The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1879-05-17
Ideality In Science.

Professor PIERCE concluded his course of lectures
on . Ideality in Science " before the Boston
Lowell institute last month. They are to be pub
lished in book form. His last lecture was on po-
tentiality in matter. He regards the discovery of
Neptune a fortunate accident, but says
IT the telescope had failed, the pen of the geometer
would have detected the disturbing planet. But
Herschel, with his great telescope, anticipated the
mathematical computations. Uranus was dis
covered and the theories Of the seven planets were,
ere long, presented to astronomy by the untiring
genius Of Laplace, accompanied by astronomical
Developments grander than new planets. In the
attempt 20 construct tables which should serve
for the prediction Of the places Of the planets, it
was ascertained that the Irregularities of motion
OF the new outer planet still required the inter
vention ofsOme unseen power. Two great geome-
ters, independently of each other, computed the
elements ola planet which reconcile Discrepancies.
They coincide In its orbit and ~p8sition. In the
very direction predicted by them the planet Nep-
tune was found, in consequence of their predic-
tions, and apparently in full confirmation of them.
Neptune completely accounts for the previous de-
fects in the theory OF Uranus, and leaves no ap-
parent indication Of the farther extension of the
solarsystem. The discovery was an extraordinary
achievement, and deserves the wreath of immor-
tality which has been awarded to Adams and Le-
verrier.
Speaking Of the planet that was conceived be-
fore the real planet was discovered he said
The observed planet was not the predicted one.
1t was excluded through the limitations which
had been determined by Leverrier himself after a
prodigious outlay Of profound and ingenious re-
search. He had proclaimed the investigation Of
the limits as essential to the full solution Of the
problem. It was its larger moiety and most in
tricate portion, and he had worthily solved it. 1t
is incredible that the great master could have
consented to abandon his choicest production and
most brilliant jewel to popular applause and its
ignoble history. The potential planet is as splen-
did a reality as the true planet, and as marvellous
a discovery.
He closed with an eloquent prediction of the
certain glories of the spiritual life. We quote ::
The destruction of any soul would be an irrepar-
able loss nothing be conceived more utterly at
variance with the harmony of creation 1t is an
absolute impossibility, and a not irreverent limi-
tatiOn even of Almighty will. \ man can tell a
falsshood and thereby demonstrate his falseness +;
the pagan god can deceive, because he is weak
and LIMITED. But our God, because of His inf
mite strength, and of His eternal omnipotence,
must forever coincide with Himself. The body Is
needed to hold souls apart and preserve their in
dependence s well as for conversation and mu-
tual sympathy. Hence body and matter are es-
~sentials to mans true existence. Without them
he must, in accOdance with the Chinese theology,
be instantly absorbed into the infinite spirit. In
this case creation would be n false and unmeaning
tragedy. The soul which leaves the earthly body
still requires Incorporation. The grandest phi
losopher who has ever speculated upon this theme
has told Us IN his sublime epistle that there are
celestial bodies as well as bodies terrestrial. Can
we fear lest the substance of the celestial bodies
will be less adapted to the souls which they are
to clOthe? Is it not a fair and Just inference that
each body will be nicely fitted to its soul as if or
ganised and crystalised under the controlling in
huence from within? What better suggestion can
be made which shall give us the full benefit of the
discipline, education, ties and sympathies OF this
life? We shall be known as we are. Soul
will recognise soul through external cover
ing with unerring certainty. The stature
of each body will correspond to the mag
nitude Of the soul. Tie intellectual supremacy
and consummate beauty of a Shakspere will be
more apparent in his celestial body than is his
ideal stature. We may justly arprehend that the
deFormity of our future body will conform to our
spiritual errors in the present life. Would not
such be the natural and legitimate punishment of
sin but, surrounded by love and sympathy, who
would not speedily repent and FASTENED to be re-
stored to his intended excellence, and fill heaven
with JOY at his recovery?