DARWIN AND CHRISTIANITY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 16112, 28 April 1923, Page 5

DARWIN AND CHRISTIANITY.

(To the Editor of the Herald.)

Sir;—Bff. 01i\W in Msle/Sture/ dA’-’Wed!-nesdiy flight-iftformeti Lis audience that J 'Hope’s - statement 1 - respecting the dertth cff Charles 'Darwin had' never been discredited. ” I am glad l that no one) has been to: -uncharitable as to d'o so. I enclose this statement, and it's pXiblieatiotr may 'J»rove of interest to. your' readers. I Trogrct exceedingly that Dr. Oliver 1 should use tlioi word ‘‘crawl’! .when' speaking, of Darwin or any other man that conies to .tho -Cross of Christ. Charles Darwin never, crawled, and never 1 cringed. Does Dr.. Oliver regret the tmdiscreditedj fact? These censorious judg-/ meats do no good l , and it Would ho wellto get back toj thes- Bibky4n , which I read “Yet shew-I nntb" you a more excel lent way. Though I speak, with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling oyplbol. And though I have the 'gift of prophecy, and understand all' : mysteries,* ,and all knowledge, and! though I'-have all faith, so that 1 cotild - remove mountains,- and have not charity; ! am nothing.” When I think of his nobleness, his modesty, 1 his : unflinching pursuit of what ho considered the truth; and 1 his courtesy to-' Wards Jiis^opponents,'-I recall • Tennyson’s lines':—G v . ' ■ ! ‘ '

“Rerplext; ip faith, hut pure in deeds, At.-lhgi he heat his music out. • There lives more faith in honest doubt. Relieve- me, than in . half the-,creeds.

He -fought:■' his - doubts -and gather’d festrehgth-,- :&- ’ '■■■■ -<-■■ > ■ He would not make his judgment blind. He faced the spectres of the- mind

And Laid! them: thus he. came at length To find a stronger faith his own; Andl.Rowdr was with him in the night, Which makes ‘the darkness and the , light, And dwells, not in ,light alone, Rut in the. darkness, and .the. cloud, .-. As ovCr fSiriai’Wvpeaks of -.01d,‘- : ' While-Israel‘made their gbd's'cf gold, Altho’ the trumpet blew so loud, I am, etc.,.

OSWALD ORTON.