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Editorial transcription, lightly normalized from the scan. Line-break hyphenation, spacing, capitalization, and unmistakable OCR errors have been repaired; the claims remain those of The Flaming Sword.
Koreshan Science Explains all Phenomena.
Editor Flaming Sword:—A friend who is interested in the new theory known as the Cellular Cosmogony, has been explaining to me as best he can, the points upon which the assertion that the earth is hollow and that we inhabit the interior, are founded. He does not give me a very satisfactory explanation of some points, and realizing his inability to do so, he gave me your name and address and told me that you would give me any information I desire along this line. He does not give me a plausible explanation of the cause of day and night according to the new theory; nor does he make it clear to me how the tops of ships' masts are first visible on the approach of a vessel and last seen when the boat is going away from the observer. After having listened to the statements of my friend, I still think that all the conditions of the question are much better explained by the old theory. However, this may be due to my friend's lack of ability to state the claims of the Cellular Cosmogonists, rather than to any fault of the theory; and I would like to acquaint myself with your views. I will not hesitate one moment to change my views when the arguments for the new theory outbalance those for the old. Would you be kind enough to give me the address of some publisher who handles literature on the subject, and also the name and address of the bank where the challenge fund is deposited, and greatly oblige?—O. J. D., Chicago, Ill.
We reply to the above in these columns, first, because the inquiries are courteous, straightforward, and apparently sincere; and second, to give a few suggestions regarding the matter of interpretation of phenomena, and the difference between demonstrated and assumed premises; and to guard the mind against attempting to make modern scientific conclusions fit in the Koreshan System. In the first place, the conception that the earth is a convex body is founded on appearances; that is, the earth appears to be convex, therefore, it is assumed that it is convex. The heavens appear to be concave; and inasmuch as there is a stellar zenith for every point on the earth, the logical conclusion from the first assumption is that we live on the exterior surface of a sphere about 8,000 miles in diameter.
Now, while the many modern conclusions relative to the shape of the earth and its relation to the luminous objects we see in the sky are generally consistent with the premise assumed, they are of such character as to at once raise insoluble enigmas regarding the source, maintenance, and destiny of the cosmos; they are enormous exaggerations which startle and bewilder the mind, and which fail to satisfy the inquirer concerning the relation of the universe to primary Cause. In short, modern astronomy explains nothing in fact, because if the universe were infinite and its bounds beyond the ken of man, it would be utterly incomprehensible, and our knowledge of creation would always be wholly inadequate to solve the problem of existence.
On the other hand, the analogy of the cell, taken as a basis of the Cellular Cosmogony, places a limit to the universe, and enables the mind to grasp the fundamentals of life, and furnishes a premise in accordance with which all phenomena are rationally explained. But we have not left the matter in the sphere of analogy alone; by actual geodetic survey and other lines of experimentation, we have positively demonstrated that the surface upon which we live curves concavely about 8 inches to the mile. This is a positive premise of fact; and from this premise we proceed to explain the various astronomical phenomena, and to solve the various problems of life and creation. But the modern mind is so used to reaching conclusions from the standpoint of appearances and considering a system established when it seems to account for phenomena observed, that at first glance the Koreshan System seems to be out of harmony with the facts of observation.
We desire to say that the Koreshan Science revolutionizes not only astronomy, but also physics, optics, and all other related sciences. Neither the lines of vision nor the rays of light from the heavens extend in straight lines, but in curves; and we suggest to new readers and inquirers that in the study of astronomical phenomena from the opposite premises of the two systems, our side of the question be viewed from the Koreshan standpoint.
The cause of day and night in the hollow globe is as easy of comprehension as the common conception from the standpoint of an hypothesis. Instead of the earth rotating on its axis as supposed, the heavens have a diurnal motion. In the popular view, an immense sun at a distance of 92,000,000 miles illumines one half the surface of the earth at any given moment. We could conceive of a light so small and so close to a surface as to illumine only a very small portion of it—this and the common conception of the sun's distance and magnitude, are extremes. Now, the sun we see in the heavens is just large enough and far enough above the concave surface to illumine one hemisphere at any given moment. The visible sun's distance from the concave surface is about 900 miles, and its rays extend 90° in every direction over the concavity; consequently, the diurnal revolution of the sun brings noon successively to every meridian over which it passes, successive sunrises 90° west, and successive sunsets 90° east of every noon.
The convex idea is not necessary to a rational explanation of the cause of the disappearance of ships' hulls, the circle and dip of the horizon, etc. There are facts related to this subject which cannot possibly be explained from the premise of convexity. We know from scores of specific observations in different parts of the world, that after the hull of a vessel has completely disappeared beyond the horizon, a telescope will restore it. If the earth were perfectly flat for 10,000 miles, the horizon would be circular, because the horizon is the vanishing-line of lateral vision, and from a given altitude of observation on a flat sea or plane, the horizon would be equidistant from the eye in all directions. The earth is flat enough to be subject to the principles and laws of perspective and geolinear foreshortening. Geo-linear foreshortening is the apparent contraction of the earth-line or surface. Look out upon the surface of the sea or plane, at an altitude of 10 feet; the expanse is projected or pictured upon the retina of the eye. The first mile makes a picture of a given vertical dimension; the second mile, a shorter picture; the third mile, a still shorter picture; the fourth mile is reduced to a mere line, while the fifth mile subtends so small an angle as to be imperceptible. Here the view of the surface ceases—that is the vanishing-line. The vanishing-line is practically on a level with the eye, and there is an apparent rise of the surface from the point of observation to the point where the surface becomes invisible.
