The 'battle' between science and religion over evolution in nineteenth century New Zealand : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in History at Massey University

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THE 'BATTLE' BETWEEN SCIENCE AND RELIGION OVER EVOLUTION IN NINETEENTH CENTURY

NEW ZEALAND

A thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in History at Massey University

JOHN STENHOUSE 1985

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Abstract

This thesis descr ibes and ana l yses the New Zea l and response to the Darwinian theory of evo l ution in the second ha l f of the nineteenth century. Traditional accounts , using a distorted v ersion of the

Hu x l ey-Wi l berforce debate as the ir mod e l , ha v e been tr iumpha l i st , pos iti v istic , and mi l itaristic. The b l oody 'batt l e' between science and r e l ig ion , accord ing to the se rece i v ed v iews , resu l ted in the ov erwhe lming v ictory of science , truth , and progress o v er r e l i gion , ignorance , and superstition. This mod e l i s inapp l i cab l e in the New Zea l and context. Generations of reconci l ing Genesis with geo l ogy had prepared the Chr istian mind we l l for coming to terms with scientific disco v eries , and adjusting interpretations o f Scripture accord ing l y.

After an initi a l per iod of caution and d e l iber ation , churchmen within the major denominations came to terms with �io logica l e v o l ution as read i l y as they had earl ier accepted the findings of geo l ogy and p a l aeonto l ogy. By the 1 8 80's e v o l ution became acceptab l e to most educated Chr istians. Scientists too,quick l y accepted bio l ogical

evo l ution but remained r e l i gious b e l i e v er s , and in many cases d e v out , practising Chr istians. Their r e l igious v i ew of nature was reinforced rather than destroyed by Darwin. The handfu l of freethinkers who proc l aimed that Science had supp l anted Chri stianity a l so be l i e the positiv ist mode l , for e v o l ution became for them a surrogate r e l i gious faith. Sc ience did effecti v e l y become secu l ari zed by the beginning of the twentieth centur y, but this was the work o f devout scientists who wanted to pre v ent r e l i gious contro v ersy from constant l y ho l d ing back

the progress of biol ogy. The 'batt l e' between science and r e l i gion o v er e v o l ution cu lminating in the fina l and deci s i v e triumph of science was a myth.

ii

Preface

I wou ld l ike to record my thanks to a l l those who ha v e been so he l pfu l o v er the l ast three years. Dr Peter Lineham has been a l l that I cou ld ask of a chief supe r v isor , and mor e . His nev er-fai l ing

enthusiasm, constant he l p with sources , insightfu l criticism and

sympathetic coun s e l hav e put me permanen t l y in his debt. I am gr atefu l to a l l the members of the M assey Uni v ersity Department o f History who ha v e prov ided such a stimu l ating and congen i a l atmosphere to wor k in.

Dr Kerry Howe has been a v er y fr iend l y and approachab l e assistant superv isor. He has constan t l y h e l ped me to keep the 'magnum opu s ' in a hea l thy perspect i v e ! Thanks to Professor W.H. O l i v er for h e l p ing to super v ise the initial stages of the the s i s . Professor J.C. Da v i s and Dr Dav id Thomson hav e p rov ided v a luab l e comments and cr iticisms. I wou l d l ike a l so to acknowl edge ideas and references from Professor Ian Breward , Professor G.S. Parsonson , Professor M .P.K. Sorrenson ,

Professor George M arsden , Sir Char l es F l eming , Roger Chapman , Phi l i p F l eming , and my father , Dr Dav id Stenhous e , who has pro v ed adept at c l ari fying com p l e x zoo logical and phi l osophical i ssues o v er the phone.

Speci a l thanks to my brother Da v i d who was a great he l p in the fin a l stages .

I must a l so mention the l ibraries which h a v e been consu lted , in particu l ar : the A l exander Turnbu l l Library, the We l l ington Uni v ers ity Librar y, The M assey Uni v er s i ty Library , the Pa lmerston North Pub l ic Library , the Canterbury Pub l ic Library, the M ethod ist Church Archi v es ( Christchurch); the Hocken Library, the Dunedin Pub l ic Librar y , the Knox Col l ege Library , the Auckl and Institute and Museum Librar y , the St. Johns Co l l ege Library, the Leys Institute Library (Auck l and) , the

i ii

Auck l and Publ ic Library, the New Zea l and Baptist Co l l ege Librar y , and the Cambridge Uni v ersity Library. A number o f l ibrarians and

archi v ists deser v e specia l mention : Dav id M acDona l d of the Hocken Librar y , M arcia Baker ( M ethod ist Church Arch i v i st) , Kath l een Co l eridge of the V ictori a Uni v er s i ty Library , Ian Thwaites o f the Auckl and

Institute and Museum Library, Jud ith Br ight of the St. Johns Col l ege Library and Peter Gautrey o f the Cambridge Uni v ersity Library.

Fina l l y I wou l d l ike to thank a l l those who have made the l ast thre e years so mar v e l l ous : especia l l y my own fami l y , John and Ji l l McLel l an , the members of Hokowhitu Baptist Church , the l ad ies at M anawatu S t , and my f l atmates - A l eck, Ste v e , Mark, and Pau l - who hav e t o l erated my enthusiasms with extraord inary good humour , in the know l edge , I suspect , that in my case they were witnessing a c l a s s i c Darwinian case of r e v ersion to the ancestr a l type.

iY

CONTENTS

Page

Abstract i i

Preface i i i

Contents V

Abbreviations v i

I ntroduction

1 . Science and Religion Before the Origin 1 0

2 . The 1 860' s : The Phony vlar? 34

3 . The 1 870' s : Trends in Science 82

4 . The 1 870' s : Religious Responses to Evolution 1 25 5. The 1 88 0' s : Freethought , E v o l ution and the Churches 1 66 6 . The 1 890' s : The Secularization o f Science and 2 1 9

the Emergence of Fundamentalism

Conclusion 274

Notes and References 2 8 1

Bibliography 3 1 2

CG DNZB FR JHB JRH LT NZE NZH NZJH NZJS

NZ Meth NZP NZYl ODT TPNZI

AP AR CP Du : Ho i-lTu

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Abbreviations Church Gazette

Dictionary of New Zealand Biography Freethought Rev iew

Journal of the Hi story o f Biology Journal of Religious Hi story Lyttelton Times

New Zealand Evangelist New Zealand Herald

New Zealand Journal of Hi s tory New Zealand Journal of S ci ence New Zealand Magazine

New Zealand Method ist New Zealand �resbyterian New Zealand Ylesleyan Otago Daily Times

Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zea l an d Institute

Library Symbols Auckland Public Library

Auckland Institute and Museum Library Canterbury Publ i c Library

Hocken Library , Dun ed i n

Alexander Turnbull Library , Well ington

v i