PARTIAL IMPACT.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 13938, 11 January 1911, Page 3

PARTIAL IMPACT.

PROFESSOR BICKERTON AT HOME.

(rEOM OUR OWN* CORRESPONDENT.) LONDON, December 2. Professor Bickerton is making good progress with the work of introducing the theory of the third body. He has finished his book on his theory, and it will be published in Harper's Library of Living Thought. It is to be issued on the Ist February. The newspapers all over the kingdom have given a good deal of appreciative notice to his work. Professor Rutherford is helping considerably in writing papers and introducing Professor Bickerton's work to prominent scientific officials. Sir William Ramsay is arranging for him to lecture to the Chemical and Physical Society of University College. Tlie president of the British Astronomical Society is taking a great deal of interest in the new theory. A paper has passed the Council and will be read at the next meeting, and a conferenco of all £he heads of sections is to be held at the house of the president, who will also take the chair at Professor Bickerton's lecture at the Passmore Edwards »Settlement. Professor Geddes is to preside at a lecture at Crosby Hall. The learned societies still express great objection to treating the theory as a whole, but it is probable that some members will work with Professor Bickerton to produce joint papers on the special subjects in which they aro experts.

There was a large attendance at the Metropole Hotel this afternoon when, under the auspices of tho Royal Colonial Institute, Professor Bickerton explained his theory. In introducing the lecturer, Sir George Reid humorously said he regretted to say Professor Bickerton was not a native-born New Zcalander, but, like many another Englishman, he had been highly improved by a visit to the Antipodes. Professor Bickerton had come Homo to endeavour to draw public attention to a theory of his own which had already been received with gre:>t respect by most of tho high authorities, and might in days to come bracket with his name one of the wonderful discoveries of science.

Professor Bickerton, who spoke for an hour, and held the attention of his atidicnco throughout, the hope that the Royal Colonial Instituto, which was pledged to further scientific research, would arrange a conference for the discussion of his theory. He wanted to get it understood before lie left for Now Zealand again.

Sir George Reid, in proposing a vote of thanks to the lecturer, said ne lacked the necessary qualifications to follow with certainty tho brilliant theory which had been expounded, but they did not need scientific knowledge to recognise at once that the theory was far more in harmony with what they believed of life and the mysteries of life than the theory which pointed to a universe that was dying. The spiritual theory was isingularly in accordance with the theory of the address that afternoon. New Zealand had sent Professor Bickerton on a great scientific mission, and he hoped the Institute would arrange for the theory to bo considered. They had been taken on a grand excursion into the heavens, and the work to which the Professor had devoted his life would not only bring him great fame, but would marvellously add to the light which was being shed more and more on the mysteries of creation.