LIFE OF JAMES DWIGHT DANA 



" I may be able to prepare something for the meeting 

 upon classification in general, and especially upon the 

 real existence in nature of those divisions we call classes, 

 orders, families, and genera, in opposition to those who 

 would consider such divisions as mere devices to aid us 

 in our investigations. I hold that these groups do not 

 merely differ in degree, but in kind, and that characters 

 which may distinguish classes do not apply as character- 

 istics of orders, however limited in extent, nor these to 

 families or genera, and that all these higher divisions 

 exist in nature in the same manner as species do, and 

 that it is idle to pretend that species as such have a more 

 tangible existence. Think this over, please." 



AGASSIZ TO DANA 



Science and Religion 



" July, 1856. 



" I had to wait for a leisure moment to read your 

 second article, being at present entirely absorbed with 

 my printing of the first volume of the contributions. I, 

 and we all, are greatly indebted to you for fighting so 

 earnestly the cause of our independence versus clerical 

 arrogance. No one can do it so effectually as you ; from 

 me or any one else who does not profess to be a member 

 of the church it would have no weight with church people 

 at large. I am sorry to find that this clerical spirit is still 

 alive, as bitter, vehement, and overbearing as in the worst 

 times of religious bigotry. It confirms me in my deter- 

 mination to have nothing to do with church matters and 

 church organizations. I do not see but it must come to 

 this, that each and every one must settle religious affairs 

 for himself, without any regard to others ; for, after all, 

 religion is a personal relation to God, and we derive as 

 little comfort from the interference of others with refer- 

 ence to our intercourse with our Maker, as we do in 

 matters of affection. 



"As to your allusion to my paper in Nott and Glid- 

 don's Types of Mankind, I can have no objection at your 

 finding it out of place there. Yet I do not regret con- 

 tributing it. Nott is a man after my heart, for whose 



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