EVOLUTION THEORY

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 98, 20 January 1926, Page 9

EVOLUTION THEORY

♦ ORGANISATION TO COMBAT TEACHING New York, January 18. An international organisation to combat'The teaching of the theory of evolution in schools has been founded in Atlanta. Edward Young Clarke, formerly Imperial Wizard in the Ku Klux Klan, will direct the organisation, which as yet has not been named. Mr. Clarke said he expected that by August bureaux will be established in England, Australia, and Canada, all under the jurisdiction of the Atlanta association. The movement is neither sponsored nor endorsed by the Klan. Mr. Clarke said: We are formulating plans which will be definitely announced shortly. They will include banishment from every grammar or high school or university in the world of any teacher who expounds the Darwinian theory. We are proceeding on the knowledge that the doctrine is an- experimental theory unproved by hypothesis. To teach such as proven fact would be the acme of dangerous teaching.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. AMBITIOUS PLANS New York, January 18. 'fhe anti-evolutionists’ plans call for a local organisation in every town and city of the United States. Mr. Clarke’s followers decried the rapid drift of the masses away from the told-time religion, and all lauded the memory of Mr. Bryan. They contemplate the erection of half a million dollar headquarters in Atlanta and to install a powerful radio station for the dissemination of their ideas.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. . SERBIAN CLERGY ROUSED Belgrade, January 17. South Serbia is becoming excited over the prospect of sharing with Dayton the honour of holding a monkey trial. The affair started with a lecture by Professor Petroneivitch on the origin of man, based on scientific facts. The lecture roused the Orthodox clergy and resulted in the formation in a village near Vranja of bellicose factions, one led by the schoolmaster, Karadjitch, and the other by the priests. The latter have brought an action claiming that the teaching of evolution is an offence against religion, morality, and the State. . Karadjitch declares that if he is convicted he will appeal to the Minister of Public Instruction. -Reuter