THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 95 
diameter, and revolving round the earth in an orbit of some 
229,000 miles in radius. This much being known, a further 
natural enquiry is, what is the condition of its surface? Like 
on earth, we see plains, plateaus, mountains, craters, and also 
enormous ring plains in size at least quite unlike anything on 
earth. Further, we find that unlike the earth. there are no im- 
mense bodies of water on the moon, nor any ocular evidence of 
lakes or running streams. 
This much in introduction, now let us turn to the question 
I have chosen as the title of my address. 
IS THE MOON A DEAD WORLD? 
Perhaps there is no question which exerts a stronger fasci- 
nation on the popular imagination than the old problem as to 
the possible or probable existence of other worlds than our own. 
By “other worlds” is, of course, meant celestial bodies, where 
organic life is flourishing and where sentient beings akin to 
man may be found. 
To “the man in the street,” and indeed to many astrono- 
mers, the chief interest in Mars centers in the evidence, pro. and 
con., which may be adduced on the question of its being in- 
habited or being habitable bv other children of the All-Father. 
The interest is an excusable one, for a knowledge of the condi- 
tions of intelligent life in other worlds would doubtless help 
much to solve the problem of pain and evil, the old problem, as 
to whether evil exists, because the Lord is not all good or be- 
cause He is not all powerful. 
I propose to consider the case of the Moon under three 
headings: 
Is there animal life on the Moon? 
Is there vegetable life on the Moon? 
Is there physical life on the Moon? 
Perhaps it may seem superfluous to investigate the first 
problem, for everyone can tell you off hand that animal life 
cannot exist on the Moon. But while everyone can tell you 
this fact, there may be some who cannot give the reasons for 
the faith which is in them, and to these [ shall speak for a little 
