74 ILLINOIS STATE ACADEMY OF SCIENCE 



Whether the hypothesis that forms the basis of the 

 present discussion, viz : the organization and dissipation 

 of matter through the agency of radiant energj^, stands 

 the test of time and of closer scrutiny, it is evident that 

 the deductions drawn from it are not only in harmony 

 with the system of postulates with which we set out but 

 are also harmonious with the main outlines of our as- 

 tronomical knowledge, and furthermore no serious dis- 

 cordances are encountered. It is certainly not necessary 

 to regard the physical universe as a mechanism which is 

 running down. 



