42 



THE MOVEMENTS OF THE STARS. 



the evidence of the chemical unity of the stars, and the course of 

 the successive changes through which they passed. And now 

 Professor Eddington has revealed to us the evidence which the 

 movements of the stars supply as to the form and structure of the 

 sidereal universe. These three remarkable addresses, all in different 

 ways from different lines of evidence, lead up to one and the same 

 conclusion : the whole celestial universe forms but a single 

 organic structure. I have great pleasure in seconding the vote of 

 thanks to Professor Eddington. 



The Chairman said that the lecture to which they had listened 

 was scarcely one for discussion in the ordinary sense, but if any 

 members present had any questions which they wished to ask, he 

 was sure that Professor Eddington would be pleased to answer them. 



A number of questions were accordingly asked by the Rev. J. J. 

 B. Coles, the Rev. Canon E. McClure, Professor LANGHORNE 

 Orchard, Mr. M. L. Rocse, and others. 



Professor Eddington, in replying to these enquiries, stated that 

 some of the eighteen observatories engaged on the Astrographic 

 Chart had completed their share of the work ; others were very 

 much in arrear, and it was to be feared that the war would greatly 

 postpone its completion. With regard to variation in the law of 

 gravitation throughout the universe, it was difficult to determine 

 what would be the relation between the particles of matter in a 

 nebula. With regard to the suggestion made by Mr. Shaw in 

 a recent paper before the Royal Society as to the possibility of the 

 constant of gravitation changing with the temperature, he felt it 

 very unlikely that astronomers would accept it. As to the place of 

 the sun, it did not appear to be a member of either of the two 

 streams which he had described. In reply to Professor Langhorne 

 Orchard, astronomers of course meant by " the age of the sun " the 

 stage of development which it appeared to have attained. To 

 Mr. Rouse the reply was that there was no significant relation 

 between the poles of the Milky Way and of the Ecliptic. The pole 

 of the Milky Way appeared to be in the constellation Coma 

 Berenices. 



A very hearty vote of thanks was returned by the Meeting to the 

 Lecturer, and the Meeting adjourned at 6 p.m. 



