SCIENCE means knowledge. We are glibly told that science teaches the evolution of man when it teaches nothing of the kind. A mere theory is not science until proven. A man does not become a scientist by advocating an unproven theory, but by making some notable contribution to knowledge. These self-appointed scientists recklessly declare that the "consensus" of science favors evolution. We oppose evolution not because it _is_ science, but because it is _not_ science. There is no conflict between Christianity and real science, but a fight to the death with "science falsely so called."
RELIGION is often taken to mean deism, or infidelity as well as Christianity. They show us "where evolution and religion meet,"
provided deism or infidelity is religion, but not, if Christianity is religion,--an inexcusable confusion of terms.
LAW is sometimes spoken of as if it had intelligence and power. Sometimes as a subordinate deity, or agent of G.o.d, or an indefinite principle. Darwin says:--"Plants and animals have all been produced by laws (?) acting around us." That is impossible, since "laws" can produce nothing. He evidently gives to laws the credit that belongs to G.o.d.
NATURE, in like manner, is often used as a subst.i.tute for G.o.d, to avoid the mention of His name.
MODERNISM is a fine sounding word, suggestive of learning and culture and the last word in science, but doubts or denies many of the essential doctrines of the Christian religion. It is infidelity pure and simple and of the most dangerous kind, camouflaged under this attractive name. Who can deny the statement that the only thing modern about modernism is its hypocrisy? It is ancient infidelity pretending to be a Christian view. Bearing the Christian flag, it attacks Christianity. Modernists are evidently ashamed of a name which fitly describes their views, and seek another. Infidels have tried to win under their own name. They have failed. Will they succeed under the camouflaged name of modernism? Camouflaged under an attractive name, modernists doubt or deny the real inspiration of the Bible, the Virgin birth of Jesus, his deity, his miracles, his bodily resurrection, the resurrection of the dead, and his personal second coming to judge the quick and the dead. Some modernists reject a part of these great truths, and some reject all.
LIBERAL is another term stolen by infidels ashamed of their own name. They are no more liberal in a good sense than others.
A RATIONALIST is not ent.i.tled to the term, because he is often more innocent of reasoning than his opponents. Reason is not opposed to revelation. We believe in an inspired revelation, because it is reasonable to do so. Rationalism is another camouflage for infidelity. We can have some respect for an honest professed skeptic, but how can we respect a man who insists on adding hypocrisy to his infidelity, that, by so doing, he may make greater havoc of the church? Modernists give such a diluted interpretation to inspiration, to the statements of Scripture, and the Apostles" Creed, and the creeds of the churches, that all may mean little or nothing, and the floodgates of infidelity and atheism are opened wide.
It has been truly said, "If the Bible is not really inspired, it is the greatest fraud ever perpetrated on mankind; for, from lid to lid, it claims to be the word of G.o.d." Likewise, if Moses was not inspired, he was the greatest liar of history.
Every variety of infidel and species of atheist will rejoice, if evolution be accepted,-whether modernists, liberals, rationalists, or simple unbelievers on their way to the bottomless pit. If evolution wins, Christianity loses and the church fails.
We hope that scientists will consign to innocuous desuetude their camouflaged sesquipedalian vocabularies, and tell us what they mean in short words, so we all may know what they say.
47. WHAT ARE WE TO BELIEVE?
Some would have us believe there is no G.o.d; or that matter is eternal; or that matter was evolved out of nothing; or that all things came by chance; or that there is nothing but matter,--no G.o.d, no spirit, no mind, no soul.
Some would have us believe that G.o.d created nebulous matter, and then ceased to control the universe; that life developed spontaneously; that species developed by chance, or natural selection, or by a powerless "law," from one primordial germ. Others say that all the countless exhibitions of design by a matchless Intelligence, are to be explained by a causo-mechanical theory, which means the theory of blind unintelligent chance, without purpose or design or interference of G.o.d. Some say that G.o.d may have created one germ or at most 4 or 5, and that 3,000,000 species of plants and animals developed from this microscopic beginning. We are asked to believe that some plants became animals, or some animals became plants, or that all plants and animals came from the one germ they allowed G.o.d to create. They say that all species developed by growth, but do not explain why we still have the one-celled amoeba, the microscopic bacilli of plant life, and the microscopic species of animal life. Many geologic species are largest at the beginning; many ancient animals were much larger than their successors; and the reptilian age was noted for animals of enormous size. Yet they want us to believe that growth is universal.
They ask us to believe, without proof, that some marine animals evoluted into amphibians, some amphibians became reptiles, some reptiles developed hair and became mammals, and some reptiles developed feathers and wings and became birds; some mammals became monkeys, and some monkeys became men. For evidence of this, there is not a single connecting link to show the transformation. Geology furnishes no fossils of the millions and billions of connecting links that must have existed. For the scheme would require not only millions of links between man and the monkey, but also millions between each of the 8 great changes from matter to man. Yet we are asked to accept these fantastic and impossible speculations as "science," though it lead to infidelity and atheism and bolshevism and anarchy and chaos, wreck religion, make havoc of the church, and send countless souls to the lost world. What wonder that the soul recoils with horror from such an atheistic theory.
