IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE 
9 
Not until several decades yet to come can the fruit of scientific 
work be properly judged, but it is not difficult at present to discern 
the tendency of the times, and to observe the shaping of the great 
ideals for the education of future generations. 
The methods of science have pervaded every department of hu- 
man thought and enterprise. The so-called humanities of today 
have taken the methods of experimentation, testing, investigating, 
etc., rather than depend entirely upon tradition, dogma, and au- 
thority. Sociology is a science as to its methods and principles. 
Research in history is as scientific in its methods and plans as re- 
search in chemistry. Scientific investigations have modified and 
enlarged our knowledge of sacred history. It is destined to bring 
about the idea that every bush is a burning bush and that all 
ground is holy ground. “The hour cometh when ye shall neither 
in this mountain nor yet in Jerusalem worship the Father.” “In 
every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure 
offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, sayeth 
the Lord of Hosts/’ 
No scientific theory provoked so much discussion or brought 
about such a sharp conflict with theology as the theory of evolution. 
The warfare, however, is over, and every one is an evolutionist in 
a sense, but there are as many kinds of evolutionists as there are 
minds to conceive the theory. And the great Truth that stands 
out prominent as the result is the principle of unity, and to this 
principle it may be added that dogmatic theology and dogmatic 
science are equally objectionable. 
The search for truth for truth’s sake is always commendable, 
and commands the respect and the approval of an earnest and 
thoughtful people. We know but little about the matter. The 
ancients knew much less than we. The line of progress seems to 
lie in a better understanding of matter and its properties. In 
proportion as we comprehend and gain mastery over matter and 
the latent and vital energies that are associated with it, just in 
that proportion are we able to bring blessings to humanity and to 
understand God’s revelations through nature. “Each new dis- 
covery,” says John Fiske, “but places man upon a higher pinnacle 
than ever and lights the future with the radiant color of hope.” 
As knowledge increases, the domain of the natural world be- 
comes enlarged and more real, while the domain of the super- 
natural world vanishes, and disappears as a myth. Reasoning 
from effect to cause has explained many strange phenomena, and 
at the same time disturbed the settled belief of many minds. The 
