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diff --git a/41892-0.txt b/41892-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..acf773c --- /dev/null +++ b/41892-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4928 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 41892 *** + + DYNAMIC THOUGHT + + OR + + THE LAW OF VIBRANT + ENERGY + + BY + + WILLIAM WALKER ATKINSON + + + _Author of "Thought Force;" "Law of the New Thought;" "Nuggets of + the New Thought;" "Memory Culture" and other Scientific and + Occult Works. Associate Editor of "Suggestion," 1900-01; + Editor of "New Thought," 1901-05; Co-Editor + of "The Segnogram," 1906._ + + "I am attacked by two very opposite sects--the Scientists and the + Know-Nothings; both laugh at me, calling me the 'Frogs' Dancing Master,' + but I know that I have discovered one of the greatest Forces in Nature." + --GALVINI. + + + 1906 + THE SEGNOGRAM PUBLISHING COMPANY + LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA + + + + +Copyright 1906 By The Segnogram Publishing Company + + +NOTICE.--This book is protected by Copyright, and simultaneous initial +publication in the United States of America, Canada, Great Britain, +France, Germany, Russia, and other countries. All rights reserved. + + + + +A FOREWORD + + +This is a queer book. It is a marriage of the Ancient Occult Teachings +to the latest and most advanced conceptions of Modern Science--an odd +union, for the parties thereto are of entirely different temperaments. +The marriage might be expected to result disastrously, were it not for +the fact that a connecting link has been found that gives them a bond of +common interest. No two people may truly love each other, unless they +also love something in common--the more they love in common, the greater +will be their love for each other. And, let us trust that this will +prove true in this marriage of Occultism and Science, celebrated in this +book. + +The Occultists usually get at the "facts," first, but they manage to +evolve such outrageous theories to explain the facts, that the world +will have none of their wares, and turns to Science for something +"reasonable." Science, proceeding along different lines, at first denies +these "facts" of the Occultists, not finding them accounted for by any +of her existing theories; but, later on, when the "facts" have been +finally thrust under her eyes, after repeated attempts and failures, she +says, "Oh, yes, of course!" and proceeds to evolve a new theory, welding +it with other scientific hypotheses, and after attaching a new label +thereto, she proudly exhibits the thing as "the latest discovery of +Modern Science"--and smiles indulgently, or indignantly, when the theory +of the old Occultists is mentioned, saying, "Quite a different thing, we +assure you!" And yet, in all justice, be it said, Science usually +proceeds to find much better "proofs" to fit the "facts" of Occultism, +than did the Occultists themselves. The Occultist "sees things," but is +a poor hand at "proofs"--while the Scientist is great on "proofs," but +so often, and so long, fails to see many things patent to the Occultist +who is able to "look within" himself, but who is then unable to +positively and scientifically "prove" the facts. This is easily +explained--the Occultist's information comes from "within," while the +Scientist's comes from without--and "proofs" belong to the "without" +side of Mentation. And this is why the Occultists so often make such a +bungle regarding "proofs" and the Scientist fails to see "facts" that +are staring the Occultist in the face. + +The whole history of Occultism and Science proves the above. Take the +phenomenon called "Mesmerism" for instance--it was an old story with the +Occultists, who had been for years aware of it, theoretically and +practically. Mesmer brought it into general prominence, and Science +laughed at it and at Mesmer's "fluid" theory, and called him a charlatan +and imposter. Years afterwards, Braid, an English surgeon, discovered +that some of the facts of "Mesmerism" were true, and he announced his +discovery in a scientific manner, and lo! his views were accepted, and +the thing was called "Hypnotism," poor old Mesmer being forgotten, +because of his theory. Then, after a number of years, certain other +aspects of the phenomenon were discovered, and scientifically relabelled +"Suggestion," and the re-naming was supposed to "explain" the entire +subject, the learned ones now saying, "Pooh, 'tis nothing but +'Suggestion,'" as if _that_ explained the matter. But so far, they have +only accepted certain phases of this form of Dynamic Thought--for that +is what it is, and there are many other phases of which they do not +dream. + +And the same is true of the Occult Teaching that there is "Life in +Everything--the Universe is Alive." For years, this idea was hooted at, +and we had learned scientific discourses upon "dead Matter," "inert +substance," etc. But, only within the past decade--yes, within the last +five years, has Science discovered that there was Life in Everything, +and that even in the Atom of mineral and chemical substance, there was +to be found evidence of Mind. And Science is beginning to plume itself +on its "recent discovery," and to account for it by a new theory, which +is "quite a different thing, we assure you," from the old Occult Theory. + +And the same will prove true in the case of the Occult Teaching of an +Universal Mind, or Cosmic Mind. Science and Philosophy have long laughed +at this, but even now their foremost investigators have come to the +borders of a new country, and are gasping in amazement at what they see +beyond its borders--they are now talking about "Life and Mind in the +Ether"--and before long they will discard their paradoxical, absurd, +hypothetical Ether, and say, "We are bathed in an Ocean of Mind"--only +they will insist that this "Ocean of Mind" is, somehow, a "secretion of +Matter"--something oozing out from the pores of Matter, perhaps. + +But Science is doing valuable work in the direction of investigation and +experiment, and in this way is _proving the principal occult teachings_ +in a way impossible to the Occultists themselves. + +So, you see that both Occultism and Science have their own work to +do--and neither can do the work of the other. Just now Science is +coquetting with the question of "Thought Transmission," etc., at which +she has for so long sneered and laughed. By and by she will accept the +facts, and then proceed to prove them by a series of careful and +conclusive experiments, and will then announce the result, solemnly, as +"a triumph of Science." + +And so, in this book you will find a marriage of the old Occult +Teachings and Modern Scientific Researches and Investigation. And the +two are bound together with that bond forged by the writer of the +book--heated in the oven of his mind, and hammered into shape with his +"untrained" thought--a crude, clumsy thing, but it serves its purpose--a +thing called "_The Theory of Dynamic Thought_." + +And so, this is what this Theory is--a "_tie that binds_." How you will +like it depends upon yourself. For himself, the writer does not hesitate +to say that he is pleased with his handiwork, rude, and clumsy though it +may be. He believes that he has made a thing that will stand wear and +tear, and that though it be not beautifully finished, it "will serve," +and "be useful." And that is the main thing, after all. And, then, +perhaps, some may see beauty in the very crudeness of the thing--may see +that it bears the loving mark of the hammer that beat it into shape--may +recognize that over it has passed the caress of the hand that made +it--and in that seeing there may come the recognition of a beauty that +is beyond "prettiness." + + WILLIAM WALKER ATKINSON. + + _Los Angeles, California, + February 16, 1906._ + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER. PAGE. + + I. "In the Beginning" 11 + + II. Things as They Are 20 + + III. The Universality of Life and Mind 30 + + IV. Life and Mind Among the Atoms 41 + + V. The Story of Substance 61 + + VI. Substance and Beyond 75 + + VII. The Paradox of Science 96 + + VIII. The Forces of Nature 109 + + IX. Radiant Energy 121 + + X. The Law of Attraction 135 + + XI. The Theory of Dynamic Thought 154 + + XII. The Law of Vibrant Energy 171 + + XIII. The Riddle of the Sphinx 182 + + XIV. The Mystery of Mind 200 + + XV. The Finer Forces of the Mind 206 + + XVI. Thought in Action 219 + + + + + "A fire-mist and a planet, + A crystal and a cell, + A jelly-fish and a saurian, + And caves where the cave-men dwell; + Then a sense of law and beauty, + And a face turned from the clod,-- + Some call it Evolution, + And others call it God." + + "Like tides on a crescent sea-beach, + When the moon is new and thin, + Into our hearts high yearnings + Come welling and surging in,-- + Come from the mystic ocean + Whose rim no foot has trod,-- + Some of us call it Longing, + And others call it God." + + --W.H. CARRUTH. + + + + +DYNAMIC THOUGHT + + + + +CHAPTER I + +"IN THE BEGINNING" + + +This book will deal with Life. It holds that Life is Universal--that it +is inherent in, and manifests (in different degrees) in every part, +particle, phase, aspect, condition, place, or relationship, in the World +of Things that we call the Universe. + +It holds that Life manifests in two aspects or forms, which are +generally found by us in connection and co-operation with each other, +but which are both, probably, an expression of some One Thing higher +than either. These two aspects or forms, which together go to make up or +produce that which we know as "Life," are known as (1) Substance or +Matter; and (2) Mind. In this book the term "Substance" is used in +preference to "Matter," owing to the fact that the term "Matter" has +become closely identified with certain ideas of the Materialistic school +of thought, and has generally been regarded by the public in the light +of "dead matter," whereas this book holds that all Substance is Alive. +The term "Mind" is used in the sense of "Mind, _as we know it_," rather +than as "Mind, _as it is_"--or, as "The Cosmic Mind." In some places the +term "Mind-principle" is used to convey the idea of "a portion of the +Great Principle of Mind, of which that which we call 'Mind' is but a +small and but partially expressed portion." These terms are explained +and illustrated as we proceed. The aspect of "Energy or Force" is not +treated as a separate aspect or form of Life, in this book, for the +reason that it is regarded as merely a manifestation of Mind, as will +appear as we proceed. We have much to say regarding Motion, but the +writer has tried to explain and prove that, at the last, all Motion +results from Mental Action, and that all Force and Energy is +Vital-Mental Force and Energy. + +This book is not intended to run along metaphysical or theological +lines--its field is different. And so, while it recognizes the +importance of these branches of human thought, still, it finds that its +own particular field is sufficient to engross its entire attention, for +the moment, and, consequently the aforesaid subjects shall not be +touched upon except incidentally, in connection with the subject matter +of the book. + +This being the case, there will be no discussion of the "origin of +Life"--the question of "creation"--the problems of theology and +metaphysics--the riddle of the "Why and Wherefore" of Life and the +Universe. The writer has his own opinions upon these questions, but +feels that this is not the place in which to air the same. For the +purposes of the book, he prefers to leave every reader to his own +favorite views and conceptions regarding these great subjects, feeling +that the views regarding Life, Mind, Motion and Substance, that are +advanced in this book, may be accepted by any intelligent reader, +without prejudice to his, or her, accepted religious or philosophical +views. + +The writer sees that this something called "Life" exists--he finds it in +evidence everywhere. And he sees it always in its aspects of Substance +and Mind. And he feels justified in regarding "Life" as always existing +in, and manifesting in these aspects--always in conjunction--at least, +Life "as we know it." + +And he finds certain apparent Laws of Life in operation in the Universe +to which all Life, in all of its aspects, is apparently amenable. And +he feels justified in considering these Laws constant, and invariable, +and unchangeable so long as the Universe, as it now is, exists. + +And with the above views in mind, this book will proceed to a +consideration of its subject, without attempting to peer behind the veil +separating the Universe from its Causer--Life from its Source. + +But in justice to reader, subject and writer, the latter has thought it +well to state that he _does_ recognize, not only the veil, but +That-which-is-behind-the-Veil. To proceed without this statement would +be unfair and misleading. The writer wishes to be understood positively +upon this point, even though the declaration may bring forth the +derisive jeer of those who feel that they "have outgrown" this +conception; or else the calm, superior, pitying smile of those who feel +that the Universe is its own Cause and Effect. By "Universe," the writer +means "The whole body of Things" (Webster). His declaration means that +he believes in "That-which-is-above-Things." + +The writer prefers not to attempt to "define" THAT which he calls "The +Infinite." The word "Infinite" means "without limit in time, space, +power, capacity, knowledge or excellence" (Webster). And to "define" is +to "limit"; "mark the limits of"; "mark the end of," etc. The term +"define," as applied to "The Infinite," is ridiculous--an absurd +paradox. The writer echoes Spinoza's statement: "To define God is to +deny Him." And so there shall be no attempt at definition or limitation. + +But the human mind, in considering the subject, is bound by its own laws +to think of "The Infinite" as Real, and actually being and existent, if +it thinks of It at all. And if it thinks of It as "Infinite," it _must_, +by its own laws, think of It as Causeless; Eternal; Absolute; +Everywhere-present; All-Powerful; All-Wise. The human mind is +_compelled_ to so consider The Infinite, if it thinks of It at all. But +even in so thinking of It as "being" these things, it is doing something +like "defining" or "limiting" It, for The Infinite must not only "be" +those things, but it must "be" so much more, that "those things" are but +as a grain of dust on the desert as compared to the real "Being" of The +Infinite. For the "things" mentioned are but "finite" or "defined" +things--things possessed by the Finite Things--and, at the best can be +but symbols of the attributes or qualities of The Infinite; even the +words "attributes" or "qualities" being an absurdity as applied to The +Infinite. This view, also, _must_ be reported by the human reason, if +it thinks about the matter at all. + +The final report of the human reason regarding this matter is that it is +insoluble and unthinkable to that reason, in its final analysis. This +because the human reason is compelled to use terms, concepts, etc., +derived from its experience with finite things, and therefore has no +tools, measurements, or other appliances with which to "think" of The +Infinite. All that it can do is to report that it finds that it has +limits itself, and that it finds beyond those limits That which it +cannot define, but which it is justified in considering as Infinite, and +superior to all finite conceptions, such as Time, Space, Causation and +Thought. (The idea of Thought being finite, equally with Time, Space and +Causation, is not common, by the writer is compelled to place it in that +category, because it is clearly under the laws of Time, Space, and Cause +and Effect, and must be considered as "finite." The "knowledge" +possessed by The Infinite must be something far transcending that which +we know as the result of "mental operations," or "thinking.") + +Certain fundamental truths seem to have been impressed upon the human +intellect, and the reason is compelled to report in accordance +therewith. But an analysis of these fundamental truths is futile, and +the attempt only leads one into wild speculations. The only advantage +that comes from the attempt is the strengthening of mental muscle of +those who are able to stand the strain of the exercise; and the fact +that by such attempt we are made aware that we do not know, and cannot +know, by reasons of the nature of the Intellect, and are thus prevented +from harboring absurd and childish theories about the Unknowable. To +know that we do _not_ know, and _cannot_ know, is the next best thing to +actually knowing. + +The writer does not wish to be understood, that the limits of the human +reason are unalterably fixed. On the contrary, he believes that +additional fundamental portions of Truth are super-imposed upon the mind +of the race from time to time. And he believes, yes, _knows_, that there +are regions of the mind that give reports higher than those conveyed +through the Intellect. And he believes that there are phases of +knowledge in store for Man that will raise him as much higher than his +present position, as that present position is superior to that of the +earthworm. And he believes that there are Beings in existence to-day, on +planes of Life as yet undreamed of by the average man, who far transcend +Man in power, wisdom and nature. He believes that Man is merely just +entering into his kingdom, and does not realize the grandeur of that +which is his Divine Inheritance. + +It will be as well to mention here that the classification of Mind with +the aspects of Life, in conjunction with Substance, and Motion, does not +mean that the Ego or Man is a material thing. The writer believes that +the Ego is a transcendent Being, partaking in some wonderful way of the +essence of The Infinite--that it is a Soul--Immortal. He believes that +as Paul says, "We are all children of God, but what we shall be does not +as yet appear." These matters shall not be discussed in this book, but +the writer wishes to make himself clear, in order to prevent +misunderstanding. Again, in this respect, he must "fly in the face of +Materialism." + +But, although the writer expresses his belief in the existence of The +Infinite, and bases his philosophy upon that basis, he does not wish to +insist upon the identification of his conception with that of any other +particular conception of the Source of Life. Nor does he insist upon +names, or terms, in connection with the conception. He has used the +term, "The Infinite," because it seems to be broader than any other of +which he could think, but he uses it merely as a name for the +Un-Nameable. So, if the reader prefers, he, or she, may use the terms: +"God"; "Deity"; "First Cause"; "Principle"; "Unknowable"; "Infinite and +Eternal Energy"; "The Thing-in-Itself"; "The Absolute"; or any of the +other countless terms used by Man in his attempt to name the +Un-Nameable--to describe the Un-Describable--to define the Un-Definable. + +And all may retain their ideas, or lack of ideas, regarding the relation +of The Infinite to their own particular religious views, or lack of +views. The philosophy of this book need not disturb a man's religious +belief--nor does it insist upon the man holding any special religious +belief. Those are matters entirely for the exercise of the man's own +reason and conscience. And they may retain their own pet philosophy +regarding the origin, purposes or plan of the production and existence +of the Universe--this book shall not meddle with their metaphysics or +philosophy. What is herein offered may be assimilated with the +fundamental ideas of nearly every form of religious or philosophical +belief, it being in the nature of an Addition rather than a Subtraction, +or Division. Its philosophy is Constructive rather than Destructive. