The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-04-16
fFor the Dispatch,
A ssfeu for NrOfiacr Jsispe.'.

hpt some OF The ableSt Journals IN the land
have given place to long and sensational az
ticles on the subject. Many OF these arti-
cles and the editorial comments thereon
have been written in that Scrio-comic style
which, while they do not directly ridicule
orr eminent divine, DO not attempt TO con-
vince him OF error.
At any time the PRONUNCIATION OF opinions
on important subjects at utterYariance with
those commonly entertained gives to lis au-
thor some degree OF notoriety, and when
we see one occupying such an important
positiou as the minister aid instructor OF
thousands Of bis race breaking through the
meShes Of opinion and going back hundreds
OF wears to revive old theories now pro-
nounced absurd, such an act is well calcu-
lated to command attention and elicit COM
lnent. That John JaSper's object in preach
ing this sermon was merely to gain the nc
toriety he has acquired will not be believed
bv any who know him or who heard his
discourse. He is an earnest, sincere man,
and cnly utterS that which he firmly believes
b be true.
In this age Of liberation, when opinions
on almost any subject may be advanced and
bv argument maintained, in the pulpit, on
the hustings, and through the press, it
might have been supposed that the promul-
gator of .'new ideas" or the reyirer OF old
theories would escape the prosecutions to
which in dark ages such men were sub
jected. But such does not appear to be the
case with Brother Jasper.
In an interview with the correspondent
OF the New York Herald he complains OF
the envy, jealousy, and prosecutions OF those
of his race outside OF his own congregation !;
and now "solemn protest" from Ebene-
ger church characterizes the theory he has
been bold enough to avow ga base fabrica-
tion," and the indignation Of that congre-
CATION is highly excited against the man
who has "drawn together large number
OF excited people from all parts OF the
city and vicinity TO listen to ,uncalled-for
statements, =. regard to the sun running"
But whas has been Brother Jasper's Of
fence? He asserts, and attempts to main
tain by scriptural authority, that the earth
is fixed in space. and that the sun moves.
From the morning OF mans existence
down TO comparatively recent date this
opinion universally prevailed. Abraham,
Moses, Joshua, and Solomon, so far as any
thing to the contrary appears in the sacred
writings, were all believers i'll this theory.
The Egyptian priests, the magi OF Persia,
the shepherds Of Chaldea, the Bramins OF
India. the mandarins of China, the PGne-
clan navigators, the philosophers OF Greece
and Rome, and the wandering Arabs
"they whose imaginations have wandered
up to the sphere OF the stars" and who have
contributed to the general mass OF knoWi-
edge and speculation on this sublect-all
these based their conclusions and drew their
theorems upon the hypothesis OF an immov-
able earth and revolving sun.
81. at~ In,n Ia
appears to-day. Such was the universally
OF this belief and its firm hold upon the
popular mind that we may trace with some
curiosity the extreme reluctance with which
mankind renounced their So-calied error.
PythagoraS, it is said, entertained opin-
ions on the subject OF terrestrial conditions
in opposition to those held by the mass Of
his countrymen, but this opinion was only
communicated to a select few. Aristarcus,
more bold, publicly announced his disbe-
lief in the txity OF our planet, but was
compelled to fly the country for his elm
piety" in thus disturbing the repose
Of the earth (Vesta). Copernicus med
itated many years before he WAS
bold enough to give his theory to the
world, and published his work only few
months before his death. Again, Gallileo
announced that the earth moved, and he
was destined to bear TIE whole weight CT
popular Indignation against the disturber OF
established doctrine. He was arrested, and
seven Cardinals clothed with the authority
OF the Church sat in Judgment upon him
and pronounced the following dyTet: "Fo
maintain that the sun, immoyable and with
out local motion occupies the centre Of the
world, is proposition false in philosophy,
and hereticai, since 1t is contrary 20 the teS-
timony Of the scriptures"
Thus we see that Brother Jasper has the
authority OF the fathers of the Church for
his Interpretation OF the scriptures on the
subject Of solar conditions; and while the
Church denounced Gallileo's proposition as
absurd and hercticai, Brother Wells and the
deacons OF Ebenezer church denounce the
doctrine OF the fathers, reiterated by Bro
ther Jasper, as a "base fabrication, doing
more harm than good"
The invention Of the telescope by CALI
leo gave fresh impetus to the study OF
astronomy, and the Copernican system
gained some few advocates. But the truth
OF this system which ascribed to all the ce-
ieStlal bodies circular orbit was SO difh.
cult OF demonstration, and so many mis-
takes were made by astronomers in their
calculations, that the people were still slow
10 accept it; and it was not until Kepler
further improved the system by asserting
. the -elipse as the true form Of planetary
orbits--on which basis the calculations OF
astronomers were made with something
more 'accuracy-eould they be induced
TO renounce their preconceived ideas on the
subject. From this date the new doctrine
commenced TO spread with some rapidity.
The little current continued to swell with
each succeeding generation, aud the mighty
torrent OF theory once denounced as abb
surd and heretical has come sweeping down
upon Us, obliterating in its course the foot
prints OF the seers and sages OF antiquity,
and John Jasper alone remains to stem the
rushing tide. II
During the past century much OF real
importance has been given to the world as
the result of astronomical investigation.
iRe truth OF many theories has been as
nearly demonstrated as is possible from the
nature OF these abstruse specalatiens. But
many theories, eeBiectural, faReiful, and
wild, have been advanced to please the
imagination or dupe credulous people.
These theories have OF late years multiplied
20 such an extent that 1t lis difficult to de-
fermine the true from the false-those sup
ported by accurate investigate and careful
research from others founded upon mere
conjecture, H Is said the Roman augurs
could naYer look into the faces OF each other
without laughing. So we may imagine those