Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-12-02
INTERESTING LECTURE ON GEOL-


Maj. Jed Hotchkiss has kindly consented te
deliver a series oflectures on Saturday nights
of each week in the Hall OF the Y. M. G. A
building, on the.subject Of geology. Tho frs
OF the series was delivered last Saturday NIGH
to very good audience who were both inter
ested and instructed. It is very interesting
study. and to most is q novel one. as few have
paid any attention to 1t. 1t is, to those who
have some knowledge Of 1t. q fascinating study
it is, indeed, poetic and books. and intelli'
gent lectures which treat Of 1t are to such more
interesting. as we'll as more edifying. than the
most Ingenious novel. Maj .:Hotchkiss Is wei
informed on that subject and has the faculty
OF clearly expressing and successf July impart-
ing his knowledge to others.
he prefaced his lecture ON this occasion by
saying that some were opposed to science be
cause they thought it would have the effect Of
destroying their Christian faith, put this was q
very foolish notion, for there was no conflict
between science and the Bible. Moses was
learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians.
but LIE did not concur in their philosophy. for
they taught that matter was self. existent and
self-creative, whereas he said "In the begin
ming God created the heavens and the earth )"
And geology teaches that In the beginning, as
Moses said. "the world was without form and
vice." The earth was not created in six days,
and, he said. tho Bible does not say 1t was. Tho
time is indefinite. and 1t was the result OF de-
velopment from a comparatively few sub.
stances. not more than a hundred in number.
The earth grew and is still growing and will
continue to grow. It was first molten mass.
probably elected from the sun and thrown In
to space. and its rotation gave 1t the spherical
form it bears. fattened at the poles. In course
of time, surrounded by a moist atmosphere. 1t
COOLED and formed q orust,. which would at
times be broken up. As time progressed the
gases formed water and the whole earth was
covered with shoreless ocean. Then after q
long time portions OF the earth's crust were up.
heaved and "dry land appeared"
He showed how this continent was formed
by DRAWN Is on the blackboard. The high
lands of the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans,
and Of Hudson's Bay were first brought above
the waters, with the intervening space cover
ed still with water forming q sea. styled the
Silurian sea, from the Blue Ridge to the Rocky
Mountains. The Blue Ridge (the Atlantic
Highlands) at that time was ten miles high
and forty miles wide. and the small mountains
now East Of the Blue Ridge are but portions Of
the broken arch OF the mountain at that re-
mote time. Then the waves beat violently on
these granitic highlands and ground them up
and the dissent egrated matter was.carried into
the sea above mentioned and deposited in lay
ers which formed strata Of rocks and metals.
The first was that of sand, classified by Prof
VIM. B. Rogers as No. l, and by Northern
Geologists as the "PotsdBm Sandstone" which
la very thick along the mou ntains in this sec-
ton and particularly at Balcony Falls. Then
came coating OF iron. Then the Limestone
stratum Of this. Valley OF great thickness. form
ed by microscopic shells. classed by Rogers as
No. q Then followed State and shale from .
1sposit Of mud. No. 8. At this early period
when there was around the world tropical
climate. with the air filled with moisture and
! superabundance of carbonics acid gas. the
God for vegetation, the vegetable growth was
very great. and the rush .snow a small plant,
hen grew as thick as the grain on q wheat-
field. and TO great height, covering the earth.
then in q marshy state. and furnishing the ma
.erial for the formation OF coal which now.fur-
nishes man with fuel.
This Is as far as he went in this first lecture.
During the lecture he paid a handsome tribute
% Prof. VIM. B. Rogers. as also to his father.
BE calls Prof. VIM. B. Rogers, the "Father of
American Geology. and says that what he said
vas so about the structure Of the earth. the
scientists of this day. q fter half century, find
o be SO. He seemed, as did Moses. to see 1t all
n vision or revelation.
We would advise all who wish to be instruct.
I'D as well as interested to attend these Satur-
day night lectures of Maj Jed Hotchkiss. An
hour could not be more probably spent.
AS this sketch was made without notes, 1t Ii
very inadequate, but will give some idea Of the
OF this very interesting lecture.