48. WHAT CAN WE DO?
Evolution, leading to infidelity and atheism, is taught in many universities, colleges and high schools, and even in the lower grades of the public schools. It is taught also in some theological seminaries. It is proclaimed in some pulpits. Some of its devotees, who have slipped into places of power and influence, urge it with a zeal worthy of a better cause. The public libraries are crammed with books teaching it, with few, if any, opposed. Strange to say, it is advocated by some religious newspapers, along with modernism and other varieties of infidelity. Some secular newspapers seem eager to publish, on the front page, attacks on orthodoxy, and articles favoring the wildest claims of evolution. They call evolution science!
What are we going to do about it? Shall we supinely submit, or do all in our power to oppose, check and suppress so pernicious a theory?
What can we do?
We can refuse to patronize or endow such inst.i.tutions as teach this or other forms of infidelity and atheism. We can aid those only that are safe. Much money that was given by devout Christians to colleges and seminaries, has been prost.i.tuted to teach what the donors hated, and to do great harm. The faculty and trustees can do much to eliminate false teaching, if they will. Use all possible pressure to bring this about.
Evolution is taught in many high schools supported by the taxpayers"
money. This should not be tolerated. Text books declare that man is descended from the brute, as if there were no doubt about it! Laws should be enacted and courts appealed to, to protect the youth. The recent decision of the Supreme Court of the United States in the Oregon case, gives strong hope that the teaching of evolution would not be permitted, if a case were carried up to the highest court. It should be done. If Christianity cannot be taught in the public schools, must we submit to the teaching of infidelity and atheism in the name of science? Intolerable outrage! In New York 15,000 people, on a recent Sunday, shouted for atheistic bolshevism, and condemned the United States government. A theory that encourages such a belief should not be taught. When the people awake to see the baneful effects, they will smite the fraud to the earth. Protests should be made to Boards of Education, superintendents, and all in authority. The power of public opinion should be brought to bear. Two states already have forbidden such instruction, and others will, no doubt, follow. The a.s.sociated Press, in this morning"s papers, calls the struggle a contest between religion and science, and thousands of shallow thinkers will believe that evolution is really science!
We quote from Mauro"s "Evolution at the Bar," p. 71: "A parent writing to a religious periodical, tells of a text book brought home by his seven-year-old boy, the t.i.tle of which was, "Home Geography for Primary Grades." Discussing the subject of birds, this text book for primary grades says: "Ever so long ago, their grandfathers were not birds at all. Then they could not fly, for they had neither wings nor feathers. These grandfathers of our birds had four legs, a long tail, and jaws with teeth. After a time feathers grew on their bodies, and their front legs were changed for flying. These were strange looking creatures. There are none living like them now."" Would any one who would teach a little child, the extremely improbable story that reptiles became birds, hesitate to teach that monkeys became men and that the story of creation was false?
Much can be done by the church authorities in refusing to license or ordain men who believe in any species of infidelity, or who have attended heretical seminaries. They should give their consent for candidates to attend only colleges, universities or seminaries that can be trusted. Congregations should know, before they call a pastor, that he is orthodox. Ministers are to preach the Gospel not infidelity.
Taboo all heretical religious papers; support those that defend the truth. Let infidels maintain infidel papers and build infidel colleges. Not one dollar to propagate infidelity! Make your one short consecrated life count for truth and righteousness. Many Christians are guilty of the great sin of indifference. In this greatest of all contests in which the Church was ever engaged, no one should be a slacker.
Many public libraries have 20 to 50 books in favor of evolution, and but one or two, if any, opposed. If dangerous books, like Wells"
"Outline of History", McCabe"s "A. B. C. of Evolution", and the works of Darwin, who doubted his own theory, and of Romanes, who renounced evolution and embraced Christ, can not be eliminated, libraries, in all fairness and in the interest of truth, should have an equal number in reply. Insist that librarians get a copy of this book, and other anti-evolution books, especially those mentioned herein; also other good books.
The author and publisher of this book will give 50% commission for selling it, and will mail two copies for $1.00 to all who will become agents. If you can"t be an agent, you will do great good by securing another. A copy should be in the hands of every student, so he can discuss evolution with his teacher; and in the hands of every teacher, lawyer, doctor, minister, lawmaker or other professional man, of every parent whose children are liable to be taught the dangerous doctrine. It will be useful in removing error and in promoting the truth. Agents should canva.s.s every school, college, university, seminary; every convention, conference; every religious and educational gathering. A copy should be in every library.
Every dollar of profit from the sale of this book will be given to Missions, to be loaned perpetually to help build churches, and to preach the Gospel in the secular newspapers of the world, and to distribute this book free. Every $1000 so loaned to churches at 5% compound interest, in 300 years, will, together with the accrued interest, aid in building 8,229,024 churches, by a loan of $1000 each for 5 years, and the new princ.i.p.al at the end of 300 years will be $2,273,528,000.
