Extracted text
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.
EDITORIAL.
The Stars Surrounding Polaris.
Editor Flaming Sword:—Take your own diagram—the one showing Chicago as the lowest point—and explain how it is that the region of stars that never set extends right and left, above and below, with the polar star in the center, if, as you state, these stars are situated on the north section of the inner sphere shown on the diagram, the section would present its edge to the observer at Chicago, or approximately so, instead of its full surface.
I accept your correction that the radius of this region covers 42° instead of 23½°; but this makes your task harder, there being even more stars than I claimed on the side of this practically opaque sphere, which is opposite from the observer at Chicago, and which therefore should be invisible. But in fact, we do see all the stars in this region, although according to your diagram we should not. Please, explain also, why the polar star appears on the horizon at the equator, while according to your diagram it should appear about 45° above the horizon; and as the observer passes northward, the polar star should descend as the line of one's horizon changes, when in fact the polar star rises.—C. F. H., Chicago, Ill.
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The above is a portion of a communication regarding Koreshan Astronomy. The attitude taken by the writer is that we cannot answer his objections, and a note accompanying the letter insinuates that it is doubtful if we attempt to reply at all! It is wonderful how, in a short time, critics can stumble onto "contradictions" in the Koreshan System; they presume to be able to point out discrepancies in Koreshan Science, after only a few hours' search for things they do not understand. It is wonderful also, how fearful we are that the readers of The Flaming Sword become acquainted with such "unanswerable objections!"
The many simple objections urged against Koreshan Astronomy, by laymen and even professional scientists, lead us to the positive conclusion that if the entire world should become suddenly convinced that the earth is a hollow globe, there is not a mind outside of Koreshanity that would be able to explain a single phenomenon from the basis of the cell! No true theory has ever been founded on mere schemes of explanation of phenomena. The world as it is constitutes a better foundation for a system of science, than pictures of the sun and stars in the eye of a would-be scientist!
DISCUSSIONS AND MISCELLANY.
THE EDITOR.
The usual plan is to assume that light is propagated in straight lines; and of course, everything else is made to bend to this idea; hence the earth curves convexly in the mind of the astronomer, and the apparent place of the sun is taken for its real place. Destroy this conception of the propagation of light, and there is nothing left for modern astronomy to stand upon! Our methods are quite different from those employed in the old school. We should never allow a hypothetical straight ray to become the straight edge with which to survey the universe. The objection is made to our Geodetic work, that we could not know that the straight-edges were straight. We knew, because they were within the range of actual test. The astronomer's ray of light is intangible and beyond direct test, but he nevertheless makes everything conform to his idea that it is perfectly straight! We consider that it is better to test that which is tangible and to scientifically make the rays conform, than to make the material shell of the earth turn about to suit an opinion regarding rays of light!
If we had not frequently discussed this subject in the past, we might take it up at length now. There are factors of geolinear and perspective foreshortening involved, which the casual reader of our literature so utterly fails to comprehend, that it would be but a waste of time and space to enter upon the subject without a discussion of the subjects of optics and physics; and in the present case, it would be like discussing the intricate problems of integral and differential calculus with one just learning the multiplication table! If the objector had thought but a moment, however, concerning sunrise and sunset in the Koreshan world, his problem concerning Polaris and the circle of perpetual apparition would perhaps be less puzzling to him. If we, like he has done, should endeavor to explain phenomena from the usual basis of the supposed rectilinear propagation of light, we should be merely endeavoring to make one part of the Copernican system fit the Koreshan. We are not foolish enough to commit such a breach in our chain of logic.
Turn the last page of The Flaming Sword with the top to the right; imagine an observer standing directly beneath the moon at "Third Quarter," in the central diagram. Let the visual ray follow the curve of the solar ray, and the sun will be seen on a level with the eye; it is rising then. If it were Polaris being viewed from the equator, it would appear on the horizon for the same reason, and would rise one degree for every degree of latitude covered in progress toward the north. Take the same visual curve to 42° north latitude, and it will extend 42° beyond the North Star, and the entire surface of 42° radius will be embraced in the field of the circle of perpetual apparition; and none of the stars will appear to be "on the edge of things," because the limit of vision on the star sphere is at the horizon, for the reason that the space between the heavens and the earth at the distant point of rising and setting of sun or star, is vanished by perspective.
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The source scans remain the record.
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