On the next page is given an illustration of a wonder seen by the pilot of the steamer “William Penn,” on the Ohio River, on the night of March 21, 1843. An account of it was published in the Cincinnati Sun, of March 27, 1843, and reads as follows:—
GOD
“On Saturday afternoon, Mr. William Frances, pilot of the ‘William Penn’ steamboat, a packet that runs between this city and Rising Sun, Ind., called personally at our office to give us the full particulars of the wonderful sight seen by him on the night above mentioned, fully impressed with the solemnity of the subject, and the awful responsibility of telling anything of this nature but what is strictly true. Mr. Frances informed us that he is a member of the church, and assured us in the most solemn manner that what he was about to relate was truth, and nothing but the truth, and that he is ready to convince any gentleman or lady that will call upon him.
“He states that as the ‘Penn’ was on her trip to this city, when between Rising Sun and Aurora, about 11 or 12 P. M., he was steering the boat along, it being a star-bright night,—excepting a few clouds in the west, low down, sky clear,—when of a sudden a light burst forth, the whole face of the earth appearing to be lit up, which so blinded him that it was with difficulty he could see anything, even the most near object. His first impression was that it lightened sharply, but its continuing convinced him it must be something else, which he could not account for.
“The captain of the ‘Penn,’ James Pratzman, was sitting in the cabin at the time with three or four candles; he saw the light, notwithstanding, ran out to the guard, anxious to know the cause, and asked Mr. Frances if he saw the light.
“He said he did.
“What is it?” said Captain P.
“‘Dear only knows,’ answered Mr. F., ‘for I don’t.’
“From that the captain disappeared from looking over the hurricane deck, and went below.
“Mr. Frances now being anxious to discover whence this bright light came, looked diligently out of the side of the pilot-house, in rather a southwest course, but nearly overhead, when he saw the outlines of A SERPENT IN THE SKY, in a crooked position, except the tail, which was straight, and the head toward the east. It turned to a lively bright red, deep and awful, and remained stationary among the stars. Mr. Frances watched it for two or three minutes, when the part disappeared nearly to the middle, and the remainder, in a gradual manner, formed into a distinct Roman
A SERPENT IN THE SKY,
G.
“Mr. F. had time now to mind the channel of the river and deliberate upon the grandeur of the letter in the sky! It was remarkably interesting to him, as may well be supposed from the accuracy of its formation. And, in about one minute and a half, he watched it and the boat alternately, when it changed, turning into a distinct letter O, as perfect as was ever seen, in which position it remained as before. Mr. F. stated that he was surprised greatly at this, but not scared or frightened in the least, and immediately tapped the bell for the captain to witness the scene. The captain did not67come immediately, but after a moment or two appeared, but ere this the figure in the heavens had changed to a plain, distinct letter
O,
D.
“The captain said to Mr. F., ‘What’s wanting?’”
“Come here, quick,” said Mr. F., “and look up yonder. Did you ever see the like?”
“The captain answered, ‘I see it,’ and looked at it till it disappeared.
“Mr. F. states that when the O turned to a D, it formed a kind of oblong shape, and then came straight on one side, as a D should be. When it disappeared it turned into the same oblong shape as before, and gradually the sky returned to its original appearance.
“Mr. F. states that he did not leave the wheel of the boat, but steered it straight to this city. He declares that, let others think or say what they will, what he has related is strictly true. He is no Millerite, neither is he crazy or frightened; and if gentlemen or ladies will call upon him, he will convince them that what he has told is true.”
A SWORD AND CROWN.
A letter from John Morrison, of Glasgow, Lower Canada, dated May 27, 1843, reads: “A family near this place saw, in the heavens, on the evening of Friday, May 19, a great sword, exceedingly bright.” He quotes the statement of another person, near the same place, who said: “On Monday last (May 21, 1843), in the afternoon, as I was coming from the post-office,68being alone, and it being a cloudy afternoon, I saw a spot of clear sky in the west, and in that the appearance of a splendid crown, highly ornamented, as clear and bright as I ever beheld in a picture. I kept my eye upon it, and hastened home to show it to my family. But I saw it was changing, and it became quite round. It was red as blood, and much larger than the moon.
“A black line came across the center, and after a few moments it disappeared.”
SIGN IN THE SUN IN ENGLAND.
