The Washington herald., 1907-12-29

Progress toward mans mastery OF the
various forms OF aerial navigation again
ranks high in the record Of scientific
achievement, as II did in 1906. when San
tos-Dumont first traversed the air one
kilometer in his aeroplane, unsupported
by gas and from a standing start.
On November :. at Paris, Henry Far
man went Santos-Dumont one better by
navigating a heavier-than-air flying ma
chine so as 10 turn a complete circle back
10 his starting place. Aside from this
one important advance in aerodramics.
the greatest interest has been taken all
over the world In the development Of the
dirisible balloon. In this field the leader
beyond compare is the venerable Count
Zeppelin. who. in his 420-foot aluminium
2irship capable Of carrying ten passen-
gers. late in October took a party of
friends on the record fight Of seven hours
and twenty minutes. moving in all diree-
tions at will and with an average speed
Of thirty miles an hour.
The American city Of St. Louis was the
scene Of the second great international
airship tournament. October p to %, but
it was the German balloon Pommern, nav
igated by Oscar Erbsloeh. which won
the distance race with voyage to the
brink of the Atlantic at Asbury Park
S13 miles. The other balloons did nearly
as well. Lincoln Beachey, Of Omaha,
won the dirigibie race. by sailing a two
mile circuit in four minutes and thirty
seconds. Prior 10 this. the Americans.
Chandler and Mccoy, had won the Lahm
cup by their flight from st. Louis TO Wal
ton. w. Va. a distance Of 40 miles
DIR. Spitza. of jefferson Medical College
In November published his work on the
brains Of six eminent men. maintaining
that the white matter is of greater value
than the gray. Dr. McDougal. OF Haver-
hill, Mass, startled the world last April
by reporting several experiments IN scien-
tific weighing of bodies Just before and
after death, seeming to show that the
soul has weight DR. Flexner announced
a serum TO control spotted fever" the
dread meningitis. Biologists found the
unity of animal and vegetable organisms
In mechanics the new and compelling
wonder Of the year was the application
Of the gyroscope principle by Louis Bren-
nan, In England. 10 the operation of a
model mOnOrail system Of transportation
The British government took it up after
the public demonstration, May s. and
many now look for an industrial revolu-
tiOn from the idea.
Socialism in the Churches.
The attitude Of the churches OF Chris
tendon toward the so-called religion of
socialism has been the most interesting
and most discussed religious topic This
note Of reconciliation" between the very
rich and the very poor was struck imper-
sonally by the Rev. Charles F. Aked, the
Englishman called 10 the rich Baptist
church attended by J. D. Rockefeller the
first of the year. Again 1t was preached
In Wall street by the visiting Bishop Of
London in September. this idea of univer-
sal fellowship. as opposed to the CONNER
cialism Of 'the devil take the hindmost"
The bishop came 70 assist in laying the
cornerstone of the great Episcopal Ca
thedral at Washington, September %, and
TO attend the triennial convention at
Richmond. This body took the progress
sive step Of opening all its pulpits to
ministers of other denominations.
The march toward church unity con-
tinued. Organic union was effected April
Is by the Chicago conference Of Congre-
gationalists. United Brethren and Meth
odist Protestants. Late in the year three
Methodist divisions in England got to-
gether under the name of the United
Methodist Church.
The Church of Rome took decided