DR. HORACE BUSHNELL 



world as a whole, its constitution and laws. This gave 

 an extraordinary interest to his scientific expositions, on 

 occasions when he chose to turn aside from the treatment 

 of topics within a restricted sphere. 



" One example I happen to recall. At ' The Club ' 

 a social and literary society of which Professor Dana was 

 a member before his health became seriously impaired 

 the subject of discussion, one evening, was an essay of 

 Dr. Horace Bushnell in which that brilliant writer pointed 

 out alleged infelicities and deformities in nature, regard- 

 ing them as prearranged in anticipation of the introduc- 

 tion of moral evil, the baleful shadows, as it were, of sin. 

 This idea Professor Dana controverted with a warmth 

 which was due partly to the respect felt by himself, as 

 well as by others, for the abilities of the author. Profes- 

 sor Dana's clear perceptions were associated with an 

 earnestness of conviction which often imparted a certain 

 intensity to his expressions. On this occasion he traversed 

 rapidly the field of material nature. Animals called hid- 

 eous in form were not so when looked at as parts of the 

 zoological system ; they were beautiful. Earthquakes a 

 special contrivance ? If a thick piece of glass cools 

 quickly on one surface, it will crack. It must crack. So 

 must the earth under like conditions. It belongs to the 

 nature of matter. If the effects were different, it would 

 not be matter, etc. These are only fragmentary remi- 

 niscences of a talk very suggestive in itself, and doubly 

 interesting from the ardor which made the speaker 

 eloquent." 



It is doubtful whether in the range of Christian biog- 

 raphies of the nineteenth century the like of Dana can 

 be found. Here is a man exclusively devoted to science. 

 To this his interest in politics, literature, education, 

 music, society, is completely subordinate. To explore 

 the regions of the unknown, to tread untrodden fields, to 

 record new facts, to discover better principles of classi- 

 fication, and to reveal, if possible, laws of nature hitherto 

 hidden, is the dominant occupation of his life. But sim- 

 ultaneously apparent in his letters as a traveller and 

 explorer, manifested constantly in his correspondence with 



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