Gravitation Defined
From Earth Not a Globe Review, January 1895
By “ Zetetes”
In the science schools of to-day our pupils are taught the atomic
theory, namely : that all bodies consist of innumerable minute particles^
so small that they are invisible and cannot be further divided, or cut up,
as their name, atoms, implies. These atoms, the gods of the scientist
and evolutionist, may all be the same size, if we can attach size to such
infinitely small things, or potentialities, but they have not all the same
specific gravity or weight. Hydrogen, a kind of gas, is the lightest body
known. Hydrogen may be obtained by a combination of sulphuric
acid, zinc clippings, and water. As the gas bubbles up through the water
we catch a little in a glass bottle, or a test-tube. We may fix our mind’s
eye upon one molecule of hydrogen, and let all the others go free. -We
work this molecule safely inside a small glass tube. It is the lightest
body known upon the earth, and it is easier to pull about light bodies
than heavy ones. Now, the theory of gravitation is that all the atoms
in the earth and in the world are attracting, or pulling at this molecule
of hydrogen ; and that, being nearest to the earth, the latter will have the
most power over it. We will not pause to show further the absurdity of
this theory, and the infinite number of bonds and filaments our little
molecule must possess to be in pulling connection with all the atoms of
the universe; but we will proceed to liberate it from the bottle, not from
the bonds, and watch, with mental vision, its behaviour, on being so far
set free. Now what course ought the molecule to take, if the theory of
our astronomical friends be true ? Clearly and rapidly downwards to
the earth, pulled down unmercifully by ten thousand times ten million
threads or gravitating cords. We turn the bottle neck downwards and
draw the cork. The molecule of hydrogen ascends in the glass, and
refuses to leave the bottle. Remember, every atom in the so-called
“ globe” is pulling with all its might at our little molecule of hydrogen;
yet It refuses to leave the jar ! Turn the glass right side up, and now
our molecule, really liberated, mounts up above the highest clouds, in
complete defiance of the combined pull of all the gravitating forces in
the “ globe.” That molecule must be a Zetetic. It stands aloof from
all the nonsensical “ forces,” or theories, of the astronomers, and mounts
upwards and onwards in defiance of them. It defies, as we defy, all
their metaphysical “ reasoning ” and jargon about gravitation. I f
bodies falling to the earth prove gravitation, what do bodies ascending
from the earth prove ? I f the “ globe ” can pull at a distant body like
the moon and make it “ fall ” through sixteen feet per second, why can
it not pull at air, smoke, clouds, gases, & a , close at hand, and make
them all lie down in layers upon its surface ? The conclusion is evident;
a force that cannot overcome a little helpless molecule of hydrogen, is
no force at all. The apple was too much for it, and so is the molecule.
Bodies rise or fall, according to their inherent density, or weight, and
they remain at rest whenever and wherever they attain their equilibria.
This is reasonable, because it is natural; yet at the same time it is utterly
opposed to the fanciful speculations of the scientists, who darken counsel
with words without knowledge. In the whole wide world there is no
such thing as the astronomer’s “ attraction of gravitation.” I challenge
any of them to prove it. I will, in conclusion, proceed to show that
their idea of.
