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Modern astronomy was founded by Copernicus in the sixteenth century. He put forth the hypothesis that the earth is a planet and moves in an orbit about the sun; but it was not until about fifty years ago that any particular effort was made to demonstrate the conclusion. The world accepted the system without the slightest evidence that its basis is true. Fifty years ago, Foucault's pendulum and gyroscope gave what was unwarrantably announced as proof of the earth's mobility; recently, the pendulum experiment has been repeated at Paris, a subject which we discussed in The Flaming Sword of June 20, 1902.
During the past several years, other methods have been conceived and employed with the view to proving the earth's motion—or rather, to determine whether the earth moves or not; and the efforts go to show that the results of Foucault's experiments were not altogether satisfactory and conclusive, even to the astronomer. An apparatus called the interferometer has been devised to measure the "interference" of light, and thus determine whether the ether in the atmosphere is in motion or not. It is proposed to make tests at periods six months apart, as it is evident that if the earth moved in an orbit, its motion on one side of its orbit would be in the opposite direction from its motion on the other side. Now we here make the emphatic statement that in such an experiment no evidence whatever will be found that the earth is a body in an open ocean of ether, nor that the earth rotates upon its axis diurnally, nor that the earth moves in an orbit. A similar experiment was made about fourteen years ago, and showed conclusively that ether has no lateral motion as related to the surface of the earth—as would be the case if the earth were in motion. The experiment proved that the earth has no motion in space!
A number of years ago the Doppler principle was first advocated; Dr. Huggins was the first to make application of it with the view to ascertaining whether certain stars were approaching or receding from the earth. In this work the spectroscope is employed, in which it is supposed that there is a difference in the wave-length of light vibrations in the case of stars moving toward or away from the earth. While we deny that application of the Doppler principle in spectral analysis indicates the rapid motion of the stars which is attributed to them, we affirm that if the earth were in motion different results would be obtained every six months according as the earth should move toward or away from a star. Now it is known to be a fact that the spectra of stars whose "proper motions" are supposed to have been determined, are the same from one year's end to another!
In the Doppler principle, it is supposed that if a star is rapidly moving toward the earth, the lines in the spectroscope would be shifted toward the blue; if receding, toward the red. This indicates, according to the astronomer, that where the shift is toward the blue, the wave-lengths are diminished because the motion of the star toward us would increase the number of vibrations per second; if receding, the number of vibrations would be diminished, and the wave-length of light increased. Now this would be the case, carrying out the theory logically, whether the star or the earth were moving; and it would follow that if the earth moves nineteen miles per second in space, back and forth as related to the stars nearly in the plane of the ecliptic, such motion should be clearly indicated in the spectroscope. But it is not so indicated, for there is no variation in the spectra of stars. The earth is motionless; it does not exist in an ocean of ether; it is not a convex body, and it does not rotate diurnally on its axis. Its surface is concave, and its shell is the circumference of the universe.
No one has ever refuted any of the arguments put forth in support of Koreshan Astronomy. We have discussed this and related subjects for years in The Flaming Sword; tens of thousands of copies of the Cellular Cosmogony have been distributed throughout the world, and the System variously promulgated. All arguments against the System, so far as presented to us in writing and otherwise, have been faithfully published in this publication, and answered. Our readers have read these questions and answers, and are familiar with our position, the premise upon which the System is founded. It must be apparent to our many readers by this time, that the foundation of Koreshan Science is absolutely impregnable and our position invulnerable. We have conducted a long series of optical experiments, covering a period of several years, and have published the results; and we have conducted the first and only geodetic survey ever made in the history of the world for the purpose of determining for the people, the actual direction of the earth's curvature. The results of this survey have been startlingly corroborated by experiments conducted by mining engineers. We have shown that the System is supported by the facts of phenomena; by the science of language; by the principles of analogy and comparative anatomy; by geometry, or the science of form; by the Bible, and other literature of the ancients; by mythology, and by the actual necessities of existence which demand universal perpetuity through the functions of involved seed. In addition to this, we have shown that all phenomena are explained and interpreted from the cellular point of view; many of these phenomena we have explained from time to time as questions have been asked and arguments advanced against the System. We have answered all questions and refuted all objections. We have presented a harmonious mass of evidence of the truth of Koreshan Science, such as has never before been presented to the world. Can any one point out to us or to our readers, a single scientific proposition submitted to us as against the Koreshan System, that we have not considered? a single objection that we have not successfully removed? a single phenomenon suggested that we have not explained? a single question that we have not logically answered? a single argument that we have not met in a straightforward manner? So much cannot be claimed for any other system, nor so much shown on behalf of any other school of thought.
Now, what we want to know is: Is there one mind in all the great circle of our readers who can, or who knows of any one else who can, present to us one absolute fact contrary to the Astronomy of Koreshanity—one that is completely out of harmony with it—one that cannot possibly be explained from the standpoint of its premise? Can one argument be advanced to prove conclusively that the Koreshan conclusions are fallacious? In view of all these facts we ask. Is it not time for all rational minds to weigh the evidences, reject the modern hypotheses, and take a bold stand on the side of the genuine Science of all truth and life?
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The source scans remain the record. This page preserves the periodical's argument and reported observations without presenting its conclusions as independently established results. The claims remain attributed to The Flaming Sword.
The Flaming Sword · Vol. 16, No. 50 · 31 Oct 1902 · PDF pp. 10-11