Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-03-31
WAS NEWTON IN ERROR?

If Henry G.. Rush, a Pennsylvania as
troromer, is correct, Newton, kepler and
all the rest of the astronomical mathe-
maticians have been in error. If MT.
Rush is correct the ellipt1cal theory up
on which science has been basing all its
computations is wrong and all the text
books of the world will have to be re-
vised. If Mr.. Rush is correct the world
school days for the changes to be
wrought in the higher mathematics will
be nothing short of a complete reVolu-
ton.
Sc far as Mr.. Rush is concerned, he has
not the slightest doubt of the correct
ness of his theory. In fact, he is so we'll
satisfied that he is right that he has Of
fered a challenge to the world OF science
in which he agrees to forfeit 81, 900 in the
event of his failure to clearly and indis-
putably demonstrate that all the sc1en-
lists since the days of Newton n KEEP
Ter have been wrong in their fundamen-
tai conceptions of astronomical mathe-
mates.
Up to the present time no representa-
tive mathematician has accepted this
challenge in behalf of science, and Mr..
Rush is still waiting. If no reply to his
offer is received, however, he will not re-
main silent. but will continue to preach
the new mathematical gospel until the
world has been persuaded that he is
right.
For centuries astronomers. the world
over nave Taught tndt the movement OI
heavenly bodies have been in %elliptical
orbits, but Mr.. Rush now claims that
this theory is utterly baseless in that the
correct movement of all orbits is circu-
lar.
CIRCULAR THEORY.
The application of the circular principle
in astronomical mathematics is more far
reaching than would at first be imagined.
It not only invades the astronomical
field, but also that of light and all forms
of motion. In spite of all this Mr.. kush
AYERS that he has the only correct theory
Of the universe: He insists that the ell
liptical theory is utterly inadequate to
meet the wants of science. while the cir
cular theory is everything that has been
claimed for the elliptical.
1t is true that scientists pay little at
tent!On to the newcomer into their field,
They say that the Pennsylvania astron-
omer should be catalogued in the frater-
nifty of those who have attempted to
square the circle or to find perpetual mo-
ton. They insist that his reasonings are
not lucid and that he does not know the
science of mathematics.
The man who has attracted so much
attention of late bears no external evil
dence of being anything more than a
most sober-minded citizen. There is alb
solutely nothing of the crank about him,
and yet determination is written in ev-
cry line of his face. He shows plainly
that he is a man who would be willing
W @AAN AoA liz AA4AN4PAC0, lAd IL 10
once determined upon the correctness Of
a theory no amount of ridicule would
prevent him from attempting to persuade
the world that he was right.
Mr.. Rush is 81 years of age. He is the
son Of a minister of the Dunkard sect
and is a descendant of one of the old
Pennsylvania families. For many years
he taught astronomy and higher mathe-
mates, but of late he has lived a life Of
study on his farm near Lancaster. He
is very prominent in the public affairs
of Lancaster county, is secretary and
treasurer of the Lancaster Chemical
company and one of the directors of the
Peoples National bank.
A NEW SCIENTIST.
. Such is the personality of the man
whose life work is to persuade the world
that the science of ages is incorrect. He
realizes that all the ~prejudices of the
past 200 years are against him, and that
Abe burden of proof rests upon his Shout
hers.
Not only must he demonstrate beyond
a doubt that NeWton's Interpretation Of
Nepler's elliptical theory is radically
wrong, but he must show that the new
system proposed by him is more consist
ent with all scientific requirements than
Were the theories that he is attempting
to break down.. In speaking of his work
he said:
at is a fight against centuries of err
TOR, but | am not afraid to embark upon
it knowing that l shall soon be able to
prove my facts.
People naturally cling tenaciously to
beliefs instilled into them by such men as
hepief, Newton and other men whose
names are recognized as great. But Gal
ileo was punished for saying the earth
moved, and Columbus was martyrized
for asserting the r%otundity of the globe.
In my opinion, kepler was only able