CASE FOR EVOLUTION

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12196, 22 July 1925, Page 7

CASE FOR EVOLUTION

“GOD’S METHOD OF CREATION” CONFLICT WITH BIBLE DENIED DEFENCE OF SCOPES By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. (SydneT "Sun" Cable.) (Received July 21, 7 p.m.) NEW YORK. July 20. The nine affidavits filed by prominent scientists, educationiets, and clergymen in the Scopes case declare briefly that evolution in Nature is an undeniable fact, the prescription of which in schools would work untold harm; that evolution does not conflict with religion, for it is God’s method of continuous creation and revelation of Him-* self to man: and that there ie no conflict between the Bible and the fact of evolution.

One affidavit savs: “The fundamentalist insults God in shutting man’s mind to God’s ever-growing revelation of Himself to the human soul.’’ Mr Clarence Darrow also submitted a statement, as follows: “We, as the defence lawyers, take no position regarding the truth of the Bible stories, and wish to state that we should te

able to prove from learned Biblical scholars that the Bible is both a literal and a figurative document, that God speaks his parables and allegories sometimes literally, sometimes spiritually; and that we should be able to prove that the entire Bible teaches the fact of the fundamental difference between the soul and the body.” COUNSEL OFFENDS JUDGE Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. NEW YORK, July 20. Mr Clarence Darrow, the Chicago lawyer who is defending Scopes, the Dayton schoolmaster, against the charge of teaching the evolution theory in defiance of the Tennessee law, has been cited for contempt of court.. Judge Raulston, at the opening of the court to-day, charged Darrow with showing contempt and insult last Friday, during heated exchange, over the introduction of scientific evidence, in which he virtually defied Judge Raulston and questioned his impartiality. The penalty is a fine or imprisonment, and also there is no appeal. Later. Darrow apologised to the Judge who shook hands with him, and dismissed the contempt charge. He then ordered the courtroom to be emptied, owing to the danger of the collapse of the courthouse. Crocks opened in the ceiling, and the floor below the courtroom stairway shows signs of giving way. ~ The trial was continued* on tne lawn, the Judge and counsel occupying a platform erected for evangel--IS<The affidavits of nine prominent scientists, educatiDnists, and clergymen, who intended to give evidence for the defence, were not read, but were entered in the records. The defence already has prepared an appeal from the verdict of guilty which it is expected will be given to-mor-row.