Year: 1879

Having obtained the true, north point,
the pyramid builders could easily set
their struture fOuT-square to the points
of the compass. But the mere observa-
ton of the pole star through their tun-
mel would be of no value. That was
only means to an end. 1t would be in
the southern heavens that they would
seek to make observations, the object
being, as in all modern Observatories.
to observe the time of sOuthing of the
sun, the planets, and certain stars, in
order to obtain the true time. The pyr-
amid builders, then, as soon as they
began to erect their pyramid, made an.
other tunnel, connecting at the base with
the north tunnel, and. sloping at the
same angle to the south. In order to
obtain this agreement of angles, they
probably used the principle of the re-
Election of light, in which the angles of
incidence and of reflection are equal,
by plugging up the north tunnel at its
point of intersection with the south tun-
mel, pouring water into the triangular
space at the junction, and observing the
line of reflection of the pole star as seen
shining down through the north tunnel
upon the water. Then this water was
allowed to run down into the tunnel in
the rock to the unfinished chamber be-
fore described as having been regarded
by some as symbOlical of the Bottomless
Pit, and which Prof. Proctor regards as
IA mere place for rubbish and for the
water, which would be used perhaps
once year, as the pyramid rose higher,
to soak away in.


After going a certain distance the
south-pointing passage enlarges into the
grand gallery. Prof. Piazzi Smyth meas
t11.ad no JiSfanao from, ba a,,f,.a,,oo of
the pyramid down the north tunnel to
its intersection with the rising south
passage, and announced that the number
of inches correspond to the number
of years in Biblical history between
the creation and the exodus
from Egypt. Then he measured up the
south passage to the beginning of the
Great Gallery, and counted as many
inches as there were years from the eX-
Odus to the beginning of the Christian
era. Next he measured the length of
the Great Gallery, and found it to be
1882 inches, whence the conclusion that
in 1882 the Christian era will end, and
certain curious small chambers beyond
this point enclosed in the solid masonry
were regarded as in some way symbol
cal of some great event in the worlds
history.


But Prof. Proctor sees in the Great
Gallery only a very ingeniously con-
structed chamber for astronomical ob-
servers. Certain peculiarities in its
architecture he finds to be just what as
tronOmers would have desired To enable
them to make an accurate series of OBJ
servatiOns on the sOuthing of the planets
and of certain stars. As to the in
geniOus measurements of Prof. Smyth
and the conclusions drawn from them,
the lecturer said that it is always posi-
ble to make such measurements result
in certain condolences. Some one, to
prove the untruStwOrthiness of the coin
cidences of measurements discovered in
the pyramid, made a series of measure
ments of pianofOrte in his room, and
found just as many strange cOinc;-
dences. No account is kept, the lectur-
er said, of the eases in which coinci-
dences don't happen and the measure
doesn't fit. And, in fact, condolences
are not exact any way.


Prof. Proctor ascribes an earlier date
to the building of the great pyramid
than that given by some. In 1870 B. c.,
Alpha DracOnis was the pole star, and
calculation shows that at that time
Alpha CentaUri, a resplendent star in
the southern heavens, and the nearest of
all the stars to the earth, as far as our
measurements show, was visible from
he Great Gallery through the southern
passage in the pyramid. This is also
about the date that EgyptOlogists as
sign to King CheOps.


The lecturer next said that it can not
be assumed that this great pyramid was
built with such fine facilities for astTO-
nomical observation merely for the sake
of science. 1t is more likely that the
astronomers who constructed it, and
who were also astrolOgers, played upon
the ignorance of the kings, and pro-
fessed to be able not only to read but to
rule the stars, and the kings, who fur
nished the money and the men to build
those vast piles, did it in the hope of
learning, through the astrOlOgers who
were to use them, something of their fu-
ture fortunes, which the astrOlogers pro-
fessed to be able to govern by means of
the stars.


Tens of thousands of lives were sacri-
feed in the building of these piles, and
the old historians tell us that Cheops
and his brother were held in detestatiOn
for generations afterward for the mis-
cries they had brought upon their people
in constructing the pyramids, and yet
we are asked to believe that this work
was inspired of God! Prophetic mean
! inc is ascribed to the construction of the
pyramids, and yet the meaning. is not
found out until the building has become
so dilapidated by time and destruction
that almost any theory could be fitted to
| it. If it had seemed that the lecturer
had treated such theory flippantly it
was because he regarded it as an insult


and mockery to the Almighty. Zap
| plause.


Rru Z 1. AIAcnnN of Philadelnhia