6oo THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



lished precedent. But, unfortunately, it is not so. The alarm is 

 sounded along our own shores, and the Presbytery of Belfast finds an 

 echo in many of our so-called evangelical churches, and even in some 

 of those which are miscalled liberal. Our preachers seem to delight 

 in aiming a sarcasm or shaft of ridicule at the " advanced thinkers," 

 not forgetting to add all possible irony to tone and inflection. One 

 sacrifices his usual taste and discrimination, and selects the epithet 

 Pickaninny to contain his sneer. "Pickaninny Tyndall ! " Does it 

 mean any thing ? If so, what ? Another makes a somewhat singular 

 classification of " infidels," putting Voltaire, Hume, Tom Paine, and 

 Tyndall, into the same category, and consigning them all to a common 

 and speedy oblivion. Another, more in sorrow than in anger, speaks 

 of the "ponderous sentences of unbelief" in the Belfast Address, but 

 quotes none of them. In a newspaper article, written at Christmas- 

 tide to inculcate " charity, in its largest, broadest, most comprehensive 

 sense," we read that " Science throttles Religion in high places or 

 tries to." By these scared theologians, scientific men are declared to 

 be trying to annihilate the Bible, to dethrone the Lord Christ, and to 

 exterminate the living God. Similar latent motives have alwavs been 

 imputed to the fraternity, and it seems quite unnecessary to disclaim 

 them, since their own minds are entirely preassured of the safety of 

 Deity. 



Now, sneers, innuendoes, and glittering generalities, may be con- 

 venient weapons with which to assail unwelcome arguments and con- 

 clusions, but they ai-e certainly very ineffective. Such opposition will 

 never end the controversy. The very animus of Protestantism is in- 

 vestigation, and shall New England Christians ally themselves with 

 the pope in endeavoring to suppress its processes and ignore its re- 

 sults? It is only the new truth, the latest discovery, the undeveloped 

 scheme, that is thus assailed and abused. After it has stood before 

 the world a few decades some other startling thought having in the 

 mean time stepped to the front it quietly takes its place among 

 established facts or principles, Biblical interpretations adjust them- 

 selves, and its exponents, living or dead, are duly applauded and 

 honored. A long catalogue of names might be cited in illustration, 

 including, besides many scientists, some of the noblest reformers, whose 

 diaries record every shade of treatment from their contemporaries, 

 from the most virulent abuse to cordial recognition. What name 

 stands fairer to-day than that of William Lloyd Garrison? And 

 what living: man has been more defamed and reviled than w r as he 

 while he stood in advance of public sentiment on the question of 

 slavery ? In the eyes of the American churches it was their " peculiar 

 institution " which he w r as covertly attacking, making only a blind of 

 the great Southern evil which his soul abhorred. All the familiar 

 idioms of the sects were liberally used in his behalf, and he was 

 " throttled " in Boston with something more tangible than rhetoric. 



