Skip to main content
Museum of Freemasonry

Masonic Periodicals Online

  • Explore
  • Advanced Search
  • Home
  • Explore
  • The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine
  • Aug. 1, 1856
  • Page 12
Current:

The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine, Aug. 1, 1856: Page 12

  • Back to The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine, Aug. 1, 1856
  • Print image
  • Articles/Ads
    Article SCIENCE AND THE BIBLE. * ← Page 3 of 7 →
Page 12

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Science And The Bible. *

did not dream about the cause or nature of gravitation ; he had read the law , and rejoiced in the revealed truth . Crystallization opens to us " other , laws , no less comprehensive . All are familiar with the pretty geometrical forms of some crystals . But the observing eye sees the world full of crystals . "When it snows , the

heavens are showering down crystals , for every flake is a congeries of crystalline grains , and they are often in elegant symmetrical forms . "When the waters freeze , they become a mass of crystals , only so blended that we distinguish not their outlines . "When sea-water evaporates , it drops crystals freely ; for every grain of salt that goes

down , is itself a gem . A bar of iron is broken , and its whole texture proves to be an aggregation of crystal particles , showing the angular lines and cleavage of true crystallization . The granite of the hills is but a mountain of crystals ; and every pudding-stone , although made of pebbles , has myriads of crystalline grains of fragments of crystals in and among those pebbles . Finally , the special fact first noted , developes into a general truth or law , that cohesion in the

inorganic kingdom producing solidification , is actually crystallization ; that we not merely see nature geometrizing , but matter in its profoundest quality governed by geometrical principles ; and therefore

that cohesion in solidification is not a sort of agglutination acting in all directions alike , which would be well enough for making spheres , but an axial or polar attraction , bringing out symmetrical forms according to fixed laws .

Examining further , more definite laws come out : each species or kind of substance , wherever found or however made , proves to have its distinct and constant fundamental crystalline form , so unvarying in angles and structure , although admitting of modifications by simple ratios , that it may be as easily known by it , as an animal by

its form . These crystalline forms are cubes , square prisms , rhombic prisms either right or oblique , & c . ; and in each case , the axes of the prisms—that is , their relative dimensions—admit of mathematical calculation . Thus , by widening our field of vision from the single fact to universal nature , we learn that molecules have their specific forms or dimensions , and cohesion in solids its mathematical basis . This

fundamental quality of cohesion is sustained by every other characteristic of crystals : the hardness is different in the direction of unequal axes ; so also the transparency , elasticity , conduction of heat , and refraction of light ; and all in exact accordance with the law of symmetry in the crystal . Do we not see , here , that the very molecules , of which the universe is built , were modelled variously and with

precision by the hand of Deity ? Looking deeper still , we learn that these molecules are not , like the blocks of an architect , squared and cornered for one place alono , but have their laws according to which they are adapted to numberless forms and structures . Gaining entrance to these inner temples of nature , we recognise everywhere the appointments of Him whose glories are infinite . The chemist reads Nature in another of her departments : ho

“The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine: 1856-08-01, Page 12” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 5 July 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mmr/issues/frm_01081856/page/12/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
MASONEY IN THE ISLE OF WIGHT Article 1
WOMAN. Article 3
ON THE MYSTERIES OF THE EARLY AGES AS CONNECTED WITH EWLIGION. Article 4
THE PRACTICAL OF MASONRY. Article 9
SCIENCE AND THE BIBLE. * Article 10
THE TRUE PLEASURES OF A MASON. Article 16
BEVIEWS OF NEW BOOKS. Article 17
SURREY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. Article 18
music. Article 20
CORRESPONDENCE. Article 22
SYMPATHY. Article 24
THE MASONIC MIRROR. Article 25
METROPOLITAN. Article 30
PROVINCIAL. Article 34
ROYAL ARCH. Article 52
KNIGHTS TEMPLAR. Article 53
MARK MASONRY; Article 53
SCOTLAND. Article 53
IRELAND. Article 54
COLONIAL. Article 55
INDIA, Article 57
SUMMARY OF NEWS FOR JULY. Article 58
Obituary. Article 62
NOTICE. Article 62
TO CO-RESPONDENTS. Article 62
Page 1

