236 OPPOSITION TO GEOLOGICAL TRUTHS. [CHAP. XXXVIL 



mind in the course of the investigation. The interest excited by 

 these singular monuments of the olden times, naturally led to 

 animated discussions, both in lecture-rooms and in the columns 

 of the daily journals of Pennsylvania, during which the high 

 antiquity of the earth, and the doctrine of former changes in the 

 species of animals and plants inhabiting this planet before the 

 creation of man, were assumed as established truths. But these 

 views were so new and startling, and so opposed to popular pre 

 possessions, that they drew down much obloquy upon their pro- 

 mulgators, who incurred the censures not only of the multitude, 

 but also of some of the Roman Catholic and Lutheran clergy. 

 The social persecution was even carried so far as to injure pro 

 fessionally the practice of some medical men, who had given 

 publicity to the obnoxious doctrines. Several of the ministers 

 of the Lutheran church, who had studied for years in German 

 universities, were too well informed not to believe in the conclu 

 sions established by geologists, respecting the immensity of past 

 time and former vicissitudes, both in animal and vegetable life : 

 but although taking a lively interest in discoveries made at their 

 own door, and joining in the investigations, they were compelled 

 by prudence to conceal their opinions from their congregations, or 

 they would have lost all influence over them, and might perhaps 

 have seen their churches deserted. Yet by maintaining silence 

 in deference to the opinions of the more ignorant, they become, in 

 some degree, the instruments of countenancing error ; nay, they 

 are rearing up the rising generation to be, in their turn, the per 

 secutors of many of their contemporaries, who may hereafter be 

 far in advance in their scientific knowledge. 



&quot; To nothing but error,&quot; says a popular writer of our times, 

 &quot; can any truth be dangerous ; and I know not,&quot; he exclaims, 

 &quot; where else there is seen so altogether tragical a spectacle, as 

 that religion should be found standing in the highways, to say, 

 &amp;lt; Let no man learn the simplest laws of the universe, lest they 

 mislearn the highest. In the name of God the Maker, who said, 

 and hourly yet says, Let there lie light, we command that you 

 continue in darkness ! &quot;* 



* Letter on Secular Education, by T. Carlyle, July, 1848. 



