300 



THE DISTANCES OP THE STARS. 



has studied a problem in all its bearings who will be able to 

 surmount the difficulties and find the true solution. But it is 

 possible to follow the general lines of a scientist's thought. In 

 astronomy, and particularly the part with which I hav^e been 

 dealing to-night, only very simple principles of geometry and 

 physics are necessary. The difficulty is in the application, the 

 great accuracy necessary because of the smallness of the quanti- 

 ties to be measured. There is nothing at all mysterious about 

 the methods employed. 



The results are indeed such as to fill thoughtful minds with 

 wonder. We find myriads of bodies essentially like the sun in 

 constitution, scattered about in space at wide distances from 

 one another. The few things we know about them are merely 

 their sizes, temperatures, densities, and some other general 

 features of their physical constitution. A wide region for 

 speculation is opened ; but on this I w^ill not enter. 



We have been told that " the undevout astronomer is mad." 

 Whatever his religious beliefs may be, he cannot fail to look at 

 the skies with wonder and awe, and the more so as little by 

 little a few facts are gleaned about the stars around us. 



The Conference Hall was filled by a large audience that followed 

 the Address, which was illustrated by numerous lantern slides, with 

 deep attention. 



At its close the President expressed the great obligation under 

 which the Astronomer Eoyal had placed the Institute, and a vote 

 of thanks, proposed by Mr. Maunder and seconded by the 

 Rev. Prebendary Fox, was carried by acclamation. 



Dr. SCHOFIELD then moved a vote of thanks to the Chairman, 

 which w^as seconded and put to the Meeting by Professor Lang- 

 HORNE Orchard, and the Meeting adjourned at 6 p.m. 