The cut presented on page 71 represents a scene connected with the sun, as seen in Norwich, England, in the month of December, 1842. The drawing and explanation as here given were furnished to the editor of the Midnight Cry, in a letter from E. Lloyd, 21 Parker’s Terrace, Necauger Road, Bermondsey, London, dated Jan. 3, 1843. He says: “This sight was seen in the heavens just as Brethren Winter, Burgess, and Routon were about to commence their advent lectures in that city, and so prepared the people to listen to truth that they met with great success in their mission there.”
In describing the wonderful phenomenon, he says: “There has been a remarkable ‘sign in the sun’ seen by the principal part of the citizens of Norwich and the surrounding country, such as has never been seen in England before. It was seen in December last, about twelve o’clock, noon, and continued for two hours. It very much alarmed the inhabitants.
“The small inner circle represents the sun, of a light orange hue. The outer part of the two larger circles, at unequal distances from the sun, appeared of the same hue, but the inner part of those circles was of a very deep yellow. The sky within those circles appeared of a dusky brown color, and the three large circles passing through the sun appeared of a distinct bright light.”
SIGN IN THE SUN IN AMERICA, 1844.
The following description of a sight which appeared in connection with the sun in New Haven, Conn., Sept. 9, 1844, was published in the Hartford Courant, of Sept. 12, 1844:—
“The rings around the sun on Monday, Sept. 9, 1844, for two hours before and after midday, appear to have been generally observed by our citizens with much interest, and have awakened an intelligent curiosity to learn more respecting appearances of the same kind and their causes.
“The present halo was remarkable for its duration, and afforded favorable opportunities for observation. About midday it consisted chiefly of two complete rings, one about forty-five degrees in breadth, encircling the sun at its center, and the other about seventy-two degrees broad, having its center in the zenith, while its circumference passed through the sun. The smaller circle was accompanied by an ellipse of the major axis, and of small eccentricity. Directly opposite the sun, and thirty-six degrees north of the zenith, the larger circle was intersected by two other74circles of nearly or quite the same diameter, forming at the point of intersection a bright spot, such as would naturally result from the combined light of three luminous rings. The ring that encircled the sun exhibited the colors of the rainbow, frequently with much vividness and beauty. The other rings were white, and fainter as they were more distant from the sun. Small portions of circles, however, with prismatic [rainbow] hues, appeared at different times, both in the east and west. . . . Such uniformity of structure must depend on some law which regulates the formation of halos; but the nature of the law is not fully developed. . . . Not much difficulty has been experienced in accounting for the production of the ring that encircles the sun, since the cause is somewhat similar to that which produces the rainbow; but to explain the origin of the ring which has its circumference in the sun’s center, has been found more difficult.”
GOD’S POWER PRODUCES THE WONDERS.
To him that acknowledges that all things are “upheld” by the word of God’s power, and that by Him “all things consist,” there is no difficulty in accounting for these remarkable appearances in the heavens. Such a one recognizes the fact that “fire, and hail; snow, and vapors; stormy wind,” are “fulfilling His word.” Of the rainbow God said, “I do set My bow in the cloud. . . . It shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud; . . . and I will look75upon it.” God’s power produces the beautiful bow, with its varied colors; and while we look upon it, our mind is solemnized with the thought that God too is looking at it.
As the storm and vapors fulfil His word, it is of little consequence whether the center of His rainbow-colored circles are in the sun or outside, or whether the convex of the rainbow half-circles, or the concave is toward the sun. God has said in His Word that as the end draws near, there shall be “signs in the sun.” His power produces these signs in a way that defeats all the speculations of men as to how they are produced. When men talk of “natural law,” let it be remembered that “nature is but the name for an effect, whose cause is God.”
WONDERFUL SUN RINGS.
About the date of this last-described wonder (1844), New York papers gave an account of a most wonderful appearance around the sun. The exact date of the paper is not at hand. However, we give the description of the phenomenon as seen, on page 77. The article reads: “An unusual and beautiful solar phenomenon was visible in this city for about two hours this morning. The sun appeared to be surrounded by several rings of different shades, shapes, and centers. Two rings, with the sun nearly in their centers, appeared and intersected each other at two opposite points. The inner circumference of the rings within the points of intersection were dark, but beyond the points of intersection they were luminous.80Several other circles and arcs of circles appeared, with the sun either in their circumference or near one side. Under the sun was the appearance of an inverted rainbow. The phenomenon was exceedingly curious and interesting, and needs the description of a scientific observer to give a proper and adequate delineation of it. We trust that some one competent to do so will submit to the public such a description. The appearance is very unusual in this latitude. . . . One similar to that of to-day was observed in Connecticut, Sept. 9, 1844, and another of the same character at Jackson, Tenn., Jan. 1, 1824. The Millerites, we understand, regard the phenomenon as a sign of the end of all things.”
