254 EPISTLE TO STUDENTS. 



much danger of illusion that this element should be derived fiom an es- 

 timate of the angular diameter taken as near as possible. 



The suggestions in the fifth section seem to me just. All shooting 

 stars and meteoric fire balls, meteorites, &c., must be considered cns- 

 mical ; but their collision with our atmosphere is more likely to result 

 from accidental intersection of paths, then from tlie earth's attraction, al- 

 though doubtless the latter cause has some operation. 



Allow me to urge the importance and duty of efforts to collect ma- 

 terials for a full understanding of this celestial visitant. The Record 

 Avill furnish an excellent place for the publication of the results. * * 



epistle.s to studext.s. 

 Young Gknti.kjien : 



You are addressed by one who feels a deep, a very deep interest in 

 your welfare, and who, having had some experience in the world, is, in 

 some measure, prepared to impart to you useful advice. He proposes 

 to communicate his views in the spirit v.nd tone of an affectionate father, 

 and his counsel and admonitions will not be unaccompanied with prayer 

 to the Father of Mercies that he may bless to you whatever shall be 

 written in accordance with his will. 



Your friend, who comes to you with his admonitions, is a firm be- 

 liever in the truth of Christianity, and therefore the christian element 

 will necessarily pervade whatever he writes. It is not proposed, how- 

 ever, to furnish homilies on religious duties, or to present appeals on 

 the important subject of undelayed repentance. Your teachers, being 

 men who fear God, and work righteousness, will attend faithfully to 

 your religious interests, and will reprove, rebuke and instruct as their 

 vocation requires. Jt would not be proper to render the '•'Journal" a 

 vehicle for religious didacticism, or hortatory injunctions on the sub- 

 ject of christian experience or biblical ethics. 



These statements are made at the ihreshhold to disarm prejudice, and 

 to prevent the apprehension that lessons often inculcated and exceeding- 

 ly familiar are to be repeated. No beaten track is to be pursued. You 

 are to be addressed from the heart and on the basis of the experience 

 and observation of your correspondent. It may be thought, after so 

 much preliminary matter, that it is proper that some topic should be in- 

 troduced, and disposed of. This demand will be heard, with the single 

 additional preliminary remark, that no promise can be made that a very 

 logical thiead will run through these letters, or that they M'ill be any 

 thing more than pldiii. unadorned, and candid representations. 



