The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-05-07
The Suns Pathway.

The vast system, of which the earth Is
a member, is fastening on, with meteors,
comets, satellites, asteroids, sun, from
the southern rich region Of stars-the
neighborhood of CAMS Major, Columbo,
and Lupus-to the northern rich region,
where the chiefest splendor is gathered in
Cygnus. We are speeding along a rela-
lively barren path, from a rich past to a
glorious future, at a rate of 154, 1881 900
miles the year; we are circling a centre 10
the direction of Alcyone, a star of the
Pleiades, of which Job (xxxvii. 81 said
long ago, "Canst thou bind the sweet in
fueuco of Pleiades?" Round some cen
trail sun, or central void without any pre-
ponderate mass, or in great vortexring,
we move as parts in a scheme of movement
too wonderous and complicated to be as
yet interpreted by astronomers, and We
complete the course in about Is, ,200, 900
years. As the earth and other planets
are carried on, their orbits continually ad-
vance; the earth, as bcheld from the sun,
is but dust-mote in his beams; aud the
actural path, year by year, is through fresh
space. Viewing the sun, as among other
suns, and the planetary orbits, as seen
from the fixed stars, these orbits are little
more than point, and the sun is invisi-
BILE. What unknown possibilities lie in
that measureless extension Of space where
worlds are sprinkled as dust of gold, for
the display of intellectual and moral life!
Our sun and bis fellow suns are connect
ed with groups of minor suns, with clus
ters of star-dust, with masses of star mist,
with whorls and convolutious of nebuous
matter, sometimes combined in vast sphcri
cal gatherings of worlds There are orbs
living in such close order that We think
great brillianey is in those heavens; but,
after stricter examination, they are found
wide apart rs the inconceivable between
our sun and his nearest fellow. Farther
off still, are stars whose rays take thous-
auds, perhaps millions, Of years to reach
the earth. The arrangement is of strik
ing order, aud the possibility Of it having
sprung up BY chance is so ridiculeusly
small that Quetelet calculates it as nothing.
There is a multiplicity Of worlds in Infinite
space. and n countless succession Of worlds
in infinite time, with point or base Of
gravity regulated By the weight aud motion
OF all Great and glorious is the Garden
Of God. The suns are planted in flower
ing beds Of many splendid eolors. The
planets iu,erweavs in sparkling sermina-
tion, various foliage, blooming feeundity
of borders. Dark suns, weird places, cav
ernous chaotic regions, shadow forth the
desolation Of eternal Wintry fields There
are ridges aud clusters, rows and shelvings,
with spirals and streams, in celestial depths
where are disclosed the signs Of as yet un-
thought-of laws. Scripture holds closely
TO mundane Affairs, yet the very ground
on which religion and morality are based,
is that we move in 4 wider circle than the
physical, that there are spiritual beings, !
good aud evil, that enter our ornament
and concern themselves with the destiny
of our race; and that We, after rational /
service 10 duty and trial, shall enter vast /
congregation Of pure spirits, who are fur
lher within the circle Of Divine Power,
aud nearer TO the manifestation Of Divine
Glory. Meanwhile, God guides ua by his /
hand, aad in his heart has sympathy. !
Lies trials east down, but not destroy;
binding lightning may rend the 6rmameut,
yet awake no fear; aud sickness, touching
our body with premonition of the grave,
brings conviction that We shall live agaia.
Like the suns aud stars, kindled into
splendor from previous worlds, our restor
ed spirits, With frames refashiOned ou, Of
former elements and purified, will ever
more live on, and End a starry pathway
TO the Eternal Throne Presideaf Rey-
acids, Of ZION C0Hege.