Untitled article | AdventAI

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, September 24, 1867

FromAdvent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. XXX, No. 15

Historical Department.

Prophecy is History in Advance.

THE MARINER’S COMPASS.

[We give the following article, both for the historical associations connected with it, and the beautiful moral lesson drawn by its writer.]

The fifteenth century was an era remarkable for great inventions and discoveries. It is a striking fact that this epoch so wonderful for mental energy, should have been preceded by one in which intellect seemed in a state of lethargy—a long and gloomy period which has most appropriately received the name of the “Dark Ages;” for the radiance of truth seemed banished from the earth, and darkness like a pall enshrouded the human mind. It was a period that seemed almost a blank in the history of intellect; standing out in strange contrast to the splendor of the ancient civilization, and the refinement and elegance of the modern. Strange that in the chain of years it should have formed the connecting link between them! Sad age! when men seemed scarcely raised above the brutes that perish.

The great problems of existence remained unsolved; for from this deep debasement of his nature man could not rise to forge true spiritual weapons, to wage any just intellectual warfare, or to assert his high prerogatives. His spiritual comprehension was too darkened for him to grasp the Infinite and the Eternal, and hence with his God-like powers he groveled in the dust.

It was an age of confusion, experiments, and blind groping; society was in a state of chaos, and government of insecurity, anarchy and feudalism reigned triumphant, while the spirit of true Christianity had fled before the increasing corruptions of the apostate church. Religion consisted in externals, and the gorgeous mockery of its worship proved but too plainly that “Antichrist” had arisen in bold and defiant blasphemy. Such was the mental and spiritual gloom that enshrouded Europe for nine centuries. But at the beginning of the fifteenth century a better state of things was at hand. Light began to dawn on the far horizon, heralding the brilliant sun that in a coming era should arise to dispel the shades of superstition—an era, when the human mind, awakened from its long slumber, should open more and more to the rays of the advancing luminary. Truly prophetic was this early dawn, even though it shadowed forth but faintly the heaven-born radiance which in a subsequent century pierced the depths of papal darkness, scattered the shades of night, and revealed the transcendent beauty of truth in glorious contrast to error.

This time of wonderful awakening was also an age of discovery. Intellect, no longer dormant, not only made new inventions, but applied the knowledge inherited from past ages, to wise and practical purposes. Bursting the shackles of ignorance thrown round it during the “Dark Ages,” it seemed to have received a mighty impetus, and a spirit of discovery arose that would brook no obstacles in its pursuit. Science made rapid strides, great minds, inflamed with a thirst for knowledge, penetrated into the secrets of nature, and by their resources were enabled to substitute facts for false and improbable theories.

It was an age of activity such as the world had never seen. The exploration of unknown oceans, the discovery of new continents, the invention of moveable types, which resulted in the art of printing; the application of gunpowder to the art of war, the revival of letters and of learning in all its departments, the rapid development of music, painting, sculpture, and architecture, make this one of the most wonderful eras in the history of the human intellect.

One of the most important inventions of this period was that of the “Mariner’s Compass.” The exact date of the discovery of this wonderful instrument is very uncertain. Magnetism, on which the principle of the compass depends, is among the most remarkable phenomena of nature. It has but recently taken its place among the physical sciences, and notwithstanding numerous discoveries, this branch of electricity is still in its infancy.

Magnetism involves the conception of polarity—or opposite properties on opposite sides—which has become a fundamental idea in the later philosophy of forces. The researches of science prove clearly the extent and influence of polar forces throughout nature. It has demonstrated that this is the grand principle which, by a mysterious chain of influences, takes effect throughout the universe. This great doctrine of polarity has drawn off the exclusive attention which was once given to the “play of central attractions” throughout the universe, as taught by Newton, and fixed it upon the fact, that this widely different kind of force plays also an important part in the mechanism of nature. In the intimate connection of the radiant forces, and the beautiful chain of magnetic, electric, chemical, crystalline, optical and thermal polarities, each of which forms a link in the polar series, is shown a sublime and simple unity of cause. Thus has the stand-point of the philosopher been changed, and in this favored and intellectual age, the great lesson of the unity of the universe has been taught, and also the “brotherhood of the agencies which govern it.”