And why not? The Lord has said that when the great day of the Lord is drawing near, He will show “wonders in the heavens,” and “signs in the sun.” Faith in God leads His people to say: “These are things the Lord said should come, and here they are, fulfilling His word. Surely, the great day of the Lord is nearing.”
OTHER WONDERFUL SUN RINGS.
Your attention is next called to a wonderful appearance of the sun as witnessed at Danville, Ky., Jan. 1, 1843. The same appeared again at the same place on February 3, of the same year. The first appearance, as given in the Danville Mercury, of Jan. 4, 1843, reads as follows:—
“The citizens of this village were much astonished81on the 1st inst. at the appearance of one of those singular and unusual exhibitions termed parhelia. It was about 2 P. M. that we first observed the singular phenomenon. At this time the heavens presented the following appearance: Around the sun there was a circle of light, such as is frequently seen around both it and the moon. The diameter of this appeared to be about forty-five degrees; outside of this there was another circle, or rather segment of a circle, for it was not complete, seeming likewise to have the sun for its center, and whose diameter was about twice that of the former, and only the upper portion—perhaps the half—was visible. Extending around the whole horizon, and apparently equally distant from it in every part, was a third circle, cutting the former at right angles, and passing through the sun. At the points of intersection between this and the inner circle surrounding the sun were two colored images, very distinct, which might have been, and were for an instant, mistaken for the sun by persons who were in such a situation that they could not see the sun itself. In this same horizontal circle were two other less brilliant and white images,—one each side of the two former, and apparently at equal distances from them, and also, of course, from the sun. These two last images were each, perhaps, about one hundred degrees from the sun. There was also a fourth segment of a circle, presenting the appearance and brilliant colors of the rainbow. About one-third of the circle could be seen. It was high above the horizon, and seemed to have a point in or near the zenith as its center; if82completed, its diameter would have been, perhaps, forty-five degrees. It was, of course, convex toward the sun, and just touched the outer circle surrounding the sun. The colors of the rainbow were exceedingly distinct—the red being next to the sun, and the others in order.”
“At about a quarter past two the appearance was the most brilliant, the four images and the four circles being then all visible. From this time it began to fade away, the circle and images disappearing one at a time, until about 3 P. M., when nothing unusual could be seen.”
The postmaster of Danville, in a letter dated Feb. 3, 1843, said: “One of these astonishing and singular phenomena appeared here this morning at ten o’clock. The sky was clear. It was precisely the same as appeared on the first of January, a description of which will be published in to-morrow’s paper.”
The Danville Clarion of the next day contained the following concerning the sight seen on February 3: “Yesterday morning, about ten o’clock, we were summoned to the street to view the re-appearance of the beautiful and strange phenomenon in the heavens, called parhelia. The sky was unusually clear, and the appearance differed from that witnessed by our citizens on the first day of last month (a description of which we gave) only in the increased brightness of the four luminous spots then mentioned as having the appearance of the sun partly obscured by clouds. This lasted, as did the other, about one hour.”
RAINBOW CIRCLES ON THE SUN.
In the Illustrated London News, of March 22, 1845, was a cut illustrating the appearance of the sun on March 9, 1845, and a description of the same, written by Theodore F. Ellis, of Cambridge, England, who viewed it through his telescope. He says: “I write to inform you of a most extraordinary phenomenon which has to-day been observed at Cambridge; and I do so because, although the event is one which must interest the scientific world to a very high degree, yet the results of the minute observations made by the Plumian Professor will not be completed for some days, and I thought meanwhile the results of my own observation might not be unacceptable.”
“The morning was beautifully fine, and the sky cloudless, if we except a few cirro cumuli in the south of southeast, which appeared like thin pieces of white gauze floating in the sky—scarcely a breath of air stirring. About twenty-five minutes past ten my attention was drawn to the sun, which, though apparently unclouded, seemed to shine with less than usual luster, and its rays appeared slightly tinged with green.