After four struggles, the writer was led to give the one-tenth, then the unpaid or "stolen" tenth (Mai. 3:8), then to consecrate the nine-tenths, and, lastly, to give all above an economical living. Many another consecrated Christian, on fire for G.o.d and burning with fury against all forms of infidelity, can do incalculable good by sending this book free to as many libraries, students, teachers, ministers, lawyers and doctors as possible. For this purpose, the publisher will mail the book to large numbers, for 20c each; your $1 sends a $1 book to 5. For $2000, for example, a copy will be mailed to the 10,000 ministers of the Presbyterian church, U.S.A.; for $4,000, to the 20,000 pastors of the Methodist Episcopal church; for $1000, a copy to 5000 public libraries in the United States and elsewhere; or to 5000 students, teachers, ministers, lawyers, doctors, lawmakers, etc.
Smaller sums in proportion. What great good a heroic giver, in every land, could do with $1000 or $10,000 or $100,000! With 1,000,000 copies, we would wake the world!
A Canadian farmer gives $1000 to mail one to 5000 Canadian ministers and libraries. Who will give $2,000 to send one to 10,000 lawmakers in U.S.?
--Ministers, students, teachers, parents, yes, ALL are urged to be agents, employ sub-agents, earn wages, and do good. To agents, booksellers, libraries, churches, S.S."s, organizations and societies needing funds, 2 to 25 mailed to any land, for 50c each cash; 25 or more, 40c--60% profit; 100 or more, 30c--70% profit! Books are the best outfit,--try 25 (show p. 76). To periodicals (for sale or premium), 30c. Special terms to general or national agents, speakers, publishers, colleges, seminaries, etc. Editors are hereby given permission FREE to use any selections. Add to each: From "EVOLUTION DISPROVED" (cloth $1) by per. the author and pub., Rev. W. A.
Williams, Camden, N.J. _Mail marked selections and reviews_.
The fight is on. Only about 2% of the members of evangelical churches, it is said, are modernists and evolutionists. Let the rest a.s.sert their rights and say: "Common honesty requires you to restore to orthodoxy the inst.i.tutions you have purloined. We demand them back.
Henceforth you shall not steal our colleges, seminaries and public schools, and make our children infidels and atheists. You shall not, with our consent, capture our pulpits, and strip the world"s Redeemer of his power and glory."
49. PROBLEMS FOR REVIEW
The following problems, when solved by the reader, will deepen the conviction that evolution is impossible. The erroneous guesses by evolutionists may be checked up and disproved by mathematical problems. No stronger proof could well be devised. For pattern solutions, refer to the preceding text. A reward will be given to the first person who points out a material error. Test, verify or correct the following solutions:--
1. If the first human pair lived 2,000,000 years ago, as the evolutionists claim, and the population has doubled itself in every 1612.51 years (one-tenth the Jewish rate of net increase), what would be the present population of the globe? Ans. 18,932,139,737,991 followed by 360 figures; or 18,932,139,737,991 decillion, decillion, decillion, decillion, decillion, decillion, decillion, decillion, decillion, decillion; or 18,932,139,737,991 vigintillion, vigintillion, vigintillion, vigintillion, vigintillion, vigintillion.
2. If the first human pair lived 100,000 years ago (a period much less than evolution required), what Would be the present population at the same low rate of increase? Ans. 4,660,210,253,138,204,000; or 2,527,570,733 times as many as are living now.
3. At the above rate of increase, how many human beings would have survived in the 5177 years since Noah? Ans. 9. How many Jews, in the 3850 years since Jacob"s marriage? Ans. 5.
4. If the human race doubled its numbers every 168.3 years since Noah became a father (5177 years) what would be the population of the globe? Ans. 1,804,187,000,--just what it is.
5. If the Jews doubled their numbers every 161.251 years since Jacob"s marriage (3850 years ago), how many Jews would there have been in 1922? Ans. 15,393,815, just the number reported.
6. What guess of man"s age can stand the test of mathematics? Ans. Not a single guess ever made a.s.signing a great age to man,--nothing greater than the age indicated by the Scriptures; 2,000,000, or 1,000,000, or 100,000 years are clearly out of the question.
7. If life began 60,000,000 years ago, and the human race 2,000,000 years ago, how much sub-normal should have been the brain and mind of man at that time? Ans. 1/30 or 3-1/3%; or 96-2/3% normal; or 1450 c.c., counting 1500 c.c. normal,--more nearly normal than many nations now.
8. How much if life began 500,000,000 years ago? Ans. .4%; or 99.6% normal; or 1494 c.c., far more c.c. than a large part of mankind can claim.
9. If man had, in 58,000,000 years, developed only the same skull capacity as the other members of the simian family (not over 600 c.c.), how much must he have gained in 2,000,000 years? Ans. 900 c.c., which is a development 43.5 times as rapid in 2,000,000 years as in the 58,000,000 years preceding. How could that be?
10. If life began 500,000,000 years ago, how would the rapidity of skull and brain development in 2,000,000 years compare with that of the 498,000,000 years preceding? Ans. 373.5 times as great.
11. If the skull of the pithecanthropus was two-thirds normal, or 1000 c.c., how many years ago must it have lived, in case life began 60,000,000 years ago? Ans. 20,000,000; in case life began 500,000,000 years ago? Ans. 166,666,666.