The Woods and the Fields.

Mr. Charles P. Parker gave last evening the second lecture of his course on Natural Religion.

We have seen, he said, that the study of Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics shows to us the presence of a Creative Reason in the sky and stars and earth Man can interfere, for evil or for good, with the work of physical forces, no changing their law but bringing them into new combinations. We must therefore try to understand man's nature. As a first step we must learn to know inferior living things. Plants and animals should be studied in their tree life is the woods and fields. All men can have some practical knowledge of this wild life. In the scientific study of life we must move very cautiously, take careful teachers of special sciences, and not popular fashions of thought. Unless we have made experimental and careful study we have no right to take up any disputed theory. On any scientific theory of the nature and origin of life we can see clearly that Reason is the Maker of living things and the Giver of Life. Life is one of the thoughts of the Creative Reason, and is illustrated in many ways in the woods and fields. But we find nature forces working not merely for life and growth with their attendant pains. Death of living things seems to be an evil and pain of animals certainly is an evil. What is the cause of pain in animals? There must have been some interference with the work of the Creative reason. We cannot see all the causes of that interference, but man is one pain-producing cause. Unless the Supreme Reason caused the cruel, heedless, selfish thoughts in man, it is not responsible for the hideous pains which man inflicts. Once more then we are driven to the study of man, to see how it is that he can interfere with nature to produce ugliness and pain, or beauty and pleasure.