MR.C. BRIGHT AT THE THEATRE ROYAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5256, 28 January 1878, Page 2

MR. C. BRIGHT AT THE THEATRE ROYAL.

The Theatre Royal was filled in every part last night on the occasion of Mr. Bright's delivering his lecture on the “Doctrine of Evolution in relation to Prayer.” Mr. Bright commenced by stating that the theory of creation by evolution takes creation out of the range of the spasmodic and finite, and brings it within the scope of the natural and infinite. The mind of man in its earlier, more savage, and less developed state, needed stories of creation suited to its infantile condition. The Brahminic, Scandinavian, and Hebrew stories present the same idea of a deity, like a more powerful man working at the task of creation, and producing results by direct spasmodic action. The doctrine of creation by evolution presents a more spiritual idea of the Almighty mind perpetually operating on matter, transforming it into new shapes by the agency of stupendous laws, which result in natural growth—constant and unending. Mr. Bright argued that our business on earth is to learn what are the laws of the loving Father, the author of the universe; for until we find them out we come into collision with them, and the result is evil. As the race of man progresses so the truth is becoming unfolded. The grave mistake that mankind has made is supposing that at this or that stage of progress the limit of God's process of disseminating enlightenment has been reached, while as yet we are but babbling infants on the science of creation. The early worship of mankind was force; the latest must be love. After an eloquent dissertation in support of the truth of the doctrine of creation by evolution, the lecturer proceeded to speak of prayer. Some scientists argued that it was no use to pray, but he argued that prayer was a natural emotion of the soul, and that there was nothing, in the theory which he had supported, against its use. He said he considered it a beautiful doctrine of that Church which taught of the intercommunion of this life and of the higher forms of existence, that souls in the spirit world listen and aid the souls they love on earth, and some of us, he said, know this to be nearer the truth than the semi-materialism which chills the heart. Not only the hearts of individuals but the hearts of nations were often uplifted in silent prayer, and prayer which took the form of a popular aspiration was to him the voice of God speaking in mankind. If petitioning prayer may be defended from rational considerations, how much less shall reason condemn that prayer which is not petitioning but aspiring, which is content to leave all things of time to the controlling spirit of the universe, whilst reaching out towards a loftier individualisation. Just as the soul of the artist is ennobled by bis art, the soul of the poet by the invocation of the muse, so is every human soul turning towards its Divine inspirer, curiously uplifted, purified, and strengthened. Mr. Bright concluded his lecture, during which he was repeatedly applauded, and at the conclusion received quite an ovation, as follows; “Creation by evolution then means simply, as I showed at the outset, creation endless and accordant with unvarying law, and by no means implies the absence of an inspiring mind —an all pervading father spirit. Nay, this grander philosophy of creation only enables us to form an image of a grander, nobler, and more loving God, and as prayer is one of His most perceptible messages to mankind, as it is one of the things evolved, we may rationally conceive it has its beneficent part to play, however mysterious now to us, in the marvellous arcanum of nature.” Mr. Bright heartily thanked the audience for the hearty reception they had given him in Wellington, and said he had also to thank the members of the Freethought Association who had brought him here, and he trusted that association, which was now only in its infancy, would grow and become a power in the community.