The Science of Astronomy: Embracing Its Sublimity, History, Progress, Wonders and Utility; A Popular Lecture (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from The Science of Astronomy: Embracing Its Sublimity, History, Progress, Wonders and Utility; A Popular Lecture

But dark and lonely is the eye, That turns not, at its eve, to heaven.

Nothing is more grand, more awe-inspiring, than the contemplation Of the starry heavens. The study of the stars is the most ennobling within the range Of speculative science. The mind that rises to the skies seems to soar above the littleness of earthly things, and in communing with the wonders of ap parently Silent but everlastingly rolling nature, one becomes purified, elevated, and in every way nearer to the fear of God, which is the beginning Of wisdom. Concerning the sublime and inspiring as pect of astronomy, Prof. Richard A. Proctor, the eminent English astronomer, very eloquently remarks, while referring to the beauties of the starry heavens The mind cannot but be strengthened and invigor ated, it cannot but be purified and elevated, by the contemplation Of a scene so full of magnificence, im perfect though the means be by which the won ders of the scene are made known to us. The infor mation given by the telescope 1s indeed but piecemeal, and as yet no adequate attempts have been made to bring the whole array of known facts as far as pos sible into one grand picture 5 but seen as it is, only by parts, and (even so) only as though a vail and darkly, the scene presented to the astronomer is the grandest and the most awe - inspiring which man can study.

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