210 Tl^AXSAClIOXS OF THE AMERICAN LXSTITUTE. 



in explanation, I will argue as if the cartli moves ; for it is proved 

 that in the two hypotheses the appearances favor that idea." Nor 

 has the opposition failed even in our own time. On the 5th of May, 

 1829, a great multitude assembled at Thorn to commemorate the 

 300th anniversary of Kopernik, and to unvail Thorwaldsden's statue 

 of him. 



Apotheosis of Koperxik. 

 Kopernik had lived a pious, Christian life. He was well known 

 for unostentatious Christian charity. With his religious belief no 

 fault had ever been found ; he was a canon of the church of Frauen- 

 burg, and over his grave had been written the most touching of 

 Christian epitaphs. Xaturally, then, the people expected a religious 

 service. All was understood to be arrangxjd for it. The procession 

 marched to the church and waited ; the hour passed ; no priest 

 appeared; none could be induced to appear. Kopernik, simple, 

 charitable, pious, one of the noblest gifts of God to the service of 

 religion, as well as science, was still held to be a reprobate. Seven 

 years after that his book was still standing on the index of books 

 prohibited to Christians. Xor was this feeling confined merely to 

 the more ancient church. Perhaps the most striking outcropping of 

 the old feeling was seen in 1868 at Berlin. A large body of Protes- 

 tants had assembled to protest against w^hat they deemed dangerous 

 science. In their midst stood up a clergyman of note, and declared 

 against the Copernican theory as unscriptural. 



Some of the Eesults. 

 And now, what was won by either party in this long and terrible 

 w^ar ? The party which would subordinate the methods and aims of 

 science to those of theology, though in general obedient to deep convic- 

 tions, had given to Christianity a series of the worst blow* it had ever 

 received. They had made large numbers of the best men in Europe 

 hate it. Why did Ricetto, and Bruno, and Yanini, wlien the crucifix 

 was presented to them in their hour of martyrdom, turn from that 

 blessed image with loathing ? Simply because Christianity had been 

 made to them identical with the most horrible oppression of the mind. 

 Worse than that, these well-meaning defenders of the faith liad 

 wrought into the very fiber of the European heart that most unfortu- 

 nate of all ideas — the idea that there is a necessary antagonism between 

 science and religion. Like the landsman m-Iio lashes himself to the 

 anchor of the sinking ship, in the sight of all men, by the strongest 



