Page 1 Advertisements Column 6

Evening Star, Issue 4261, 23 October 1876, Page 1

BISHOP NEVILL'S LECTUm I lecture on " Inductions in supporMtof reasoning, and proved thelecturert*. bflia man nf a » 0 »t» A:az j. j. . ..* w weak-minded clerics -who, fearful of b willing to bear the cross, of presented to them* acoompanied with & an y non-scientific person. ,or even indeed, champions have been found to enter theJttte against the Evolutionists, and have .it has been zeal without knowledge, and the •may be ; .styled, the side of orthodoxy | openly confessed his. ignorance of nat .science; .while others, less candid, " Jshown yeryplainly that they areno hj made at the lo£ic.U, inconsistencies of .their opponents, which indeed are "neither fewaorr : far-between. ; Now there can be. no doubt *?**. Evolution touches the doctrines of the Ohrwtian.religibn sharply-at all events the leadmgEvolutionistaof the day thinkso—and it is thiß- circumstance which has caused such general interest' to be exhibited in the &S----cussion on Evolution which has taken place here lately j but nevertheless,' Evolution-is primarily a theory which professes to. explain the origin and causes' of the physical forms of animated Vbeipjar and if it be desjred to demolish it' logically, that object can only be accomplished by testing its efficacy,in the latter xtspect. Mere; w% think, the champions of or hodoxv v T .v 0 , : . nU ug V uc Xivuiuuonisxs nave been appeahng to natural phenomena; At this üBSaSuHW? Le makes a raid right into the enemy a camp, and turns their own weapons against themselves. He eschews theology; and while expressing the opinion that man to > occupy a conservative - poui-* won .in a matter which' involves such grave (Consequences, protests that hje L is" merely examining the question as a student of ature, and_ with the solitary end of discovering the truth. In pursuance of this object, he takes certain animal structures, teats the doctines of Evolution by thein and finds them wanting; while, on the other who heard Dr Nevill's lecture must have santwith the topics upon which he discoursed, and that his opinions were based upon a solid foundation of facts. This lecture will do a large amount of good, because it will show to persons whose daily avocations do not permit of their devoting much time to scientific studies, and some of whom perhaps, from deficient education, are incompetent to enter upon such studies, that natural phenomena are not exclusively in favor of the of things, but, on the contrary, furnish substantial reasons for affirming that the doctrines of Evolution are "not proven." The minds of many worthy people have been perplexed and unsettled by the recent discussions on this subject, for they are told that their ancient ideas are antiquated and wrong, while their inßtruotors do not condescend to tell them what is to replace their old faith and its comforting assurances. To such jthe Bishop of Dunedin's arguments lecture been less powerful in itself," the manner of its delivery might have produced a useful effect by modifying the asperity of the disputants. It has required a considerable amount of courage to face, an Evolutionist. If the seeker after- Truth humbly presumed to point out what appeared to be a flaw in the reasoning, or exhibited any hesitation' in swallowing the new doctrines holus-bolus, he was sharply informed that the supposed gap had been filled up long ago, whUe a significant smile warned him that his doubts could only proceed from a want of intelligence. In the public discussions, a similar display of lofty superiority has been made, and it has doubtless exercised a large influence over those who lack the courage to confess their convictions. The Evolutionists may, of course, be right in their notions, but, looking at the immense amount of scientific labor which has been , expended in framing the doctrines of Evolution, and the extensive knowledge of physical science requisite to even comprehend these theories adequately, it is only reasonable to allow a layman a short time for reflection before declaring himself an Evolutionist, and to regard him with charity should he refuse to abandon his former faith. Ihe difficulty which he naturally experiences in making np his mind is enhanced by the fact, as was wittily pointed out by Professor Salmomd the other evening, that Evolutionists cannot be got to agree amongst theniselvesas to the meaning of "Evolution," for while some restrict its scope to physical processes, others extend it to the larger and more important sphere of the mind; while between these poles there is an infinite variety of opinion. Thoughtful men will not, however, refuse to discuss Evolution until these differences are settled, because while it may not prove to be the universal key of Nature waich enthusiasts imagine, it nevertheless explains so many facts which tresis that the inference can hardly be denied ! that it is a great and potent principle in the working of the universe. Evolution,, as stands, does not seem reconcilable with Christianity ; but when the theory has been reduced to its proper proportions, we feel no doubt that the two will be found in \ harmony. There is a marked tendency in the possibility of such at first seemed hopeless. The tone of controversy is moderating; there is a greater disposition to hear the Biblical side ojfithe question, and a firm alliance . between modern science and Christian faitfe seems ' near at hand.