The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-10-28

world was at Alexandria. 1t was there
that the discoveries and inventions OF the
world had been preserved to posterlty.
During that period several eminent as
tronomers and mathematlcians lived.
Upon the destruction OF the great library
of Alexandria and the interdictions of
the church, q period of 700 years followed
in which no advance was mads.
The science of mathematics and that
of astronomy are so closely interinked
that in their ultimate they may be con.
sldered as one. Certain irregularities OF
the planet Uranus we're noticed by many
observers. The reason was supposed to
be the influence of some other planet yet
undiscovered. a mathematician set to
work to locate that planet by calculation.
Some years we're thus spent, rewarded
finally by the actual discovery OF that
which the mind had previously pointed
out.
The Arabians contributed much to
the developmsnt OF astronomy. Mary
stars still bear Arabic names. At the
burning of Alexandra library was de-
stroyed 5000 manuscripts upon astronomy
and mathematics. Who knows what
great truths were thus lost to the world.
According to what may be called the
orthodox astronomy during the middle
ages, the earth was the center of the uni
verse around which the sun and stars re-
volved, created to minister to our needs
and delights. For teaching anything
| contrary to this many of the earth no.
bic minds lost their lives. The inven-
| ton of the telescope gave new impetus
| to the further development OF astrono-
| my. Ii VIII be interesting TO know that
| the first one ev er made is still In exist
ence. 1t is now in Italy. In the year
1910 the four solarites of Jupiter were
| discovered and not until four years ago
was a fifth one discovered. The increas-
| ing perfection of the telescope continu-
| ally reveals to US the existence OF more
stars thus disproving that the stars
we're made to light the earth by night,
for of what use could they be in this re-
gard If they did not give sufficient light
| to be visible!
See the pitiful spectacle of Galilleo
kneeing before, an ecclesiastical body,
| cursing the whole Coternian theory and
his own writings. But, we have days
and nights in many ways; this was the
night of knowledge. This giant mind
| once said to his prosecutors, rs it not
lawful to reason about that by which we
| are surrounded and come into knowl-
! edge.'' They decreed otherwise. When
old and deaf and blind. imprisoned and
| betrayed, he wrote to a friend: 1T
pleaseth God that it be so and it also
| pleaseth me.'i His friends were not al.
| lowed to build monument over his
| grave.
Kepler first elucidated the three basic
laws of astronomy which bear his name.
Notwithstanding the great learning oil
| Kepler, he was nevertheless tinctured
with the superstition of his time. He
believed that each planet and star was
| the seat of some ''gnome" and that this
| caused its activity.
! Newton first proclaimed the law oil
| gravity. which is that all bodies attract
each other in direct proportion to their
mass and indirectly as to the squares OF
| 1T s.%o II tocJ horN CT hi How.
emit attractions have to be taken into ac'
| count as acting on our moon. but never
theless we can accurately locate her posi-
| tion in any given future time.