Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-09-25

former pastor OF the Unitarian thuiCh III
Burlington, A. J. Philpott writes as fol-
lows in the Boston Sunday Globe:
1t is entirely appropriate that min
lister of the Gospel should study the
heavens If for no other reason than to
equip himself thoroughly as "sky
pilot"
But in point of fact the theological
schools have never laid any particular
stress on the study of astronomy as n
preparation for the ministry, nor. have
ministers ever particularly distinguished
themselves as astronomers until the Rev.
Joel II. Metcalf of Winchester. Mass, an
nounced a few weeks ago that he had
discovered a new comet, which is now
known all the world over as Mctcalfs
comet.
And Metcalf's comet is being watched
and studied and recorded in every we'll
equipped observatory in the northern
world to-day, and the Harvard observa-
tory has been publishing almost daily
since the Rev Joel H. Metcalf discovered
the comet the results of the observa-
lions made in the principal observatories
Of Germany, France, England and the
United States. In fact Metcalfs comet
has very largely dominated the atten-
ton of astronomers since it was discov-
cred on the evening of September by
tho Rev. Joel n. Metcalf from a little,
rude observatory in his camp at South
Hero, Vt
WIRED FACTS AT ONCE
Immediately after he discovered this lat
est heavenly wandcrer in the northern
sky, about 10 degrees above the horizon
and almost directly under the North Star,
Re1 NIatoalf vel no
to Professor Pickering at the Harvard
observatory, and the latter at once cabled
he great German observatory at Kiel,
which latter notified all the principal OBJ
servatores Of Europe. Then the prnci-
pal observatories in this country were no.
tilted by telegraph of the discovery, and
telescopes were at once turned at the
point in the heavens where the comet
had appeared and its every movement
from that time has been carefully noted
and recorded. It is not visible to the
naked eye as yet.
But how comes it that a Unitarian min
lister should make this discovery? Where
were the professional astronomers with
their big telescopes on the evening Of
September !?
These questions have naturally arisen
in the minds of many people, but after
YOU have seen and become a little ac-
quainted with the Rev Joel H. Metcalf
YOU are not in the least surprised that he
should have discovered this comet es-
pecially after he tells you that he has
discovered two other comets in years
gone by. one an annual. and that he has
discovered several small planets known
as asteroids in our solar system. and
that he made with his own hands few
years ago the largest Photographic teles-
cope In the country for the Harvard OBJ
servatorY, a 16-inch double.
Seeing him at his home on Crescent
road in Winchester not far from the
little Gothic church in which he breaches
Unitarian doctrine each Sunday you may
quickly become conscious that the YOUTH
ful-lookng, smooth-faced Rev. joel IL.
Metcaf Is one of the keonest astrono-
mers in this country and that he is re-
spectcd as such by authorities all the
world over, and that he is probably much
more famous as an astronomer than as
a divine as a minister of the gospel.
But this is not surprising, for one as
economical discovery touches the popular
ma gnation more deeply than would even
! new religious doctrine or l,OO1 sermons,
When asked how he happened to dis
cover this particular comet. he said:
II was at my camp at South Hero Vt,
and on the evening of September I went
into the little observatory | have fitted
up there and in which | had set up my
comet seeker. | turned the comet seeker
on the space between the North Star and
the horizon. 1t was about half past eight
in the evening As was working slowly
over that part OF the sky I came across
this comet. 1t was rather faint and
nebulous and without a tail. - far as
could see,
Unlike HalleyS comet this comet was
moving In an opposite direction from the
earth, and in fact 1t is outside of the
.arth's orbit 1t is apparently a small
comet, but It is not possible to tell very
much about IT yet. I notified Professor
Pickering at the Harvard observatory
and he notified ali tho other observator.
les"
What is this como 6nlc; tou speak
off"
DESCRIBES COMET FINDER
THAT is broken telescope. one ir
which the lowe" section in which is tn,
eyepiece is at right angle to the uppe,
portion, with prism that rcfracts tn,
l1Rnt from tne outer lens lillo the eye
piece This enables you to sit down ant
scan the heavens much more easily thar
with the regular telescope. When IT Il
mounted you can revolve the telescope
and tip the upper part at any angle ant
maintain the eyepiece at practically thu
same level, I call it my comet seeke
because | use 1t largely for that purpose,
What particular interest attaches t.
this comet"
only the interest that attaches t.
comets in general. We know very it'll
about comets. Astronomers arc nov
trying to determine the orbit of thi
comet to see whether 1t travels in a.
eclipse like Halley's comets and other
or whether 1t sort Of runs wild in
parabola or hyperbOla. The quec
thing about these comets is how a bod
so tenuouS as most of them appear t
be even In the head, can have motion
or can last at all. The head of thi
comet is so tenuous you can tn