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Show Defends the Faith. The Rev. William O'Ryan, at the ' meeting of the Philosophical society at j the Drown Palace hotel last Thursday j : evening, took exception to some of the I slurs on faith which were made during I the course of a scientific discussion. He arose in his place in the rear of the hall and, in an extemporaneous speech, defended religious faith, not only as a thing to be desired in itself, but as itself it-self a process of science. . "Faith," said lie, "is the substance of things hoped for. Faith in this sense is a process of science. You talk about intolerance, but there is nothing more intolerant than science. "Faith is a rational and intellectual a huge machine without a maker an enormous light without an inventor. There is something bigger, greater than evolution, and that is the something which has set the machinery of evolution evolu-tion in force." Then Father O'Ryan went on to say that science had actually been a great help toward ethics. From the time of Galileo until today science had been continually advancing and was now a help to morals. Father O'Ryan was generously applauded when he ended his reply to the attempts more by inference in-ference than assertion to underestimate the importance of faith. The paper of the evening was on the subject. "The- Ethical and Social Values Val-ues of Modern Science." It was read by its author, President Regis Chauve-net Chauve-net of the School of Mines, who ably considered the matter at length, reflecting re-flecting in no way upon the importance of faith, but rather tending to show the relationship of modern science to religion. It was in subsequent short speeches by members of the society that remarks were made : to which Father O'Ryan took exception. In the address of President Chauvenet the statement -was made that "man is the interpreter cf nature and science is the right interpretation." Science is materially ma-terially aiding the forces of civilization, said he, and the three civilizing forces of the most importance are toleration in religion, general education, advance in physical well being. |
