RELIGION VERSUS SCIENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19072, 17 July 1925, Page 9

RELIGION VERSUS SCIENCE.

THEORY OP EVOLUTION.

SCHOOL TEACHER ON TRIAL.

CASE FOR DEFENCE OPENS. Br Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received 11.5 p.m.) Router-Sun. NEW YORK. July 15. The result of tho trial of John T. Scopes, schoolteacher, at Dayton, Tennessee, on a charge of teaching the evolution theory is practically a foregone conclusion so far as tho Dayton Court is concerned. Tho presiding Judge declared, in a lengthy statement, that the Tennessee law prohibiting the teaching of evolution is constitutional. The defence admits that Scopes violated this law. Therefore it remains only for the jury to be instructed to return a verdict of guilty. Tho fight upon tho constitutionality of the law will be made in ari appeal to a higher Court. It is probable, however, that before the trial actually ends many speeches will be delivered and possibly expert testimony will bo taken.' Four schoolboys stated in evidence that Scopes taught them a theory of evolution as expounded in the official text-book of tho State, and that he admitted ho could not teach from this book without violating tho anti-evolution statute. Mr. Malono, one of the defending counsel, in opening the defence, said hia purpose was to show that tho Bible was a work of religion, which must be kept in tho field of theology and not bo allowed to obtrudo into tho scientific field. "We believe in God," said counsel, "and that those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth. Ihe prosecution, in order to succeed, must prove that Scopes' theory was a denial of the story of the Divine creation of man as the Bible teaches, and that instead he taught that man is descended from the lower animals." The defence proposed to make it perfectly clear, by tho testimony of men learned in science and theology, that millions of people who believe in evolution and also believe in the Bible story of the creation find no conflict between these two. Twico during tho trial the prosecution had referred to man as being descended from monkeys. That was not the view of the defence. No scientist of any prominence held such a view. The most that science said to-day was that one order of men-like mammals was capable of walking erect and using their forefeet as hands. Among tho interesting laws to be found here and there in America is that under which it is a crime in tho State of Tennessee to teach that man had any other origin than that described in the second chapter of Genesis—"And the Lord God formed man out of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul." Latest 'American files to hand show that the prosecution of Scopes is alleged to have arisen out of an argument between several friends in the back room of a local drug store. In the group were John Thomas Scopes, teacher of biology in the town high school; George W. Rappelyea, a chemical engineer of the Cumberland Coal Company; and two young lawyers, S. M. Hicks and Wallace C. Haggard. Scopes, during the conversation, declared that he could not teach biology without bringing in the question of evolution, and produced one of his text-books, from which ho read extracts. "This cannot be taught according to this new law," said Rappelyea. "You have been violating a law." "So has every other teacher," said Scopes. "Let us test it. It's a bad law. Let us get rid of it," said llappelyea. "I will swear out a warrant and have you arrested," he said. "Then you two lawyers can prosecute, and I will get a lawyer to defend. Why not bring a lot of doctors and preachers here and thrash out the question ? Let us get H. G. Wells here and a lot. of big fellows!" After more talk, lasting until midnight, the party broke up, and Scopes had agreed, in the interests of the teachers of Tennessee, to have the law tested in tho Courts. The next day the warrant was obtained, Rappelyea acting as official prosecutor. The American Civil Liberties Union came in with 'an offer to finance the defence. The Christian Fundamentalists' Association telegraphed to William Jennings Bryan, who agreed at once to accept the role of chief prosecutor, whereupon Clarence Darrow, the famous Chicago lawyer, offered his services for the defence.