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THINGS AS THEY ARE + + +In our last chapter we considered the Source-of-All-Things, which we +called The Infinite. In this chapter we shall consider the All-Things +itself, which men call The Universe. Note that the word Universe is +derived from the Latin word "Unus," meaning "One," and "_Versor_," +meaning "to turn," the combined word meaning, literally, "One that +turns, or moves." The Latin words indicate a close meaning, namely, One +thing in motion, turning its several aspects, and assuming many changes +of appearance. + +The writer does not intend touching upon theories of the origin of the +Universe, nor of its purpose, or of any design in its production or +management, nor of its possible or probable end. These questions do not +belong to our subject, and then again, as was said in the last chapter, +speculation regarding it is devoid of results, and leads one to +quicksands and bogs of mental reasoning, from which it is difficult to +extract oneself. The answer to the Riddle of the Universe rests with The +Infinite. + +But it is different with the case of the manifested Universe that is +evidenced by our senses. Science is a different thing from metaphysics, +and its process and mode of work are along different lines. And, much +knowledge of Things may be obtained from a consideration of +it--remembering always, that its knowledge is confined to Things, and +not to That-which-is-back-of-Things. And, so let us consider the +Universe of Things. + +Material Science has held that the Universe is composed of two +principles, (1) Matter; (2) Energy or Force. Some hold that these two +principles really are aspects of the same thing, and that there is +really but one Principle, one aspect of which is shape, form, etc., and +called Matter; the other a quality manifesting in Motion, which quality +is called Force. Others, the most radical, hold that there is nothing +but Matter, and that Force and Energy is but a "quality," or "power," +inherent in Matter. Others hold that Force is the "real thing" and +Matter but a form of Force. All branches hold to the idea that Matter +and Energy are always found together, and can not be thought of +separately. Matter and Force are held to be Eternal, and Infinite, it +following that there can be no addition to, or subtraction from either; +all apparent loss and gain, creation and destruction being but change of +form or mode. God is declared unnecessary, and the Universe is held to +operate according to certain Laws of Matter or Force (either or both) +which are unchangeable and immutable--eternal and always valid. Mind and +Thought are held to be products of properties of Matter or Force (one or +both), secreted, evolved, or produced in the Brain. The Soul is +relegated to the waste heap, and discarded as useless in the new +philosophy. _Moleschott_ said, "Thought is a motion of Matter"; and +_Holbach_, that "Matter enjoys the power of thinking." "Natural Laws" +are held to be sufficient for the explanation of all phenomena, although +ignoring the fact that the reason has never before formed the conception +of a "law," without thinking it necessary to think of a "law-maker," or +a power to enforce and administer the law. However, the philosophers +hold that it is no more difficult to think of such a law than to try to +form an idea of Space or Eternity, both of which are unthinkable to the +human reason, but both of which are admitted as self-evident facts. + +But notwithstanding this somewhat crude and "raw" reasoning, Material +Science has accomplished a wonderful work in the world, and has brought +to light facts of inestimable value to Man in mastering the material +world, and in forming correct ideas of the solution of material +difficulties. The facts of Material Science enables the world to +cheerfully overlook its theories. And even the theories are rapidly +undergoing a change, and, as we have stated, some of the most advanced +scientists are rapidly reaching the position of the Occultists and +mystics, bringing with them a mass of facts to back them up, to exhibit +to the Occultists who dealt with principles rather than with details, or +material facts, so far as fundamental theories were concerned. Each is +boring his way through the mountain tunnel of the Unknown, and both will +meet in the centre, their lines meeting each other without a variation. +But the Occultists will call the tunnel-centre Mind, and the scientists +will call it Matter, but both will be speaking of the same thing. And +the Causer of the mountain will probably know that they both are right. + +But, we are speaking of the new school of advanced Material Science +now--not of the old conservative "All is Matter" people, who have been +left behind. The new school speaks of Substance now, instead of Matter, +and ascribes to "Substance" the properties of Matter, Energy, and +something that they call Sensation, by which they mean Mind in a crude +form, and from which they say Mind and "Soul" evolved. + +This new school of Scientists are very different from their +predecessors--they are less "hide-bound," and far from being so +"cock-sure." They are seeing Matter melting into Energy, and giving +signs of Sensation, and they are beginning to feel that, after all, +there must be a Thing-in-Itself, that is the real basis of, or "real +thing" in Substance. There is heard very little among them about "dead +matter"; "blind force"; or of the "mechanical theory" of Life and the +Universe. Instead of it being a big machine, operated under mechanical +laws, with Life as the steam, the Universe is beginning to be regarded +as somehow filled with Life, and Science is finding new examples of Life +in unexpected quarters, and the "dead matter" area is being narrowed. + +Men who have followed the advances made by recent Science are holding +their breaths in awe and earnest expectation--and those who are pushing +the inquiries and investigations to the furthest extent are showing by +their eager faces and trembling hands that they feel that they are very +close to the border line separating the old Materialism from a New +Science that will give Thought and Philosophy a new impetus and a new +platform. Such men are feeling that they are seeing the old Matter +melting away into something else--the old theories are falling apart +under the light of new discoveries--and these men feel that they are +penetrating a new and hitherto unexplored region of the Unknown. May +success be theirs, for they are now on the right road to Truth. + +In the following chapters we shall see frequent references to +"Science"--and when we use the word we shall know it means this new +school of Scientists, rather than the older school that is now being +superceded. There is no conflict between True Occultism and True +Science, notwithstanding their directly opposite theories and +ideals--they are merely looking at the Truth from different +viewpoints--at different sides of the same shield. A better day is +coming, when they shall work together, instead of in opposition. There +should be no partisanship in the search for Truth. + +Things have worked this way: Occultism would enunciate a theory or +principle--but would not attempt to prove it by material facts, for it +had not gathered the facts, having found the principle _within_ the +mind, rather than without. Then, after laughing at the occult theory or +principle, Science would search diligently for material facts to prove +an opposite theory, and in so doing would unearth new facts that would +support the Occultists contention. Then Science would discard its old +theory (that is, the younger men would--the old ones, never) and proceed +to proclaim a new theory or principle, under a new name, and backed up +with a mass of facts and experiments that would create a new school with +many enthusiastic followers. The old claim of the Occultists would then +be forgotten or else go unrecognized under its old name; or disguised by +the fantastic and _bizarre_ coverings which some so-called Occultists +had draped around the original Truth. + +But, so long as Truth is being uncovered, what matters it who does the +work, or by what name he calls his school. The movement is ever forward, +and upward--what matter the banner under which the armies move? + +In this book the writer will advance a very different theory of the +Universe of All-Things from that of Modern Science, although he feels +that his theory may easily be reconciled with the most advanced views of +that school. + +In the first place, as he has stated in the first chapter, he does not +hold that the Universe, as we know it, is self-sufficient, but he +recognizes a Something back of all phenomena and appearances, which +Something he calls "The Infinite." + +And he differs very materially from the views of those who claim that +Mind is but a property, or quality, or something proceeding from Matter +or Force, or Matter-Force, or Force-Matter--according to the views of +the respective schools. He takes an entirely different and opposite +position. + +He holds that all that we call Matter (or Substance) and Mind (_as we +know it_) are but aspects of something infinitely higher, and which may +be called the "Cosmic Mind." He holds that _what we call_ "Mind" is but +a partial manifestation of the Cosmic Mind. And that Substance or Matter +is but a cruder or grosser form of that which we call Mind, and which +has been manifested in order to give Mind a Body through which to +operate. But this view he merely states in passing, for he makes no +attempt to demonstrate or prove the same, his idea being that it forms a +different part of the general subject than the phase of "Dynamic +Thought," to the consideration of which this book is devoted. + +He also differs very materially from the Materialistic school in his +conception of Force or Energy. Instead of regarding Force as a distinct +principle, and as something of which Mind is but a form, he walks boldly +out into the arena of Scientific Thought, and throwing down his +gauntlet, proclaims his theory that "There is no such thing as Force +apart from Life and Mind"--"All Force and Energy is the product of Life +and Mind--all Force, Energy and Motion result from Vital-Mental +Action--all Force, Energy and Motion is Vital-Mental Force, Energy and +Motion."--"The Mind abiding in and permeating all Substance, not only +has the power to Think, but also the power to Act, and to manifest Force +and Energy, which are its inherent and essential properties." + +He also takes the position that Mind is in and about and around +Everything. And that "Everything is Alive and Thinking." And that there +is no such things as "Dead-Matter," or "Blind-Force," but that all +Substance, even to the tiniest Particle, is permeated with Life and +Mind, and that all Force and Motion is caused and manifested by Mind. + +He holds that all forms of Force, Energy and Motion, from the Attraction +of the Particles of Matter, and their movements in response thereto, up +to the Attraction of Gravitation, and the response of the Worlds, and +Suns, and Stars, and Planets, thereto--are forms of Mental Energy and +Force, and Action. And that from the tiniest atom, or particle, to the +greatest Sun--all obey this Great Action of Mind--this Great Force of +Mind--this Great Energy of Mind--this Great Power of Mind. + +And upon this rock--this rock of Truth, he believes it to be--he takes +his stand, and announces his belief, and bids all-comers take notice of +what he believes to be a germ-thought that will grow, develop, and +increase so that it will eventually permeate all Scientific Thought as +the years roll along. He calls this theory "The Theory of Dynamic +Thought." + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE UNIVERSALITY OF LIFE AND MIND + + +The writer has deemed it advisable to preface his consideration of +"Mind" in itself, as well as of Substance and Motion, with two chapters, +the purpose of which will be to demonstrate that Mind, in some form or +degree, is to be found in connection with all Things--and that +Everything has Life--and that Mind is an accompaniment of all Life. To +many the term "Mind" means only the "thinking quality" of man, or +perhaps of the lower animals; and "Life" the property only of such +organic creatures. For that reason it has been deemed advisable to point +out that Life and Mind are found even in the lowest forms of +substance--even in the inorganic world. + +In this chapter and from now on, the writer shall use the term "_the_ +Mind," etc., to indicate the particular mental principle of the creature +or thing--the bit of Mind that is segregated from the rest, and which +each person thinks of as "mine," just as he thinks of "my" body, as +distinguished from the universal supply of Substance. The term "Mind" +will be used in its Universal sense. + +And, the writer intends to use Elmer Gates' term, "_Mentation_," in the +sense of "effort; action; or effect; in or of, the Mind"--in short, +"mental process." The word is useful and when one has learned to use it, +he will prefer it to the more complicated terms. Remember, then, +please--"Mentation" means "Mental Process." Mentation includes that +which we call "Thought," as well as some more elementary forms of mental +process that we are not in the habit of dignifying by the term, Thought, +which latter we usually reserve for mental process of a higher order. + +So, then, "Mind" is the something of which one's particular Mind is +composed; "The Mind" is that something possessed by one, by and through +which he "thinks"; "Mentation" is mental process; and "Thought" is a +advanced kind of Mentation. At least, the said words will be so employed +in this book, from now on. + +In this chapter, you are asked to consider the fact that Life is +Universal--that Everything is Alive. And, that Mind and Mentation is an +attribute of Life, and that, consequently, Everything has Mind, and is +able to express a degree of Mentation. + +Forms of Life, as we know them, are always seen as possessing two +aspects, _viz._, (1) Body (Substance); and (2) Mentation (Mind). The two +aspects are always found in combination. There may be living creatures +who occupy bodies of so fine a form of Substance as to be invisible to +the human senses--but their bodies would be "Substance" just as much as +is the "body" of the granite rock. And, in order to "think," these +beings would need to have a material something corresponding to the +brain, though it be finer in quality than the rarest gas, vapor, of +electric wave. No body, without Mentation; no Mentation without a body. +This last is the invariable law of the world of Things. And naught but +The Infinite--That-which-is-above-Things--can be exempt from that law. + +In order to grasp the idea of the Universality of Mind, let us go back +to the elementary forms of Things, and, step by step, see how Mentation +manifests itself in every point on the scale from mineral to man--using +bodies ranging from the hardest rock to that finest form of known +Substance--the Brain of Man. As Mind advances in the scale of evolution +it creates its own working instrument--the body (including the brain) +and shapes, and moulds it to admit of the fullest possible expression of +Mentation possible at that stage. Mind is the moulder--body (and brain) +that which is moulded. And Inclination, Desire, and Will, are the motive +powers leading to gradual Unfoldment, the impelling cause being the +craving for Satisfaction. + +We shall make our journey backward--and ignoring Beings higher in the +scale, we shall start with Man. Leaving out of the consideration, for +the moment, the fact of the existence of the "Ego," or "Spirit" of Man, +which is higher than Body or Mind--and considering "the Mind of Man," +rather than the Man himself--we have our starting point on the downward +journey of investigation. We need not devote much attention to the +consideration of the Mind of Man, at this stage, although we shall have +much to do with it, later on. + +But we may undertake a brief consideration of the descending degrees of +Mentation as manifested by Man, as we pass down the scale in the human +family, considering in turn, the Newtons, Shakespeares, Emersons, +Edisons, and their brothers in intellect, in the field of mathematics, +literature, music, art, invention, science, statesmanship, business, +skilled workmanship, etc., respectively. From these high levels we pass +down, gradually, through the strata of men of but a slightly lower +degree of intellect--down through the strata of the "average man"--down +through the strata of the ignorant man--down through the strata of the +lowest type of our own race and time--down through the strata of the +barbarian, then on to the savage, then on to the Digger Indian, the +Bushman. What a difference from highest to lowest--a being from another +world would doubt that they were all of the same family. + +Then we pass rapidly through the various strata of the lower animal +kingdom--from the comparatively high degree of Mentation of the horse, +the dog, the elephant, etc., down through the descending scale of the +mammals, the degree of Mentation becoming less marked at each step of +the journey. Then on through the bird kingdom. Then through the world of +reptiles. Then through the family of fishes. Then through the millions +of forms of insect life, including those wonderful creatures, the ant +and the bee. Then on through the shell-fish family. Then on through the +community of sponges, polyps, and other low forms of life. Then on to +the vast empire of the microscopic creatures, whose name is legion. Then +on to the plant life, the highest of which have "sensitive cells" that +resemble brains and nerves--descending by stages to the lower plant +life. Then still lower to the world of bacteria, microbes, and +infusoria--the groups of cells with a common life--the monera--the +single cell. The mind that has followed us in this descent of life, from +the highest form to the cell-like "thing" merely "existing" in the slime +at the bottom of the ocean, has acquired a sense of awe and sublimity +not dreamed of by "the man on the street." + +The degrees of Mentation in the lower animal kingdom are well known to +all of us, therefore, we need not devote much time to their +consideration at this time. Although the degree of Mentation in some of +the lowly forms of animal life, are scarcely above that of the plant +life (in fact, are inferior to that of the highest plants), still we +have accustomed ourselves to the use of the word "Mind" in connection +with even the lowest animals, while we hesitate to apply the word to the +plants. + +It is true that some of us do not like to think of the lower animals +"reasoning," so we use the word "Instinct" to denote the degree of +Mentation of the lower animal. The writer does not object to the word; +in fact, he shall use it for the sake of distinguishing between the +several mental states. But, remember, "Instinct" is but a term used to +denote a lesser form of "Reason"--and the "Instinct" of the horse or dog +is a fine thing when we consider the "Reason" of the Bushman or Digger +Indian. However, we shall not quarrel about words. Both "Reason" and +"Instinct" mean degrees or forms of "Mentation," the word we are using. +The lower forms of animal life exhibit Mentation along the lines of +sex-action; feeling and taste. Then by degrees come smell, hearing and +sight. And then something very like "reasoning" in the case of the dog, +elephant, horse, etc. Mentation everywhere in the animal kingdom, in +some degree. No doubt about Life and Mentation, there. + +But what about Mentation and Life in the plant life? All of you admit +that there is "Life" there--but about Mentation, well, let us see! Some +of you draw the line at the word "Mind" in connection with plants, +although you freely admit the existence of "Life" there. Well, remember +our axiom--"no Life without Mentation." Let us try to apply it. + +A moment's reflection will give you instances of Mentation among the +plants. Science has called it "Appetency," rather than admit "Mind," the +word "Appetency" being defined as "an instinctive tendency on the part +of low forms of organic life to perform certain acts necessary for their +well-being--such as to select and absorb such particles of matter as +serve to support and nourish them." Well, that looks like a degree of +Mentation, doesn't it? Many young animals evidence little or nothing +more than "Appetency" in suckling. We shall adopt the word "Appetency" +to designate the Mentation in plant-life. Remember this, please. + +Anyone who has raised trees or plants has noticed the instinctive +efforts of the plant to reach the water and sunlight. Potatoes in dark +cellars have been known to send forth shoots twenty feet in length in +order to reach an opening in the wall. Plants have been known to bend +over during the night and dip their leaves in a pot of water several +inches away. The tendrils of climbing plants seek for the stake or +support, and find it, too, although it has been changed daily. The +tendril will retwine itself, after it has been untwisted and bent in +another direction. The tips of the roots of the tree are said to show a +sensitiveness almost akin to that of the limb of an animal, and +evidently possess something akin to nerve matter. + +Duhamel placed some beans in a cylinder of moist earth. When they began +to sprout, he turned the cylinder around quarter way of its +circumference; then a little more the next day; and so on, a little each +day, until the cylinder had described a complete revolution--had been +turned completely around. Then the beans were taken from the earth, and +lo! the roots and sprouts formed a complete spiral. With every turn of +the cylinder the roots and sprouts had changed their position and +direction--the roots striving to grow "downward," and the sprouts +striving to grow "upward"--until the spiral had formed. Akin to this is +the boy's trick of uprooting a sprouting seed, and replanting it upside +down, in which case the sprouts begin to turn a semicircle until it is +able to grow straight up to the surface of the earth, while the roots +describe a semicircle until they can grow downward once more. + +And so on, story after story of "Appetency" or Mentation in plants might +be told, until we reach the insect-catching species, when even the most +conservative observer is forced to admit that: "Well, it does _almost_ +seem like thinking, doesn't it?" Any lover of plants, flowers or trees, +and who has been able to study them at first hand, does not need much +argument to prove that plant-life exhibits traces of Mentation, some of +it pretty far advanced, too. Some lovers of plants go so far as to claim +that one must "love" plants before they will succeed in growing them, +and that the plants feel and respond to the feeling. But the writer does +not insist upon this, but merely mentions it in passing. + +Before leaving the subject of Mentation in plants, the writer is tempted +to steal a little more space and tell you that plants do more than +receive sensations of light and moisture. They exhibit rudimentary taste +as well. Haeckel relates an interesting story of an insect-catching +plant. He states that while it will bend its leaves when any solid body +(excepting a raindrop) touches its surface, still it will secrete its +acrid digestive fluid