THE NEW THEORY ESTABLISHED.
By Jesse Dorcas
To the Editors of the SABBATH RECORDER:— FROM certain conceded facts, upon which some geologists have built a theory that the earth was at some remote period in a fluid condition, and which they advance in support of their other theory—the great age of earth—I am led to adopt a theory entirely different. One of these facts, and the one upon which I base my theory, is this: In descending into the earth, the temperature increases as you descend; and assuming that it continues to increase onward in the same ratio, they draw the conclusion that the earth, with the exception of a comparatively thin crust, is in a melted state. To this I assent; but here we part. Their theory is, that the earth is cooling down from a melted state; while mine is, that it is heating up to a melted state. In support of my theory, I adduce the fact that from the lowest point in the crust of the earth where an observation has been taken, the temperature decreases towards the surface, until you emerge from the highest mountain peaks into everlasting snows. And this alone may be deemed sufficient to destroy their theory; for, from the amount of heat the earth must have given off in cooling to its present condition, and the laws of heat, the upper regions of the atmosphere should be the warmest. Another fact which I bring to sustain the view that the inner crust of the earth is gradually melting away, is the constantly-recurring eruptions of lava from volcanoes, forced out by the expansive force of the solid substances of the earth in heating to a melting state. Close those safety-valves of the earth, and how soon would it be rent asunder. I also have some authors, from whose writings I wish to quote in support of my theory. I will quote from but two; and though they may not stand very high in the estimation of the scientific, I think their writings will have some weight with the general reader. The first is one Malachi, who wrote a few years prior to the Christian era; and he speaks by authority. He says, "For behold the day cometh that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, all that do wickedly, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up." The other is Simon Peter, who wrote a few years later. He says, "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; the earth also, and the works that are therein, shall be burned up." The fact that these writings were penned before the modern theories of the earth were introduced, and therefore written without any direct view of destroying or supporting any of them; and the remarkable coincidence of a future condition of the earth, as described by them, and that which it will eventually reach according to my theory, gives to the evidence already offered such weight that I think it cannot be successfully controverted. I will dispose of one or two facts, to which the advocates of the other refer as sustaining their views, and submit the question. And, first, the equatorial diameter of the earth being greater than the polar. This they assume was caused by the rotation of the earth while in a fluid state. But the assumption that the earth was ever in a fluid state is the very thing to be first proved. I account for this difference of diameter upon well known philosophical laws—the expanding force of heat at the equator, and the contracting power of intense cold at the poles; and if any doubt the correctness of my estimate of the power of cold at the poles, let them go and measure it. The second is the fact that remains of plants and animals, now found only in tropical regions, have been found in high northern latitudes. From this they argue that this region, in consequence of the internal heat of the earth, at some former period possessed the temperature and characteristics of the torrid zone. But I take the position, that the poles of the earth have been changed from the equator to where they now are; consequently, what was the torrid zone before that change, now belts the earth from pole to pole. These remains, with the bones of the Mammoth and Mastodon found in the temperate regions on the other side of the globe, where this belt would come, may be deemed conclusive on this point. But let me ask: Is it not much more probable that the elephant found at the mouth of the Lena would be overtaken and encased in ice, by the sudden change of temperature, caused by such a change of the poles, than it would by the slow and gradual change consequent upon their theory of the cooling of the earth? And here, in the sudden change of the rotary motion of the earth consequent upon the changing of its poles, I have, probably, by chance, stumbled upon the proximate cause that "brought our planet into a state of" slight "ruin." If so, it must settle the important question how long the elephant found at the mouth of the Lena had remained imbedded in ice. And now I submit, whether their theory or mine has the better claim to be regarded as the true one? WHO KNOWS? We Ought to be Up and Doing.
It is indeed an affecting thought, that of the present inhabitants of the earth, such a fearful proportion have already fallen victims to the teachings of the oracles of Satan, in his last mighty work to ruin the world; that such a crowd of mortals are hastening (morally speaking) to the Judgment, without God, and a true and well founded hope of eternal life. But even this is not the most alarming feature of the case we are contemplating. It is with Bibles in their hands that thousands are rushing down the broad road, regardless of the voice of warning from the faithful servant of God. If men and women will thus drink in this spirit of delusion as water, with Moses, the prophets, Christ and the apostles in their hands, who may say to this soul-blighting power, "hitherto shalt thou come and no farther." Only think for a moment, that in less than ten years about 2,000,000, of our race have fallen in with his Satanic Majesty's religion! Is this not wonderful? and yet they are looking for greater wonders. The following is an extract from one of their papers, the Spiritual Universe, Vol. III, No. 4: "Letters under supernal direction, have been addressed to different individuals in China and California, and we shall expect some curious results from this interesting movement." We cannot pass this point without casting a reproachful reflection upon the American Bible Society's influence in bringing about this work; and it is growing fearfully since their colportage system has been increased, and they send the Bible out to the tens of thousands who receive it at their hands all slimed over with their glosses, with the "wine of the wrath of their fornication," both in their prayers and exhortations. Neither these nor their employees scarcely open their mouths but that they say men have "immortal souls," a doctrine, or assertion that has no support in the Bible, which they call the "Way, the Truth, and the Life." I perceive clearly that the time has come that "judgment must begin at the house of God;" that we search our own Bibles, to see if we are not condemned by the same book that we are so zealous to send to the ends of the earth. In estimation of the magnitude of the subject now presented for your consideration, I beg you, Christians, to view things in their true light: "view them on a large scale;" view them in the light of the Word of God, fasting, praying and on your knees. Arm yourself with fresh zeal for God and his cause. Let us all say we will do what we can; "let the weak say I am strong," or there may be blood found upon our skirts in "the day of vengeance, in the year of recompences for the controversies of Zion." It will avail us nothing to have the truth on every point, if we do not do our duty to obtain of God a corresponding zeal to work. For "he that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin." Yours truly,
Fremont, O. JESSE DORCAS.