31 
understood, and science there is no antagonism. Truth is above all, and it 
will always be found to be so. I see a reason, if I may say so, for all this 
degeneracy and degradation in the human race. And it appears to me to be 
in "this fact ; first, that man, taking him generally, was formed in the 
image and likeness of the Most High, and then that man, when thus formed, 
had" centred in him all the elements of the universe. All the principles, 
powers, and properties of the universe were centred in him, and everything 
therefore that was connected with the inferior order of creation with the 
animal world— was in some way or other essentially connected with his 
being, because he was set to be the ruler over all things, to have dominion 
over everything which was then created, and he could not have had that 
dominion without having in him those properties connected with the inferior 
creation. When he gave names to the different animals he gave them from 
the distinct powers and properties in them which he knew were there from 
intuition— I do not say inspiration but intuition. But, passing on, there 
came an event in which that primal state was lost; and in the loss of that primal 
state — in what I may call, for want of a better term, that catastrophe I see 
the reason for storms, tempests, confusions, declensions and deaths, in every 
sense of the words. I see how it was that the animals became wild, instead 
of remaining in their former state. I see also how certain powers and infe- 
rior properties which had been latent or concealed until that catastrophe 
were then brought forth and manifested in the variety of ways and forms 
in which they now appear. I see also the grand reason why we should 
come to a state or period of degradation. Take the Scriptural account 
Noah and his family, Shem, Ham, and Japhet ; these three distinct persons, 
and I can readily understand how human nature became worse and worse, 
as in Ham. We need not go very far to have proofs of that ; we can see how 
men may degenerate even in the midst of the most civilized, christianized, and 
intellectual influences. We can see how men may so thoroughly degenerate 
as to lose almost all traces of intellectuality, and how they may become com- 
pletely brutalized notwithstanding all the surroundings which tend to their 
elevation. I can see from this in what way all these cases of Negroes or 
other races might have been evolved ; and that there is perfect harmony 
between the words of the Scripture rightly taken and the present manifesta- 
tions of ethnological science in the earth. I for one beg to thank Mr. 
Titcomb very much for this most interesting paper, manifesting as it really 
does the perfect harmony between the words of Scripture and the observations 
which we make of mankind on the earth. I am perfectly sure that by fully 
examining this problem we shall arrive at conclusions which are in perfect 
harmony with the Scriptures. 
The Chairman. — I should be glad if any other remarks which may be 
offered to the meeting should be addressed more closely to the paper, and not 
to the general degeneration of mankind, which is not precisely the question 
before us, although no doubt it includes it. I should also say that not only 
the members of the Society but strangers who may be present are quite 
welcome to offer any observations. 
