In Memoriam.

Freethought Review, Volume I, Issue 2, 1 November 1883, Page 13

In Memoriam.

WILLIAM DENTON. | The news of the untimely death of the distinguished I geologist and lecturer, Professor Denton, will be re- I ceived by all Freethinkers with profound regret. Not | only by them, but we believe also by the thousands of Christians who followed him in his masterly exposition of the principles of Geology and changes which have taken place in the crust of Mother Earth. Professor Denton was as indefatigable in the pursuit of his favourite science as he was bold and fearless in his generalisations and conclusions. Implicitly accepting the law of Evolution, though differing from its great exponent, Charles Darwin, in some of his speculations, he was able to trace out the successions of life and forms as exhibited in fossil remains, in so clear and convincing a manner that it was difficult for the most orthodox or stubborn to reject his teaching. And he never for a moment subordinated the strict scientific aspect of a question to the craving for sensation or effect. All seemed natural, depending on what had gone before, and bound firmly together by the principle of continuity. It will be difficult to replace such a teacher. Professor Denton was a writer of no mean ability, both in prose and poetry, inspired chiefly by his earnest desire to see humanity raised to a higher plane of existence on the earth. He was a Freethinker, and avowed his opinions boldly; and he was a man whose life would have adorned any cause. When shall the time come when a monument worthy of his memory shall be erected over his grave in the strange land into the thick darkness of which he had thought to penetrate ? Professor Denton died of fever on the 26th August, in New Guinea, while engaged as the scientific | member of an exploring expedition sent out at the cost of | the Melbourne Argus, and led by Captain Armitt. | ‘ a