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" The nearer the Sun gets to the Pole star, the earlier it rises, the higher it reaches at noon, and the later it sets. This apparenl independent motion of the Sun, therefore, seems to account for longer and shorter days, and the whole phenomena of the seasons, but why the Sun lags as described, or why it moves northerly and southerly at alternate periods, there ii no apparent evidence. On the supposition that the world is a globe rotating against the Sun, and revolving round that luminary, it is impossible to account for what Mr. Russell calls the lagging movement of the Sun. But, on a flat surface, like the world is known to be, there is no assumption needed to account for it. As I have shown the Earth is a stretched-out structure, which diverges from the Central north in all directions toward the south. The Equator, being mid-way between the north centre and the southern circumference, divides the course of the Sun into north and south declinations. The longest circle round the world which the Sun makes, is when it has reached its greatest southern declination. Gradually going northward the circle is contracted. In about three months after the southern extremity of its path has been reached, the Sun makes a circle round the Equator. Still pursuing a northerly course as it goes round and above the world, in another three months the greatest northern declination is reached, when the Sun again begins to go towards the south. In northern latitudes when the Sun is going north, it rises earlier each day, is higher at noon, and sets later; while in southern latitudes, at the same time, the Sun, as a matter of course, rises later; reaches a lesser altitude at noon and sets earlier. In northern latitudes during the southern summer, say from September to December, the Sun rises later each day, is lower at noon, and sets earlier; while in the south he rises earlier, reaches a higher altitude at noon, and sets later each day. This movement round the Earth daily is the cause of the alternation of day and night; while his northern and southern courses produce the Seasons. When the Sun is south of the Equator it is summer in the south and winter in the north, and vice-versa. The fact of the alternation of the Seasons flatly contradicts the Newtonian delusion that the Earth revolves in an orbit round the Sun. It 'is said that summer is caused by the Earth being nearer the Sun, and winter by its being farthest from the Sun. But, if the reader will follow the argument in any text-book, he will see that according to the theory, when the Earth is nearest the Sun there must be summer in both northern and southern latitudes; and in like manner when it is farthest from the Sun it must be winter all over the Earth at the same time, because the whole of the globe-earth would be farthest from the Sun ! ! ! In short it is impossible to account for the recurrence of the Seasons on the assumption that the Earth is globular, and that it revolves in an orbit round the Sun."
In Winter the Northern Centre is darkened, and continues so for some months till the Sun returns again in Summer, and illumines it with its brightness. We have then the phenomenon of " The Midnight Sun," the following vivid account of which appeared in " The Brighton Examiner" of July, 1870. The party referred to consisted of Mr. Campbell, the United States' Minister for Norway, and some other gentlemen who ascended a cliff 1,000 feet high, overlooking the Arctic Ocean -
What a splendid visible proof is the above description of the Sun revolving round a stationary Earth! There, in that high Norwegian latitude, these travellers saw from a lofty cliff, the Sun at Midnight passing in his journey, without having set at all, from one day into another, and proclaiming with effulgent brightness the grand beneficence of God. Thus, as the Poet sings
" Th' unwearied Sun from day to day,
Doth its Creator's power display.
And publishes in every land
The work of His Almighty hand."
Had poor Proctor been there I think he would never have written his " Pretty proof of the Earth's rotundity." Facts, such as those above narrated, are too strong to be resisted even by scientific prejudice. It would doubtless teach a useful lesson, as also afford a pleasant holiday, to some of our Astronomic friends, were they to take a trip to " The Land of the Midnight Sun " in one of the steamers advertized for that voyage in the newspapers. I think that they would return wiser than before they went, with less admiration for the hypothesis of Copernicus, with more reverence for the Word of God, and with more respect for common sense.
In Winter the Northern Centre is darkened, and continues so for some months till the Sun returns again in Summer, and illumines it with its brightness. We have then the phenomenon of " The Midnight Sun," the following vivid account of which appeared in " The Brighton Examiner" of July, 1870. The party referred to consisted of Mr. Campbell, the United States' Minister for Norway, and some other gentlemen who ascended a cliff 1,000 feet high, overlooking the Arctic Ocean -
What a splendid visible proof is the above description of the Sun revolving round a stationary Earth! There, in that high Norwegian latitude, these travellers saw from a lofty cliff, the Sun at Midnight passing in his journey, without having set at all, from one day into another, and proclaiming with effulgent brightness the grand beneficence of God. Thus, as the Poet sings
" Th' unwearied Sun from day to day,
Doth its Creator's power display.
And publishes in every land
The work of His Almighty hand."
Had poor Proctor been there I think he would never have written his " Pretty proof of the Earth's rotundity." Facts, such as those above narrated, are too strong to be resisted even by scientific prejudice. It would doubtless teach a useful lesson, as also afford a pleasant holiday, to some of our Astronomic friends, were they to take a trip to " The Land of the Midnight Sun " in one of the steamers advertized for that voyage in the newspapers. I think that they would return wiser than before they went, with less admiration for the hypothesis of Copernicus, with more reverence for the Word of God, and with more respect for common sense.
Cannot Change Their Minds. Line up all of your arguments. Carefully put together your presentation. Make sure your logic is flawless. No matter! If you are dealing with a fanatic, he still will not change his mind. Remember, a fanatic can never be critical of the object of his devotion.
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