314 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



morals, by demonstrating a universal materialism. Many are ready 

 to cry out in anguish, *' Ye have taken away our gods, what have we 

 more ? Ye have destroyed our dearest hopes and noblest aspirations, 

 what more is left worth living for?" But I think all Avho are at all 

 familiar with the history of the so-called conflict between religion and 

 science will admit this is not the first time this cry has been raised 

 against science. They have heard this danger-cry so often that they 

 begin to regard it as little more than a wolf -cry — scientific wolf in the 

 religious fold. It may not be amiss, then, to stop a moment to trace 

 rapidly the main points of this conflict — to discuss the various forms 

 of this scientific wolf. 



First, then, it came in the form of the heliocentric theory of the 

 planetary system. We once thought the earth the center of the uni- 

 verse, and so firm that it can not be moved. But science shows that 

 it moves about the sun, and spins unceasingly on its axis. Every one 

 has heard of the terror of the sheep produced by this discovery, and 

 the nearly tragic results to the bold scientist. But now we look back 

 with wonder that there should have been any trouble at all. Would 

 any Christian now consent to give up the grand conceptions of Nature 

 and of God thus opened to the human mind — the idea of infinite space 

 full of worlds, of which our earth is one, moving in silent harmony as 

 in a mystic dance ? Verily, this wolf has proved itself a harmless, 

 nay, a very noble, beast, and lies down in peace with the lambs. 



Next, it came in the shape of the kno of gravitation, as sustenta- 

 tion of the cosmos by law and resident forces. The effect of this on 

 religious thought was even more profound, though less visible on the 

 surface, because only perceived by the most intelligent. It seemed at 

 that time to remove God from the course of Nature. This was the 

 real ground of the skepticism o^ the last century, and also the real 

 motive of Voltaire's ardent advocacy of Newton's views before these 

 were generally accepted in France. But now, who would give up this 

 grand idea — this conception of law pervading infinite space — the same 

 law which controls the falling of a stone guiding also the planetary 

 orbs in their fiery courses ? This is indeed the divine spheral music, 

 inaudible but to the ear of science, accompanying the celestial dance. 



Next, it came in the form of the antiquity of the earth and of the 

 cosmos. The earth which we had fondly thought made specially for 

 us about six thousand years ago ; sun moon, and stars, which we had 

 vainly imagined shone only for our behoof — these, science tells us, 

 existed and each performed its due course inconceivable ages before 

 there was a man to till the ground or contemplate the heavens. Some 

 of my readers may still remember the horror, the angry dispute which 

 followed the promulgation of these facts. But now, who would con- 

 sent to give up the noble conception of infinite time thus opened to 

 our human mind and become forever the heritage of man ? 



Next it came in the form of the antiquity of man. It is probable, 



