THE EARL OF SHAFTSBURY K.G. ON SCIENCE. AND RE LIGION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 406, 28 June 1881, Page 2

THE EARL OF SHAFTSBURY K.G. ON SCIENCE. AND RE LIGION.

A few years ago the attacks made a >on religion by some men. of scienceled the foundation of a, society to vestigate all Philosophical or Scientific questions,, moce especially those said tomilitate against the Truths-of Revelation and to publish the results to it& members in a quarterly journal ; this Societywhich was called the Victoria Institute' or Philosophical Society of Great Britain, has now a house at 7, Adelphi Terrace, London, and boasts of 900members, each paying a small: annual subscription, amongst whom are many leading men of science. The Archbishop of Canterbury, and several English. Colonial, ani American Prelates have also joined it. Having been founded under Lord Shaftesbury's auspices, 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 at that time of the worfc which the Society would do, and of the position which it would hold, not only at home, but aliso, as it is now beginning: to do, in America and our Colonies N *- I had no expectation! whatever, of seeing the Society assume such magnificent proportions,, and from the bottom of my heart I thank Almigty God that he has prospered our efforts (cheers). The object with which this Society >;w*yhformed was, not merely to beat dowu -tneviews of others, not to be antagonistic to progress of Science, but to do all that we could for the development of Truth* and. it I may use the phrase, to gixa

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 shouM have fair play, that the truth should bo told on all sides, and that we might get rid of the despotism of certain scientific men (hear, hear.) Because it is perfectly well-known that men of science, with all their sublime and mighty notions, are as despotic as the weakest of the human race, and they are exercising their despotic sway, to a remarkable extent over a very large number o rising young men, who are either fascinated by what they haYe read and disj, covered, or are crushed by the authority of a few great names. It was in ord«r, as I have said, that Science should have fair play that this Institute was estab lished, and the blessing of God has so rested upon it that it has at last taken a hold in public estimation."