56 THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 
already spoken in unsympathetic language of the doctrine of 
planetary habitation. But let me forbear. Milton must not be 
trifled with. 
Milton was no doubt a Copernican. He in the Third Book 
describes the sun as occupying a supreme position in une system, 
having the planets with their satellites, 
“That from his lordly eye keep distance due,”’ (ze 578) 
circling in majestic orbits round him, acknowledging his controlling 
powers, and being held by a strong arm, that Newton afterwards 
proved was not only strong, but gravitating. 
The angel, in bringing to a conclusion his conversation with 
Adam, deems it unadvisable to vouchsafe him a decisive reply to 
his Enquiry regarding the motions of celestial bodies, and in lines 
159-167, Book VIIL., gives a beautifully poetical summary of this 
elevated and philosophical discussion, which ends with these words : 
es 
“¢ Solicit not thy thoughts with matters hid, 
Leave them to God above; Him serve and fear.” 
Raphael was doubtless a good angel, but he was a bad philoso- 
pher. We have read that ‘‘ Fools rush in, where angels fear to 
tread.” Weare thankful that a chosen band of Adam’s descendants 
in later years, and their name have been legion, have declined to 
take Raphael’s advice, but had greater courage, and that they have 
“solicited their thoughts with matters hid,” and that by their 
laborious investigations they have made for the world a galaxy of 
truth, and held vigorously to the principle that the search for truth 
is the noblest occupation of man, and its publication is a duty, and 
“‘Wise men walked where Baviael feared to tread” ‘‘ Felix gui 
ae cognoscere causas omnium rerum.’ 
And in our own humble way, whether we are only plain mem- 
bers of the Astronomical Society of Toronto, or of the Hamilton 
Scientific Association, or whether we have become exalted to that 
dazzling eminence of Fellows of the Royal Astronomical Society of 
Canada, let us pursue investigation and reflection. It is not what 
we are called that counts, it is what we know and what we do with 
what we know. “Great truly is the actual,” as Carlyle puts it. 
The lecturer then pointed out the passages where Milton 
referred to the so-called science of astrology, his allusions to the 
