The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-02-28

orbit which it will take il nineteen mil
lions oil years to complete. Such is the
influence oil Pleisdes Is it not sweet
too, because OF the smooth ness and reg
ularity with which it operates and the
rich benefits which fow from it
We also read "Canst thou loose the
bands of Orion Here again
there is uncertainty as to
the meaning conveyed to the ancient
reader. But there is q wonderful signi-
ficance given to it by modern astronomy
The three bri ght stsrs which constitute
he girdle OF Orion, although cesseless
ly whirling with inconceivable veloci-
ties around invisible centres, ever main
tain the same relative position toward
each other. Again, the star Rigel which
/ forms the right foot Of the constellation
is a double star. They revolve abou:
each other. The color Of their light is
different and that OF one is complement
tary to that of the other. go that to-
gether they combine into white light.
And again, the middle star in the sword
Of Orion Is famous nebula. and as such
It is regarded by some good authorities
as ''the most stupendous and maguii-
cent object in the heavens" 1t is so
far away that it would take ray OF
| liz bit more than fifty thousand years to
pass from il 10 our world. Yet even
70 the naked eye there is about it a
taiut haze When the larger telescopes
were fret turned upon it, from it there
seemed 10 extend fantastic arms o.
silvery light-slreamers of luminous
mist, branching inextrIcably away
thinning of into the most delicate Cos
samer films, and finally fading into
darkness almost imperceptibly." As
tronomers pronounced it nebulous mist
such as com poses the trail OF comet.
But when the telescope Of Lord Rose
was turned upon it, it was found to
be, not matter in q state OF diffusion,
but an Vulnerable multitude Of STARE
suns such as ours perhaps, with sys-
tens OF worlds revolving around every
one of them. In these wonderful com.
blnations we have the bands Of
Orion"
Astronomy ia adapted to be haud-
mad to religion. There is no other
sc ence which ia more calculated 10
impress men with tue tgc vet there is
one true and livingGoi - s.r air. huies
are Inflated y perfect at whose sl-
mighty hand created the universe and
still is efficiently present in every part
OF It 10 uphold the pillars OF it. As the
Psalmist said, The heavens declare the
glory OF God; and the armament show
eth his handywork Day unto day
uttereth speech, aud night unto night
sbowelh knowledge" And as this sci.
ence progresses it serves to illuminate
many an otherwise dark saying Of
scripture. And it lights up others with
additional etiulgence.
In conformity with this harmony,
the friends of the Bible have been
amorg the warmest devotees OF
this science In fact, astronomy was
born OF religion. Men among those
who believed IN e~t!ology studied it be-
cause thew noI.l thereby to learn the
will OF God. Their spirit was super
stitious but it WA at least devout
Among those who have accepted rev
citation as their religious teacher also,
it has had multitudes of enthusiastic
students. David was something Of
star gazer. He speaks OF considering
"thy heavens, the work Of thy fingers.
the moon and the stars which thou
haei mrde," The Magi who came from
the far Eas, to zee the infant Savior,
were astronomers and were appropri-
ate|y guided by star. Coperncus, by
whom the Pioemsic system was over
thrown, and DO whom the fact that
the earth moves around the sun WAS
proved, wss an ecclesasto,-a canon OF
the chapter OF Fraueuburg.
And MANY OF the most distinguished
Astronomers have been most devoted
believers IN the Bible and earnest Chris
tians. Galileo though wrongly con-
demned as q hereto seems never to have
abandoned his faith 10 religion. Sir
Isaac Newton has rendered Unfamiliar
with the laws which govern the count
lrsa world in the heavens, In certain
fiald- OF astronomy his name stands by
ITSELF in solitary grandeur. Such WAS
his reverence and love for the Bible
that be would not allow an unbecom-
ing allusion to be made tc
it in hia presence. He spent portion
OF his best strength in writing commeu'
taries upon it. he permitted no cav to
pass without reading some portion of II.
1t is remarkable indeed that scarcely
oue who ha- stood very high ss an as1
tromomtr has been an intidel. There
have been some who have cultivated
this science who have been uubelievers,
but they have been comparatively few
and have for the most part been with
out great and permanent esainence.
Indeed, in view O, all the wonders Of
w;-dom, goodness, and power OF God
which this scieoce reveals, as has often
been said.