The record-union., 1893-08-15
LUMINIFEROUS ETHER.
Embassador Bayard at the Victoria
Institute.

Embassador Bayard at the Victoria
Institute.
Special Correspondence RECORD -UNIoNl
LONDON, July S.-A few days ago Sir
Gabriel Stokes, Bart, +. Il. s., who now
occupies Sir Isaac Newton's PROFESSIONAL
chair at Cambridge University, gave the
results of his Investigations on this sub
ject, which he, as a man of science, has
made his specially; the occasion chosen
was the annual meeting of the Victoria
Institute at London, England. of which
he is President. Sir q. Gabriel Stokes
was supported by his excellency the
United States ambassador TO England,
and a large number of home, foreign and
colonial members. Although the hall was
densely crowded in every part, yet many
letters Of regret at not being able TO be
present were read from others, among
these the Dukes of Argyll, Westminster,
Fife, and special communications were
also received from Lord Halsbury, Vice
President, ana Lord Kelvin, the Presi-
dent of the Royal Society.
The report for the year was read by
Captain f. Petrie, the Honorary Secre-
tary, and showed that the home. colonial
and American members now mum bered
l,i50. The society's scientific work had
tended TO bring about truer apprecia-
ton of the results of scientific inquiry
and TO show that there is an absence of
real opposition between science and reve-
latlon.
Sir Gabriel then describes the lumin-
ferrous ether, which has been termed a
medium whose vibrations are supposed
to cause light, pervades all space is ian
ponderable and infinitely elastic. He ex-
piained the results OF the Investigations
of home and foreign men OF science into
the nature of that substance, and said
that it was quite conceivable that further
great discoveries might be made as re-
CARDS it. w hat its nature was we could
only assume; for instance, the results of
modern astronomical observation had
shown that light travelling at the rate of
lS6,OOO miles a second, would take four
years, say, to 60 from the nearest star to
the earth; now as we saw the fixed stars
there must be some link of connection
between US and them. There were two
theories of light; according TO one, light
was a substance darted forth from the
luminous body; according to the other, it
was state of change taking place, propa-
gated by medium intervening between
that body and the observer Sir Isaac
Newton held that there must be such a
medium, either material or immaterial.
but the question arose, how far did 1t ex-
tend; was it infinite like space? Science
COulQ SlNt ~ ais NGIs II ~ w ST0 limited.
what was outside of it? Was there an
other system subject to the same or differ
ent laws? II there be such, then, accord
ing to phenomena open TO our in
vestigation, there can be no COM
munication Herewith. But the proper
ties Of ether are no less remarkable than
its extent, the question whether it gravi-
tates towards ponderable mattel, science
cannot answer, but if it be connected with
gravitatioD, it cannot be imponderable.
sir Gabriel then referred to the unduIa-
latOry theory of sound. and to his own
suggestion TO Faraday, forty years ago, in
regard to the possibility of the electricity
having an undulatory motion somewhat
similar to that of light. Since then Clark
Maxwell had shown that the velocity of
light agrees with that OF electricity, and
Hertz had shown that the one exhibits
some phenomena of the other
AT the conclusion of the address, his
excellency the Hon. I. +. Bayard, the
United States Embassador to England, as
a member of the Institute, moved, and
Sir Henry Barkly, G.C.M.G., K.C.B,.
Frs, seconded a vote of thanks Tor the
address. Canon Gjrdlestone and Admiral
Grant, CD, moved and seconded vote
of thanks to the Chair. and the summer
lists of home and colonial applicants tor
enrolment as supporters was begun, after
which the members and associates held
conversations in the museum, where re-
freShmeuts were SERVED