only when that object happens to be nitrogenous +(meat or cheese). The plant is able to distinguish its meat diet (its +food being insectivorous), and while it will supply its gastric juice +for meat and cheese, as well as for the insect, it will not do so for +other solids to which it is indifferent. He also mentions the fact that +roots of trees and plants are able to taste the different qualities of +soil, and will avoid poor soil and plunge into the richer parts of the +earth. The sexual organism and life of plants also affords a great field +for study to the student hunting for evidences of "life" and "Mentation" +in that kingdom. + +The motion or circulation of the sap in trees and plants was formerly +considered to be due to capillary attraction and purely "mechanical +laws," but recent scientific experiments have shown it to be a vital +action--an evidence of life and Mentation--the experiments having +proven that if the cell-substance of the plant was poisoned or +paralyzed, the circulation of sap immediately ceased, although the +"mechanical principles" had not been interfered with in the least. + +And now on to the mineral kingdom. "What," you may cry, "Mind and +Mentation in the mineral and chemical world--surely not?" Yes, even in +these low planes may be found traces of mental action. There is Life +everywhere--even there. And where there is Life there is Mind. Away back +among the chemical principles, and the minerals we may go in our search +for Life and Mind--they cannot escape us--even there! + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +LIFE AND MIND AMONG THE ATOMS + + +To the majority of persons the title of this chapter would seem an +absurdity. Not to speak of Inorganic "Mind," the idea of "Life" in the +Inorganic World would seem a ridiculous paradox to the "man on the +street" who thinks of Substance as "dead," lifeless and inert. And, to +tell the truth, even Science has held this view until a comparatively +recent period, laughing to scorn the old Occult Teaching that the +Universe is Alive, and capable of Thinking. But the recent discoveries +of modern Science has changed all this, and we no longer hear Science +speaking of "dead Matter" or "blind Force"--it recognizes that these +terms are meaningless, and that the dreams of the old Occultists are +coming true. Science confronts a live and thinking Universe. She is +dazzled by the sight, and would shade her eyes, fearing to see that +which she feels must present itself to her vision when her eyes become +accustomed to the sight. + +But a few daring minds among the scientific investigators are dreaming +wonderful dreams to-day, and they tell us in broken tones of the +wonderful visions that are passing before their sight. They dare not +tell it all, for they fear the ridicule of their fellows. Their visions +are of Life--Universal Life. In its investigations of the Material, +Science has penetrated so far into the recesses of Things that its most +advanced thinkers and investigators now find themselves standing in the +presence of the Immaterial. + +Science to-day is proclaiming the new doctrine--that is the same as the +"old" doctrine of the Occultists--the doctrine of "Life +Everywhere"--Life even in the hardest rock! + +Before entering into our consideration of the evidence of Mentation in +the Inorganic world, let us accustom ourselves to the idea of "something +like Life" being found there. It will be better for us to approach the +subject by easy stages. Where there is Life there must be Mind--so let +us first look for evidences of Life. + +The "man on the street" would require something more tangible than +scientific explanations of "sensation," "attraction," etc. What can we +offer him as an illustration? Let us see! + +Suppose we call the attention of "the man" to the fact that metals get +tired after considerable work without periods of rest. Science calls +this the "fatigue of elasticity." When the metals are given rest, they +recuperate and regain their former elasticity and health. "The man" may +remember that his razor acts this way occasionally--and if he talks the +matter over with his barber, his suspicions will be verified. + +Then, if he consults a musician friend, he will be informed that +tuning-forks also become tired, and lose their vibrating quality, until +they are given a rest. Then his machinist friend will tell him that +machinery in factories must be given a rest, occasionally, else it will +begin to disintegrate and "die." Machinery will go on a strike for a +rest, if it is overworked. + +Then metals contract disease. Science informs us that zinc and tin have +been infected, and the infection has spread from sheet to sheet +crumbling the metal into powder--the spread of the infection resembling +the spread of a plague among animals or plant-life. Science has +experimented with copper and iron, and has found that these metals may +be poisoned with chemicals, and will remain in a weakened condition +until antidotes are administered. Window-glass workers declare that +there is such a thing as "glass-disease," that will ruin fine stained +glass windows unless the infected panes are removed. The "glass-disease" +starts with one pane, and spreads gradually to the entire window, and +from there to other windows. + +Metallurgists have found that when metallic ores are put under certain +forms of pressure, they seem to lose strength, and become weak until the +pressure is removed. + +Do these things mean anything to the "Man of the Street?" + +Another step in the consideration of Life in the Inorganic world, is the +realization of the fact that, after all, there is but the very finest +line separating the higher forms of Mineral "life," from the lower forms +of vegetable life, or the life of those "Things" which we may call +either plants or animals. The "Life-line" is being pushed further back +every day, by scientific investigation, and the "living" thing of today +was the "inanimate" thing of yesterday. We hear much talk in the +newspapers about some scientist, or another, "discovering life," or +"creating life," in some "inanimate substance." Bless your hearts, you +who are alarmed by these reports--no one can "create" life in anything, +for it already exists there. The "discovery" is simply the realization +of this fact. + +Science, by means of the microscope, has brought to light forms of +"living things," resembling in appearance the fine dust of inorganic +minerals. These low forms of life exhibit but the simplest vital +processes, the same very closely resembling chemical processes, although +just a shade higher in the scale. Living creatures have been found which +could be dried and laid aside like dust for several years, and then +revived by being immersed in water, when they would resume their vital +process as if they had been awakened from a sleep. Forms of life, called +"Baccilli" have been discovered that can pass through degrees of heat +and cold that can be expressed only by vague symbols or figures, the +heat and cold being so intense that the unscientific mind cannot imagine +it. + +In appearance the "Diatoms" resemble the chemical crystals. These +"Diatoms" are minute one-celled living "Things," having a hard but thin +siliceous covering or shell, of extreme delicacy. They are what are +known as "microscopic" creatures--that is, visible only through the +microscope. Some of them are so small that it would take a thousand or +more to cover the head of a pin. But, remember this--the microscope +reveals them as "living creatures" performing vital functions. They are +found in the deep waters of the ocean. To the naked eye they appear +like fine sand or "dirt," but under the most powerful microscope, they +are seen to comprise many species and varieties, exhibiting many +peculiar shapes and forms--in fact, they have been called "living +geometrical forms," their shapes and appearances almost exactly +resembling those of the chemical and mineral crystals. + +Science informs us that these and similar microscopic creatures, number +thousands of families or species,--and it is thought that the varieties +of microscopic creatures outnumber the varieties of creatures visible to +the unaided sight. And, remember, that there is probably a still greater +world of "sub-microscopic" creatures, that is a world invisible even +when the most powerful microscope is used. Who knows what wonders are to +be found there--what forms of creatures live, and move and have their +being there. + +In passing by the subject of the resemblance between the outward forms +of living things and the crystals, it is interesting to note how the +crystals of frost and ice resemble the forms of leaves, branches, +flowers, foliage, etc.--the pane of glass covered with these frosty +forms, resembles a garden. The disk of saltpeter, under the effect of +polarized light, very closely resembles the form of the orchid. + +Recent scientific experiments have shown that certain metallic salts, +when subjected to a galvanic current, group themselves around one of the +poles of the battery, and assume a mushroom-like shape and appearance. +At first, they seem to be transparent, but gradually they assume color, +the top becoming a bright red, with the under-side showing a pale rose +color, the stem being of a pale straw color. The discoverers of these +peculiar forms, called them by the German equivalent for "inorganic +mushrooms," but even this term seems scarcely worthy of them, for they +even show a trace of something like organs. Under the microscope they +are seen to have fine canals or vein-like channels running through their +stems, from top to base. And through these "veins" the "thing" absorbed +fresh material and actually "grew" like low forms of fungus-life. Were +these things merely minerals or chemical-substances, or were they low +forms of organic life? The lines between the Inorganic and the Organic +are being wiped out rapidly. The Supreme Power that _caused_ Life to Be, +caused it to All, and did not divide Its manifestations into Dead-Things +and Live-Things, but breathed into all the Breath of Life. And the more +clearly we see the actual evidence of this, the greater does that +Supreme Power seem to us. + +A very low form of living creatures called the Monera, is held by +Science to be the one of the strands of the connecting link between the +organic and inorganic worlds. The Monera are the lowest and simplest +form (at least so far known) of organic life. They may be said to be +"organic" creatures _without organs_--being but little more than simple +cells--tiny globules of plasm, surrounded by a thin membrane--their sole +vital function being the absorption of nourishment through the pores of +their covering (just as a piece of chalk would absorb water) and the +consequent conversion of the nourishment into material for growth, the +whole process resembling chemical action. The Monera reproduce their +kind simply by cleavage or separation of the substance of the mother +cell into two, and so on, being little more than the "growth" of +crystals. The Monera are everywhere recognized, without question, as +"living creatures," but they exhibit merely a trace more of life than do +certain forms of crystals. + +The difficulty in considering crystals as "living things" is partially +due to the outward form and substance, so different from the form and +substance of the higher "living things." But we have seen that the +Diatoms took on shapes of crystals, and that the outer shell or covering +was similar to silicia, a mineral, the inner substance being but a tiny +speck of plasm, similar to that of the substance of a plant cell. And +then we may look to the tiny bit of chalk dust which was once the +skeleton-form of a living creature. The same is true of coral. In the +very low forms of life, the skeleton, or form, is the thing most +apparent, the plasm of "living substance" being still smaller, and less +apparent. And yet, the skeleton, or shell, was formed by the vital +processes of the creature, and was a part of its "body," just as is the +skeleton or bony structure of the higher animals. And, in the same sense +it is "living substance." And, remember, that there is but little +difference between these "bodies" of the low forms of life, and the +bodies of crystals. And the chemical constituents of its plasmic inner +body is but slightly different from that of the crystals. And its nature +and vital process are by a shade higher in the scale than those of the +crystals. + +You may ask why we have said so much of Crystals. The reason is just +this--Science has begun to think of Crystals as semi-living things, and +its most advanced investigators and thinkers go further and assert that +"the Crystals are alive--Crystallization is an evidence of life +process." + +Crystals arrange themselves in well-known and well-defined shapes, +direction and order of formation being observed implicitly. Each crystal +follows the laws and habits of its kind, just as do plants and animals. +Its lines of crystallization are mathematically perfect, and according +to the laws of its being. Not only this, but some substances have a +range of six or seven different forms of crystal-forms possible to them. +In some cases a chemical element assumes one form of crystallization +when it manifests as one mineral, and a second form when it manifests in +another form--in each case however, it manifests along well-known and +recognized courses of action, movement, and shapes. + +Crystals may be "killed" by a strong electrical discharge--that is, they +are so affected that they disintegrate, their atoms separating to form +new combinations, just as is the case with the "bodies" of higher forms +of life. Some scientists have gone so far as to claim that they had +discovered something akin to rudimentary sex-action in certain crystals, +resembling the sex-process of the lowest plant-life. But this has not, +as yet, been positively established, although it seems probable and +reasonable. A recent writer in one of the magazines has said, +"Crystallization, as we are to learn now, is not a mere mechanical +grouping of dead atoms. It is a birth." This may seem mere "scientific +poetry" until the process of crystallization is carefully studied, when +it will be seen to give evidence, not only of something like vital and +mental action, but also something very much like reproductive +functioning of the lower forms of "life." + +There is an "assimilation" of material to build up the crystal in the +first place, just as an animal assimilates matter to build up its +shell--or a tree to form its bark. The "form" of the crystal is truly +its "body," and behind and _in that body there is "something at work" +that is not the body, but which is forming it_. And, later on, that +crystal increases in size, and then begins to separate into two, +throwing off a smaller crystal, identical in form with the parent +crystal. This manner of reproduction is almost identical with the +process of reproduction in the lower forms of "life," which consist +merely of a like separation of the parent form into two, and the +throwing off of the offspring. + +The principal difference between the growth of crystals and of the +Monera, is that the Crystals grow by absorbing fresh matter and +attaching it to their outer surface, while the Monera grow by absorbing +fresh material and growing outwardly, from within. But this may be +accounted for by the difference in the density of their bodies, the +Crystal being very solid, while the Monera is like a thin jelly. If the +Crystal had a soft interior, it could grow like the Monera or Diatom, +_but then it would be a Diatom_. + +The process of crystallization is accountable only by the theory that in +the crystal there exists something like life and Mentation. There is +something more than mere "mechanical motion," or blind chance at work +here. Does not the process of crystallization look like rudimentary +purposive action? It may be said that it is movement and action in +accordance with some established "Law of Nature"--granted, but is not +that also true of the physical processes and growth of higher forms of +life? Is the forming of the Crystal-form to be considered as a +"mechanical effect," and the forming of the "shell" of the Monera to be +considered a "mental and vital action?" If so, wherefore? + +The point is that Crystals act as if they are "alive," and capable of +assimilation, growth, and reproduction, in a manner and degree +differing but very slightly from corresponding functioning of the lower +forms of "life." Verily the Crystals are "alive"--and if alive they must +have at least a trace of "Mind." Does it not appear that they exhibit +something very like both? Quoting from a recent writer, let us notice +that: "Recent investigations in the new department of science, which has +been termed 'plasmology,' show in crystals phenomena which are +absolutely analogous to vital phenomena--so much so that photographs of +certain forms produced in the changes of crystals appear to be almost +exact duplicates of those in the various lower forms of microbes. The +question has been raised as to whether the microbe is no more alive than +the crystal, or the latter equally endowed with life as is the former." + +And now another step, in our search for Life. Remember, that the hardest +rocks are composed of crystals of certain kinds. And, if the higher +crystals have Life, then it is only fair to suppose that the lower and +cruder forms are likewise endowed, even if in a still lower degree. And +if all crystals are endowed with Life, then the most solid rocks, being +composed of aggregations of crystals must be masses of Inorganic +Life--and consequently, of Inorganic Mind. A Crystal, according to +Webster, is "the regular form, bounded by plane surfaces, which a +substance tends to assume in solidifying, through the inherent powers of +cohesive attraction." + +That definition of Webster tells the whole story, and we see that a +"Crystal" is merely a "regular form" of a "Substance," which the +substance "tends to assume in solidifying"--that is in re-assuming a +solid form after being in a liquid or melted state, and that is just +what all the rocks of the earth did when they emerged from the melted +state in which they existed in the early days of the world's history. +And this "tendency" that caused them to solidify, and assume certain +crystal forms, and which must have existed potentially through the +melted state--what of that, what is this "tendency" or force. The +definition answers: "_the inherent powers of cohesive attraction_." + +So, here is "Cohesive Attraction," that we shall consider fully in +forthcoming chapters of this book. "Inherent," too, the definition says. +What is "Inherent?" Let us see, Webster defines "Inherent" as +"permanently existing." So this power of Cohesive Attraction +"permanently existed" in the Substance or else in connection with it. +Let us take another look at Cohesive Attraction. + +Cohesive Attraction is that form of Universal Attraction that causes the +Molecules of a body to draw together--that "invisible power of" the +Molecule, by which it draws another Molecule toward itself, and itself +toward the other, the manifestation of which power by several Molecules +tends to draw each of them together. (We shall learn of these particles +of Substance called Molecules before long.) It is a primal cause of +Motion, this mutual Attraction, and drawing-power. Now is it reasonable +to suppose that this wonderful "power" is a mere blind-force? Is it not +more reasonable to think of it as a form of vital-action--life-action? +"Dead" things could not manifest this force and action. + +And if this Cohesive Attraction is an evidence of Life, then all +substance must have Life manifesting through it. Not only the rocks, but +the soil and earth and dirt, for they are but crumbled rock. + +And, when we thus consider Substance, as being the "body" through which +Life is Manifesting, we must not lose sight of the Molecules and Atoms, +in our consideration of the Mass. A bit of rock; crystal; or dirt; is +but an aggregation of countless Molecules, grouped together in certain +crystallized shapes and forms, each having characteristics of its own. +These Molecules cling together, in accordance with their mutual +Attractive powers. + +And each of these Molecules is composed of a number of Atoms, which +cling together in accordance with Chemical Affinity, or Chemism--but +which is but another name for Attraction, or Cohesion--and which form a +little family, called a Molecule. And these Atoms are composed of +Corpuscles. We will waive the consideration of the Corpuscle, for the +moment, but even if we consider it, we only carry the subject back a +step farther. What we wish to say, could be said even if there were ten +further divisions of Substance--or a million, for that matter. + +The point we wish you to consider now, is that we must separate the Mass +into its constituents--its Molecules, Atoms, and even Corpuscles--in our +search for the Life in the Mineral and Chemical World. If there is Life +in the Mass, there must be life in the Molecule, Atom, or Corpuscle. +Now, do we find it there? Certainly, for the tiniest Atom manifests its +Attractive Power, and not only does it draw other atoms to itself by +virtue thereof, but it even goes a step further, and shows a +"preference"--a degree of "liking" in its mutual relations with other +atoms. + +We shall see, in future chapters, that there is "desire," "love," +"marriage," and "divorce" among the chemical Atoms. We shall consider +the flirtations, and love-affairs of certain Atoms. We shall see how an +Atom will leave another, and