“I immediately put on the dark glass of my achromatic telescope, and, with a power of about forty, directed the instrument to the sun’s center. I here saw distinctly a small dark spot, surrounded successively by violet, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red rings, separated by comparatively dark rings, and beyond the exterior red ring the same recurred in the same86order, but the colors then were much more faint, and at last hardly visible. This appearance increased in intensity until five minutes past eleven, after which the colors began to fade, and exactly at twelve all traces of color disappeared. However, I continued my observations, and soon found that the phenomenon had not concluded, for the colors now began to return in a reversed order; i. e., at the sun’s center was now a spot of purely white light, and each color was replaced by its complementary one; and, most astonishing to relate, this appearance of the sun’s disc increased in intensity of color until five minutes before one, and then began to fade, vanishing completely at thirty-five minutes past two, after which everything resumed its ordinary appearance, and nothing more could be discerned unusual throughout the day.”
RAINBOW RINGS. EXTRA SUNS.
The following account was published in the Methodist Protestant, of Baltimore, Md., and the Baltimore American, in 1864, and is from a correspondent at Pleasant Hill, Md., and dated Feb. 6, 1864:—
“A curious and beautiful phenomenon of the heavens was witnessed to-day, which, for its remarkable and unaccountable appearance, should be publicly noted. At or about half-past eleven o’clock this morning, one of my brothers, coming up the avenue from the city, observed that the sun gave a very peculiar light. Looking up, he saw the wonderful appearance of three suns in the sky, at the same time surrounded by a halo. He immediately came into87the house and acquainted the rest of the family and myself with the fact.
“The true sun was near the meridian, and the two parhelia, or mock suns, were very bright and distinct, one on the east and the other on the west of the true sun, and intersected by a halo surrounding the sun, with an imaginary circle parallel to the horizon and passing through the true sun. The mock suns were, as well as the halo, colored like a rainbow, and whitish toward the sun. Each mock sun had a streak or tail of light diverging from it in opposition to the true sun. This strange appearance continued for about half an hour after we first saw it.”
“This extraordinary phenomenon was witnessed by some of our neighbors also, and was the most remarkable spectacle I ever witnessed.”
A SIGHT WITNESSED AT ACOTLAN, MEXICO.
The following account of a sight seen at Acotlan, Mexico, Oct. 27, 1847, is taken from a paper called Girdle of Truth, Extra, Vol. 1, No. 6, New York, Jan. 20, 1848. B. Matthias, editor; E. Curtis, publisher. It is a portion of an account of the scene as given in the official report of the alcalde (mayor) of the city of Acotlan, to the governor of the state of Jalisco, Mexico. He says: “Mexican papers of October 27 report that after the earthquake at Acotlan, at 12 o’clock in the day there was seen in the sky, between the west and the north, a very perfect image of the crucified Saviour, which lasted half an hour, during which time more than two thousand persons, who were92in the market-place, prostrated themselves, performing acts of contrition, and calling on the Lord with shouts for mercy.”
AN EVENING SUN AND SEVEN STARS.
In a pamphlet written by Leonard Henrich Kelber (the learned schoolmaster of Stuttgart, Germany), published in the year 1824, we read of a wonderful sight seen in Valencia, Spain, and at other points, in the year 1816. He says: “In Valencia, Spain, and several other places, there was seen in a clear sky, on Oct. 16, 1816, two hours after sunset, for over half an hour, in the western mid-heavens, a bright sun surrounded by seven stars, which lighted up the whole city as light as day. When the scene ended, it was by the stars passing one by one into the body of the sun, and then the sun vanished from sight.”
FOUR EXTRA SUNS. RAINBOW-COLORED ARCS AND CIRCLES.
The illustration found on page 95, with description, I obtained at Cady, Ireland, in the month of May, 1900. It is taken from Lloyd’s Cyclopedic Dictionary. This phenomenon was seen in the heavens, in a clear sky, in County Down, Ireland, in the month of August, in the year 1858. The day of the month was not given. The record stated that the scene, as shown in the illustration, began at 2:20 P. M., and continued for half an hour. There were four extra suns, two on either side of the real sun, and a few yards from
it. These were on a line horizontal with the real sun. Rainbow-colored circles passed through the extra suns on either side. Over the outer circle was an inverted rainbow, and under the circles, to the right and left, were quarter sections of a circle, all in bright rainbow colors. The cut in the dictionary was the same as this one, save that it was not colored, but the statement was made that all the circles were of rainbow hues.
