REMOTENESS OF THE FINAL CATASTROPHE. 39 9) 



fullness of time will come the final catastorophe that will introduce an economy 

 of life far transcending all that has preceded it — in a word, the Golden Age of 

 all the Earth's History? Such seems to be general teaching of Science and Rev- 

 elation. 



It is the purpose of this article to show the remoteness in time of this final 

 catastrophe- 

 Three violent transitions or catastrophes are revealed as having taken place 

 in geological history. The first transpired at the close of the Azoic Age. From 

 a probable state of fusion the earth cooled down, the vaporous atmosphere was 

 precipitated and gathered into seas, in which depositions took place forming sed- 

 imentary rocks over immense continental areas. The beds were spread out hori- 

 zontal, or nearly so, indicating that it was a period of tranquillity. In all the 

 foldings of the Azoic beds there is always a marked conformability of the various 

 strata. But the close of this period of tranquillity was strongly marked in geo- 

 logical history. There was a general upturning of sedimentary rocks, a profound 

 heaving and displacement, a folding, crystallization and metamorphosing, a devel- 

 opment of mountain ranges, and a probable extermination of vegetable life. A 

 complete revolution took place, the features of the globe were changed, and a 

 new order of things was introduced over the whole earth. And now followed the 

 ages of mollusks, fishes and coal plants, during which the seas swarmed with life, 

 and the continents were covered witji new and higher forms of vegetation. 



At the close of Palaeozoic time occurred the second violent transition or 

 catastrophe during which there was a very general extermination of existing life. 

 The Earth puts on a new aspect, and there is a new economy of life over the 

 whole globe. The animals of the Reptilian Age far surpass in the scale of being, 

 those of preceding ages. Several great Palaeozoic races became extinct ; palaeo- 

 zoic formations in many regions were folded and crystallized, and prominent 

 mountain ranges were developed. New and higher forms of vegetation sprang 

 into life, and the whole earth put on an improved appearance. 



The third and last violent transition or catastrophe occurred at the close of 

 Mesozoic Time when there was again a very general extermination of life. The 

 beds of the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous, the Reptilian Age, seem to h^ve 

 been deposited during a tranquil period, as they are for the most part conforma- 

 ble. True, there were slight elevations and depressions, and evidences of varia- 

 tions in the ocean level resulting from gentle heaving of the Earth's crust, but the 

 the age was one of comparative quietness. But at the close of the Cretaceous- 

 Period, there were profound geological movements, a great displacement of ear- 

 lier rocks, and an extermination of species probably as complete as that closing 

 the palaeozoic era. The globe puts on a new garb, and mammals appear, the 

 forerunners of the age of man and of the age of mind. 



In the consummation of all things earthly the globe seems now to be await- 

 ing the final catastrophe to usher in the Golden Age. Does science cast any 

 light upon the time when the Earth shall advance through the last transition to- 

 new and higher forms of being? 



