XXIII. Geological Time

Abstract

The author began by making some observations upon astronomical distance, pointing out that as astronomy had been recognised as a science from an early period in the history of civilisation we had nowadays all become more or less familiar with the conception of vast intervals of space. Geology, on the other hand, was a science of very recent growth, and had hardly yet passed through stages of development which had been reached by astronomy 2000 or more years ago. While, therefore, no rational person was prepared to call in question statements regarding the distances of even the nearest of the stellar bodies, there were many who had failed to realise any true conception of what was meant by “geological time”; like those folk who, centuries ago, opposed the statements of astronomers in regard to vast intervals of space, these now dissented from the statements of geologists in regard to equally vast intervals of time. This, of course, was partly due to the fact that many of the data with which the geologist had to deal had not yet reached the stage of exactitude to which astronomical data had attained in the middle ages. Other reasons, obvious to any thoughtful person, also stood in the way. The lecturer then dealt with some of the evidences which lead the geologist to consider that vast, if still indefinite, periods of time are implied in the development of events in the earth9s past history with which it was his special province to deal. He