Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-01-02
THE STANDING OF AsTRoLoCY
An Astronomers View Of Judge Freschi's I'm
usual Decision" Earth Flatteners" Still
Numerous
By ERIC DOOLITTLE
Director Flower Astronomical Observatory University Of
Pennsylvania

-'N"'' ''''""on'V"t Op'erNHtory' OnlVersHy oil
| Pennsylvsnla
| DATHER remarkable decisions are at
1N times recorded from our lesser courts,
and this is especially likely to be the case
| when the matter under consideration is of a
| somewhat scientific nature. The recent de-
cision by New York Magistrate. that
astrologers are not necessarily charlatans
is doubtless Just, if by charlatan is meant
conscious impostor, for some astroloEers
having cast a horoscope doubtless have at
least as full measure of belief in it's indica-
tions as has the subject for whom it is cast.
In the same way the number of "earth- flat
teners"-that is, of honest disbelievers in
the roundness of our worlds still surpris-
ingly large; they are said to issue their own
publications and to add converts to their
number from time to time from among
those who have not sufficient knowledge to
detect the falacy of their arguments.
Thus a predicting astrooger may by no
means be guilty of conscious fraud and may
not be amenable to the law (of the legal
aspects of the matter an astronomer is not
competent to speaR); but in the further
statement of Judge Freschi If his decision Is
correctly reported, that astrology should be
ranked among the sciences, there is evident
complete unacquantance with the past
history of astroogy and of the causes which
led to its abandonment.
1t should be borne in mind that this Is no
new question whose merits remain to be in
vestigated, The early Babylonians prac-
ticed astroogy fully 5000 years ago; in Egypt
and Greece its principles were greatly ampll-
fed and finally, during succeeding cen
turies, 1t reached it's greatest development
in Western and Central Europe Here, until
nearly the end of the 10th century, almost
,NI,, Iafr,
astrologer. Throughout this period a de-
cision opposite to that of Judge Freschi
would have been considered far more "un-
usual" than his contrary decision is regarded
today
The idea of some mystic connection be-
tween the 'far-off stars and planets and the
lives of men on the earth is a most attrac-
tive one, and so especially desirable Is a be-
lief that study of these bodies will reveal
(among other things) a knowledge of the
future that it Is not surprising that conf
dence in astrology was but slowly under
mined.
1t is hardly necessary TO refer in much de-
tail to the causes which led to the practl-
cally complete overthrow of astrology. The
predictions of the most eminent astrologers
were marked by many conspicuous sue
cesses. but by probably still more numerous
the prediction OF Cardan, the most cele-
brated astrologer OF his time, in regard to
the young King Edward vi. Among many
other minute details 1t was stated that this
King would certainly live till past middle
age, though after the age OF 55 years
months and II days he would suffer from
various diseases. The King actually died in
the following July at the age Of IS years.
Yet less conspicuous failures would attract
but little attention, and among the thou
sands of horoscopes constantly being cast
the occasional success would be remembered
and quoted long after the failure was for
gotten. But In spite of this and In spite OF
the natural desire of man 10 continue SO at
tractive belief, his confidence in It was in
time lost The single obvious fact that
astrologers themselves were neither richer
nor wiser than other men, and that their |
special knowledge was seen 10 increase |
neither their foresight in securing success |
nor their ability to avoid dangers was |
enough to dscredit their assumption OF a |
special knowledge
In short, that an astrologer OF TODAY rnight |
convince any well-informed man OF the truth
OF astrology, It would be necessary for him
to make. not only one, but series OF pre- /
dictions under properly imposed conditions
and also 20 give some satisfactory account /
Of the special evidence which has Convinced
him Of its truth, in opposition to a host OF
students who have exhaustlvely investigated
this subject
And an Of this without reference 10 ths
almost Infinite improbability that there can
possibly exist any connection whatever BE-
iNsen tps milfpns o. wonderful objects IN
'ns heavens ana the movements q usn an