fly to a new charmer. We shall have many +evidences of _the Atom's power to receive sensations, and to respond to +the same_. Nothing "dead" about this, is there? The Atom is "very much +alive." The Attraction; Affinity; and Motions, of the Atom, give a +certain evidence of something "very much like Life," as we see it in +higher forms. In the Atom exists all the Life that causes +crystallization. And in the Atom lies that which causes Force and Motion +to manifest. Verily, the Atom lives and moves and has its being. + +And, so our journey is ended--we have traced Life to its last stages of +manifestations--and we have found it there, and at each step of the +journey. But, stop, we have not completed our journey--we have but begun +it. "Why," some of us may cry, "how can we go back of the Atom, or +Electron?" The answer is "INTO THE ETHER"! + +Yes, back of the Atom and the Corpuscle, is said by Science to lie that +wonderful, paradoxical Something they call The Universal Ether--that +Something that Science has considered the Womb of Matter and +Force--Something that is different from Anything ever known or dreamed +of by Man,--that Something which Science has labored so diligently to +build up, and which it has used as an "explanation" for so much +phenomena, but regarding which, of very recent date, there has begun to +grow a distrust and a suspicion, owing to the discovery of Radiant +Matter, and things that followed in its train. But, notwithstanding +these shadowy suspicions, Science still asserts in belief in the +constancy and integrity of The Ether, and it behooves us to investigate +that wonderful region in which it dwells, in order to see whether Life +and Mind are also to be found there. We think that, in the words of the +street, we shall find that they are "very much there." + +And, so in later chapters of this book, we shall consider the Etherial +Region very fully. But before doing so, we had better give Substance and +Motion, in all their forms, a careful consideration, for a correct +understanding of them is vitally necessary for an intelligent conception +of the ideas underlying the philosophy to be herein set forth. + + * * * * * + +Now, pray do not leave this chapter with the belief that the writer has +said that the Particles of Inorganic Substance are endowed with +Conscious reasoning powers. Nothing of the kind has been said--nothing +of the kind is meant. The Life and Mind evidenced in the Particles are +but the faintest glimmerings. There is no sign of "consciousness" or +"reasoning"--the Mind exhibited is less than that of the plant, yes, +less than even that of the cell of the plant. The Life is evidenced by +power to move, and the Mind is evidenced by the ability to receive +impressions and to respond to the same by evidencing Force and movement. + +There is no evidence of "consciousness" or "understanding" in these +mental processes. Consciousness is not an essential attribute of Life or +Mind-action. In fact, but a small part of even the Mentation of Man is +performed in the field of consciousness. Nearly all of his bodily +functions are beneath the field of consciousness--one does not +consciously regulate the beating of his heart; the circulation of his +blood; the digestion and assimilation of his food; the tearing-down and +building-up work of the cells; the work of the organs, etc., etc. Yes, +these processes are all mental processes, and far from mere "mechanical +movements," or chemical processes, as some imagine. Let the spark of +Life leave the body, and the processes stop, although all the chemicals +are still there, and the "mechanical movements" might go on unhindered. + +The Particles of Substance have enough Life and Mind to enable them to +move, receive and respond to impressions, and to exert force in +accordance with the Law of Attraction--but there it stops. The Crystals +show signs of something like taking nourishment, but the real taking of +food may be said to commence with the Monera. Not until very high +degrees of Life and Mind are attained, do "creatures" begin to exhibit +Consciousness, and that which is called "Understanding" is still higher +in the scale, and not until Man is reached does the faculty of turning +the mental searchlight _inward_ manifest itself. These matters are +mentioned here merely to prevent misunderstanding and misapprehension. + +But still, do not forget--the Particles of Substance receive impressions +and respond thereto--they _act_ and exert Force and Energy--they +manifest Life and Mentation. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE STORY OF SUBSTANCE + + +As we stated in a former chapter, there are two Aspects of All-Things, +_viz._, (1) Substance; (2) Mind. In this and the following two chapters +we shall consider the first one, Substance, which Science calls +"Matter." + +Perhaps it would be as well to begin by asking ourselves the question: +"What is Substance?" The answer seems to be: "Anything that takes up +room; the Body aspect of Things; matter occupying space, etc." Some +writers have spoken of Substance as "something tangible--that can be +felt," but this definition will not do, for there are forms of Substance +too fine to be felt. And so, perhaps the definition "The Body of +Things," is as good a definition as any, taken in connection with the +thought that it "takes up room." + +Science divides Substance (which it calls "Matter") into four general +classes, _viz._: (1) _Solid Matter_, which is Substance, the parts of +which closely adhere and resist impression, such as stone, wood, flesh, +etc., the degrees of solidity varying greatly, and sometimes shading +into the next class, which is called: + +(2) _Liquid Matter_, which may be described as Substance, the parts of +which have a free motion among themselves, and easily yield to +impression, such as water, molasses, etc., the degree of fluidity +ranging from some liquids that flow very slowly, such as hot pitch, up +to others that flow very freely, such as water, wine, etc., the property +of fluidity being also shared by the next higher class, which is called: + +(3) _Aeriform Matter_, which is Substance in the form of "elastic +fluid," such as air, gas, vapor, etc.; and + +(4) _Radiant Matter_, which is of recent recognition, and which is an +ultra-gaseous form of Substance, utterly unlike anything ever before +known, consisting of the tiniest particles of "corpuscles" of Substance +finer and more subtle than the rarest form of atomic substance known to +Science. + +The three classes are well represented by (1) Earth (solid); (2) Water +(liquid); (3) Air (aeriform); (4) The Corpuscles or Electrons, or +particles of electrified substance, first noticed in connection with the +X Rays, Radium, etc. + +But it must be remembered that these four classes of Substance are not +fixed or permanent--on the contrary they are changeable either under +pressure, when subjected to heat, or under the influence of electricity, +etc. In fact the word "condition" is more applicable than the term +"class." The condition or class of a particle of Substance may be +changed into another class or condition by the application of the +agencies above named. The same substance may exist in two or three +classes, under different circumstances. Solids may be changed into +liquids, and liquids into gases, and _vice versa_. Metals may be melted, +then changed into gas, according to the degree of heat applied. Liquids +may be changed into vapor by the application of heat, or into solids by +the withdrawal of heat. + +For an example we may turn to Water, which is a solid in the condition +of ice; a liquid in the condition of water; and steam in the condition +of vapor. Quicksilver is a metal which is in a liquid condition in our +ordinary temperature, but which becomes a solid when subjected to a very +low degree of temperature, and may be transformed into a gas, under a +high degree of heat. Air is a vapor in our ordinary temperature, but has +been transformed into "liquid air" under tremendous pressure, which +produced a very low degree of temperature, and, theoretically, it may be +transformed into a solid under a sufficiently low degree of +temperature, although so far, Science has not been able to produce a +degree of cold sufficient to "freeze" the liquid air. It is all a matter +of "freeze," "melt," and "evaporate," in all forms of Substance--and any +substance, at least theoretically, is capable of being subjected to any +of the three conditions just named, and being manifested in the +respective conditions, of Solid, Liquid, and Aeriform. + +This may actually be accomplished with the majority of substances at +this time, although in some instances we are not able to produce a +sufficiently high temperature to "melt and evaporate" certain solid +substances, on the one hand, or a sufficiently low degree of temperature +to "liquify" or "freeze solid" certain vapors. But the intense heat of +the centre of the earth is able to melt rocks, and show them as liquid +lava flowing from volcanoes, and Science teaches that the solid +Substance of the Earth, and other planets, suns, etc., existed in the +shape of a vapor at one time, and would again take on that condition in +case of a collision with another great body, which convert motion into +intense heat that would first melt, and then vaporize every solid +particle of which the earth is composed. + +If the sun's heat were completely to die out, the cold would be so +intense that the air around the earth, and all the gases and vapors, +would be frozen to solids. In physics the term "gas" is generally +applied to a substance that is aeriform in our ordinary temperature, but +which may be liquefied in a low temperature; the term "vapor" being +generally applied to the aeriform condition of substances that are solid +or liquid in our ordinary temperatures, but which may be "evaporated" by +heat, and thus transformed into an aeriform condition, resuming their +original form upon cooling. These terms, however, are technical, and +practically there is no difference between a gas and a vapor. + +In the above statements regarding the possibility of the transformation +of each of the several forms of Substance, into other forms, the +reference has been applied only to the three better known forms, _i.e._, +Solid, Liquid and Aeriform. The fourth form or state of Substance, known +as Radiant Matter, is of too recent discovery to admit of its properties +being accurately observed. The best and latest opinion of Science, +however, is that it constitutes what may be called "Primal Matter"--that +is substance from which all other forms, states, kinds and varieties of +Substance arise--the "stuff" from which they are manufactured. Science +seems to be discarding the Ether theory of the Origin of Matter, in +favor of this "Primal Matter." + +Physical Science divides Substance into Masses, Molecules, and +Atoms--that is, the old Physical Science did, but the later +investigators now see that even the Atom may be sub-divided. But the old +terms may as well be used, at least for the time being. Let us consider +these divisions. + +_A "Mass"_ is a quantity of Substance considered as a whole--but which +is composed of a collection or combination of parts (molecules.) A lump +of coal; a piece of iron; a portion of meat, even a drop of water, is a +Mass. The only requisite for a Mass, is that it contains two or more +parts or molecules. Therefore a Mass is a collection or combination of +two or more molecules, considered as a whole. + +_A "Molecule"_ is the _physical_ unit of Substance, or, in other words, +the smallest part of any kind of Substance that can exist by itself and +still remain that particular "kind" of substance. (But not the smallest +chemical part--the latter is called an Atom, and Atoms combine to form a +Molecule.) The Molecule exists as a unit, and cannot be split or +separated by physical means, although it may be separated into Atoms by +chemical means. In order that we may form a clear idea of the Molecule, +let us take a very small Mass of Matter--a drop of water, for instance. +This drop of water is a Mass composed of a great number of molecules. It +may be divided, and sub-divided, into smaller and still smaller parts. +This division may be carried on until it reaches a point where our sight +and instruments are unable to make a further sub-division. + +But, theoretically, the work may be carried on still further, until at +last a limit is reached where we are unable to divide the water into any +smaller parts, without separating its chemical constituents from each +other, in which latter case there would be no water at all, its chemical +constituents (or Atoms) having separated and now appearing as two atoms +of Hydrogen and one atom of Oxygen, separated and apart and no longer +forming a molecule of water. + +Well, this smallest possible part of water (or any other form of +Substance) is a Molecule. Remember the Molecule is the smallest part of +that kind of Substance that can be produced by division and +sub-division, without destroying the "kind" of the Substance. It is the +smallest part of any kind of Substance that can exist by itself, and +maintain its "kind." + +In order that you may grasp the minuteness of the Molecule, we may +mention that Science claims that no molecule, even the largest, is of +sufficient magnitude to be seen under even the strongest microscope. It +has been calculated that if a drop of water as large as a pea were +magnified to the size of the Earth, the molecules would then appear no +larger than the original drop. The space between the molecules is +believed to be considerably larger than the molecules themselves. + +The figures that are necessary to use in connection with molecular +Substance are likely to stagger the imagination. Besides speaking of the +molecules of inorganic Substance, it may be interesting to note that a +spider's thread is so fine that a piece of it large enough to circle the +earth would weigh only half a pound. And yet each thread is composed of +six thousand filaments. And each of these minute filaments may be +divided into tiny bits, and each bit will still be a Mass of Substance +containing thousands of molecules and their constituent chemical atoms. +There are living, microscopic creatures, so small that five millions of +them might be crowded into a space the size of a pin head. And yet each +of them have organs. And in these organs fluids circulate. Try to figure +out the size of the molecules of the fluids circulating in these tiny +organs, not to speak of the chemical atoms. + +When you handle a coin, an infinitesimal portion of it is worn off--can +you figure the size of the molecules composing that part? When a rose +throws off its perfume, it emanates tiny particles of itself--can you +measure or weigh the molecules composing that odor? The human mind is +compelled to realize its finiteness when it considers these things--but +we have only just begun to consider the smallness of Things. + +_An "Atom"_ is the _chemical_ unit of Substance--that is, the smallest +chemical part that can enter into combination. It has been considered +indivisible--that is, incapable of further sub-division. That is, it has +been so considered, until very recently, but the latest discoveries have +exploded this idea, and have shown the Atom is composed of certain other +Things, as we shall see a little later on. Still we may use the Atom as +a very good unit of measurement, for it still represents the unit of +_chemical_ Substance, just as the molecule is the unit of _physical_ +Substance. In order that you may understand the difference between +Molecules and Atoms--physical units, and chemical units, let us give you +a few examples. + +Take a molecule of water--the _physical_ unit, you remember. When it is +chemically separated or analyzed, it is found to contain two atoms of +hydrogen, and one atom of oxygen--both chemical units, remember--which +when united and combined, form water, but which when separated are +simple atoms of certain chemical gases. The proportion in water is +always the same, two of hydrogen and one of oxygen--this is the only +partnership that will form water. The molecule of table salt contains +one atom of sodium and one of chlorine. The molecule of air contains +five chemical gases, of which nitrogen and oxygen are the principal +ones, the proportion being about three parts of nitrogen to one of +oxygen. Some molecules are far more complex, for instance the molecule +of sugar is composed of _forty-five_ chemical atoms, and sulphuric acid +of seven. An atom is estimated at one-250,000,000th of an inch in +diameter. + +But this is not all. The old theory of the finality, and ultimateness of +the Atom has been shattered by the recent discoveries of Science. The +atom of Hydrogen was formerly considered to be the refinement of +Substance--the Ultimate Atom--the smallest and finest Atom possible or +known--the last thing that could be imagined about Substance. Some even +went so far as to declare that the Atom of Hydrogen was the Ultimate +Element, that is the Element out of which all other atoms were +made--the mother of Atoms--the Origin of Substance. It was supposed +that all other Atoms of Matter were composed of a varying number of +hydrogen Atoms, which themselves were "vortex-rings in the Ether"--and +that analysis could go no further. Science rested on its oars, and +pronounced the work of a century completed. + +But alas! no sooner was this position reached, than the discovery of +Radiant Matter and the formulation of the "Corpuscle Theory" brought +down the whole theoretical structure, and Science was compelled to take +up the hunt again, and to probe further into the inner recesses of +Things for the Ultimate Thing. But, nevertheless, Atoms still exist, +although their finality is no longer urged. The facts remain, although +the theory has fallen. + +Let us see about this latest theory--the Corpuscle or Electron Theory. +The discovery of Radiant Matter, and the investigation of the late +discovery of Radium, has led to the further discovery that each Atom, +instead of being a "thing-in-itself" is a little mass containing +numerous other "Things" called "Corpuscles" (or "Electrons," because +electrified). The theory is this, briefly: That each Atom is a minute +mass of Substance containing a number of "electrified particles," which +are known as Electrons, in constant motion and vibration, revolving +around each other, as do the planets, suns, and moons of the +Universe--in fact each chemical Atom is like unto a Universe in itself. +The simplest Atom--that which was supposed to be the "Ultimate +Atom"--the Atom of Hydrogen--is supposed to contain within its tiny self +no less than 1,000 minute Corpuscles, which because electrified are +called "Electron," revolving in fixed and regular orbits within the +containing globe of the Atom. The more complex forms of Atoms are +supposed to contain a far greater number of Electrons, the authorities +estimating those in an Atom of Oxygen at 10,000; those in an Atom of +Gold, 100,000; and those in an Atom of Radium, 150,000. These figures +are of course mere "scientific guesses" but when compared with the +similar "guess" regarding the size of the Atom, they give a startling +illustration of the size of the newly discovered Corpuscle or Electron. + +Another authority, for an illustration, asks us to consider a great +globe about 100 feet in diameter--that is, of course, 100 feet through +its centre. Let the globe represent the Atom. Then imagine 1,000 minute +"specks," each the size of a pin-point, composed of Substance, and each +containing, as in a capsule, an atom of electricity. Each "speck" is +revolving around each other in a regular orbit, in that great "100 feet +through" globe, and keeping well away from one another. That will give +you an idea of the relative size of the Electrons and Atoms, and the +room that the former have to move about in--good many feet between each, +you will notice. Lots of room, and plenty to spare. Try to figure out +the size of an Electron. + +Many readers of the magazines have been confused as to the relation +between the Corpuscles and the Electrons (or Ions, as some have called +the latter.) The matter is very simple. They are both the same. The +Corpuscle is the tiny particle of Matter, which because it is +electrified and has thus become the "unit of electricity," is called an +"Electron." From the viewpoint of Substance we call the tiny particle a +"Corpuscle"--from the viewpoint of Electricity, we call it an +"Electron." + +These Electrons are the tiny particles that pour forth from the pole in +the Crookes' Tube, and constitute what are known as "X Rays," "Cathode +Rays," "Becquerel Rays," etc. They also are the particles that are +thrown off and emitted by Radium, and similar substances. They exist in +the Atom, as explained, but also are found "free" and independent, and +in the last condition or state are thrown off in the aforesaid "Rays," +and by Radium, etc. So far the Corpuscles are known only as charged +with Electricity, and the Electron only as a tiny charge of Electricity +with which the Corpuscle is charged. But Science dreams of Corpuscles of +Substance other than Electrons, in which case the old Occult teachings +of "light dust" and "heat dust," etc., will be verified. + +The Electron contains a powerful charge of Electricity, as much in fact +as an Atom, 1,000 to 150,000 times its size will carry. But Science is +wondering how these highly charged particles manage to hold together in +the Atom, so rigidly coherent as to appear indestructible. We think that +we may get a hint at the matter a little later on in this book. + +Science, or at least _some_ scientists, are wondering whether the +"whirl" or vibration of the Corpuscle might not produce that which we +call "Electricity," and whether, when this motion is intensified, waves +of Electricity will not be emitted. The writer fully agrees with this +idea, and finds that it fits closely his own theories regarding +Substance and Motion. But the reader is cautioned against falling into +the error of many recent popular writers on the subject, some of whom +have used terms calculated to convey the idea that the Corpuscle +(Electron) is Electricity _itself_, rather than tiny particles of +Substance called Corpuscles, charged with the unitary charge of +Electricity, and therefore called "Electrons." But for that matter, +Electricity is only known to us as associated with some form of +Substance, and not as "a thing-in-itself." We shall see the reason for +this as we proceed with this book. These Corpuscles are destined to play +a most important part in the theories of Science from now on. They +already have overturned several very carefully and laboriously erected +theoretical structures--and many more will follow, among the many +important ones evidently doomed to the dust-heap being the "vortex-ring" +atomic theory, and other theories built upon the Etheric origin of +Matter, and other theories concerning the Ether, even to the extent of +breaking down the theory of The Ether itself, which theory had almost +come to be considered a Law. + +We shall further consider the Corpuscles, and their qualities, +characteristics, etc., in the next chapter, for they have an important +bearing upon the theories advanced in the course of the study of this +book. