A Square & Stationary Earth : “It Knocks the Globe Theory Clean Out!” (1893)

Today I learned about an incredible map made by Professor Orlando Ferguson back in 1893. His provocative illustrations depict the Earth as a shallow bowl of land and water with a round icy perimeter guarded by four Angels. The dimpled mound at the center (the North Pole) supports a series of cantilevered moons and stars, likely to be the Moon, our Sun and the North Star. In designing this “Square and Stationary Earth” Ferguson lays out a series of Biblical passages that clearly support his novel geometric assessments.

From Revelations 7 : “After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree.”

Worth Its Weight in Gold

While eager to spread the good word of his discovery, the Professor also knew that any ground-breaking (or earth altering) new theory should never be given away for free. Ferguson’s shared genius comes at a cost, of course. For just 25 Cents you could own your very own 57cm x 82cm hand colored map! His original pitch, below:

“Send 25 Cents to the Author, Prof. Orlando Ferguson, for a book explaining this Square and Stationary Earth. It Knocks the Globe Theory Clean Out. It will Teach You How to Foretell Eclipses. It is Worth Its Weight in Gold.”

Hold Onto Something!

To the right of the map there is a small diagram featuring a globed earth with two men struggling to hang on. Clearly, if the Earth was capable of flying at such rates, we would all fly right off! As Ferguson says… “Think of that speed!”

“These men are flying on the globe at the rate of 65,000 miles per hour around the sun, and 1,042 miles per hour around the center of the earth (in their minds). Think of that speed!”

At the very bottom of his map there is a long series of passages / scripture that he claims clearly deny the “Globe Theory”... For your interest, I’ve transcribed his findings below...

“Four Hundred Passages in the Bible that Condemn the Globe Theory, or the Flying Earth, and None Sustain It. This Map is the Bible Map of the World.”

“And his hands were steady until the going down of the sun—Ex. 17: 12. And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed.—Joshua 10: 12–13. The world also shall be stable that it not be moved.—Chron. 16: 30. To him that stretched out the earth, and made great lights (not worlds).—Ps. 136: 6–7. The sun shall be darkened in his going forth.—Isaiah 12: 10. The four corners of the Earth.—Isaiah 11: 12. The whole earth is at rest.—Isaiah 14: 7. The prophecy concerning the globe theory.—Isaiah: 29th chapter. Woe to the rebellious children, sayeth the Lord, that take counsel, but not of me.—Isaiah 30: 1. So the sun returned ten degrees.—Isaiah 38: 8–9. It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth.—Isaiah 40: 22. He that spreads forth the earth.—Isaiah 52: 5. That spreadeth abroad the earth by myself.—Isaiah 54: 24. My hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth.—Isaiah 58: 13. Thus sayeth the Lord, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the moon and stars for a light by night (not worlds).—Jer. 31: 35–36. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood.—Acts 2: 20.”

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So, what do you think? Is this map worth its weight in gold? Is the whole Flying Earth theory just a sham? Or perhaps you’re thinking that 1893 is a little late in the game to be debating the rules of gravity? Maybe, maybe not. 65,000 is pretty fast... Suddenly I feel the urge to hold onto something! ;)

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