Professor Burke’s Discovery

Te Aroha News, Volume XXII, Issue 42742, 1 July 1905, Page 3

Professor Burke’s Discovery

THE mystery oe life, (by the Rev W. J. Elliot) Hokitika. " * Iv the papers recently appeared the following cable in-reference to an alleged scientific discovery, viz“ Pro fessor J. B. Burke, in the Cavendish laboratory, Cambridge, while experimenting with radium and steralisied bouillon placed together in a test tube, devoioped cultures presenting the appearance of life.” We know science occupies somewhat prophe.ti- ■ cal office, and revels in its own confidence in the future. Its triumphant eoiutions of past problems, and its unique interpretations of present ones give both poronoy and promise to the surpassing discoveries that are to be. The great and grand hope of hopes of science are brighter than the moon day sun. But notwithstanding sill this, men of intelligence will oe startled somewhat by the indescribable : claim contained in the cable concerning the- origin of life. •Since the cable appeared, several persons have asked me the nature of Spencer’s definition of life, and I propose briefly to refer to this. According to Spencer’s definition Life is “The definite combination of heterogeneous changes, both simultaneous and successive, Id correspondence with ester* • nal coexistences and sequences,” or . ■ more . shortly, *' The continuous adjustment of internal relations toexternal relations,”, Tho^edefinitions concerning a living organism, assume that it is in definite connection with its , surrounding. For example, the

person is in vital harmony with the earth and air, the genial rays of the sun, the singing of birds, and the innumerable influences of men and • things. In the language cf science he is * in correspondence with bis environment,’ and because of this ho is regarded as alive. In like manner, he may be said to be comparatively dead at those points where tbe internal and external harmony or relation is not perfectly whole. It is almost unnecessary to say that Spencer's definition of life is discarded by all the most eminent scientists of the day, and because of this the published discovery by Professor Burke brings little significance or solace to me. In dealing with Hackle’s * Riddle of the Universe’ that famous scientist, Sir Oliver Lodge says :— 11 Although he has been borne forward on the advancing wave of monistic philosophy, he has. in its specification, attempted such p eeision of materialistic detail, and subj- cted it to so narrow and limited a view of the totality of experience, that the progress of thought has left him, as well as his greet English exemplar, Herbert Spencer, somewhat high and dry, belated and stranded by the tide of opinion which has now begun to flow in another direction.” Mr Spencer, the chief apostle of agnosticism, and whose creed in its philoso* .phical bearings has been minutely examined and found wanting, seems to say “ Give me matter and a little motion and I will construct the universe and make men for you ” ; and Professor Bnrke gives colour to a similar suspicion. All attempt to produce life in our laboratories thus have miserably failed, and we do not expect Professor Burke to investigate and handle the grand secret as if he had found a lost coin. At the same time Professor Burke and all others who .are patiently seeking a more concrete knowledge concerning the origin of life deserve our highest commendation. But as believers in a Divine personal intelligence, we glory in the attitude of science as set forth by the Prince of Science ” (Lord Kevin) 'and Dr A.R. Wallace, the great, apostle of evolution. Kelvin saye “Science positively affii ms creative power. Modern biologists are coming to a firm acceptance of something beyond mere •gravitational clt mical and physical - forces; aud that unknown thing is a vital principle We are absolutely forced by science to believe with perfect confidence in a Directive Power—in an influence other than physical or dynamical or electrical forces. It is impossible for a number of atoms to fall together of their own accord and make a crystal, a sprig of moss, a living •'/animal. Here scientific thought is compelled to accept the idea of Creative Power. As to the real origin of life, science and religion have kissed each other. Let us look at the other conclusion drawn from science, which • Dr Wallace, the great exponent of evolution, points out, and whiph seems $o 1% to b.e obvious—‘t That the supreme eptd and purpose of this vast universe was the production and development of the.human soul in the perish* , able body of man. The development of man as a spiritual being, with all . his -intellectual powers and moral possibilities,' is certainly a great end ' in itself, so great and so noble that if a universe of matter and other as large as that of which we have now obtained come definite knowledge were required for the work, why should it pot be used ?”