96 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. 



GEOLOGICAL NOTES CONTINUED. 



Read before the Geological Section. 

 BY COL C. C. GRANT. 



Much of the ignorance regarding Geological matters in 

 Canada 'tis said, may be attributed to the influence of the 

 published sermons and theological writings of the clergy of a 

 former age. The Honorable Dr. A. D. White, ex-President 

 Cornell University, in his "Chapters on the Warfare of 

 Science," notices that even so recently as the eighteenth cen- 

 tury we find how such great and good men as "John Wes- 

 ley," "Adam Clarke," and "Richard Watson," in Geology, 

 were hopelessly fettered by the mere letter of Scripture and by 

 a temporary phase in theology. Now, we must not forget all 

 our Christian Churches in Wesley's time held similar beliefs, 

 as expressed, regarding Witchcraft, Comets, Earthquakes, 

 How Death Came Into the World, The Six Days' Creation, 

 etc. If one wishes to learn something of the views universally 

 entertained, then we can consult the work of the United States 

 Ambassador, the Honorable A. D. White. I find the Papers 

 to which I refer have recentl}^ been published in England in 

 book form (in the States, also, I suppose). I cannot say 

 whether the scattered writings of the late Dr. Huxlev have as 

 yet assumed a similar shape. That they are important factors 

 in dispelling theological superstition hitherto entertained is 

 evident. His Grace of Argyle, who was put forward to oppose 

 Huxley, appears to have fared even worse in the conflict than 

 Archbishop McGee. He now frankly confesses he abandons 

 the position he held regarding the Antiquity of Man, being 

 convinced it was untenable. In the warfare of Science to-day 

 she possesses the gates of her enemies. Her opponents may 

 for a brief period endeavor to retard her progress ; her ulti- 

 mate triumph is assured. 



