648 KANSAS CITY HE VIEW OF SCIENCE, 



sive, for they are to embrace the infinite work of Infinite Wisdom. They 

 can never be too costly, so far as cost secures permanence and sohdity, for 

 they are to contain the most instructive documents of Omnipotence." The 

 late Prof. Orton says : "A cabinet unfolds Itie great idea of God as it marched 

 on to realization. To the theologian, philosopher and student, it is a vast repos- 

 itory of thoughts and suggestions to which the Astor Library is nothing." In 

 a notice of the Ward Cabinets, we read : "No one can enter this truly cos- 

 mo'ogical museum without believing that he has before him, in one volume, 

 God's narrative of creation. For he who classifies the results of those six days 

 of labor by the erection of a complete repository of natural objects in natural 

 order, is a translator of the Creator's thoughts." A well selected and ar- 

 ranged museum presents to the eye, in physical form and in minuter detail, the 

 panoramic view of creation which Moses expressed in words. In one of his 

 talks to his students, at Penikese, Mr. Agassiz said: "The study of nature is 

 direct intercourse with the Highest Mind. It is unworthy an intelligent being to 

 trifle with the works of the Creator. A laboratory of natural history is a sanctu- 

 ary, in which nothing improper should be exhibited. I would tolerate impro- 

 prieties in a church sooner than in a scientific laboratory." 



Since nature is another revelation from God, why should not facilities for 

 studying her in good museums be as worthy an object of Christian liberality and 

 the use of consecrated funds as the erection of churches and the distribution of 

 Bibles ? Christ commonly impressed his truths by illustrations from some phe- 

 nomena of nature. And religious teachers would do well to pattern after their 

 exalted Model and know nature better for increased power in their work. The 

 time is doubtless not far distant when theological seminaries, as well as colleges 

 and universities, will be required, by the demands of the times, to have collec- 

 tions specially adapted to teach the order of creation and to illustrate the vast 

 number of scientific allusions in the Bible ; and also to have competent professors 

 who are especially qualified to bring out in full relief the scientific phases of Bible 

 truths and the Scripture phases of scientific truths. 



In a Missouri publication, it is not inappropriate that this article should 

 have somewhat of local application. The State of .Missouri, the geographical 

 centre of the Union, than which no State has been endowed by nature with vaster 

 and more varied stores of animal, vegetable, and mineral wealth; with fertile 

 fields of science ripe for the harvest in all the adjoining States ; with ready access 

 to the Rocky Mountain regions containing the richest stores of scientific material 

 in the known world, to the Mexican Gulf rich in recent animal life, and to Texas 

 equally rich in remains of ancient life; and midway between the two great oceans 

 that wash our shores, is peculiarly favorable for the seat of a large museum. 

 There is no apparent good reason why in Missouri may not be accumulated 

 collections, in all lines of popular, practical, and scientific interest, which shall 

 afford every desirable facility for improvement, instruction, and original research ; 

 be a credit to friends and a source of profit to our citizens, an honor to the State, 

 and a valuable contribution to the advancement of science everywhere. 



