It may suprise students that, in the closing days of his life, Charlse Darwin - the man who originated the theory of evolution - returned to his faith in the Bible. He regretted both his views and his conduct.
Lady Hope's story
Lady Hope, of Northfield, England, a woman who was often at his bedside before he died told this story :
"I was asked to sit with well-known professor, Charles Darwin. He was almost bedridden for some time before he died.
He waved his hand towards the window as he pointed out the scene beyond, while in the otehr hand he held an open Bible, which he was always studying.
'What are you reading now?' I asked, as I was seated by his bedside. 'Hebrew' he answered. 'Still Hebrews. The Royal Book, I call it.' Then placing his finger on certain passages, he commented on them.
I made some allusions to the strong opinions expressed by many persons on this History of the creation, its grandeur, and then their treatment of the earliest chapters of the Book of Genesis.
He seemed greatly distressed, his fingers twitched nervously, and a look of agony came over his face as he said, 'I was a young man with unformed ideas. I threw our queries, suggestions, wondering all the time over everything; and to my astonishment the ideas took like wildfire. People made a religion of them.'
Then he paused, and after a few more sentences on the 'Holiness of God' and 'the grandeur of this Book,' looking at the Bible which he was holding tenderly all the time, he suddenly said, 'I have a summer house in the garden which holds about 30 people. It is over there.' pointing through the open window. 'I want you very much to speak there. I know you read the Bible in villages. Tomorrow afternoon I should like the servants on the place and a few of the neighbours to gather there. Will you speak to them?'
'What shall I speak about?' I asked, 'Jesus Christ,' he replied, 'and His Salvation. Is that not the best theme? And then I want you to sing some hymns with them.'
The wonderful look of brightness and animation on his face as he said this, I shall never forget, for he added, 'If you take the meeting at 3 o'clock, this window will be open, and you will know that I am joining in with the singing.'"
Dramatic Scene
Was there ever a more dramatic scene - Darwin, enthusiast for teh Bible, reminded that the modern evolutionary movement had become a blight on all churches and destroyed biblical faith in multitudes? Darwin, with a look of agony, deploring it all and declaring "I was a young man with unformed ideas."
Reprinted and abridged with permission from the Gospel Tract Society, By Oswald J. Smith