The Washington herald., 1920-10-03
JACK OF ALL TRADES AND MASTER OF TWO
This Crgymns Congregation Knou Him Efficient Inspiring
the Scientific World Rates Him One of Its Valued

THE Reverend Joel Hastings MetcaR is
I an interesting exception to the old saying.
he has long been known as the minister
astronomer, but now his friends call him
the soldier minister astronomer. To the
boys in France he was a regular fellow,
and many of them, after enjoying his COM
radeship and sleeping beside him on the
ground, were exceedingly surprised to find
tnat he was a minister. To the people Of
winchester, Mass, he is a fine preacher
and pastor, but to the scientific world inter-
nationally he is Known as the most famous
amateur astronomer
1t Is in this last capacity that he has
startled the world b. the discovery of two
comets In three nights. As a matter of fact
be discovered three comets in three con-
secutiVe nights, but unfortunately for him
one OF them was an independent discovery
OF one already known. This record is one
that is not equaled by the professional as
uonomers who spend their whole time in
search for these heavenly visitors.
oddly enough it was through the Sunday
school that he first obtained a glimpse int,
the possibilities of the heavens, When bs
was fourteen years old he took from the
SUNDAY school library book called Other
worlds Than Ours" by Richard Proctor,
AT ABOUT the same time there was a CON.
junction of Mars and Jupiter, and spr.rrad
on oy the book, he sat under the stars in
ms backyard, watching the phenomenon
4nls was the beginning and after that MOTH
ing could quench his thirst for knovIed,a
On the subject Mr.. MetcaIf now has tba
suotlest OF instruments, ones that vo,,r5
eoSt thousands of dollars to buy, but for his
nrst lens ne paid the exorbitant amount Of
al MS marbles and Jack knife. A hov
Lrlend Of his, of the Tom SAWYER +rro
Imagine, found a threeincb teIsscono -
I've In an abandoned house, and knowing
=" Joe new-found enthusiasm made a
soOo trade each boy being satisfied that ba
nae mad the best of the bargain,
II 'ook good deal of pleading and ,bo
carrying OF many an extra armfuI of Yood
Aofe tne ooy mother could be indr,oo5 :.
sNe nlm the siI dollars necessary N b,vo
tne lens mounted. Soap boxes and old 80
Lr0m the barn made an excellent stand -.
superior observatory in fact IT, -
nad something that was of dravin, i,to-o..
to the 'fellers," but the hoY 60
he was becoming a scientist
LAY times he went to school and vorLoJ
on tne farm, but after dark was his 81
playtlme. 1 have a notion that uanr ni.Lt-
stcer ne had finally been sent IN bod b,
pauent mother he climbed out Of tbe ui,
20" and down over the shed IN his ho1.-,
teiescope-this is merely a conjecture bou
ever. uo"-
A GOOD many years later vbsn NJ
r,,.i;r was preaching in a church in
e'Ou' w. ne had the opportunity IN
o1y seVen-fnch telescope THAT mean.
Telescope with lens seven inches in \;
ameter) from New York state, lust scro,,
tne Iake from Burlington. As it was wint,,
une and the ice thick. it was dacidoI =,
orlns the telescope and dome over ON sIo,I,
"ltn norses- This worked very nicely mil
quhe Unexpectedly there came a grsat or.oI-
me Ice. The horses and men jumped hut
tns instrument fell with thud, living sc-oss
the opening, neither In nor out Il toor.
resculng party Of several men and a dor-ioI,
one whole week to get this safeIv - -
parsons back yard.
a good many people have thought Tho.
nnce Mr.. Metcalf is an amateur he -
necessarily be working with secon5 -
.oos- This is not the case, however. Wb,js
nus surroundings have nothing of the pro
ressional SAVIOR about them, any professional
astronomer would be more than glad 10
avail himself of the use of Mr.. Metcalfs in.
srruments- In recent article, IL was said
oy the writer that Mr.. Metcalf packed his
rusty telescope in his clerical portrnanteen
and went forth to his summer home r.
search for comets. This is a very bnmo,or,
statement, for his 'trusty telescope weigbs
at least two hundred and fifty pornds and