The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1874-04-23
written for the IDAHO WoRTD.I
rur ppRCrssrON OF THE EQUINOXES.


sometimes perplexing celestial movement nay
be- understood if o few we'll known facts DC
borne in mind.
FIrsr.-That the planes Of the terrestrial
eouator and the ecliptic are inclined nearly 23a
degrees, and must, therefore. intersect each Old
erin two points 1870 degrees apart-these points
are called equinoctial points. because the Gays
and nights are then equal aud are found to De
on the Goth of March and 22d of September OF
each wear. The FIRST is called the rer"ai' ana
the second the autumnal equinox.
SrcoNp-That the ecliptic is divided
into t,celre sigss. and, that about 2,OoO
v.ors ago. when the first catalogue OF stars
was made, giving their latitude and lons'
tude, the rernal equinox, from which point
celestial longitude is reckoned, was III the nrs'
point Of the sign of Aries.
TnIRp.-The celestial longitude is, distance
on the celestial equator. from the vernai equ''
nox to the hour circle passing through tue
heavenly body. 1t has been observed tha' tue
longitude Of the stars have uniform annual
increase of about so seconds Of degree.
which is, evidently, owing to precedence OF
the vernal equinox. j. 9. it advances along the
ecliptic at the rate Of nearly 90 seconds OF
degree annually. This is called the "precess'o"
of the equinores." Travelling at this rate the
eouuox.s will require 25.sOO years to make
the entire circuit of the ecliptic Beginning
1000 wears ago, at the 6rst point Of Aries. the
vernal equinox will pass successfully through
Taurus, Gemini. Cancer. and SO on. to Aries
again; it is now in the sign Taurus. having
moved through D degrees and the longitude "i
any star is therefore % degrees greater than
it was 1000 years ago.
| FoURrH. That since tho ecliphc Is
fired, and the inclination Of the two remains
unchanged, at 23i degrees. nearly, the preces'
sion Of tho equinox must be the result OF the
.ar,b's motion. Now it is wellknown fact.
that the equatorial diameter of the earth is
greater than its solar diameter-i g. there Is
more matter in the equatorial region than nj
the poles The Guns attraction upon tins
equatorial ring would tend to make the earth
revove upon a lin. connecting the equlcoxcs or at
RICH, angles to it, hilary motion. Unable to obey
either Of these forces separately. We have. NJ
the resultan, of the two. the moving along "t
the equinoxcs on the ecl,ptic.
FirrH.-Nor is this phenomenon owing ex.
c!u,ivcly Ia solar attrac;,n-but Ia the aggTe
gate balancing Of celestial forces. pa-tot which
oprrates against it, mud hence ,hr snail Ike
procession which is in w"nderi Il contrast with
the tightening speed of III, hcayeal, bodies
generally.
/ But. this counter. influence III the heavenly
bodics-this friction in the rcl ST, ma ahinery
suggests the inquiry. will ilie music OF tie
spheres ever c.asr1 There is n strange infa'
uation among men upon this question. Ia
\ Plac. demonstrated that II the heavenly bodies
were solid. and moved in racno their mu.ua
prrturba,ions in long cycles would compensa,.
each other. and the stability OF the fabric q
creation ia conple.e-but the hypothesis W.
know to be false-.he bodies are not solid, no,
do they move in rdcao. Tn. clear teachings q
science confirm that much despsed book and
,ts Incompatible prophetic u:tcrances. Th.
r heavens and the earth. which are now by th,
same word are kept in store. reserved unto fir
against the day of judgment and perdition q
unsody men. but beloved be not ignorant o
this one thing. that one day is with the Lord a
n thousand years. and thousand years as on'
= day The Lord il not slack concerning hi
{ promise, as some men count slackness; but i
! long suffering to US ward. not willing that an,
/: should perish, but that all should come to re
Z pcntance. But the day Of the Lord will CONE
!. as thief in the night, in the which the hcav
z ems shall pass away with a great noise. and tn
n elements shall melt with fervent heat, the cart
n also, and the works that are therein shall b
: burned up"
e 1t is true the final catastrophe may lie in tn
y bosom Of the incalculable futnrc-but we mr.
in midst Of eternities That Omni6c IntelIi
t gence whose works and plans aud purposes. al
h these are, takes no note Of time as we. Tn
ultimate destruction Of the present cos,nogoB
il deduction Of science rs we'll IA the teach
ings Of scripture. than which no reasonin,
could be more conclusive.
VIZ extract the following very compliments
J. ~ notice from letter from a lady friend, lon
G n uafrnn and raador re tina WOurn A1wnv