EVOLUTION THEORY.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 July 1925, Page 7

EVOLUTION THEORY.

HIE TRIAL OF SCOPES, RELIGION VERSUS SCIENCE NO CONFLICT CAUSED, By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. Received July 21, 7 p.m, . New York, July 20. Nine affidavits have been filed by prominent scientists, educationalists and clergymen in the case in which John Scopes, a school teacher, is charged with teaching the evolution theory. They declare briefly that evolution in Nature is an undeniable fact, the proscription of which in scholos would work untold harm; that evolution does not conflict with religion, for it is God's method of continuons creation and revelation of Himself to man; and there is no conflict between the Bible and the fact of evolution. One affidavit says a fundamentalist insults God in shutting man’s mind to God’s ever-growing revelation of Himself to the human soul. Mr. Darrow also submitted a statement as follows: —“We, as tlfe defence lawyers, take no position regarding the truth of the Bible stories and wish to state that we should be able to prove from learned biblical scholars that the Bible is both a literal and figurative document, and that God speaks His parables and allegories sometimes literally and sometimes spiritually. We should be able to prove that the entire Bible teaches the fact of the fundamental difference between the soul and the body.” At Dayton,, Mr. Darrow has been cited for contempt of court by the presiding judge, Mr. Raulston, who at the opening of the court to-day,charged Mr. Darrow with showing contempt and adopting an insulting manner on Friday during a heated exchange oyer the introduction of scientific evidence in which he virtually defied Judge Raulston and questioned hi® impartiality. The penalty is a fine or imprisonment, and there is no appeal from the Judge’s decision in such a case. Mr, Darrow apologised to the Judge, who shook hands and dismissed the contempt charge. He then ordered the court room to be emptied owing to the danger of its collapse, cracks having opened in the ceiling and the floor below the court room and the stairway showing signs of giving way. The trial was reconvened on the lawn, the Judge and counsel occupying a platform erected for tho evangelists. Affidavit® of nine prominent scientists, educators and clergymen who intended to give testimony for the defence were not read, but were entered in the court record.

Attorneys for the prosecution and defence appeared alternately in the closing arguments. The defence has already prepared an appeal from the verdict of guilty, which it is expected will be given )-morrow.