Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1884-01-09

Milo on Hidden Law"

EDS. CITIzES:-In a former article |
promised to write more fully on the
wonderful order and design of Omnipo.
tence in nature. To show how certain
phenomena are the result of certain
laws in nature, Cor In other words the
result of natural laws) does not 10 the
least tend to deprive the great Creator
OF any glory as the great originator
whose hand holds the Universe. Not
at all. If we should show that the
Earth is kept In its orbit by the attrac-
tion OF the sun, would 1t not give as
greater conceptions of the unbounded
power of being who could decree
such laws as would govern the solar
system and cause each planet to bear
Its part in balancing others. and the
whoie-depending on each otber-
should move in perfect harmonvs Man.
after having done bis utmost in search
and research is not supposed to be
able to measure arms with the Al
mighty" But we are created in the
image OF God, in that we have INTEL
lect and immortality. And while we
may never be able to comprehend the
Creator nor his creation, vet little bv
little, as the fullness of time arrives.
God Is leading scientific men out by
shining into the intellect he has given
them more perfect conceptions of his
laws. Not that we will say that man
Is scientifically inspired, lest some
should object to the term, (although
that would better express our mean
lng). The Intellectual and scientific
man receives an impression. Gets an
idea, if you please. By philosophy
and reasoning, he comes to the conclu-
sion that certain causes will produce
certain effects. He begins experiment.
ing and soon demonstrates the fact,
and the prejudice of the skeptical world
must give wav, and it is soon accepted
and adopted as well.known fact, and
We are enabled by it to know more of
the wonder and wisdom of the Creator.
There are only sixty-seven known ele-
ments in all the creation, and all things
that exist are the result of different
combinations of these elements.
These elements do not unite at ran
dom, but each one has its certain pro-
portion in which it unites, aud in no
other proportion will it unite under
any circumstances whatever. This
Tin chemistry is called Definite pro-
portions" and has been demonstrated
by experiment. To open up the way
we will briefly explain the theory of
Definite and multiple proportions"
Hydrogen Is the lightest of all the
elements, therefore the smallest pro-
portion in which hydrogen will unite
with any other substance is lighter
than the smallest uniting proportion Of
any other substance. Therefore, hydro
gen is taken for the data, and is called
one.
The smallest proportion IN which
oxygen will unite with any other sub
stance is eight times as heavy IS the
smallest uniting proportion of hydro
gen. Therefore the combining number
for oxygen is 8. Then as water is
composed of oxygen and hydrogen, one
proportion each, water will be described
thus
hNurOScu
oxygen
The number for water Is by weight 9
The smallest proportion In which
oxygen is found in union with any sub
stance throughout the entire world is
eight times heavier than one proportion
of hydrogen.
The smallest uniting proportion Of
iron is % times as heavy as the small
est uniting portion of hydrogen. There
fore the number for iron is 2S The
uniting proportion of gold is 200 times
heavier than the uniting proportion OF
hydrogen; therefore gold is 900, hydro
gen L. when two substances unite
in more than one proportion, the second
or third proportions are multiples ofthe
first by whole number) These laws
never vary, 30 God has not made the
elements and left them to act at random.
but has also made fixed aud exact laws
to govern them, and who can say that
man has been led to see these hidden
laws without divine inspiration In
that direction, or who can say that the
developing of the laws that govern
nature would take from the glory Of
him who made those la,gs
This have given as an introduction
to the subject and am aware that the
explaining of the law of definite and
multiple proportions Is very difficult
task and [ have never seen 1t attempt
ed in the columns of newspaper, and
if it fails to be interesting to your read.
ers hope they may be better enter
tained at some time in the future
MILo.
Harrisville, Dec. 18, 1883.