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +SUBSTANCE AND BEYOND + + +Science has ascribed to Substance certain characteristic qualities which +it calls "Properties." It divides these properties into two classes, +_viz._: (1) Molecular Properties (sometimes called Physical Properties); +and (2) Atomic Properties (sometimes called Chemical Properties). + +_Molecular Properties_ are those which may be manifested by Substance +without disturbing the Molecules, and consequently without affecting the +"kind" of Substance. + +_Atomic Properties_ are those which concern the Atoms when free from +Molecular combination, and which consequently cannot be manifested +without changing the "kind" of Substance. + +Science, before long, is likely to add a third class of Properties, +namely, "_Corpuscular Properties_," relating to the Corpuscles or +particles of Radiant Matter, but, so far, it has not had the opportunity +to sufficiently observe these qualities, except in a general way. + +There are certain General Properties that seem possessed by both Mass, +Molecules, and Atoms--and probably by Corpuscles. + +These _General Properties_ are as follows: + +_Shape_: That property whereby Substance "takes up room." This property +manifests in three directions, called Dimensions of Space, namely, +Length, Breadth, and Thickness. + +_Weight_: That property whereby Substance responds to Gravity. Weight is +simply the measure of the attraction. + +_Impenetrability_: That property whereby two bodies of Substance are +prevented from occupying the same space at the same time. A nail driven +into a piece of wood, simply pushes aside the molecules, and occupies +the Space between them. Substance is never actually "invaded" or its +actual territory occupied by other Substance. + +_Indestructibility_: That property whereby Substance is prevented from +being destroyed or annihilated. Although the forms of Substance may be +changed, or transformed into other forms, still, Substance _in itself_ +is not destroyed, and cannot be under the existing Laws of the Universe. + +_Mobility_: That property whereby Substance responds to imparted Motion. +We shall notice this property in our consideration of Motion. In +addition to the Motion of the Mass, and the movements of Molecules and +Atoms in response to its Attraction, there is another form of Motion +constantly going on, without reference to the Attraction or impressed +Motion of the Mass. The Molecules of all bodies are always in a state of +rapid Motion, called Vibration. In solids this vibration is short, being +restrained by the close cohesive position of the Molecules. But in +Liquids, the Molecules being further separated, the vibration is far +more rapid, and they move around and slide over each other with +comparatively little resistance. In gases and vapors the Molecules have +a splendid field for Motion, and consequently vibrate in wide fields and +orbits, and dash around with the greatest velocity. The Atoms also are +believed to vibrate rapidly, in accordance with their own laws of +vibration. And the Corpuscles are believed to far excel the last two +mentioned particles in intensity, rapidity and complexity of their +vibrations, as we shall see a little later on in the book. All Substance +is in constant Motion and Vibration. There is no Rest in Substance. + +_Inertia_: That property whereby Substance may not move unless in +response to imparted Motion; nor terminate its Motion, when it is once +imparted, except in response to some other manifestation of impressed +Force. Science holds that this "impressed Force" or "imparted Motion" +must come from without, but the writer holds that Force may also be +"expressed" from "within," as may be seen by reference to subsequent +chapters of this book. + +_Attraction_: That property whereby particles or bodies of Substance (1) +draw other particles or bodies toward themselves; or (2) move toward +other particles or bodies; or (3) are mutually drawn together. This +property manifests in four forms, generally referred to as separate and +distinct from each other, but which the writer believes to be but forms +of the same Attractive Power, and which he believes to be a Mental +Process, at the last analysis (a revolutionary claim, which will be +supported by argument in later chapters of the book). These three forms +of Attraction are known as (1) Gravitation; (2) Cohesion; (3) Adhesion; +and (4) Chemical Affinity, or Chemism. We are invited to consider them +briefly, at this point, further investigation being reserved for our +chapters on Motion, and Dynamic Thought. + +_Gravitation_: This term is usually applied to the attraction between +Masses of Substance, such as the Sun, the Earth, and Masses of Substance +on or about the Earth's surface. However, Newton, who discovered the +facts of Gravitation, states the Law, as: "_Every particle of matter in +the Universe, attracts every other particle_," _etc._ + +_Cohesion_: This term is used to indicate the attraction between +Molecules, by which they are combined into Masses or Bodies. Cohesion +causes the Molecules to unite and cling together, thus forming the Mass. + +_Adhesion_: This term is used to indicate the attraction between Masses +which causes them to "stick together" without a cohesion of their +Molecules. Adhesion operates through the adjacent surfaces of the two +Masses. It may be considered as a "lesser" form of cohesion. + +_Chemical Affinity_ (sometimes called Chemism or Atomic Attraction): +This term is used to indicate the attraction between the atoms, by which +they combine, unite and cling together, forming the Molecule. + +Science has before it the task of naming, and classifying, the +attraction between the Corpuscles, by which they combine and form the +Atom. But whatever the name, it will be seen that it represents but +another manifestation of "Attraction." + +Arising from Molecular Attraction, or Cohesion, are several "Properties" +peculiar to Masses having Molecules, and resulting from the tendency of +the latter to resist separation. We had better consider them briefly, +in order to understand the power of Molecular Attraction, and its +incidents. + +_Porosity_: That property indicating the distances observed by the +Molecules in their relation to each other, which varies in different +"kinds" of Substance. All Substance is more or less Porous, that is, has +more or less space existing between the Molecules--the degree depends +upon the "closeness." Compressibility and Expansibility, sometimes +mentioned as "properties," are but results of Porosity. + +_Elasticity_: That property whereby bodies resume their original size +and form, after having been compressed, expanded or "bent." The result +is caused by the inclination of the molecules to resume their original +positions. What is sometimes called "Plasticity" is merely the reverse +of Elasticity, and denotes a limited degree of the latter. + +_Hardness_: That condition resulting from Molecular Attraction resisting +the forcible entrance and passage of other Substance between the +molecules. + +_Tenacity_: That condition resulting from Molecular Attraction resisting +the forcible pulling asunder, or tearing apart of the Mass. This +condition sometimes is called "Toughness." + +_Malleability_: That condition resulting from Molecular Attraction +resisting the forcible separation of the Mass by pounding, hammering or +pressure. The resistance is "passive," and consists of the Molecules +allowing themselves to assume a spread-out formation, rather than to be +forced apart. + +_Ductility_: That condition resulting from Molecular Attraction +resisting the forcible separation of the Mass by a "drawing out" +process. The resistance is "passive," and consists of the Molecules +allowing themselves to be drawn out into a formation of the shape of +wire or thread, rather than to be pulled apart. + +In any of the above cases, we may intelligently, and with propriety, +substitute the words, "_Molecules, by means of cohesion, resisting, +etc._," for the terms above used, "Molecular Attraction, resisting, +etc." + +All Masses of Substance (probably Molecules as well) are capable of +_Expansion and Contraction_, both phenomena, in fact, and in degree, +resulting from the relation of the Molecules. Contraction is a "crowding +together" of the Molecules; Expansion a "getting apart" of them. + +_Density_: The amount of Substance in relation to a given bulk. +_Volume_--the "size" or "bulk" of a body of Substance. _Mass_--Besides +being used to designate a "body" of Substance, composed of two or more +Molecules, the term "Mass" is used to designate the "total quantity of +Substance in a Body." An application of the above terms may be seen in +the following illustration: + +A quart of water occupies a certain space--and has a certain "volume," +"mass" and "density." Convert the same "mass" of Water into Steam, and +it expands to a "volume" of 1700 times that of Water--but, as no +molecules have been added, the "mass" remains the same--but as a quart +of Steam weighs 1700 times less than the same "volume" of Water, the +"density" of Steam is 1700 times less than that of Water. As the +"volume" of a given "mass" increases, the "density" decreases in the +same proportion--but the "mass" remains the same. "Mass" therefore has +two factors, _i.e._, "Volume" and "Density." The "Density" of a "Mass" +is determined by the _weight_ of a certain "Volume" of it. + +The above consideration of the "Properties" of Substance dealt only with +the Molecular Properties, or Physical Properties, as they are sometimes +called--that is, with properties depending upon the existence of the +Molecules. When we consider the Molecules as being composed of Atoms, +and when we consider the processes whereby these Molecules are built up +of, or broken down through the separation of Atoms, we come to the +subject of Atomic Properties, or Chemical Properties, as they are often +called. + +_The Atomic Properties of Substance_ consist principally in the power +and manifestation of Motion, in the direction of combination, +separation, and the complex motions resulting from the same. This Motion +is manifested by reason of Atomic Attraction, sometimes called "Chemical +Affinity," which we shall consider a little later on in the chapter. + +Atomic Principles, as above mentioned, are best illustrated by a +reference to Chemical changes, and we shall now examine the same. And, +the better way to consider Chemical Changes is by comparing them with +Physical Changes, or Changes of the Molecules. + +_Some Physical Changes in Substance_ are brought about by Heat, which +tends to separate the molecules, or rather to allow them to spread out +away from each other, so long as the high temperature is maintained, the +degree of their nearness being influenced by temperature. Other Physical +Changes are produced by outside Forces separating the molecules to such +an extent--to such a distance--that their cohesive force is lost, and +the Solid matter is said to be "broken," or even reduced to dust. Other +physical changes are brought about by Electricity, causing the Molecules +to separate and disintegrate. + +_Chemical Changes_, as distinguished from Physical Changes, do not +involve or deal with Molecules, the action being solely upon the Atoms +of which the Molecules are composed. Physical Changes _separate_ +Molecules from each other, while Chemical Changes destroy and break up +the Molecule, so that its identity is forever lost, its Atoms thereafter +either existing free from combinations, or else recombining with other +Atoms, and forming new combinations. Chemical changes are occasioned by +either physical or chemical agencies. The physical agencies generally +employed are heat, electricity, light, pressure, percussion, etc. The +principle of Chemical Changes is that the Atoms are possessed of, and +subject to, what is called "Atomic Attraction" or "Chemical Affinity," +which may be defined as an attraction or "love" existing in varying +degrees between Atoms. This Affinity causes Atoms of one element to seek +out and ally themselves to Atoms of another element, the element of +"choice" or "preference" being strikingly in evidence. + +Atoms of different elements form marriages, and cling together in +harmony, until, perchance, by some physical or chemical agency, the +Molecule is brought in sufficiently close connection with another +Molecule composed of different elemental atoms, when, alas! one of the +Atoms of our Molecule finds that it has a greater Affinity for some +other elemental Atom in the second Molecule, and lo! it flies away, +leaving its first partner, and seeking the new charmer. Divorce and +re-marriage is a common thing in the world of Atoms--in fact, Chemistry +is based upon these qualities. + +Physical and Chemical Changes gradually transform solid rock to "earth" +or "soil." Disintegration, by the action of changes in temperature, +rains and atmospheric influences, and other Physical Changes, have +slowly worn down the rocks into "dirt," gravel, clay, loam, etc. And +Decomposition by Chemical Change that set the atoms free from their +combinations has aided in the work. + +There is no rest in the world of Substance. Everything is +changing--constantly changing. Old forms give way to new, and these, +grown old while being born, are, in turn replaced by still newer. And +on, endlessly. Nothing persists but change. And yet nothing is +destroyed, although countless forms and shapes have succeeded each +other. Substance is always there, undisturbed and unaffected by the +varieties of forms it is compelled to undergo. Masses may change--and do +change. Molecules may change--and do change. Disintegration and +decomposition affect both, and bring to them the death of form. But +their substance endures in the Atom. Atoms may change, and decompose, or +undergo whatever change that is their fate, and still the Corpuscles, or +what lies beyond the Corpuscles will remain. The Atom was once regarded +as Eternal, but now even it seems to be capable of dissolving into some +finer division of Substance--and perhaps still finer subdivisions await +it. + +That familiar form of Substance that we call "earth," "dirt," "soil," +etc., is but the result of disintegrated rock, which has crumbled and +lost its former form through the action of air, water and atmospheric +influences. And the rocks themselves, from which the "soil" came, were +at one time a sea of melted, flowing liquid Substance, somewhat +resembling volcanic lava. And this "melted rock" is thought to have been +condensed from the same principles in the shape of vapor, that existed +in the early days of our planetary system. Vapor, gas, liquid, +semi-liquid, solid rock, "soil"--the Substance unchanged, the forms +totally unlike. Helmholtz estimates the density of the nebulous vapors +of Substance as being so rare that it would take several millions of +cubic miles of it to weigh a single grain. Oh, Nature, what a wizard +thou art! + +We have spoken of Air and Water, in a former chapter, and their +constituent atoms have been named. And from these three great reservoirs +of Substance--the Earth, the Air, and the Water--are obtained all the +material that goes to form the bodies of the animal and vegetable +kingdoms. The plant draws its nourishment from the soil, the air, and +water, and in its wonderful chemical laboratory is able to transform the +elements so drawn from these sources into a substance called "Plasm," +which consists principally of carbon, oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen, +being nearly identical in composition to the white of an egg, and which +constitutes the basis of animal and plant bodily structures. All the +material of the physical bodies, of men, animals and plants, are but +forms of Plasm. The animals, and man, obtain their nourishment, directly +or indirectly, from the plant body, and so at the last we are seen to +draw from the soil, air and water all our bodily nourishment, which we +convert into bodily structure, bone, muscle, flesh, blood, veins, +tissue, cells, etc. And the chemical atoms of our bodies are identical +with those in the rock, the air, the water. And so you see the +universality of Substance and its countless forms and appearances. + +Chemistry resolves Substance back into about seventy-five simple +substances, of which Atoms are the Units, which simple substances are +called "Elements." From these Elements (by their Atoms) all other +substances are formed by combinations, the number of such possible +combinations being infinite. An Element (in order to be an element) must +be a "simple" substance, that is, must be incapable of further analysis +into some other elements. The seventy-five elements, now recognized by +science, have never been resolved into other elements, by chemical +analysis, and therefore are accepted as "simple." But, it is true that +other substances that were formerly considered as simple elements were +afterward decomposed by electricity, and found to consist of two or more +simpler substances or elements. Thus new elements were discovered, and +old ones discarded as "not-elemental." And this fate may be in store for +a number of the elements now on the list--and many new ones may be +discovered. + +For a long time Science was endeavoring to trace all elements back to +Hydrogen, the latter being considered the "Ultimate Element," and its +atoms composing all the other atoms, under varying conditions, etc. But +this theory is now almost abandoned, and Science rests on its list of +seventy-five elements, the atoms of which are composed of "Electrons." +Some have hazarded the theory that the Elements were all forms of Ether +(see next chapter), their apparent differences resulting merely from the +varying rate of vibration, etc. And, in fact, such theory was about +finally adopted as a working hypothesis until the discovery of the +Corpuscle. Everything in Substance now seems to be moving back to the +Corpuscle, as we shall see a little further on. + +The following is a list of the principal Elements, known to Science, +to-day: + + Aluminum. + Antimony. + Arsenic. + Barium. + Bismuth. + Boron. + Bromine. + Cadmium. + Calcium. + Carbon. + Chlorine. + Chromium. + Cobalt. + Copper. + Fluorine. + Gold. + Hydrogen. + Iodine. + Iron. + Lead. + Magnesium. + Manganese. + Mercury. + Nickel. + Nitrogen. + Oxygen. + Phosphorus. + Platinum. + Potassium. + Radium. + Silicon. + Silver. + Sodium. + Strontium. + Sulphur. + Tin. + Zinc. + +Of the above, Hydrogen is by far the lightest in weight; in fact it is +used as a unit of Atomic Weight, its weight being marked "1" on the +scale; Gold, 197; Lead, 207; Silver, 108; Oxygen, 16; Nitrogen, 14; +Iron, 56. + +The discovery of the Corpuscle, or Electron, rudely shattered the +vortex-ring theory of the origin of the Atom, and now, instead of the +Atom being regarded as a "vortex-ring" in that hypothetical, paradoxical +absurdity, the Ether, it is believed to be composed of a vast number of +tiny particles called Corpuscles, as we saw stated in our last chapter. +These Corpuscles seem to be the "last thing in Substance"--its last +known state of refinement, and already it is being proclaimed as the +long-sought for "Primal Matter," or "Ultimate Substance." Whether or not +a still finer state of Substance will be discovered Science is unable to +say, but thinks it unlikely. But we must not overlook the old Occult +Teaching indicating a state of Substance so fine that it is +imperceptible, and only recognizable as apparently "free force"; its +covering, or vehicle of Substance not being evident. This would seem to +indicate a still further refinement of Substance, although perhaps the +"Corpuscle" or "Electron" will answer to "fill the bill" in the case. + +As to the Corpuscle being "Primal Substance," it must be admitted that +its advocates have presented a very strong case. One of their most +important points is that although Molecules differ very materially from +each other, according to their kinds; and while Atoms likewise manifest +very plainly their "kind," the Corpuscle seems to possess _only one +"kind,"_ no matter from what form or "kind" of Substance it is thrown +off. Just think what this means. It means that the finest particles of +Gold, Silver, Iron, Hydrogen, Oxygen, and all the rest of the Elements, +_are composed of identically the same material, and exhibit no +differences in_ "_kind_." The Elements are no longer "Simple." _All +Substance is One, at the last analysis!