Patched by a blue inundation that had never been seen before—this earth,
early in the 60’s of the 19th century. Then faintly, from far away, this
new appearance is seen to be enveloped with volumes of gray. Flashes
like lightning, and faintest of rumbling sounds—then cloud-like
envelopments roll away, and a blue formation shines in the sun.
Meteorologists upon the moon take notes.
But year after year there are appearances, as seen from the moon, that
are so characterized that they may not be meteorologic phenomena upon
this earth: changing compositions wrought with elements of blue and of
gray; it is like conflict between Synthesis and Dissolution: straight
lines that fade into scrawls, but that re-form into seeming moving
symbols: circles and squares and triangles abound.
Having had no mean experience with interpretations as products of
desires, given that upon the moon communication with this earth should
be desired, it seems likely to me that the struggles of hosts of
Americans, early in the 60’s of the 19th century, were thought by some
lunarians to be manœuvres directed to them, or attempts to attract their
attention. However, having had many impressions upon the resistance that
new delusions encounter, so that, at least upon this earth, some
benightments have had to wait centuries before finally imposing
themselves generally, I’d think of considerable time elapsing before the
coming of a general conviction upon the moon that, by means of living
symbols, and the firing of explosives, terrestrians were trying to
communicate.
Beacon-like lights that have been seen upon the moon. The lights have
been desultory. The latest of which I have record was back in the year
1847. But now, if beginning in the early 60’s, though not coinciding
with the beginning of unusual and tremendous manifestations upon this
earth, we have data as if of greatly stimulated attempts to communicate
from the moon—why one assimilates one’s impressions of such great
increase with this or with that, all according to what one’s dominant
thoughts may be, and calls the product a logical conclusion. Upon the
night of May 15, 1864, Herbert Ingall, of Camberwell, saw a little to
the west of the lunar crater Picard, in the Mare Crisium, a remarkably
bright spot (_Astro. Reg._, 2-264).
Oct. 24, 1864—period of nearest approach by Mars—red lights upon
opposite parts of Mars (_C. R._, 85-538). Upon Oct. 16, Ingall had again
seen the light west of Picard. Jan. 1, 1865—a small speck of light, in
darkness, under the east foot of the lunar Alps, shining like a small
star, watched half an hour by Charles Grover (_Astro. Reg._, 3-255).
Jan. 3, 1865—again the red lights of Mars (_C. R._, 85-538). A thread of
data appears, as an offshoot from a main streak, but it can not sustain
itself. Lights on the moon and lights on Mars, but I have nothing more
that seems to signify both signals and responses between these two
worlds.
April 10, 1865—west of Picard, according to Ingall—“a most minute point
of light, glittering like a star” (_Astro. Reg._, 3-189).
Sept. 5, 1865—a conspicuous bright spot west of Picard (_Astro. Reg._,
3-252). It was seen again by Ingall. He saw it again upon the 7th, but
upon the 8th it had gone, and there was a cloud-like effect where the
light had been.
Nov. 24, 1865—a speck of light that was seen by the Rev. W. O. Williams,
shining like a small star in the lunar crater Carlini (_Intel. Obs._,
11-58).
June 10, 1866—the star-like light in Aristarchus; reported by Tempel
(Denning, _Telescopic Work_, p. 121).
Astronomically and seleno-meteorologically, nothing that I know of has
ever been done with these data. I think well of taking up the subject
theologically. We are approaching accounts of a different kind of
changes upon the moon. There will be data seeming so to indicate not
only persistence but devotedness upon the moon that I incline to think
not only of devotedness but of devotions. Upon the 16th of October,
1866, the astronomer Schmidt, of the land of Socrates, announced that
the isolated object, in the eastern part of the Mare Serenitatis, known
as Linné, had changed. Linné stands out in a blank area like the Pyramid
of Cheops in its desert. If changes did occur upon Linné, the
conspicuous position seems to indicate selection. Before October, 1866,
Linné was well-known as a dark object. Something was whitening an object
that had been black.
A hitherto unpublished episode in the history of theologies: