EVOLUTION.

Wairarapa Age, 5 July 1929, Page 4

EVOLUTION.

NO CONFLICT WITH CHRISTIAN REVELATION. ADDRESS BY THE REW E. O. BLAMIRES. Speaking on the subject of Evolution on Wednesday night at the Methodist Church, the Rev. E. O. Blamires said the subject was brought prominently before the public recently by Dr. W. H. Pettit. He paid a tribute to Dr. Pettit as a man of deep sincerity and much capability, but personal friendship with him did not prevent an agreement to differ on certain points. The theory of evolution as a doctrine of science could be left to scientists to discuss, but its implications in religion concerned the churches. When it wak claimed that the theory of evolution bad become the chief weapon of attack upon the Bible, and acknowledgment of scientific belief on which the theory was based were described by saying that “the Theological Colleges of Protestant Christendom had capitulated to the enemy,” it was time to make reply. The need of to-day was an open mind to truth from whatever quarter it came, assured that no truth in science could ever contradict any truth in religion. The church was large enough to welcome all sincere seekers for truth and welcome was given to evolutionists and anti-evolutionists; on the ground of difference in mere scientific opinion no one should be debarred; plainly both schools of thought were represented in the finest Christian work being carried on in the world to-day. It was therefore unchristian and aaaharitoble to question the reality of the work of the Spirit of God because He chose to work through an evolatioaiat, or aa anti-evolutionist. “In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, and in all things charity” was the principle to

adopt. The Christian evolutionist repudiated the idea that evolution attacked the Bible; it simply affected the conception held as to the nature of the Bible’s inspiration. Some people believed the Bible to be verbally inspired and authoritative in matters such as the scientific views held by the ancients which were naturally expressed in the writings of the Old Testament. They held that every part was equally inspired, and a chapter in Ecclesiastics Was of similar authority as being the word of God as a chapter in tho New Testament, conveying the message of the teaching of Jesus Christ. These were consistent in their opposition to evolution; but they believed the world was made in six days. The Christian evolutionist viewed the Bible rather as the record of a developing revelation of God, not authoritative in matters of scientific belief in reflecting the current ideas of science held long before Christ, nor perfect from the beginning in its understanding of God, but recording the great revelation of God that proceeded from incompleteness towards completeness, culminating in the teaching of Christ. Buch a view placed Christ and the teaching of Christ on the pinnacle of an edifice, of which the Old Testament writings formed the base, lower in value, needing completion and finding it in the One who came saying, “I come not to destroy, but to fulfil.”

This was the line of teaching taken in such theological colleges as were condemned by Dr. Pettit, and his condemnation was probably due to misunderstanding. It was clear that the supremacy of Christ was the leading conception, and no religious experience of spiritual worth failed to find a place in such teaching. No Christian doctrine of experience was affected. With regard to the scientific theory of evolution they could maintain an open mind, ready to accept the proven facts of science as they were forthcoming. The “Record of the Rocks” was a valuable contribution to knowledge, with its evidence of life beginning in the water and appearing later on land, the age-long processes of development, illustrated even in the coal used in our house fires, and showing a process from simple to complex, from lower to higher, from non-soeial to social life. Geology told a wonderful story of growth towards larger life, increased freedom, deeper consciousness, richer love, and the reverent mind reflecting on it believed that it gave evidence of a marvellous plan of orderly development presided over by One who was greater than His work, expressed in His work, thinking His thought on a stupendous scale, requiring a thousand ages to reveal. There was nothing in this to conflict with the Christian revelation of God.