_ + +The Corpuscles seem to possess the same Mass--to carry the same charge +of Electricity--to act precisely the same--irrespective of their source. +No difference in size, mass or character, as in the case of the +Atom--all are identical, save in the rate of their vibration at the time +of observation, which is simply a matter of more or less Motion. Space +seems to be flooded with these tiny particles--these Units of Substance. +They stream from the Sun; the Stars; and every body highly heated. +Likewise they stream from the bodies of highly electrified Substance. +Groups of these Corpuscles, absolutely identical in nature, size, mass, +etc., constitute the Atoms of the Seventy-five Elements, the "kind" of +Element seemingly being dependent upon the number and arrangement of the +Corpuscles, and possibly by their rate of vibration. Every Atom is like +a great bee-hive with a swarm of Corpuscles vibrating, moving around +each other, and upon their own centres. And, if by the action of intense +heat, transmitted, or caused by interrupted Motion--or if by a strong +Electric charge--some of these Corpuscles are detached from the Atoms +(or possibly an Atom broken up), they fly off through Space at a +marvellous speed of many thousand miles an hour. + +So we see that these wonderful Corpuscles look very much like Primal +Matter or Ultimate Substance--the "Stuff" out of which Substance is +made. And, taking you back to the chapter on "The Universality of Life +and Mind," the writer would remind you that in their Motions and +evident Attraction, etc., these Corpuscles evidence the same "Life and +Mind" that we observed in the Molecules and Atoms. It must be so, for +what is in the manufactured article must be in the material of which the +article is made. And so, even here, Life and Mind have not escaped us. +Nor will it in The Ether! + +And speaking of the Corpuscles, as "manufactured articles," we are +reminded of Herschel's thought about the Atoms, when they were regarded +as Primal Matter and likely to be uniform, and, at the end, of one +primal substance. Although Herschel's conception does not now apply to +the Atoms, it may be transferred to the Corpuscles. + +Herschel thought that the fact that the Particles of Substance were +likely to be found to be uniform in size, and identical in nature and +characteristics, indicated that they might be akin to "manufactured +articles," turned out from the same great machinery of Creation. This +idea would indicate that the Creator applied the rules of careful +manufacture to the manufacture of the Particles, the uniformity +operating in the direction of (1) Economy of Material; (2) Utility +through interchangeability, replacing broken or discarded parts, etc.; +and also (3) Conformity to a Standard of Size, Quality, etc. + +The thought is interesting, and is mentioned here for that reason. It is +not affected by the supposition that there may be a still finer and +rarer form of Substance, from which the Particles are "manufactured"--in +fact, the idea of Herschel, if closely analyzed, would seem to indicate +some such "raw material" from which the articles were manufactured. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE PARADOX OF SCIENCE + + +In the days of the ancients, when the philosophers found themselves +unable to account for any particular class of phenomena, they bundled it +together and referred it to a suppositious Something that they called +"The Ether." Finding this an easy way to get rid of vexatious questions, +they fell into the custom--and the habit grew upon them. Soon there were +a dozen or more different kind of Ethers in vogue, each explaining +something else--the "something else," by the way, being things that +Science _now_ feels that it understands pretty well. These Ethers grew +to be like the various "Vapors" of the ancients--a dignified term for +"We don't know"--a respectable road for retreat under the semblance of +an advance. + +These Ethers became a scientific scandal, and caused a lax mode of +thinking among students of those times. And so they were finally +abolished and relegated to the scrap pile of Science, where they lay +for many centuries until a comparatively recent period, when at least +one of them was hauled forth, dusted, freshened up a little, and placed +upon its old pedestal. This revamped Ether, referred to, was the "Ether +of Aristotle." Aristotle, as we know, was a famous Greek philosopher who +lived about 350 B.C.--about 2250 years ago. He was a good man and a +celebrated philosopher, but was somewhat deficient in scientific +knowledge. Although he knew many things, and uttered many wise thoughts, +he was under the impression that the breath of Man entered the heart +instead of the lungs--that the back part of the skull was empty, and so +on. He was without the advantages of a modern training--which, was not +his fault, however. + +Well, Aristotle conceived the idea of an Universal Ether, which he +thought pervaded all space, and with which he accounted for the passage +of light from the sun and stars; the movements of the planets, and +various other physical phenomena. It is not known whether Aristotle +really _believed_ in this Ether, or whether he merely used it as a +speculative hypothesis, following the Ether Habit of his contemporaries. +At any rate, his theory served its purpose--lived, flourished, declined +and died--at least seemed to be dead. But its corpse was resurrected in +modern times, and used to account for divers things. + +This does not mean that modern thinkers really "believe" in the +Universal Ether--they merely assume it as a working hypothesis until +something better is offered. + +Its principal modern use is to account for the transmission of Light +from the Sun and Stars to the Earth. It was held that a thing could not +act "where it was not," and so it became necessary to account for the +transmission either by the theory that small particles of substance were +thrown off from the Sun, and travelled to the Earth, or else that there +was some medium of communication by means of vibrations, etc. Newton +held to the first theory, but his hypothesis went down before the Ether +advocates, who advanced the "wave-theory," although it seems that, like +Banquo's ghost, Newton's theory will not stay down, and is now taking on +a new lease of life, owing to the discovery of the Corpuscle and Radiant +Matter. + +The Wave-theory philosophers asserted that the Light and Heat of the Sun +were thrown off in the shape of Force or Energy, and transformed into +"waves" in and of a hypothetical Ether (Aristotle's own), which waves +were carried to the Earth, where, meeting Substance, they were again +transformed into Heat and Light. + +It was known that Light and Heat travelled at the rate of 184,000 miles +per second, and therefore the "waves" of the Ether were considered to +have that speed. The Wave-theory seemed to fit the facts of the case +better than the Newtonian Theory of Corpuscles, although the latter has +always been considered as better explaining certain phenomena than the +new theory. And so the Ether Wave became generally accepted, and remains +so to-day, although recent discoveries are causing a disturbance in the +scientific camp regarding the question. + +Later it was discovered that the Electricity travelled at the same rate +as Light and Heat, and the Wave-of-the-Ether theory was thus thought to +have additional verification, and Electricity came under the Law and +remained there until the Electron discovery, which is causing much +disturbance, among those interested in the study of Electricity. + +Briefly stated, the theory of the Universal Ether is this: + +That pervading all Space in the Universe--not only between planets, +stars and suns, but also "filling in the cracks" between molecules, and +atoms as well--there is a subtle Substance in and through which the +waves of Light, Heat, Electricity and Magnetism travel at the rate of +184,000 miles per second. This Substance is said to be "Matter that is +not Matter"--in fact, Science does not venture to say just _what_ it is, +although it freely states just what some of its properties must be, and, +alas! these properties are most contradictory and opposite to each +other, as we shall see as we proceed. + +This Universal Ether is purely hypothetical. It has been called a +"necessity of Science"--something assumed for the purpose of explaining +or accounting for certain phenomena. It is undemonstrated and +unproved--in fact, may truthfully be said to be undemonstrable and +unprovable. Some have gone so far as to say that its claimed properties +and qualities render it "unthinkable" as well. And yet, Science finds +itself compelled to assume that the Ether, or "something like it" +exists, or else cease speculating about it. It belongs to the realm of +pure theory, and yet, many writers treat it as if it were a positively +demonstrated and proven fact. Let us examine into the nature of +Science's problem, and her attempted solution, and the trouble arising +therefrom. + +Light travels at the rate of 184,000 miles a second. Remember, that +Light and Heat are that which we call by those names only when +considered in connection with Substance. According to the theory, Light +in the Sun's atmosphere is transformed into a Light-wave of the Ether on +its travels to the earth, and only when the "wave" comes in contact +with the Substance on the earth's body or atmosphere does it become +again transformed into Light as we know it. In its travels through +space it meets with no Substance, and has nothing to "turn into +light"--consequently Space (between worlds) is in a state of absolute +darkness. The same is true of Heat, and inter-world Space is absolutely +cold, although passing through it are countless heat-waves of great +intensity, which, later on, will be transformed into Heat when they +reach the Substance, the earth. The same is true of Electricity and +Magnetism. + +Although the Ether, as we have seen, is a purely theoretical substance, +yet Science has found it reasonable to conclude that it must be +possessed of certain attributes in order to account for certain known +facts. Thus, it is said to be frictionless, else the worlds, suns and +planets could not pass freely through it, nor could the light and heat +waves travel at such a tremendous rate. It also is thought to have +something like Inertia, because Motion once started in it persists until +stopped; because it is at a state of rest until Motion is imparted to +it; and because it takes a fraction of time to impart motion to it. It +is thought to be different from Substance in any of its known forms, for +many reasons, among such being the fact that no known form of Substance +could carry vibrations through space at the rate of 184,000 miles a +second. And Light and Heat waves travel at that rate, and have forms and +shapes, and lengths of their own. Light for instance, vibrates on two +planes, and a light-wave is something like a Greek cross, thus (-|-), +having a horizontal and a vertical line, or plane of vibration. And the +Ether cannot be a fluid of any degree, because a fluid cannot transmit +cross vibrations at all. And it cannot be a Solid, because a Solid could +not stand vibrations at such a terrific speed, and still remain a Solid. +And yet, to transmit the two-plane light waves, the Ether must have a +certain degree of Rigidity, else the waves could not travel. Lord Kelvin +estimated this degree of Rigidity as about 19,000,000,000th of the +rigidity of the hardest steel. So, you see, Science is compelled to +assume that the Ether is "a continuous, Frictionless medium, possessing +both Inertia and Rigidity." Some scientists have thought it to be a kind +of "elastic jelly." + +Of the Ether, Prof. Oliver Lodge has said, "We have to try and realize +the idea of a perfectly continuous, subtle, incompressible substance, +pervading all Space, and penetrating between the molecules of ordinary +Matter, which are imbedded in it, and connected to one another by its +means. And we must regard it as the one universal medium by which all +actions between bodies are carried on. This, then, is its function--to +act as the transmitter of motion and energy." + +To give you an idea of the wonderful thing that Science is compelled to +think of the Ether as being, by reason of the qualities it is compelled +to ascribe to it--although it confesses itself unable to "imagine" the +nature of the "Thing" which it has created in bits by the adding and +bestowing of qualities which were made necessary by the logical +requirements of the case--let us take a hurried view of the Thing as the +several departments of Science say it must be thought of. + +To meet the requirements of the case, Science says that The Universal +Ether must be Substance infinitely more rare and evanescent than the +finest gas or vapor known to Science, even in its rarest condition. It +must convey Heat in the manner of an infinitely Solid body--and yet it +must not be a Solid. It must be transparent and invisible. It must be +Frictionless, and yet Incompressible. It cannot be a Fluid. It cannot +have Attraction for Substance, such as all Substance has. Nor can it +have Weight--that is, it is not subject to Gravitation. It is beyond the +reach of any known scientific instrument, even of the greatest power, +and it refuses to register itself in any way, either to senses or +instruments. + +It cannot be known "of itself," but may only be recognized as existent +by the "things" for which it acts as a medium or transmitting agent. It +must convey Energy and Motion, yet it must not take up any part of +either from the Matter in its midst. It must not absorb any of the Heat, +Light or Electricity. It must fill up the spaces between the worlds, as +well as the most minute space between the Molecules, Atoms and +Corpuscles, or any other minute particle of Substance, either known by +name to Science now or which may be discovered or imagined later as a +necessity of some conception regarding the nature of Substance. In +short, The Universal Ether, in order to do the things attributed to it, +must be more solid than Solids; more Vapor-like and Gas-like than Vapor +or Gas; more fluid than Fluids; infinitely less rigid than steel, and +yet infinitely stronger than the strongest steel. It must be a substance +having the qualities of a vacuum. It must be continuous and not composed +of Particles, Atoms or Molecules. It must be an "everything" in some +respects, and yet a "nothing" in others. It must not be Substance, and +yet it must carry Substance within its ocean of dimensions, and, +besides, interpenetrate the most minute space between the particles of +Substance. It must not be Energy or Force, and yet Science has been +considering Energy and Force as but "interruptions of rest" or +"agitations" within, and of, itself. + +So you see that this mysterious, wonderful Universal Ether--in order to +"be" at all--must be a "Something" possessing certain qualities or +properties of Substance--many of the properties of qualities being +exactly contradictory and opposed to each other--and yet it cannot be +Substance as we know it. It is a Paradoxical thing. It could only belong +to another and an entirely different order of existence from that of +Substance as we know it. It must possess characteristics and properties +of an order as yet unknown to us by name--for which the material world +contains no analogy--for which Substance has no analogues. It must be a +far more complex thing than is even the most complex thing we call +Matter, or that which we call Force or Energy. And yet, it has been +claimed that it would explain both--yes, contain within itself the +possibility of both. + +And yet, in face of what has just been said, the writer must confess, +humbly and with a full realization of the enormity of the offence, that +he supposes advancing a theory, a little further on in this book that +will attempt to identify this Something--this Universal Ether--with a +Something else that we know, although not through the senses or by means +of instruments. Bear with him kindly, he begs of you, while he proceeds +gradually along the path that leads to the theory. + +Scientists have compared Substance moving through the Ether as a coarse +seive moving through water, the latter making room for the passage of +the seive, and then closing up behind it. If this be amended by the idea +that the moving seive, while allowing the water to pass through it +freely, still carries along with it a thin film of water which clings to +the wires of the seive by adhesion--if there be admitted this "clinging +film" as well as the body of the water through which the seive +moves--then the illustration answers quite well as a crude illustration +of Substance and "The Ether." This fact is important in view of the +theory that will be advanced, further on in this book. Prof. Lodge, in +his interesting work, "Modern Views of Electricity," mentions a number +of experiments tending to prove the above mentioned fact, which is not +so generally known as other facts relating to the Ether. + +Until the discovery of Radiant Matter (bringing with it the new theories +of the Corpuscle or Electron, etc.), brushed aside into the dust heap +many generally accepted scientific theories regarding the nature of +Substance, the favorite and most popular theory was what was known as +the "Vortex-ring" theory of the Atom. This theory held that the atoms of +Substance were but vortex-rings of the Ether, having had motion +communicated to them in some way, and which afterwards acquired other +motions, and which finally become apparent to our senses as Substance. +In other words, the Atom was supposed to be a vortex-ring of Ether, +acted upon by Force, in some unknown way, the character, nature and +properties of the Atom being determined by the shape and size of the +vortex-ring; the rate of motion; etc., etc. + +The new discoveries of Science, however, have set aside (at least +temporarily) this "vortex-ring" theory, and at present Science seems to +find its "latest thing in Substance," in the theory that Substance--at +the last--seems to be the Corpuscle or Electron. In other words, after +many years of fancied security in a settled theory regarding the nature +of Substance, Science once more finds itself compelled to take up the +search for the origin of things. But the theory of the Ether +remains--and is likely to--although the names applied to it will change. +By some it is still believed that in the Ether, a little further +removed, rests the origin of Substance and that the Corpuscle may be the +"vortex-ring" product, instead of the Atom. + +It will be noticed that Science has made no serious attempt to connect +the phenomenon of Gravitation or Attraction with the Ether. Gravitation +stands alone--an "outsider" among the Forces, responding to none of +their laws--needing no time in which to travel--needing no medium like +the Ether in which to transmit "waves"--fearing no obstacle or +interfering body, but passing right through the same--different, +different, different. And we shall see _why_ this difference, when we +reach the point where our theory brings us to the point where we must +substitute "something else" for that Great Paradoxical General Solvent +of Modern Science--the Ether of Aristotle. We shall reach the point +after a brief consideration of Motion, Force and Energy. