128 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS 



The End of the World — From aiv Astronom- 

 ical Standpoint 



By G, Parry Jenkins, 



No doubt there are those who consider it presumptuous to dis- 

 cuss such a subject as "The End of the World." They argue 

 that it is entirel}' beyond human understanding, and is far better 

 left severely alone. To inquiring minds, however, the very fact 

 that there is a mystery around it only spurs them on to endeavor 

 to find a solution. If man had shrunk back from the apparently 

 insurmountable difficulties that beset many a problem, some of the 

 greatest discoveries and inventions would to-day never have been 

 brought to light. The inborn spirit of research is fully emphasized 

 in Milton's immortal words : 



" To ask, or search, I blame thee not, for heaven 

 Is as the book of God before thee set, 

 Wherein to read His wondrous works and learn." 



It is only intended to deal with the subject here from an as- 

 tronomical standpoint, without going into the theological aspect of 

 the question. In passing, however, we would allude to St. Peter's 

 prediction of the destruction of the world by fire, which is very 

 graphically poftrayed in Second Peter,. iii., lo : " But the day of 

 the lyord will come as a thief in the night, in 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. burnt up." 



Although St. Peter uttered those memorable words nearly 

 two thousand years ago, it is worthy of note that, long previous to 

 his day, in the great Sanscrit poem, the Mahabharata, there is also 

 a similar prediction, which says, "O King, towards the end of 

 those thousands of years and when the lives of men become very 

 short, a drought occurs, extending for many years. And then 



