The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1893-03-02
Annus Magnus.

AnnuS MaHnuS.
Bic SroSE GAP, Feb -, 1892.
Zd;tor P,st:--The Chaldcan p'lloso
rhcrs had aSo their Annus nagnus or
great year, who calculated the end ut the
pcrivd occupied in the rctrOgIade move
mrnt OF The stars through one complete
circumference phenomenon due to the
precision of the equinoxcs, and accomp-
li<hed, as modern science has shown, i'll Il
period of u 900 to $4,000 years.
The ancient Scythiams, in their dispute
with the Egyptians, in reference to the
relative antiquity of their respective ma
,one, reminded them hat he world under
goes revolutions both by fire and water.
The Egyptians, according to flato,
tuncicd HAT The heavens and the earth
originated in Il promiscuous pulp From
this the clements separated OF their own
accord: fire sprany from the upper re-
rions: The air began 10 move, The
warmth @! the sun bred living creatures
innumcrabie in the plastic mud, and these,
according to the predominences Of the
various elements, bctO0k themselves TO
air, the water, or the solid land. Man
was generated from the slime Of the river
Nile. By 1t gradual Improvement OF the
lower creatures. and Il gradual perfection
of the globe, the world became what the
egyptian found it, end was destined TO
flourish through an interval OF time eX-
pressed hy their Annus Magnus. or great
ycar--a cycle composed as with the Chal-
and planets, and terminating when these
return together to the same sign whence
they were supposed to have set out.
The duration of this great cycle, ac-
.cording TO Orpheus, was one hundred and
twenty thousand years; according to 9th
ers, it was three hundred and sixty thou
sand and by Cassandcr it WAS taken at
three hundred and sixty thousand years.
At the end Of each great cycle. the
world was supposed to lie subjected to he
destructive ordeal of fire or water, by
which it was renovated, to become the
abode of a rcgenerated race of men.
The Hinloo cosmogony, which was per-
i,aps the germ of all that was Taught by
the western nations, gives prominence to
the doctrine of secular catastrophcs and
removatiens.
The First Sole Cause" says the insti-
tutes of Menu, thinks within himself, |
will create worlds" Water is then brought
into being, over the surface of which
moves Brahma, the Creator.
Brahma first effects the emcrgencc of
the land from the waters, and the crea-
ton of the armament. He then WHITES
the earth, N succession, with plants, ami
mails, celestial creatures and man.
The SIN springs from his eyes, the air
from his ear, the fire from his mouth.
FROM his mouth, his arm, his thigh, his
foot, proceeds the founders of The Chief
Hindoo Costes.
Brahma, having accomplished his task.
"Changes the time of energy for the hour
Of ropose" He sleeps during $3.50 mill
lions of vears-a day Of Brahma-at the.
end of which time the world is destroyed
hv Ere. The flames are at length quench-
ed by the fall Of incessant rains fora hun
drcd years, and the waters, overspreading
Inc earth, fill the middle regions, and
innundaic heaven The world is enveloped
in darkness, and the universe is reduced
to one vast ocean.
The breath Of Vishnu, next becomes a
strong wind by which the clouds are dis
pcrsed. and the Deity then appears in the
form of Brahma, reposing on his serpent
coucl, upon the deep. AS soon as he
awmkes the world IS renewed, TO he again
destroyed aud again renovated after each
kalpa. or day of Brahma's existence.
"For.there are creations and distinctions
Of worlds innumcrabe." At the end,
however, Of n hundred years, each con-
sisting Of 360 kalpas, and each kalpa Of
1920 millions Of our years, Brahma, him.
self, and all things with him, will cease to
exist. j. NJ. KYLE.