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE FORCES OF NATURE + + +The Substance filling the Universe is in constant and unceasing Motion. +Motion is evidenced in every physical and chemical process and change, +and manifested in the constant interchange of position of the Particles +of Substance. + +There is absolutely no rest in Nature--everything is constantly +changing--moving--and vibrating. Building-up processes are ever at work +forming larger masses or bodies of the Particles--and tearing-down +processes, disintegration and decomposition of Molecules and Atoms, and +Corpuscles, are constantly at work also. Nature maintains a constant +balance among her Forces. If the building-up energies and forces were +allowed full sway, then all the Particles in the Universe ultimately +would gravitate to a common centre, thus forming a compact and solid +Mass, which would thus dwell for Eternity, unless the Creative Power +should move upon it and again scatter its Particles in all directions. +And, if the tearing-down, and dispersive forces and energies were +allowed full sway, the Particles would fly apart and would remain +asunder for Eternity, unless called together by some new Creative fiat. + +But Nature pits one force against another, maintaining an equilibrium. +The result is constant play and inter-play of forces, causing +distribution, and redistribution of Particles, following the +gathering-together and building-up processes. + +There is no lost motion, or waste force. One form of force and motion is +converted into another, and so on, and on. Nothing is lost--all force is +conserved, as we shall see as we proceed. + +In the public mind--or rather, in the mind of that part of the public +which think of the matter at all--there seems to be an idea that "Force" +is something of the nature of an entity, separate from Substance or +Mind--something that pounces down upon Substance and drives it along by +presence from without. The ancient philosophers regarded Substance as +acted upon from _without_ by an entity called Force, Substance being +regarded as absolutely inert and "dead." This idea, which is still held +by the average person, owing, doubtless, to the survival of old forms of +expression, was generally held by philosophers until the time of +Descartes and Newton. This old idea was due to the teachings of +Aristotle--he of the Ether Theory--and Science and Philosophy were timid +about shaking off the Aristotelian dogmas. Others held that Light, Heat +and Electricity were "fluids" conveyed from body to body--in fact the +general public still entertains this idea regarding Electricity, owing +to the use of the term "the Electric _fluid_." + +The present teaching of Science is that Force is the result of the +motion of the Particles of Substance, and, of course, originates from +_within_, rather than from without. It is true that Motion may be +communicated to a body by means of another body in Motion imparting the +same to it, but that does not alter the case, for the Original Motion +came from the movement and vibration of the Particles of Substance, +although it may have passed through many stages of transformation, +change and transmission in its progress. The only exception to the rule +is Gravitation, which is a form of Force, the nature of which is unknown +to Science, although its laws of operation, etc., are understood. We +shall learn some new facts about Gravitation in the forthcoming chapters +of this book. + +It will be well for us to remember _this_ fact, in our consideration of +Force and Motion--that Force and Motion _originate_ from the inherent +property of Motion passed by the Particles of Substance, and come from +_within_, not from without. This is the best teaching of Modern Science, +and also, forms an important part of the Theory of Dynamic Thought which +is advanced in this book. Buchner, the author of "_Force and Matter_," +vigorously insists upon this conception, saying, among many other +similar expressions: "Force may be defined as a condition of activity or +a motion of matter, or of the minutest particles of matter or a capacity +thereof." + +The term "Force" is generally defined in works on Physics as "That which +causes, changes or terminates Motion." The word "Force" is generally +used in the sense of "in action," while "Energy" is usually used in the +sense of "Potential Force--capacity for performing work," the idea being +that it is "stored-up" force, or "force awaiting use." The term "Power" +is used in two senses, the first meaning "a measure of Mechanical +Energy," such as a "forty horse-power engine," etc.; the second sense +being "Capacity or Ability to Act, or exercise Force," this use being +almost identical to the idea of "Energy," as above described, although, +possibly, a little stronger expression. + +The Materialistic school holds that Force is a property of Matter, the +latter being regarded as the "real thing" of the Universe. Others hold +that Force is the "real thing," and that what is called Matter, or +Substance, is but a centre of Force, etc. Others hold that the two are +but aspects of the same thing, calling the "thing" by the name +"Matter-Force," or "Force-Matter." Haeckel calls this combined "thing" +by the name of "Substance," claiming that what are called Matter and +Force are but "attributes" of it, the third "attribute" being +"Sensation," which he holds is akin to Mind--"Haeckel's Substance" is +held to be Eternal, and Self-existent--its own Cause, in fact. (In this +book the term "Substance" is not used in this sense, but merely as +synonymous with what Science usually calls "Matter.") + +The views advanced in this book differ materially from any of those +above mentioned, it being held by the writer that "All Force is +Vital-Mental Force," and, consequently, "Force" as a separate thing is +considered an unreasonable proposition--what is called "Force" being +considered merely an action of Mind upon Substance, causing Motion. The +writer does not intend to advance this idea at this point beyond the +mere mentioning of the fact--the theory being brought out and developed +as we proceed--and he will proceed to a consideration of the phenomena +of Force, along the lines of Modern Science, believing that in this way +the subject may be better understood. + +The term "Motion," as used in Physics, is defined as: "The act, process +or state of changing place or position; movement"--(Webster). So you +see, Motion is the movement of Substance changing place or position; +Force is that which causes, changes or terminates Motion; and Energy is +the "capacity" for manifesting Force; and Power the Ability to Act. In +works on Physics you will notice the expression, "Potential Energy," +meaning Energy awaiting action; also "Kinetic Energy," meaning Energy in +Action; that is, in Motion. We shall not need these terms in this book, +but it is well to understand them. + +Another term frequently met with, is "Conservation of Energy," which is +used to indicate that Law of Physics the operation of which renders +Energy indestructible. That is, Science holds that Energy can not be +destroyed--that it is not lost, or created, but is merely transformed +into other forms of Energy, Potential or Kinetic. Therefore, after +Energy is used, it either passes into a state of Potential Energy or +Rest, awaiting a future call to Activity, or else is immediately +transformed into another form of Kinetic Energy, or Energy in Action. +The theory holds that the quantity or amount of Energy in the Universe +is fixed in its totality--none may be created or destroyed--there can be +no addition to, or subtraction from the Totality of Energy--that all +Energy used has been previously stored up, or else has been immediately +transmitted or transformed. It is also held that when Energy manifests +as the result of work performed, it is always found that it is at the +expense of some previously manifested form of Energy--that the agency by +which the work is performed always parts with its stock of Energy, and +that the thing worked upon always acquires or gains the amount of Energy +lost by the aforesaid agent, or worker--and yet there is no actual loss +or gain, but merely transformation. + +The above theory is mentioned as of interest in the general subject, +although it does not play a prominent part in the subject of this book, +for the writer holds that all Energy resides in Mind, and emerges +therefrom, and, in the end, returns thereto. This being believed, it is +seen that Energy is not to be thought of as a separate thing having a +"totality," but merely as a quality of Mind--the question of its +totality or fixed quantity not being inquired into, although both, +probably, run along the lines of the nature of Mind, and depend upon +the limitations, or lack of limitations, of the latter. However, the +question does not assume a vital importance in our consideration of the +subject. + +So far as the question of transmission, or transformation of Energy, is +concerned, however, the principles of the Law of Conservation of Energy +may be accepted as correct, although it more properly belongs to the +principle of what has been called "The Corelation of Force," the idea of +which is that one form of Energy may be, and is always, transformed into +another form, and so on, and on, unto infinity. This idea is followed in +this book, except that the idea of "From Mind originally, to Mind +finally," is incorporated within it. This law of the "Corelation of +Force" may be illustrated by the following quotation from Tyndall, the +great scientist of the last century, who says: + +"A river, in descending from an elevation of 7720 feet, generates an +amount of heat competent to augment its own temperature 10 degrees F., +and this amount of heat was abstracted from the sun, in order to lift +the matter of the river to the elevation from which it falls. As long as +the river continues on the heights, whether in the solid form as a +glacier, or in the liquid form as a lake, the heat expended by the sun +in lifting it has disappeared from the universe. It has been consumed in +the act of lifting. But, at the moment that the river starts upon its +downward course, and encounters the resistance of its bed, the heat +expanded in its elevation begins to be restored. The mental eye, indeed, +can follow the emission from its source through the ether, as vibratory +motion, to the ocean, where it ceases to be vibration, and takes the +potential form among the molecules of aqueous vapor; to the +mountain-top, where the heat absorbed in vaporization is given out in +condensation, while that expended by the sun in _lifting_ the water to +its present elevation is still unrestored. This we find paid back to the +last unit by the friction along the river's bed; at the bottom of the +cascade, where the plunge of the torrent is suddenly arrested; in the +warmth of the machinery turned by the river; in the spark from the +millstone; beneath the crusher of the miner; in the Alpine saw-mill; in +the milk-churn of the chalet; in the supports of the cradle in which the +mountaineer, by water-power, rocks his baby to sleep. All the forms of +mechanical motion here indicated are simply the parcelling out of an +amount of calorific motion derived originally from the sun; and, at each +point at which the mechanical motion is destroyed or diminished, it is +the sun's heat which is restored." + +The following quotation, also, is interesting as illustrating another +phase of this law: + +"The work performed by men and other animals is due to the transformed +energy of food. This food is of vegetable origin and owes its energy to +the solar rays. The energy of men and animals is, therefore, the +transformed energy of the sun. Excepting the energy of the tides, the +sun's rays are the source of all the forms of energy practically +available. It has been estimated that the heat received by the earth +from the sun each year would melt a layer of ice over the entire globe a +hundred feet in thickness. This represents energy equal to one +horse-power for each fifty square feet of surface."--Anthony and +Brackett. + +From the above quotations, it will be seen that the principal and most +familiar sources (or great storage batteries) of Energy, apparent to +dwellers upon this planet, are (1) the Earth manifesting the Power of +Gravitation; and (2) the Sun, manifesting solar heat. In Tyndall's +illustration we see the force of the sun's Energy--heat--raising the +water from the ocean, by evaporation (although aided by the earth's +gravitation "pulling down" the heavier air, allowing the vapor to rise). +Then we see the Force of Gravitation causes the condensed vapor to fall +as rain or snow on the mountain-top--then causing the rain to run into +little streams, and so on until the river is reached--then causing the +river to start on its downward journey of over seven thousand feet--then +causing it to plunge over the cascade; to turn the wheels that operated +the machinery, and turned the millstone, and the crusher of the miner, +and the saw-mill, and the milk-churn, and the cradle. And, as Tyndall +might have added, had he lived a little later--in the running of the +dynamo, which running, produced electricity, that in turn caused lights +to burn; other machinery to run and manufacture things; stoves to cook; +flat-irons to iron; automobiles and engines to run; and many other +things along the lines of transmitting Energy, Force and Motion. + +And in this consideration, let us not forget the important part that +Gravitation--that most wonderful of all Forces--plays in the grand +scheme of Nature. Not only does this Force cause the planets to circle +around the sun, and, perhaps that sun around another sun, and so on, and +on until the matter becomes unthinkable--not only this, but it performs +a million parts in the affair of earthly Matter, as we shall see in a +later chapter. The Force of Gravitation is one of the greatest +mysteries confronting Science to-day, although many believe it a simple +question. Gravitation and the Universal Ether contain the great secrets +of Nature that Man is striving to unveil. And yet, so "common" is +Gravitation that the race, including almost all the scientists, take it +as a "matter of course." We shall devote much attention to the question +of Gravitation in the forthcoming chapters of this book, for it plays a +very important part in the general theory of Dynamic Thought, upon which +this book is based. We shall have a special chapter devoted to it, a +little later on, and the matter will also come up for explanation +further on in the book. + +But, in the meantime, let us consider the other forms of Energy, _viz._, +Heat, Light, Magnetism and Electricity, which with Gravitation and +Attraction of other kinds, form the Forces of Nature. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +RADIANT ENERGY + + +The "kinds" of Energy are very few, although the methods of using, +applying and manifesting same are innumerable. Let us begin with one of +the best known forms of Energy, namely, Heat. + +_Heat_ was formerly regarded as a very fine fluid or substance, called +"caloric," which was supposed to enter into Substance and then manifest +the phenomenon of "heat." This idea has long since been relegated to the +scrap pile of Science. The present theory, which is supported by a mass +of evidence obtained through investigation and experimentation, is that +Heat is a form of Energy, arising from the vibratory motions of the +Particles of Substance--a "Mode of Motion." The degrees of Heat are +termed "Temperature." Temperature depends upon the rate of the +heat-vibrations of the Particles of Substance, either arising from the +Original Motion of the Particles, or else from vibrations or Motion +aroused in them by transmission from Particles of other bodies of +Substance--these vibrations being "contagious." Temperature then means +"the measure of the vibrations of the Particles." + +All bodies of Substance have _some_ degree of Temperature--some degree +of heat-vibration of its Particles. Science has a pleasant "scientific +friction" of an Absolute Zero at the degree of 491 below Zero, +Fahrenheit, but this is merely an imaginary something with which the +grown up children of Science amuse themselves. + +When two bodies are brought near each other--the "nearness" being +comparative, and, in some cases, meaning a distance of millions of +miles--Heat is transmitted from the warmer to the cooler body, until the +temperatures are equalized--that is until the two bodies vibrate in +unison. + +In Physics we are taught that the "Transmission" of Heat may be +accomplished in three ways, although the writer is of the opinion that +the three ways are but three forms of one way. The first form is called +"Conduction," whereby the vibration, or Heat, is conveyed along a body +of Substance, from its warmer to its cooler parts--for instance, an iron +poker with one end in the fire. The second form is called "Convection," +whereby the visible motion of heated Substance, moving along the +air--for instance, hot-air, hot-water, steam, etc., either by means of +pipes, or by allowing them to pass freely through the air. The third +form is called "Radiation," whereby the vibrations are believed to be +transformed into "waves of the Ether," which will be spoken of later, in +addition to what has been said on the subject in our chapter entitled +"The Paradox of Science." + +The writer thinks that a little consideration will show us that the same +rule operates in all of the above cases, and that "Conduction" and +"Convection" are but forms of Radiation. For instance, in Conduction +there must be a few Particles first set into vibration, the same +gradually passing on to the others farther, and farther away. Passing +_how_? "By contact," replies Physics. But, the Particles are never in +absolute contact--there always is "plenty of space" between them. And so +there must be some kind of "waves" passing through the space between +them, which space is not filled with "air," or other form of Substance, +but only with "the Ether," or _something that takes its place_. So that, +after all, Conduction is but a form of Radiation. And the same rule will +apply in the case of Convection. + +Heat arises from several causes, all of which, however, manifest through +the vibration of the Particles of the body evidencing the Heat. These +causes may be stated as (1) Original Motion of the Particles of a body +of Substance, arising from some workings of the Law of Attraction, and +including Motion arising from Chemical Action, Combustion, etc. (2) From +transmission or "contagion" from some other body of Substance, the +Particles of which are vibrating at the rate of Heat. (3) From +interrupted Motion, including friction both of the moving body with the +air or other Substance, and the friction of a current of Electricity +passing through the body. In each of the above cases, the _actual_ and +immediate cause of the Heat is the vibration of the Particles of the +Substance manifesting the Heat, although the transmitted vibratory +waves, or the interrupted motion, friction, current, etc., may have been +the instigator or provoker of such vibration. The interrupted motion, +friction, or "wave" does not produce the Heat, but merely arouses or +provokes the increased vibration of the Particles, that really manifest +the Heat. At the last, remember, the Heat is in the Particles of the +body that "feels" or experiences it. + +The vibrations of Heat seem to have the properties of causing the +Molecules to draw further apart, and to manifest less Attraction, or +more Repulsion, whichever way one cares to express it. This "moving +away" of the Molecules tend to cause the body to increase in volume or +size, and occasions what is known as "Expansion" in Substance. In this +way Heat transforms Solids into Liquids; Liquids into Gases or Vapors, +the change being wholly a matter of the relative distances of the +Molecules. + +_Magnetism_ is another form of Energy, and is generally believed to be a +part of the phenomena of Electricity, if indeed, not a form of +Electricity itself. Science knows very little about the nature of +Magnetism, but in a general way holds to the theory that it results from +the vibration or motion of the Particles of Substance, as do all other +forms of Energy. The magnetic qualities of a body may be increased or +decreased by motion affecting the relation of the Molecules, which fact +has been regarded as having some bearing on the theory. + +_Electricity_ is a form of Energy, that Science regards as also arising +from the vibration or motion of the Particles of Substance. It is +transmitted, like Heat, by Conduction and Radiation, the "waves" tending +to provoke similar vibrations in the Particles of Substances receiving +them. By many careful investigators, Electricity is believed to be very +closely related to the phenomenon called light, both having much in +common. Science seems to be discovering new points of resemblance +between them, and it is probable that in the near future they will be +seen to be but varying forms of the same thing. The purposes of this +book do not call for an extended consideration of the properties of +Electricity, the same being served by a consideration of its nature +being akin to that of the other forms of Energy, namely, "vibration or +motion in or among the Particles of Matter." + +_Light_ is a form of Energy, the study of which is of the greatest +interest to Science, for the reason that the field seems to be widening +out continuously, and reaching out into the territory formerly thought +to be the special region of Electricity. And, in another direction, it +seems to be reaching out into the territory of Heat, the latter being +considered by many to be but a form of Light, in its lower vibrations. +In fact, the writer of this book so considers the subject, and for the +purposes of this book, in later chapters, he will combine Electricity, +Heat, and Light, including, also, the phenomena known as the X-Rays, +Becquerel Rays, Radium waves, etc., as forms of Light--the combined +forms of Energy to be called "_Radiant Energy_." In this combination, he +believes that he is in line with the latest and best thought of Modern +Science. However, he does not insist upon his readers following this +idea, and so, if they prefer, they may think of each of these forms as +separate and distinct, and yet not run contrary to the line of thought +of the book. + +Light is not the simple thing that it is considered to be by the general +public. It is composed of many parts, qualities and manifestations. Its +rays, when separated by the Spectrum, are seen to consist of "waves" or +vibrations of differing degrees of rate and intensity. The lower range +contains the heat rays, and it is interesting to know that there are +rays of heat too far down in the scale to be evidenced by human senses +that may be distinguished by delicate instruments. But there are rays +still further down in the scale that are known to exist, theoretically, +that cannot be registered even by the finest instruments. To gain an +idea of the delicacy of these instruments, let us remember that Prof. +Langley has an instrument called the "Bolometer," that is so delicate +that it registers a change of temperature of one millionth of a degree, +and will register the heat of a candle one and one-half miles distant +from it. Light vibrations arise from