EVOLUTION V. CHRISTIANITY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19358, 13 July 1925, Page 5

EVOLUTION V. CHRISTIANITY

THE DAYTON TRIAL A DEATH GRAPPLE By Telegraph—Per Press Assn.—Copyright. Received July 12, 5.5 p.m. NEW YORK, July 11. The trial of John Scopes on a charge of teaching the Darwinian theory of Evolution in violation of a State statute, is in the first stage to-day, with the drafting of a new indictment assuring the strict legality of the accusation, satisfying the defence, who expect the case, will go through the State Supreme Court to the Federal Supreme Court. They maintain that the issue for determination is whether education is to be made to conform to the tenets of any religion contrary to the Constitution. Nir W. J. Bryan, whose son has also joined the staff of prosecuting attorneys, totalling nine, says the issue is Evolution v. Christianity. He declares that the trial uncovers an attack which has been made covetly against Christianity for a generation. It will bring out information upon which, a death grapple between Evolution and Christianity will be decided. If Evolution wins, Christianity goes, for the two cannot stand together. The election of jurymen will proceed with great care, us the defence, if permitted, will present fifty scientific witnesses, and prolong the trial at least a month. If found guilty, Scopes is liable to a line of between 100 and 500 dollars.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

INTEREST DWINDLING ‘ ‘ MONKE YVILLE ’ ’ DISAPPOINTED Received July .11, 5.5 p.m. (Reuter). NEW YORK. July .10. I The trial of John Thomas Scopes will i commence on Monday. The jury was ! chosen on Friday. The defence was | granted delay to confer on points it j desires to stress in the contention that i scientific testimony shows that the theory of Evolution, and the story of Divine Creation, as told in the Bible, fare not in conflict. The indictment ! under which Scopes is to be tried 'charges that he taught theories that i deny the story of the Divine Creation of man as taught in the Bible, and did teach that men descended from a lower order of animals. Received July 12, 5.5 p.m. NEW YORK, July 11. Tt is generally conceded, in so far as this Court is concerned, that the Scopes trial proceedings will bo purely perfunctory. Scopes is expected to be found guilty, largely owing to prejudice locally against Evolution. The real contest will then begin in the higher courts. Meantime, the most noticeable feature in Dayton’s disappointment that the trial, which was expected to attract thousands, has drawn only about 1500, of whom many are newspaper men, photographers and concessionaires. I he last-named are grumbling at lack oi business. Hotels have drastically cut rates. Moreover, although it was once intimated that the most brilliant scientists in the United States would rush to aid the defence counsel, the latter is now most reticent regarding names, which seems to indicate that a considerable section of the country, including some of the keenest minds, is determined to take only amused interest in the proceedings at what is now jocularly called “ Monkey villc. ” —Aus.-N.Z. (.'able Assn.