Page 1

1 Article
Page 2

Page 2

1 Article
Page 3

Page 3

2 Articles
Page 4

Page 4

1 Article
Page 5

Page 5

1 Article
Page 6

Page 6

1 Article
Page 7

Page 7

1 Article
Page 8

Page 8

1 Article
Page 9

Page 9

2 Articles
Page 10

Page 10

1 Article
Page 11

Page 11

1 Article
Page 12

Page 12

1 Article
Page 13

Page 13

1 Article
Page 14

Page 14

1 Article
Page 15

Page 15

1 Article
Page 16

Page 16

2 Articles
Page 17

Page 17

1 Article
Page 18

Page 18

2 Articles
Page 19

Page 19

1 Article
Page 20

Page 20

1 Article
Page 21

Page 21

1 Article
Page 22

Page 22

1 Article
Page 23

Page 23

1 Article
Page 24

Page 24

1 Article
Page 25

Page 25

1 Article
Page 26

Page 26

1 Article
Page 27

Page 27

1 Article
Page 28

Page 28

1 Article
Page 29

Page 29

1 Article
Page 30

Page 30

2 Articles
Page 31

Page 31

1 Article
Page 32

Page 32

1 Article
Page 33

Page 33

1 Article
Page 34

Page 34

1 Article
Page 35

Page 35

1 Article
Page 36

Page 36

1 Article
Page 37

Page 37

1 Article
Page 38

Page 38

1 Article
Page 39

Page 39

1 Article
Page 40

Page 40

1 Article
Page 41

Page 41

1 Article
Page 42

Page 42

1 Article
Page 43

Page 43

1 Article
Page 44

Page 44

1 Article
Page 45

Page 45

1 Article
Page 46

Page 46

1 Article
Page 47

Page 47

1 Article
Page 48

Page 48

1 Article
Page 49

Page 49

1 Article
Page 50

Page 50

1 Article
Page 51

Page 51

1 Article
Page 52

Page 52

2 Articles
Page 53

Page 53

3 Articles
Page 54

Page 54

2 Articles
Page 55

Page 55

2 Articles
Page 56

Page 56

1 Article
Page 57

Page 57

2 Articles
Page 58

Page 58

2 Articles
Page 59

Page 59

1 Article
Page 60

Page 60

1 Article
Page 61

Page 61

1 Article
Page 62

Page 62

4 Articles
Page 63

Page 63

1 Article
Page 64

Page 64

1 Article
Page 12

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Science And The Bible. *

did not dream about the cause or nature of gravitation ; he had read the law , and rejoiced in the revealed truth . Crystallization opens to us " other , laws , no less comprehensive . All are familiar with the pretty geometrical forms of some crystals . But the observing eye sees the world full of crystals . "When it snows , the

heavens are showering down crystals , for every flake is a congeries of crystalline grains , and they are often in elegant symmetrical forms . "When the waters freeze , they become a mass of crystals , only so blended that we distinguish not their outlines . "When sea-water evaporates , it drops crystals freely ; for every grain of salt that goes

down , is itself a gem . A bar of iron is broken , and its whole texture proves to be an aggregation of crystal particles , showing the angular lines and cleavage of true crystallization . The granite of the hills is but a mountain of crystals ; and every pudding-stone , although made of pebbles , has myriads of crystalline grains of fragments of crystals in and among those pebbles . Finally , the special fact first noted , developes into a general truth or law , that cohesion in the

inorganic kingdom producing solidification , is actually crystallization ; that we not merely see nature geometrizing , but matter in its profoundest quality governed by geometrical principles ; and therefore

that cohesion in solidification is not a sort of agglutination acting in all directions alike , which would be well enough for making spheres , but an axial or polar attraction , bringing out symmetrical forms according to fixed laws .

Examining further , more definite laws come out : each species or kind of substance , wherever found or however made , proves to have its distinct and constant fundamental crystalline form , so unvarying in angles and structure , although admitting of modifications by simple ratios , that it may be as easily known by it , as an animal by

its form . These crystalline forms are cubes , square prisms , rhombic prisms either right or oblique , & c . ; and in each case , the axes of the prisms—that is , their relative dimensions—admit of mathematical calculation . Thus , by widening our field of vision from the single fact to universal nature , we learn that molecules have their specific forms or dimensions , and cohesion in solids its mathematical basis . This

fundamental quality of cohesion is sustained by every other characteristic of crystals : the hardness is different in the direction of unequal axes ; so also the transparency , elasticity , conduction of heat , and refraction of light ; and all in exact accordance with the law of symmetry in the crystal . Do we not see , here , that the very molecules , of which the universe is built , were modelled variously and with

precision by the hand of Deity ? Looking deeper still , we learn that these molecules are not , like the blocks of an architect , squared and cornered for one place alono , but have their laws according to which they are adapted to numberless forms and structures . Gaining entrance to these inner temples of nature , we recognise everywhere the appointments of Him whose glories are infinite . The chemist reads Nature in another of her departments : ho

  • Prev page
  • 1
  • 11
  • You're on page12
  • 13
  • 64
  • Next page
  • Accredited Museum Designated Outstanding Collection
  • LIBRARY AND MUSEUM CHARITABLE TRUST OF THE UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1058497 / ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2025

  • Accessibility statement

  • Designed, developed, and maintained by King's Digital Lab

We use cookies to track usage and preferences.

Privacy & cookie policy