TOPICS OF THE DAY

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20387, 30 December 1937, Page 6

TOPICS OF THE DAY

Evolution “No longer is the word 'evolution’ charged with explosive power,” says the Northern Daily Telegraph, “no longer does it function as a challenge to religious belief, the doctrine is one of general acceptance, the Darwinian theory of the origin of the species has not destroyed the foundations of faith, and scientist and the Christian are meeting to-day as allies, not irreconcilable foes. Evolution and materialism are not boon companions. Scientific research is never likely to end. but nil the explorations so far have demonstrated the limitations of the investigating power, and to bring out into even bolder relief the fact of the closed door. The mystery of the First Cause is not yet revealed, the origin of the species has not been uncovered, only to the assurance that man has developed through successive stages lias knowledge advanced. But developed from what? • Science can now weigh all the chemical constituents in the growths of field and forest and hedgerow, but in the end it is baffled by the secret of creative energy in the heart of a dandelion, it has found no answer yet to the claim’that ‘only God can make a tree.’ Until other doors are unlocked, therefore, they who will may still look upward to the far-off star and exclaim with George Macdonald, ‘Somebody thought it. Somebody meant it !’ ” War on Litter “ Amiihor I'nndlc is being iil in England whieh all must hope will never lie pnl nnl—sil least, not until its message has been made effective,’’ says t!'e Manchester (luaniian. The campaign against the habit of easting litter oil tin- countryside is being fonglll with a new weapon. The campaigners of Yorkshire propose to burn the ‘litter lonf in ridgy oil Newby Moor, whore those for whom he will burn have been all too active. ■■ ti will give a properly symbolic ending In the hard work of collecting the litter ami form an entertaining means of its destruction. It is at the same time a little pageant, a new moralty play. I ’ roii ibit ions oft en fail, and some bate declared that the growing number of admonitory signs in the are almost as ugly as the litter liter seek to prevent, while if policemen set out in force to eateh the culprit there is some ( bunco that ’the perverted fellow will find holiday pleasure in outwitting them. Tim mediaeval moralists found that ;t play- was sometimes bettor Ilian a strum, and a good bonfire is more memorable for many than the best ‘bon mot’ embodying reproof or advice. Perhaps the burning of the ‘litter loin’ should become an annual event ui the beauty spots of every country.’*