GLADSTONE’S THEORY.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 475, 28 May 1890, Page 4

GLADSTONE’S THEORY.

HIS VIEWS ON THE SUBJECT OF CREATION. The New York “Mail and Express” special cable from London says:—Gladstone’s second article, in “ Good Words,” written in contradiction of the recent assaults on the Bible, deals with the creation in a highly characteristic and original manner. Gladstone contends that the opening of the book of Genesis constitutes a plain and straightforward narrative of the pre-Adamite period. He maintains that it is neither poetic nor scientific in meaning, nor can it be considered so in interpretation, but it was, he says, a direct communication from God to teach primitive man his proper place in creation, and to give him a conception in a broad outline as to what his Maker had been about on his behalf. He considers the days of creation to be neither solar nor geological, but simply convenient historic divisions without any occult meaning. Only in respect to the creation of light does Gladstone descend to a rigid scientific criticism. He discusses the events which are described with the object of showing that the book of Genesis is a true account of the evolution of the world, and with a view of leading up to the conclusion that the ordainer of nature and giver or guide oj the story of creation are one and the same.