560 Edward Livingston Youmans. 



We indulge in no exaggeration. The Observer is au- 

 thority here, and right above the article in which it recom- 

 mends that the Monthly be kicked off the premises, we 

 read, "SCIENCE FORGES WEAPONS CONSTANTLY TO DESTROY 

 THE FAITH." What kind of a scientific magazine would 

 that be which should be suited to. the state of mind of the 

 dismal creatures who take such a view of science as this ? 

 We should rather take the Observer's alternative, and be 

 kicked into the street, than to edit such a periodical. 



The Observer accuses science of " forging weapons to 

 destroy the faith " ; but need we remind it that science de- 

 stroys nothing but ignorance and error ? Only where faith 

 is the enemy of truth can science be the enemy of faith. 

 Science is the best friend of faith, for only when it has de- 

 stroyed all it may, can faith have any "abiding founda- 

 tion." We are afraid that, when the Observer invokes the 

 publishers' boot as a censor of science, it betrays some 

 want of confidence in its own foundation. What shall we 

 say of the security of a religious edifice built upon the 

 basis of literal Old Testament history ? But in the very 

 next column to the article we are noticing, it is laid down : 



"A DENIAL OF THE LITERAL VERITY OF THE OLD TESTA- 

 MENT HISTORY IS THE FIRST STEP IN MODERN INFIDELITY." 



No more complete or more mischievous mistake can be 

 committed than to impute to the scientific writers of this age 

 any hostility to religion as the motive of their labours. That 

 the course of inquiry often conflicts with cherished tenets 

 is undoubtedly true, and it is a painful fact; but to charge 

 scientific men with any intention of inflicting this pain, or 

 to make them responsible for it, is wholly unjust. The 

 world has never seen in all its history a class of men more 

 noble in purpose, more fair-minded, more candid, tolerant, 

 or considerate, than the class of men who, in all countries, 

 though with a common spirit, have devoted themselves to 

 the truth as it is in science. They have done their work 



