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Tous les autres exemplaires origineux sont film6s e.i commenpant par ia premiere page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustretion et on terminant par la dernidre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un dee symboles suivants apparaftra sur la dernlAre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbols — ► signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbols V signifie "FIN". Les cartes, plenches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre filmte A des taux de reduction diffArents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seul ciichA, il est film* A partir de Tangle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images n^cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants iilustk-ent la mAthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 If II if- ■■ «^ THE GREAT CENTRE AN ASTRONOMICAL STUDY. HAMILTON. Cm) yGo99 1891.92.] THU ORKAT CENTRE ; AN ASTRONOMICAt STUDY. THE GREAT CENTRE; AN ASTRONOMICAL STUDY. By J. C. Hamilton, LL.B. (Read 6th February, i8()2 ) The paper opened with a short review of the history of astronomy. With reference to the special branch of the subject, it summed up the teachings of Pythagoras, as to harmony in the movement of the spheres, and the central fire of Philolaus, around which the heavenly bodies were supposed to perform a circling dance. Farthest off were the fixed stars, then in order the five planets the moon and the earth. The beautiful theory of the harmony of the spheres was not lo^t sight of by our great poet, as is seen in the famous dialogue between Lorenzo and Jessica, (Merchant of Venice, Act 5, Sc. L) Reference was made to the theory of the Great Centre by other poets, such as Edgar A. Poe, in " Eureka " ; and Addison, calling it the " Heaven of Heavens," in No. 580 of the Spectator ; Tennyson's last verse of " In Mcmoriam"; and Dryden's lines : " This place ; the highest mansion of the sky I'll call the Palace of the Ueity." The "Mystery of the Seven Stars" was then discussed. As satellites revolve around planets and planets around suns, so the solar system moves around a grand centre. This holds good in regard to the constellations and known systems of the universe in an inconceivabl) magnificent extent. What that centre is may be asked. It was shown that strange reference to the Pleiades was made by Job ; that the priests of Belus noted their rising and setting two thousand years before Christ, and astronomers point to this region as one of amazing majesty. The Greeks called them Pleiades and said they were the seven daughters of Atlas and Pleione, of whom all but one, Merope, were united to immort.il gods and placed in heaven after death. Their names are Alcyon^, MeroptJ, Maia, Electra, Taygcta, Steropci and Celeno. The Greek name for the group has its origin ascribed sometimes to the word signifying to sail, as their rising was looked for by the sailors of the Meditenanean ; but another derivation makes them the heavenly doves. Our Mohawks have a legend as to the seven stars in which seven brothers who unfortunately fell in love with the same fair squaw, were translated to heaven on her untimely death. "^ The Chippewas of Lake %xy^ Icf fc*— > 't^'^ ^'^^^^ ^ ^^ 6\'-— — ^ '■- 6 TRANSACTIONS OF TIIK CANADIAN INSTITUTK. [VoU IIT. otlurs of the group aic of lesser apparent proportions. Some may suRfjest the ^reat Aldebcnin or Sirius the immense central sun, or perhaps Arcturus, with a diameter exceeciin<:[ ninety millions of miles. Could he bo placed between our orb and the sun, he would fill nearly all the intervening space. Yet as we have sc n, the old Chaldeans, the Egypt- ians, the iierbers of Morocco, savage myths anil fjlk lore, Job and the poets point to the same great centre. The inference is boldly drawn that a spot so comparatively small and insignificant as our planet, or even the solar system cimti pressed into one great mass, cannot with reason be regarded f.s the future place of bliss. If in that are to be gathered the mighty intelligences and the innumerable redeemed of all ages, the argument is advanced that Alcyon*^, the great lucida of the group, the pliysical centre of the universe, may be also its spiritual and divine centre. This, as we have seen, has some weight with men of .science, but is mainly found .s yet in poetic musings. Such may be included in the Laureate's conception of "(^mc fiir off divine event, i () which the whole creation moves." , The following lines were suggested by a discussion of interest which tock place in the columns of the Nczu York Observer on the Locality of Hcuven. They were published in that paper some years ago : " M.iy (Jixl forgive the child of dust, Who seeks to know, wliere faitii shouiii trust." i ALCYONE. here is the star, Wcyone \\ nere is uie siiii, Mcyoiier Mark where (Jrion points the way ; I'iiul wiierc the I'lciads ^rently sway. All worlds, and systems, as they roll, Where dwells the Klcmental soul, Where ni^;hts liave ceased and lif,ht to bless Beams from the .Sun of Kighteousness ; 'Ihere is the star Alcyone I '*'^-lf«v»<**^f'^-' — ^ ■- - 1891-92.] THE GREAT CENTRE ; AN ASTRONOMICAL STUDY. Who point us to Alcyon^ ? The leader who on Pisg.ih stood, And saw fair lands beyond the ilood, Tbey who, in ancient, classic years, Proclaimed the harmony of sjiheres, '' 'Ihe prophet's word, the poet's eye, The flowers below, the stars on high, All point us to /Mcyone. Who reigns in far Alcyone ? Who rules the waves and thunder loud. Who led m pillar and in cloud. Who bids the starry systems burn, The comets wIiclI, and planets turn, Whose word made light, whose arm is might Archangels bow when in Mis sight : He reigns in great Alcyone. . But while thy towers, Alcyone, With jealous guard Jehovah keeps, The frailest fly, or thing that creeps On dungeon wall, can never fall, Unless our Heavenly Father call ; He this, then, our sustaining trust. And, though in death laid dust to dust, These eyes shall see Alcyone. ( What learn they in Alcyone ? Of Him to whom wise men from far Came, guided by the glorious star ; They find high r.ansions where is room For all who through the Saviour come ; On hidden way and darkened page. Here unreveakd to saint and sage, Thy light shall shine, Alcyone. In bowers of blest Alcyone, ISright choirs will sing, in harmony, The stor of the One in Three, '1 he Three in One, the great /Eon, I he Pure who did for sins atone, 'l"he blind shall sec, the dumb make known Their joy and rapture round the tluone Of Him who rules Alcyone. Who now possess Alcyone ? All they who for Emmanuel's fame, 1 lave borne the cross, the toil, the shame ; /Ml they who, in tlie precious fountain, ALCYONE. Have washed their robes from every st.iin ; All they who've climbed the glorious mountain, Found there the King who once was slain, And sought, with Him, Alcyone. When shall we reach Alcyone ? When the last trumpet loud shall call, The just shall rise, the ungodly fall ; When earth and seas shall roll in flame, When His high name, with glad acclaim, Re-echoes loud through all the spheres, And His advancing car appears. Then may we reach Alcyone ! As falls eclipse, Alcyone, On mariners o'er ocean tossed, So, when thy heavenly light is lost. Dark fear and doubt tempestuous roll, And threaten to engulf my soul ; But, as I cry, comes One to save, He breaks the cloud, He walks the wave. And Jeads me to Alcyon^. In thy bright realms, Alcyone, No tempest's jar, no sound of war. Nor funeral bell our peace will mar ; Those whom, while here, we hold most dear, We'll meet — no parting hour to feiir ; In thee shall faith be verified, In thee Clod's love be magnified, riome of true bliss, Alcyone. Alcyone ! Alcyone ! While here imprisoned far from iliei-, My soul pants, longing to be free ; O may a cheering heavenly ray, Change fear to joy, change gloom to da\ , ■| ill, from this meltinj; orb, 1 spring, And, jjassing through thy bright gates, sing God's praises in Alcyone. J_ -^ 9f~~^ Toronto.