THE BIBLE AND SCIENCE ON THE CREATION.

Waipa Post, Volume III, Issue 130, 23 July 1912, Page 2

THE BIBLE AND SCIENCE ON THE CREATION.

TO THE EDITOR

Sir, First, I regret mistake in your last paper of putting both my quotations as Genesis i., I, instead of the second as Genesis i., 2. Second, the kind letter of Rev. F. W. Clarke, 8.A., being written before he saw my correction of report, makes it needless

to discuss his justifiable misunderstanding, especially after his public and verbal agreement with me on the Evolution of the Earth, but not man. I must, however, apprehend more danger (in these days of unblushing infidelity, and silly religious superstition) from not going “far enough’’ to defend the Bible, so truly called by Queen Victoria the Good, “The secret of England’s greatness.” I have ti ied to show, first, that the fact (not the date) of the beginning of the evolution of the earth is revealed in the Bible (Genesis i., i) and attested by science, though its date calculations range from 3 to 800 million years ago. Second, that the evolutionary periods o,f the earth can be scripturally and scientifically defined. Third, that during the second or Uniformitarian (not atheistic “gradual” Uniformitarian) period, life may have existed, and thus account for the mammaliam discoveries ; for the truth is implied in the word “replenish,” in Genesis i., 28, and by Lord Kelvin’s showing life was then possible for a certain time only. Fourth, that the glacial period “ followed ” the Uniformitarian,, when, life was impossible; hence any previous life must have been destroyed. Genesis i., 2, describes earth THEN as waste, void, and dark, and ready for “ The Great Creative Spirit” to work in that creation year I, or 5911 years ago. Fifth and last, my facts, &c., are from the Bible, the British Association, the British Chronological and Astronomical Association, Lord Kelvin, Sir R. Ball, and others. Dr. Dimbleby rightly says: “ Every Bible event is capable of being proved. Creation was beginning of motions of earth and moon (59H years ago), and from that point all Biblical periods, years and dates proceed reliably.” I may state as to the Sargon mystery (so called) that Isaiah xx., I, itself was only written 2673 years ago (761 B.C ), and that even “the tower of Babel” (erecting long before Sargon’s palace was dreamt of) has been traced back to only 4155 years ago (2240 8.C.) and that even “ The Flood” has been traced to 4255 years ago (2340 8.C.) hence, with all possible respect, I must contend that the dates of 38JO B.C. for Sargon, and 7000 B.C. for a time of civilisation cannot for a moment be accepted ; though Bible history remains as scientific and unalterable as ever. —I am, etc..

R. P. DE RIDDER.