Did Darwin become a Christian on his
deathbed?
by Matt Slick
Question: What about the Lady Hope story? Did Darwin
repent of his evolution views and become Christian on his
deathbed?
Response: In the midst of all the arguing and
disagreements about this, perhaps the best analysis I
have found is from Malcolm Bowden, as quoted below.
Helen
Fryman
Quoted by permission of the author from True Science
Agrees with the Bible , Malcolm Bowden, Sovereign
Publications, Kent, 1998, section 6.6, pp 259-276
True Science Agrees with the Bible , as well as Bowden's
other books, are available in the United States from The
Berean Call, P.O. Box 7019, Bend, Oregon 97708-7019,
(541) 382-6210
THE LADY HOPE "STORY"
- A RE-EXAMINATION
Many creationists are familiar with the account that a
"Lady Hope" gave of her visit to Darwin a few months
before he died. Although it has appeared in various
books,
we present it below for those to whom it is new.
.......................
It was one of those glorious autumn afternoons, that we
sometimes enjoy in England, when I was asked to go in
and
sit with the well known professor, Charles Darwin. He was
almost bedridden for some months before he died. I used
to
feel when I saw him that his fine presence would make a
grand picture for our Royal Academy; but never did I think
so more strongly than on this particular occasion.
He was sitting up in bed, wearing a soft embroidered
dressing gown, of rather a rich purple shade.
Propped up by pillows, he was gazing out on a far-
stretching scene of woods and cornfields, which glowed in
the light of one of those marvelous sunsets which are the
beauty of Kent and Surrey. His noble forehead and fine
features seem to be lit up with pleasure as I entered the
room.
He waved his hand toward the window as he pointed out
the scene beyond, while in the other hand he held an open
Bible, which he was always studying.
"What are you reading now?" I asked as I seated myself
beside his bedside. "Hebrews!" he answered - "still
Hebrews. 'The Royal Book' I call it. Isn't it grand?"
Then, placing his finger on certain passages, he
commented on them.
I made some allusions to the strong opinions expressed
by
many persons on the history of the Creation, its grandeur,
and then their treatment of the earlier 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
out
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 thirty 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 the villages. To-morrow
afternoon I should like the servants on the place, some
tenants and a few of the neighbours; to gather there. Will
you speak to them?"
"What shall I speak about?" I asked.
"Christ Jesus!" he replied in a clear, emphatic voice,
adding
in a lower tone, "and his salvation. Is not that the best
theme? And then I want you to sing some hymns with
them. You lead on your small instrument, do you not?"
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 three o'clock this window will be open, and
you will know that I am joining in with the singing."
How I wished I could have made a picture of the fine old
man and his beautiful surroundings on that memorable
day!
Source: carm.org/secular-movements/evolution/did-
darwin-become-christian-his-deathbed