THE COMING COSMIC STRAIN.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 15 September 1909, Page 1

THE CO MING COSMIC STRAIN.

(FJy Joseph Taylor.) j I : \ I I [

From an astronomical point ofl view we'are just now on the verge of a very unusual and a most interesting period, intimately related to the welfare of the world. Tho sun, the earth, and the various planetary bo dies within our solar system, are once more so arranged with relation to each other as to occasion a mere radical aud general cosmic disturbance than has taken place for a long time, and the chief effects of which will be experienced within a -about a week from this date, ' both in ;the equatorial regions and in northern and southern latitudes. The start of the strain may be set dowu for the lath inst, when the moon, which (as I wrote in local newspapers some years ago) may be said to pull tho cosmic trigger, will be simultaneously in conjunction with the sun and the planet Jupiter, and will :be nearfrig conjunction "also ' with Mercury and Venus. The now conspicuous -planet Mars, along with Saturn, will bo about the same time arranged in opposition to the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter,, and the Sun; so that practically the main forces operating within our solar system -will be engaged in a tug of war, -ionic pulling oast, and others, -with a prepondering effect to the WestAll acting in substantially a straight line, as if they -were intent upon tearing the earth into two. The position of Uranus and Nep-1 tune at the period referred to is " such as to render them n.utral to the struggle' so Ihat they may for the time being be left out of account. But the position of Mars and Venus is such as to constitute them the Moon's principal accomplices in producing the most profound meteorological and soismic disturbances that havo taken place for a long time, and to which Mr Clement Wragge's ■redicted storms only have been the prelude. The cans.-* of these extraordinary cosmic, 'convulsions is not tho sun spots to which many of Wragge's 'cablegrams have attributed the re- . cent meteorological disturbances The sun spots aro simply concomitant iiheiiomuna due to tlio same general aud fundamental forces. Like the wind. storms, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions, the suu spots are not so much canses as effects. To get it the scientific root of the matter we must go further than mere -meteoroligcal and mechanical astrononry are prepared lo conduct us; and we must concern ourselves seriously with those more subtle dynamicmelic. electrical, and othcritri, or. astral forces, which Astrology generalises under the vaguo phrase. "The influence of the stars. The malefic planet Mars is coming towards us now at something rice 1.000,000 miles a day, -and a week hence will be about 35,000,,01 V thirty-live million) miles from tho Earth, or almost at its nearest possib'e point of approach. Sometimes it is as much as 61,000,000 (sixtyone million) miles distant during opposition. This difference will suffice to_ explain the present increased in fliience of Mars on the Earth; espec ially when we consider that the influence of Mars is conjoined with that of another malefic planet —Saturn — and that these two on their side o_ the heavens ((ho east) practically have the field-all to themselves. Venus, our pjanetary neighbour inside the Earth's orbit, is like-wise rapidly approaching us, and on tho 18th inst will join her full strength to that of the moon, and this will unusually affect tho general ccKinic strain. Besides all this, Halley's comot is at hand, and is is rapidly bringing its influence to bear at right angles to tho general magnetic axis of the solar system, as lolonniued at 'present by the general riositioii of the sun and principal planets. At no period iv the history of the present generation havo so . many positive factors combined to pull the !_;irth to pieces. As the Earth is so Lo speak, in the neutral node of the Treat cosmic magnet, she has never, in our life-time had less power of resistance. Her cohesive power is largely neutralised. She is weak and incoherent as a cooked carrot, and will get peculiarly liable, especially during tho next fortnight, to go 11 io seismic hysterics. The cosmic strain -will be straight and steady, like the lifting of a dead weight. It will be general rather than local; but it will naturally express itself everywhere along the lines of least resistance; and may or may not be . accompanied by serious loss of life and property. It is likely, however, to be sufficiently intense to be distinctly felt in the Northern Hemisphere as far • as the British Isles, and in the Southern Hemisphere as far as the South Island of New Zealand. It is cheering, however, to know that tho Sun and the Benefic planets aro predominant Nelson, 13th Sept, 1909.

Uhile, as is well known (writes the Home correspondent of the "Morning Leader' 1 ), the clergy aro not allowed to go to theatres, their attendance hitherto at kinemaogaph enlertaurments has not been questioned. However, the Cardinal Vicar has now' published the following decreet — "It is among our duties to sco that good habits prevail among tho clergy and to protect' their morality. Having ascertained that members of the tegular and secular clergy attond kinema'togTaph spectales, mauy of which bft'ond religion and morality, tvo informed the Holy Father, who authorised us to remind. the clergy that they 'may not frequent theatres, and that they arc par -tlcul—rly ordered not to attend kiuem_tograph exhibitions of any kind. Any clergyman contravening this order will be liablo to canonical pun? ishment, including suspension from the celebration of -Mass and the divine offices. ''