The property of “polarity” is displayed very strikingly in the magnet or “loadstone.” According to scientific definition, a magnet is a body which attracts iron and steel, and which, when freely suspended, has the power of taking a direction toward the poles of the earth. The natural magnet is an oxide of iron, found in beds of iron ore, and has received its name from the circumstance of its having been discovered in the province of Magnesia in Asia Minor. The magnetic needle is a bar of steel which has been magnetized artificially, and is used in the compass. Various suppositions have been made to account for that property of the magnet which causes it to point toward the poles. Why the insensible metal should invariably point in the same direction, was long a perplexing problem. The earliest hypothesis was that the earth itself is a great magnet and attracts the needle toward its poles because there the magnetic influence is concentrated. The magnetic poles of the earth were supposed to coincide very nearly with the North and South poles. But two north magnetic poles have recently been discovered—one in Hudson’s Bay, the other, to the north of Siberia—places where the equal magnetic intensities are arranged in regular order. Since from this is implied the existence of four magnetic poles of the earth, it is not reconcilable with the old and generally-received supposition.

Others think magnetism is caused by the action of the solar rays upon the earth’s surface. But the opinion advanced by the learned Riott—that “terrestrial magnetism is the aggregate or resultant of the individual, magnetic forces residing in different parts of the earth,”—is not an improbable supposition since it accords with the general doctrine of the “composition of forces.” All the phenomena of magnetism can be explained, on the hypothesis of two fluids residing naturally in all ferruginous bodies. When united, they appear to neutralize each other’s effects; when separated they exhibit opposite properties.

The peculiar properties of the magnet had long been known before they were applied to nautical purposes. Its attractive powers have been known from a high antiquity, and are mentioned by Homer, Pythagoras, and Aristotle. Its directive powers remained to be discovered by the researches of a later period. When mankind first noticed the curious properties of iron ore, they regarded it as valuable only so far as it served to amuse; for they were not sufficiently enlightened to avail themselves of its polarity. The incident related of Ptolemy Philadelphus—that he caused a statue and arch of magnetic iron to be made in memory of his queen—affords historical proof that magnetism was known to the ancients. But though we thus find that its existence was no secret, of what avail was the bare knowledge! Striking illustration of the truth that it is the practical use we make of our knowledge, which renders it valuable!

In those early ages, men dreamed not that this seemingly mysterious magnetism could be made subservient to their interests. The untutored intellect of that day knew not that the mighty agencies of nature could be employed by humanity. It dreamed not of an age to come, when the elements should call man master, and obediently execute his bidding. It saw in no prophetic vision this grandest of ages—this epoch of intellectual supremacy and of the revelations and triumphs of science. An age when fuel, air, water, and the metals should act together in that marvel of mechanism—the steam engine—when the sunbeam should leave mysterious impressions of the objects it illuminates; when the lightning, “that lawless and rollicking spirit of the skies,” should be impressed into human service, and transmitting messages with its wonderful rapidity, annihilate the barriers of time and space!

And this age is our own! Such a harvest long awaited the reapers; strange that only in the later centuries were the reapers found! In the words of an eloquent writer, “Can there be any doubt, that other forces equally marvelous await the discipline of human genius? Not in vain was man called upon at the very morning of creation ‘to subdue the earth.’ Already has he justified the bestowment of the vice-royal honor; who shall speak of the possibilities that await him in the future?”

The honor of first rendering magnetism useful is attributed to John de Gioja, a handicraft of Naples. He noticed with peculiar attention the attraction of metals toward masses of rude ore. He first made experiments which satisfied him that the magnetic influence was universal. He then gave it a trial on the surface of the water. A vessel was moored at sea in a direction corresponding with that of the magnet, and a boat which had a magnet equipoised at its centre, was sent out at night in the exact line indicated. This was followed, and carried the boat to the vessel. In process of time, the magnet was fixed to a card, marked with thirty-two points known as the “direction of the winds.” This was the first form in which the mariner’s compass was presented to the world, and was of course, extremely imperfect.

It is the mariner’s compass that has attached to magnetism its chief importance, for it was the first practical use to which the polarity of the magnet was applied. The compass consists of a magnetic needle, enclosed in a brass box covered with glass. The needle is freely suspended, and provided with a conical cap of brass, which rests on a perpendicular pin. To lessen friction, the point which rests on the extremity of this pin, is made of agate. The compass box has a circular card graduated into a scale of degrees and minutes, and also into thirty-two equal parts called “Rhumbs.” This card turns with the needle which is so suspended as to retain a horizontal position even during the most unsteady motions of a ship. This is effected by contrivances called “Gimbals,” which cause all the motions of the compass box to be performed around two axes that intersect each other at right angles. The compass thus completed is fixed in the binnacle of the vessel, and there the helmsman takes his place, directing its course by means of this wonderful and unerring guide. We cannot sufficiently estimate the value of the compass till we realize the almost miraculous changes it has effected in navigation.

