22 UNIVERSAL OR COSMIC TIME. 



claim the right to have its own time. It is self-evident that time 

 is in no way dependent on locality, and I will quote on this point but 

 one authority, the great Sir Isaac Newton. " Absolute true and 

 mathematical time of itself, and from its own nature, flows equally 

 without regard to anything external." 



Our finite minds are incapable of understanding fully what time 

 is, but this much is perfectly clear to our reason. Time is a measure- 

 able quantity, it may be termed a flowing magnitude, and only as one 

 such magnitude is it conceivable. A distinct and separate flow of time 

 in each of the myriad localities throughout the Universe is perfectly 

 inconceivable. If time be anything it is a uyiity and not a lolxirality . 

 The cardinal princij)le of Cosmic Time is unitij, and with unity as a 

 fandamental idea of time it must be held that the Cosmic system is 

 the only sound principle of reckoning, and that as the area of civil- 

 ization broadens, it must in the end be recognized as ap[)licable 

 everywhere and for all purposes. 



The conclusions of the International Conference are fruitful of 

 results of high importance. They may be said to point to the open- 

 ing of a new chapter in the world's annals. They make provision 

 for a complete cessation of ambiguity in hours and dates. By Cosmic 

 Time all events whatsoever will be systematically arranged according 

 to their proper chronological order. The calendar days the world 

 over will begin at the one initial instant, and clocks will stiike the 

 same hour at the same u:ioment in all longitudes. 



But tlie new system can only be gradually inti^oduced. The 

 majority of mankind have firmly fixed ideas with regard to the passage 

 of the day and the nunibers of the hours by which their social habits 

 are regulated. A proposal suddenly to change the old familiar suc- 

 cession of the hours will be misunderstood. The influence of custom 

 is always powerful under an)' aspect. It is anticipated that tliis influ- 

 ence will be the one serious obstacle to be overcome. The belief? 

 however, may be permitted that the change will be rendered easy 

 when men understand that the numbers of such hours have been arbi- 

 trarily chosen ; that there is no necessary connection between them 

 and the position of the sun in relation to the earth in its daily rota- 

 tion, and that whatever numbers may distinguish the twenty-four 

 divisions of the day, the recurring phenomena of light and darkness 

 will always regulate sleeping, waking, eating, and working, and 

 all the routine of life in every locality. Noon has hei-etofore been 