When a vessel has passed beyond the vanishing-line of the geolinear surface, its hull begins to disappear at the bottom, because it is sailing upon that part of the surface which cannot be seen from the position of the observer—not because a convexity intervenes, but because of the vanishing-line. The farther the vessel recedes the more it is occulted, because it moves farther into that space which is cut off by the horizon or vanishing-line itself. If the altitude of the observer be increased the vessel may be seen again; or if a telescope be employed from first altitude, it increases the power of vision by magnifying or enlarging the angles subtended.
The phenomena of the disappearance of objects at sea are purely optical, as we have demonstrated in the Cellular Cosmogony, an illustrated work of 200 pages published by The Guiding Star Publishing House, and advertised in these pages. We challenge the scientific world from the basis of facts. We have not deposited a challenge fund, but we have offered $100,000 for a demonstration of the hypothetical premise of the Copernican system of astronomy.
Navigation in the Hollow Globe.
Editor Flaming Sword:—I desire to submit a problem which seems very difficult to explain, and I wish you would elucidate it in The Flaming Sword: If the earth is not convex, how is it that navigators are able to determine the exact location of vessels by means of trigonometry—that is, by the tables of six-figured logarithms, etc?—G. F. F., Chicago, Ill.
It occurs to us that anyone to whom the subject of navigation of the great concave waters of the globe is a problem, would find it difficult to explain how sailors could determine the latitude and longitude of a vessel on the waters of a convex sphere. So far as the mathematical factors and results are concerned, it would not make a particle of difference whether ships sail upon the concave or the convex surface of a sphere 8,000 miles in diameter; and so far as astronomy is concerned, it is not the theoretical, but practical astronomy that is employed by navigators. Hypotheses do not enter into the problem of navigation at all; and therefore, the facts of navigation are in nowise in conflict with the idea of the earth's concavity, neither do they constitute any evidence that the earth is convex.
The question has been asked us many times, how we would account for circumnavigation or sailing around the earth, if it is concave. It should be as easy to comprehend how a vessel can sail in a given direction in the inside and return to the starting point upon completing a circumference of 360°, as it would be to comprehend how a vessel could circumnavigate a convex sphere. For the sake of illustration, let us refer to the work of making globe maps of the world: Strips of paper are prepared and pasted on the outside surface; they extend from pole to pole, showing meridians, circles of latitude, continents, oceans, etc., in their proper relation. Now, exactly the same relations would obtain if the map were pasted on the concave side of the shell of a hollow sphere, whose inside diameter is the same as the whole diameter of the convex sphere. The two surfaces contain the same area, the distance between corresponding points is exactly the same, and the path of a vessel on one surface could be laid out as accurately as on the other.
The facts of practical astronomy which enter as factors in navigation are, that latitude on the earth and altitude of the polar points co-ordinate—that is, a difference of one degree of latitude produces a difference of one degree in the altitude of any of the visible orbs in the heavens; therefore, the latitude of any point on land or sea can be ascertained by simple observation of the altitude of the sun, moon, or stars. Longitude and time constitute a simple problem, even to the school-boy; and it is certainly not difficult for the experienced mariner to determine his longitude by comparing local time with Greenwich time, which is shown by his chronometer. By making two simple calculations any clear day or night, from the basis of observations, the navigator can determine within a mile or so, just where his vessel is—and that is all there is to the astronomical phases of the subject.
But what about the logarithms? The question indicates that the inquirer does not understand their use in navigation, else he would never think of the subject as an astronomical problem. The use of logarithms is simple. Suppose a vessel sails in cloudy weather which affords no opportunities for observations; or suppose the navigator desires to know the location of his vessel by simple inspection of his log-book. If he is sailing due north or south, or due east or west, to determine his latitude and longitude would be but a matter of translation of recorded miles traversed, to degrees, minutes, and seconds; but if he is sailing in other directions, he has to deal with angles.
The proportion which sines, tangents, and sextants bear to the course, distance, difference, latitude, and departure, and these to each other, form the principal points in spherical trigonometry as related to navigation; and to simplify the matter, logarithms have been devised, the addition and subtraction of which are substituted for intricate multiplication and division of the quantities. Nautical trigonometry, therefore, is applicable to the relation of the ship's course to the meridians and circles of latitude upon the earth's surface; and from a mathematical point of view, the results would be the same whether the vessel sailed on convex or on concave waters. But all the facts which bear upon the question of the shape of the earth positively demonstrate that ships do not sail upon the outside surface of a sphere in rapid rotation and motion through space, but upon the concave surface of a stationary cellular world. All facts and phenomena are in strict harmony with the fundamental fact of the earth's concavity.
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The Flaming Sword · Vol. 17, No. 4 · · PDF pp. 10-11