Prior to the discovery of the compass, the science of navigation had been in its infancy. It was so imperfectly understood by the early voyagers that they dared to cruise only along the shores, lest out of sight of land, they should lose themselves on the waste of waters. The means of crossing wide oceans seemed involved in hopeless mystery. It was an enigma which puzzled the shrewdest brains, and baffled the profoundest thinkers. Once out on the watery expanse how could they tell the cardinal points? North, south, east, west, would be alike indistinguishable on the monotonous sea level. So we read of but few voyages performed by water in those days; the great routes of travel being on the land. But in a subsequent century, how was the whole art of navigation changed by the discovery of the compass! A wonderful impetus was given to commerce, and the explorations of the day resulted in great discoveries. This practical application of the power of the magnet led to that important event of the fifteenth century—the discovery of America. The mariner no longer without

a guide, steered boldly through pathless seas; and a zest before unknown was given to travel by water. Exultantly watching the course of his vessel as its prow parted the billows, the hardy seaman bade his bosom be a stranger to fear, and hailed the advent of the mariner’s compass!

The English, Portuguese, French, Spaniards and Dutch, vied with each other in voyages of discovery; the world was circumnavigated, the antipodes were brought into communication, the wealth of the Indies was opened to Europe, and the means of refinement and luxury greatly increased. As the world opened to the east and west, the horizon of knowledge was also extended, and the treasures of the intellectual kingdom were enlarged and enriched. And these were some of the results that arose from a frail needle pointing unerringly to its pole! Astonishing achievement of science, splendid triumph of human research and ingenuity!

The importance of the compass to the mariner cannot be over-estimated. Far out on the trackless deep, sundered from home and friends he loves, the compass is his most valued possession, the only clue that can lead him out of the labyrinth of waters, back to kindred and native land. Day and night with sleepless eye he watches that mystic needle pointing ever to the pole. He knows that if he neglects its friendly guidance he is inevitably lost! Turned out of his course, he would be quickly benighted upon the mighty waters, were it not for this mysterious monitor, in accordance with whose pointings he turns the rudder of his vessel.

Ah! lone watcher on the deep, science hath entered the laboratory of nature, and compounded for thee in those rich store-houses a gem, more precious than any the bold diver hath brought up from ocean’s bed. She hath nobly wrested for thee this jewel of purer grace, and more radiant sheen, than aught that have sparkled in kingly diadems. Hail the priceless boon, use it gladly, for it is thine.

Cling to thy compass, mariner; it is thy all on the wide waters. Obey thy compass, mariner; it will lead thee to thy desired haven. Though tempests rage and winds howl fiercely round thee, even ’mid the fury of conflicting elements, it will guide thee to the port of peace.

Speed thy bark, mariner; only the loss of thy good ship can deprive thee of the faithful friend, which poised so exquisitely in its stern, points as truly on the most stormy waters, as on the most tranquil sea. And thou, frail needle, why dost thou point with such constancy to the pole? We can almost imagine thee to be endowed with some life-giving principle—animated by some mysterious and invisible presence enshrined within thee! Thou art a beautiful emblem of the life-long devotion with which our heart’s best affections should be directed to Christ and Heaven! Let us list to thy voiceless lessons, and with untiring gaze, look from the “changing up to the changeless.”

This subject has a deep spiritual significance and application. For life may be compared to an ocean, and our earthly pilgrimage to a voyage on its surface. It is an ocean full of rocks and quicksands, breakers foam on every side, and tempests often lash its billows to fury. Hidden whirlpools sparkle brightly in the sunlight, luring many a gallant bark to an unlooked-for grave. Danger and death are on every side, threatening destruction to all who sail upon this troubled ocean. Has man been left in this uncertainty and peril? Has he no guide by whose assistance to steer safely through? Yes, the Bible is our compass on this the broad ocean of life. What the faithful needle is to the mariner, the book of divine revelation is to the soul. Through all the changing scenes of existence, it points unchanged to Heaven, and bids us steer our vessels thither, telling us how to gain that land of light and love and joy eternal. If we fail to follow its guidance, we shall be lost eternally.

Let us, then, steer our life-barks by this priceless compass, following ever where it points. Then at the close of time’s weary voyage we shall enter into peaceful waters, a radiant shore shall dawn upon our vision, and with unutterable joy we shall cast anchor in the heavenly harbor, beyond the reach of winds and tempests forever!