Evening journal., 1903-03-09
DR.. WALLACES ADVANCES
A STARTLING THEORY
Says That the Earth Is the
Physical Center of the
Stellar System

DR.. Alfred Russell Wallace, the emil
rent scientist, who was credhed by |
Darwin himself with having diseov-
cred the theory of natural selection,
has again centered the attention Of the |
scientific world upon himself by q re-
marsable article in the Fortnighuy
Review for March In this be advances
the startling theory that the earth or
solar system. is the physical center Of
the stellar system and adds that the SUI
preme end and purpose oa this vast
universe are the production and devel-
opment of the living soul in the perish
able body of man, says q special cable
dispatch from London to the New York
American.
This attempt to unite religion and
science is entitled MANS Place In the
Universe" and, while it is impossible
here to give in full the absorbingly IN
teresting details of Dr. Wnllace's the
ory, the chief features may be out
lined.
DR.. Wallace recalls that to the early
astronomers the earth was the center
Of the visible universe, but that as
progressive knowledge of astronomy
further enlightened men Of science
they were driven to the other extreme.
Recent astronomy reduces the impor-
tance of the earth to comparative in
significance by enlarglng upon the
vastness. v0riety and complexity OF
L. llf.4I
that modern skepticism points out the
difficulty Of believing that the Creator
Of all selected one of the smallest OF
his created orbs as the scene for the
tremendous sacrifice of his Son In the
scheme Of redemption
Dr. Wnllace's first question is, Are
the stars infinite In numberT By a
fascinating argument, in which he COW
ers the progress made in astronomy
during the past fifty years, he estab-
fishes a strong case in favor of the lin
, tied extent of the stellar universe, quot
Ing, by the way, Professor NewcomF
, and others. who affirm that if the numN
I Der of stars was infinite their COM
bined light would be fully equal to the
sun at midday, while as matter Of
fact starlight is but one-fortieth as
y powerful as moonlight. His conclu-
sions on this point are:
The result so far reached by astrono-
mers as the direct logical conclusions
from the whole mass of facts accumu-
= lated by means of powerful instruments
Of research. which have given US the new
astronomy, Is that our sun is one of the
central orbs of a globular star cluster
and that this star cluster occupies nearly
the central position in the exact plane of
: the Milky Way, but ! am not aware that
I any writer has taken the next step and.
2 combining these two conclusions, has
i, stated definitely that our sun IS thus
shown to occupy a position very near II
: not actually at the center OF the whole
+ visible universe and therefore, in all prob
ability. in the center OF the whole material
universe.
This conclusion no doubt is a startling
I one, and all kinds Of objections will be
Z made against it, yet I am not acquainted
. | with any great inductive result Of modern
science that has been arrived at so grad
] ually, so logitimately by means Of SO
5 vast "A mass OF precise measurements and
I observations and by such wholly unpreju-
, diced workers. 1t may not be proved
j with minute accuracy as regards the ac-
/ tual mathematical center That is not OF
the least Importance, bat that Il Is sub
stanually correct there seems to be nc
good reason of doubt, and I therefore
s hold IL right and proper to have it sc
I | stated and Professionally accepted until
further Accommodations OF evidence may
> show to what extent 1t requires modifca.
e ton.
Passing from this part Of his subject
+ DR.. Wallace takes up our position ii
the solar system itself as regard.
adaptabfiity for organic life.
Here, too" he says, Il am moi
aware that. the whole facts have beer
. sufficiently considered, yet there are
facts that indicate our position in thi.
+ respect to be as central and unique a.
!, that of the sun IN the stellar universe
His conclusion on this point is:
d The three startling facts that we are II
= the senter OF a cluster OF suns and tina
that cluster Is situated not only preclsel,
in the plane Of the Milky Way. but ais,
> centrally In that plane. can hardly nov
e be looked upon as chance coincidence,
II without any significance in relation [,
!, the eliminating fact that the planet s,
v situated has developed humanity. O
8 course the relation here pointed ont may
h be a true relation of cause and effect ani
!. yet have arisen as the result OF one ia /
- thousand million chances occurring duEinl
almost infinite time; but, on the othei
l. hand those thinkers may be right who
=, holding that the universe Is a manifesto
tion of mind and that the orderly develop
d ment OF living souls supplies an adeduat,
Is reason why such a universe should havi
Il been called into existence believe that WI
ourselves are It's sole and sufficient resul
" and that nowhere else than near the cen
tral position In the universe which W,
occupy could that result have been at