opinion or another. It was not started for the purpose of setting up the Bible against science. The object of the society was, that science should have fair play, that the truth should be told ou all sides, and that we might get rid of the despotism of certain scientific men. (Hoar, hear,) Because it is perfectly well-known that men of science, with all their sublime and mighty notions, arc as despotic as the weakest of the human race, and they arc exdrcising their despotic swav to a remarkable extent over a very large number of rising young men, who are either fascinated by what they have read and discovered, or aro 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.”