Science and Faith

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 49, 5 December 1907, Page 22

Science and Faith

Science and Lord Kelvin demolished the natural selection theory of Darwin. Huxley declared that ' the old hypothesis of special creations is more consistent and more comprehensible '! And in ' The Last Link ' (p. 76) even Haeokel gave it as his opinion that 'it would he "better to accept a mysterious creation of all the species, as described in the Mosaic account '. . The decline of Darwinism has been marked "by what may be broadly described as a revival of religious faith among, men in the * foremost ranks of scientific research. Thus, in his ' Substance of Faith!, Sir Oliver Lodge, approaching Christianity from the purely human side, uses language hardly distinguishable from that- of the orthodox believer. The devout Pasteur, one of the foremost scientists of any age or country, died a few years ago' with one hand holding the crucifix, the other clasping the hand of his pious Catholic wife. And, to mention only one .more out of many instances that might be adduced, a writer -in the New York ' Sun ' recently told as follows the story of ' another great Catholic scientist, M. Lapperj,nt. ' The French Academy of Sciences itself ', says he, ' has lately given the very best answerand a very direct one to the supposed opposition between science" and religion by electing to perpetual secretaryship—an office which is usually considered as probably the most important in the domain of science in •France and perhaps in the world— M. A. Lapperant, who is a Catholic prominent in his public adhesion to the old Church, and who besides is lmown as one of the most distinguished geologists in the world. Mr. Lapperant' s treatise on geology is considered one of the most authoritative text-books- on the subject ever published, has been widely read, and is referred to by writers on geology in all languages. Besides this he has written on mineralogy and is acknowledged to be one of the world's authorities on everything relating to science 'as it concerns things beneath the earth. The honor which the Academy has conferred v on a distinguished Catholic " gentleman proves that faith may be maintained in all its .purity whife scientific questions may be faced in such mianner as to enable the pursuer of knowledge to

make great discoveries for the -benefit of the world.'