Ar00101

€ anhntB . PAGE . P RBEMASOXS' MAGAZINE . — Physical Astronomy ; or now Theories of the Universe . 241 English Gilds 242 Our Masonic Charities 246

Lost : — by C C . Pomeroy 24 S Masonic Jottings—ISTo . 3 * 7 249 Masonic Notes and Queries 250 Correspondence 251 Sayings ancl Doings Abroad 252 M ASONIC MIRKOK : — Masonic Mems 243 Special Grand Lodge 254

CBAFT LODGE MEETINGS : — Metropolitan 255 Provincial 256 Colour in Churches 260 List of Lodge , & c , Meeting for ensuing week 260

Physical Astronomy; Or, New Theories Or The Universe.

PHYSICAL ASTRONOMY ; OR , NEW THEORIES OR THE UNIVERSE .

LONDON , SATURDAY , SEPTEMBER 24 , 1870 .

BY BKO . J . 0 . MASNIXG . ( Continued from page 223 . J When Dr . Bedford proclaimed his " New Theories of the Universe , " in 1854 , he must have astonished the deep thinkers , some of whom , though slow at

the time to acknowledge their import , have lived to see them more or less recognised as in perfect keeping with the hidden law of observed phenomena . His opinion was , that a " gaseous state was matter ' s primitive form ; " that there existed a " close relation

between the formation of the meteor and the comet , " and that the sun was " formed instantaneously , as a meteoric stone is , only on a larger scale . " "It is often found , " he says , "that the key to the pvofoundest mysteries has long lain in our possession

ere we have discovered its fitness to unlock the hidden law of observed phenomena . How often was water converted into steam before we ascertained its motive power ' ? Tims it is with the simple meteor of ni ghtly observation . Here is matter : here is motion . Where is the eye that has not been startled

by its sudden li ght ? But how little has tho mind pondered upon the relation—the close relation —• between its formation ancl tho creation of the sunthe sudden transition of the gaseous atom into the solar aggregate . "

Here is the germ of a great thought—enunciated for the first time sixteen years ago , and now recognised by some of tho ablest astronomers of the day as an established fact , and one elucidatory of many doubtful points that had long been vexed questions .

Before proceeding to comment upon that portion of Dr . Bedford's Theories having especial reference to comets , ancl which are exceedingly interesting and new , as it appeared at the time they were first propounded , I will give his explanation of tho way in which he believes the the sun , tho centre of our solar

system was formed , and how the gradual process of the complete formation of that system went on . Gaseous matter pervades space . An incalculable amount of this gaseous matter exploded ; a tremendous blaze enstted ; a vacuum was formed : the residuum

of the explosion was thrown off in all directions ; the surrounding air rushing into the vacuum forced back the scattered sparks into one io-neous mass : anil ¦ i . O thus was formed the solar fire which forms the centre of our system . The huge mass obtained its

rotary motion from the inequality of the pressure of the outer tether - . and its translatory motion was in the direction of a superior force—in that of the constellation Hercules , travelling at the rate of about 57 miles in ever } ' second of time , that portion of the

sun of the greatest specific gravity , necessarily beingforemost , just as a wooden ball , with a piece of iron inserted in one side , and projected through the air , would travel with the iron in the direction of its course . "Thus it is , " says the writer , that a certain

portion of our globe which wo call the North Pole , being tho most dense , always points in Ihe direction it is travelling , with the whole of our solar S 3 'stem , through space : and here , I believe , KG must hole for tlie explanation of the phenomena of tlie magnetic needle ''

If this " theory" be correct , we have here unmistakeably the origin of the poles . The sun , or centre of our polar system , having been formed in the way described , we may picture a gigantic ball of liquid fire dashing for ages through

space , bearing , as part of itself , the germs of other worlds , yet still a portion of its own igneous aggrogate . At a certain stage , when the magestic orb was in a still more igneous state than it is at present believed to be , before a single planet revolved around

this source of our system , when its dimensions included the whole of the bodies which now make up onr solar system ( not including the comets , which v . 'o believed to be extraneous ) , and when the centrifugal force of its rotary motion was consequently greatest ,

and far outwei ghed the momentum of its translatory motion , then it was , according to Dr . Bedford ' s theory , that " the sun threw off the masses which form our primary planets , in tlie same way as mud is thrown from a coach-wheel iu rapid motion ; liciico their rotary and orbital motion * * ' * " The