The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-08-31

breHthed the breath OF life, appeared.
Before motion was set up in the uebu-
lons mater, ell was darkness. When
IN otlon had commenced, all was light.
Light he believed to be the com bina-
ton of gases. This theory the lecturer
himself did not consider very sound,
but it WIS at least a. good as any mat
had been prOpoDnded. VINO mao
answered The question, what Is
light? -,
Matter existing in diffused form will
of necessity, in consequence OF grayita-
tive force, assume "A roLatoES motlon.
The original nebula assumed motion
round It's axis, and that all subsequent
proceedings were according TO law.
believed that after God had made laws,
he did not interfere to obstruct their
operation. [Discursiono on Pantheism.l
RECURRING to the subject of light, he
said that he was safe in saying that
most philosophers OF the present day
believe that light is something indie
pendent OF a central sun. The lecturer
pointed out The rings Of Saturn as af'
fording strong confirmation Of the va
lidity of the hypothesis which be was
attempting TO eX plain, and stunt bling
block forever 10 those who held the
common theory. They were required
20 show why God put them there, &e.
Explained the way in which planets
Q
latter revolyed the outer portion would
cool faster than the inner, ana there
would come time when compara-
lively solid ring would De formed
1 which, owing to The progressing con
centration o! the inner portion, would
be left partly, If not altogether, separa-
ted from the inner. The inner portion
OF it possessing IA much more elevated
tempeFAture tnnn the outer, the ring
would roll up like u scroll and assume
a spherical shape. The lecturer said
there were difficulties in the hypoth
esis. He was not altogether satisfied
with the explanation given OF Ike mode
in which planets were formed, but il
seemed 10 hun the best one. Astrono-
mers were able to detect u slight move
ment OF the solar system around great
central sun near the Pleiades. Inc
MILKY Way might be considered a part
of great nebula OF which our siderlal
system once formed part. The lecturer
then took up the geological argument,
the most striking part Of which WIS, II
we understood HIM Alright, that the pre-
yailing ~ nOrtbeTly and southerly III
rection OF all the great mountains was
due to the rotation of the earth on It's
axis.
The lecturer made no attempt 10 eX-
plain cOmetHry phenOmenH; did not
even mention them SO far as we heard
Doubtless, had he seen proper, he might
have made strong point by showing
how, upon the suppOsitlon OF rotating
uebulous Iuid, cometary bodies would
necessarily fly OF Into space in all di-
rectiOns, ana their orbits cut the eclip-
tic at all angles. Nor did he show why
the OF bits-OT the planets lie ia nearly
the same plane. He might also have
spoken Of the TACT that those portions
OF the heavens richest in stars are the
poorest in nebulae and rf:e versa, &C.,
&c.
After the lecturer had taken his seat,
Prof. Stevens arose and said that ne
wished TO enter his protest against a
portion of the language used. when ne
declared, was Pantheistic in its eharac-
ter and calculated to do harm. Only
the Paniheist would say claws TOOK
hold of matter"
Prof. Loomis said that the "Nebnlar
Hypotbesisn was generally received by
men Of science, aud he would not pre-
tend TO overthrow 1t. Took exceptions
to the lecturers explanation OF now
planets were formed. Submitted that,
il an outer ring was so fixed as not to
follow retreating central mass, then II
would be too infleXible 10 roll up as
scroll and could never become OF
gloDular shape. Another explanation,
and better one, was that the matter
composing the planetary bodies WAS
trifugal force generated by the rotatory
motion OF the mass, as drops oil water
are thrown of revolving WHEEL
These masses OF matter thus thrown oil
would assume glObular form, ana
would in their turn give off moons or
satellites.
Prof. Stevens made criticism which
we failed to catch.
Dr. said that the bounds of scien-
titic knowledge were trHuscended by
iuquiriug away back OF the creation of
the universe, and that the pertinent
question might be asked, where vast
thou when the foundations OF the earth
were lHidH"
Prof. LOOMS held that il was mans
province and duty To investigate the
broad universe.
Rev. Farris objected to Prof. LOomis
saying that the human mind was an
ufTshoOt from the Diety. Said that II
was as much PAnthelstic in character
us to say that "A piece of matter was part
of the Diety.
Reply from Prof. Loomis. Did not
wish TO be understood us putting forth
any theory of mind.
Hon. C. ID. Hubbard, who was pres
ent, now rose and said that he wished
TO make few general remarks upon
the subject under discussion. He was
was NOT satisfied with the hypoti esis.
a nDuRnl kLlE way III "ulCu IL ulAllldN EAl
God as working did not haTnonize with
other ways in which we know his
works, and was willing TO rest satisfied
with the bold fact that things were
made perfect at first. a-..a
Prof.. LOOMS did not dispute the gem
tleman's position as to original Perfec-
ton. Adam was made perfect, but bad
the Esquimauxs since Adams time gone
down Mill and the white race uphill,
or had the negro gone dowu.hill and
! the white up? He secuted the idea that
we must not inquire, and belived that
| mankind was progressing upwards.
! Could any one OF those living to-day
revisit the earth thousand or two
thousand years hence, he would proba-
\ bly, see that men were as yet but u little
way up the ladder.
The very interesting discussion hnv-
ing been closed, some business relating
TO the Association was transacted, and
the President announced that Rev. w.
! NJ. Mullenix would deliver an address,
during the evening. on the "Duty and
| Reward OF the Teacher"
The Association then ndjourned.
EVENING SESSION.
At p. NJ. the Association reassemb-
led. Rev. WIN. Mullenix, ofthe Fourth
street NJ. L. Church, delivered most
eloquent aud iustructure lecture on tho
DUTY and Reward ofthe Teacher"
Prof E. E. White, of Ohio. then made
few remarks, comPlimenting West
virginia highly, and touching upon
educational matters generally.
He was followed by McMechen, of
the Centre Wheeling school.
The subject OF taking up collection
to pay expenses OF teachers attending
the meeting of the Association was
broached, but nothing done in the mat
ter.
The Association adjourned to hold