combustion, friction, electricity +etc., causing the Particles to assume increased Motion. + +Let us consider the report of the Spectrum. Beginning with waves or +vibrations far below the sensibility of Man, the scale shows an advance +until the first "warm" vibration of iron was reached. This first +indication of warmth comes when the vibrations reach the rate of +35,000,000,000,000 _per second_. Then gradually they increase until a +dull red glow is noticed--the lowest _visible_ light ray--when the +vibrations are 450,000,000,000,000 per second. Then come the orange +rays, then the golden yellow, then the pure yellow, then the greenish +yellow, then the pure green, then the greenish blue, then the ocean +blue, then the cyanic blue, then the indigo, then the violet--the latter +evidencing when the vibrations reach the rate of 750,000,000,000,000 per +second. Then come the Ultra-violet rays--invisible to human sight--but +evidenced by chemical media. In this Ultra-violet region lies the +X-Rays, etc., and also the "Actinic Rays," that produce photographs, +sunburn one's face and blister the nose--that cause violent explosions +in chemicals--that transform forms of Substance--that are employed to +cure skin diseases, etc. These Actinic or Chemical Rays have an +important role to play in plant-life, for they act upon the green leaves +of the plant, causing a chemical change by which carbonic acid and water +are transformed into sugar and starches. + +Some of the rays of the Ultra-violet region of Light penetrate +substances formerly considered solid and impenetrable. And some of them +emitted from Radium, etc., would destroy organic life if applied in +sufficient quantities. Some of them are practically waves of Electricity +so that Light and Electricity are seen to be closely related. + +To give one an idea of the differences produced by different rates of +vibration, let us imagine a Mass of Iron, shaped like a great "Top," +capable of being impelled to "spin" at a constantly increasing rate of +speed, by some Mighty Will. At first it is seen as a slowly spinning +Top, manifesting nothing but slow motion, to our senses. + +Now, imagine our Top spinning at a rate doubling each second. The first +second the Top spins at the rate of two revolutions per second. We +notice no change, except that we can see the movement. The next second +the revolutions are doubled to four per second. Then, doubling each +second, we have, respectively, revolutions of eight per second, then +sixteen, and then in the fifth second thirty-two per second. Then we +begin to notice a change. + +When the revolutions reach thirty-two per second the friction of the +moving Top on the air causes it to give forth a very low, deep, bass +note of sound. This note is like a low, deep "hum," and is the lowest +possible of perception by the human hearing, although it is possible +that some of the lower forms of life may be conscious of still lower +vibrations. + +The sixth second the revolutions reach sixty-four, and the low note has +grown much higher in the scale. The seventh second records a rate of +128, and the note has correspondingly increased. Then, as the seconds +pass, we have, successively, 256, 512, 1,024, 2,048, 4,096, 8,192, +16,384, 32,768, the latter in the fifteenth second, and representing the +highest note recognizable by the human ear, although it is believed that +some of the lower animals may recognize sounds too acute for our sense +of hearing. During this increase in revolutions from the fifth second to +the fifteenth, the sound-note has risen rapidly in the scale from the +low sullen "hum," on through the notes of the musical scale, and beyond +the range of instruments, until the shrillness becomes so intense as to +be almost unbearable, and finally terminating in a shrill, piercing +shriek like the "squeak" of the bat, only long-drawn out. + +Then from the termination of the sound (by reason of the rate of +vibration having become too high) silence reigns for thirty +seconds--absolute silence, in spite of the rapidly increasing rate of +vibrations, in fact, because of it. + +When the forty-fifth second is reached, and the revolutions have reached +the rate of 35,184,372,088,832 per second, our Top begins to emit +heat-rays, increasing each second. Then a little later a dull, dim glow +may be noticed. Then, as the seconds fly, the dull glow manifests a deep +dark red color, such as one notices in the iron of the blacksmith's +shop, soon after it begins to "glow." Then, on and on, as the seconds +fly, the deep red grows lighter and brighter, gradually changing into +orange, then into yellow, then into green, then into blue, then into +indigo, then into violet, and then into the color of "white-heat." Then +this "white-heat" changes into a still more dazzling white, and then a +white impossible to describe appears, so bright, clear and brilliant +that the eye cannot bear the sight. Then, suddenly, the intense +brightness is succeeded by absolute darkness, and the moving Top cannot +be seen by the eye--and yet it moves on. The highest recorded chemical +rays of light are estimated to equal a rate of vibration of +1,875,000,000,000,000 per second. The vibration of the lowest shade of +red light is estimated at 450,000,000,000,000, and the highest of violet +at 750,000,000,000,000 per second, so we may imagine what the highest +line on the spectrum is like. + +Still vibrating, our Top, which has become now a Mass of Vaporized Iron, +rapidly tending toward still more ethereal forms. It has passed out +from the region of light-waves, into another "Unknown Region" of +Vibrations, in which region, however, exist the vibrations known to us +as the "X-Rays," etc. It is throwing off great quantities of Electrons. +If we were to use a fluorescent screen we would be able to observe the +phenomena of the Roentgen Rays, and similar manifestations of Radiant +Energy. + +On and on vibrates the Top of what we once called Iron--cold iron, warm +iron, hot iron, melted iron, gaseous iron, etherealized iron, if you +like. What it is like now, the imagination of Man cannot conceive. Still +the revolutions continue, doubling each second. _What is being +produced?_ The imagination cannot conceive of what this state of +Substance, now being reached, is like. By a scientific form of poetry we +might think of it as melting into Energy--pure Energy, if there were +such a thing. Long since it has been resolved into its original +Particles--its Corpuscles, and perhaps into the "stuff" from which +particles are made. But we must let the curtain drop--the wildest fancy +cannot follow the Dance of Substance any further. + +The theory of the transmission of vibrations of Radiant Energy by means +of "waves" in the Ether, or "something that takes the place of the +Ether," has been mentioned in other parts of the book. Referring again +to it, the writer would say that he thinks it probable that the "waves" +coming in contact with the countless Corpuscles in the Earth's +atmosphere, communicate a high rate of motion to them, the result being +that they take on the vibrations immediately, and pass along with the +"wave" current--the result being that much that we consider as waves of +Light, Heat and Electricity are but streams of these Corpuscles in which +vibrations have been awakened by the "waves." This idea will help to +explain some of the phenomena of Light, which seemed more understandable +under the old Light-Corpuscle theory of Newton than under the "wave" +theory of recent years. The idea is advanced merely for the purpose of +setting down the thought, for it plays no important part in the theory +of the book. + +Another matter that should not be overlooked in connection with Light +and Heat and Electricity is that Particles absorb or "catch" the +vibrations in different degrees, their receptivity depending upon their +particular vibratory mode, or "custom of their kind." If unable to +"absorb" the vibrations, they "reflect" them. Substance, of any +particular kind, absorb Heat in the degree of its atomic weight. + +In the next chapter we shall learn something of The Law of Attraction, +that wonderful Law that makes possible any Motion or Radiant Energy. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE LAW OF ATTRACTION + + +In the previous chapters we have seen that all forms of Radiant Energy, +_viz._, Light, Heat, Electricity and Magnetism, arose from the Motion of +the Particles of Substance. It now becomes important to learn just what +cause this "Motions of the Particles." Science is somewhat hazy and +foggy on this subject, but in a general way decides that it is caused by +"the mutual relations and positions of the particles, arising from their +respective attractive qualities," as a recent writer has expressed it. +Well, this is better than the old way of seeking refuge and retreat in a +mere volume of dense words. It is indeed the only logical conclusion, +this one that the operations of the Law of Attraction are manifested in +the Motion of the Particles. + +This great Law of Attraction is the greatest Law in Nature. It operates +on all planes of life. It is always in evidence. Let us consider it. + +Let us begin by considering the most magnificent and constant +exhibition of that Law--Gravitation. Gravitation is the Riddle of the +Universe, and the one form of Energy that balks Science--so much a +mystery that Science does not even hazard a "guess" at its nature--no +theory of the origin and nature of Gravitation is to be found in "the +books." Let us see what Gravitation is. + +It is more than the power that "pulls things to the earth," as the +average man would define it. It does more than cause water to run +down hill, and turn mill-wheels to drive machinery. Water-power +results from Gravitation, but even the Energy of Niagara Falls is +insignificant when compared to the other manifestations of the Mother of +Energy--Gravitation. + +Webster defines Gravitation as: "That attraction or force by which all +bodies or particles in the universe tend toward each other." + +Following that definition, let us add that: _Every particle of Substance +has an attraction for every other particle_. + +In view of our belief that this "attraction" is a form of mental effort, +let us regard the term "Attraction" as being a form of what we call +"Desire," or even "Love," in the mental world. If you will think of it +in this way, you will be better able to fall in with our lines of +thought. + +And, in addition to every particle of Substance having an attraction +(love or desire) for every other particle, _it has the means and power +to draw that other particle toward itself, and to move toward that other +particle at the same time_. Webster gives a very clear idea of this when +he defines Attraction as: "_An invisible power in a body by which it +draws anything to itself; the power in nature acting mutually between +bodies, or ultimate particles, tending to draw them together, or to +produce their cohesion or combination, and conversely resisting +separation_." + +The majority of persons, when thinking of "Gravitation," are satisfied +with the idea that it is a power that "pulls things down to the ground," +and do not think of it as a force that "pulls things" other ways besides +"down," and which is possessed and exercised by the speck of dust as +well as by the whole earth--by the molecule as well as by the mass. The +reason of this is that this power is so slight in small bodies of +Substance that it is unnoticed; and that only when the mass is +sufficiently large to make the "pull" strong does one perceive and +appreciate that the force exists. The lack of information on the part of +the average person regarding this subject is amazing, particularly when +the importance of the knowledge is understood. + +The attraction that holds the molecules of Substance together is +Gravitation. The attraction that "pulls" a piece of Substance to the +earth is Gravitation. The attraction that keeps the suns and planets in +their orbits is Gravitation. Let us see the operations of the Law. + +In Astronomy you may learn that the movements of the planets around the +sun and the moons around their planets--their regular and constant +relative positions--are caused by the force of Gravitation. If it were +not for this attraction by the Sun, the planets would fly out into +space, like a stone from a sling. The Attraction of Gravitation acts on +the planets just as does the string of the whirling sling that keeps the +stone from flying away during the whirling until the string is released. +Some astronomers think that our sun revolves around some greater sun, +and this again around a greater, and so on to infinity. If this be so, +then the Attraction of Gravitation is that which holds them all in their +orbits and places in spite of their motion. + +And in Physics, you may learn that this same Attraction of Gravitation +prevents the people and objects on the surface of the earth from flying +off into space. And that it holds the portions of the earth together, +preventing them from flying apart. + +And, remember this, for it is important--the Attraction of the Earth, +great and powerful as it is, is nothing more than the _combined_ +attractive power of its constituent molecules, or atoms, or parts. The +centre of the Earth is the Centre of the Attraction, because it is the +centre of the aggregation of its Particles. + +It must not be supposed that the Earth simply attracts "downward," that +is, toward its centre. On the contrary, large masses of earth--large +mountains, for instance--exert a certain degree of Attraction of +Gravitation, and experiments have shown that a "plumb" is slightly +deflected by reason of the proximity of a large mountain. And the reason +that bodies "lose weight" as they descend from the surface of the earth +is because they leave "above" them a certain large portion of the +molecules composing the earth, which mass of molecules exert an +attraction proportionate to their mass, which attraction balances the +attraction of the mass of earth "beneath them." + +Science teaches that if the earth were hollow in the centre, the weight +there would be Zero, or nothing at all, and that a body would float in +the space at the centre of the earth just as does a balloon in the air, +the reason thereof being that the attraction would be equalized--equal +attraction from every direction, counterbalancing each other. +Considering the earth's radius to be 4000 miles, a body that weighed 100 +pounds on the surface would weigh but 75 pounds at the depth of 1000 +miles; but 50 pounds at a depth of 2000 miles; but 25 pounds at a depth +of 3000 miles; and Nothing, or Zero, at a depth of 4000 miles, which +would be the Centre of the Earth. This, of course, supposes that the +Substance of which the earth is composed is of uniform density from +surface to centre. + +From an equal distance above the surface of the earth, bodies released, +or dropped, will reach the surface at exactly the same degree of speed, +and in exactly the same time--this irrespective of weight or size. In +other words, a cork or piece of lead, no matter what their sizes may be, +will travel with equal rapidity. In case where the "lighter" substance +travels more slowly (compare a feather and bullet, for instance) the +difference is caused by the light object meeting with more resistance +from the air. This apparent exception has been explained away by the +experiment of dropping the bullet and the feather in a vacuum tube, in +which there was no resistance from air, the consequence being that both +descended precisely at the same instant. Another similar experiment is +to place the feather upon a piece of iron whereby the resistance of the +air is prevented, and the feather will maintain its position during the +drop, and will reach the ground resting on top of the iron, just as it +started. + +And, remember this please, that the small object attracted by the earth +exerts an attraction on its own account. If the two were of the same +size they would exert an equal attracting power, but as one is smaller +its attracting power is very slight compared with that of the large +mass. But it is true that the particle of dust attracts the earth +precisely as the earth attracts the particle of dust--the difference +being solely a matter of degree depending upon the "mass" of the body. +The amount or degree of the _combined_ attracting power is determined by +the combined total of the two masses. Distance lessens the degree of +attraction--thus as bodies are lifted above the earth the weight +decreases very gradually, and by very slight degrees, but constantly and +invariably. The poles of the earth are flattened, and, consequently, the +weight of an object slightly increases as it is carried from equator to +pole. + +Concluding our consideration of Gravitation, it will be well to call +your attention to the fact that Gravitation differs from the forms of +Radiant Energy known as Heat, Light, Electricity and Magnetism in +several very important particulars, which seems to go far in the +direction of proof that the latter are by incidents or consequences of +the former. + +In the first place, Gravitation, so far as is known, is not dependent +upon, caused by, or maintained by, any other Force or form of Energy. +Nor does it seem to be derived from some great reservoir, from which it +obtains its supply of Energy. On the contrary, it seems to be a +"thing-in-itself," self-supporting, self-existing--an intrinsic thing, +in fact. It does not seem to be lost to bodies by radiation. And +consequently there seems to be no need of a body replenishing its +supply, as there is no loss. Gravitation seems to be a constant +_something_, remaining always with bodies and neither being lost or +acquired. It exists between the Atoms, Molecules, Masses--all in the +same way. In fact, one is tempted to think of the planets and worlds in +space, as Molecules of some greater Mass held together by Gravitation +just as are the Molecules held together. Remember, that the Molecules +and Atoms are not in absolute contact, _but there is always a "space" +between them_, although the space or distance may be "insensible" to us. +"As above, so below," says the old occult aphorism, and it seems to be +so. + +Then again, Gravitation is believed to act _instantaneously_, and does +not require Time to pass between bodies, as does Light, Heat, +Electricity, Magnetism--Radiant Energy. Light travels through the Ether +(as light-waves) at the rate of 184,000 miles a second. The same is true +of Heat and of Electricity. But Gravitation travels instantaneously. For +instance, if a new star were to spring into existence at some +inconceivable distance from the earth it would require thousands of +years for its light to reach us. But its Attraction of Gravitation would +be felt _instantly_. Do you realize what this means? It means that +Gravitation is in some way connected with the Ether, or "conveying +medium," that an impulse communicated at some point of space trillions +of miles away is felt _at once_ at our point in space, and vice versa. +There is some awful mystery here, and the laws of Substance, and Force, +as generally understood, do not account for it. And the theories +regarding the Ether do not throw light upon it. _But wait a bit!_ + +But more than this. Science holds that Gravitation _does not require a +medium_--that it seems to be its own medium--needing no "Ether" or other +medium to transmit its influence. In this respect also, Gravitation +differs from the form of Radiant Energy. And more, it is not "cut-off" +or interfered with by any intervening body, for its force operates +through such intervening bodies. For instance, in an eclipse of the Sun, +the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, but the Gravitation is +not affected in the slightest, for the bodies would evidence such change +immediately were it to occur. + +So Gravitation acts instantaneously; is its own medium, and may not be +interfered with by an intervening body. It, indeed, is in a different +"class" from Light, Heat and Electricity. + +And now let us consider the other forms of Attraction. + +In the previous chapters we saw that the form of Attraction called +"Cohesion" caused the molecules to tend to each other, and to remain in +more or less close contact, the differing degrees of Cohesion +determining the Density, etc., of the body. Were the Attractive force of +Cohesion suddenly removed, the most solid bodies, as well as the +lightest ones, would instantly fly into very fine powder, thus being +resolved into their constituent molecules. The separation of the +Molecules, that is, the "setting further apart," occasioned by Heat, is +spoken of by Physicists as "Repulsion." But the writer holds that +repulsion is an entirely different thing, and that the heat merely +causes the Molecules to lose a portion of their Attractive power for +each other. Until the heat being withdrawn, the Molecules respond to the +uninterrupted Attraction. The Molecules are like lovers who are +attracted toward each other, and remain attached unless separated +violently, or by some fading of Attraction. Consider Heat as a +disturbing element--a "misunderstanding" between the molecular lovers, +who under its influence draw somewhat apart, and are only reunited when +the obstacle is removed, and harmony again manifested. + +As we have shown you in a previous chapter, the so-called "properties" +of Matter, _i.e._, Hardness, Tenacity, Malleability, Ductility, etc., +are simply evidence of a persistent Cohesiveness of the Molecules--a +strong "love" or "desire" for each other that caused them to adopt every +possible means in their power to resist, and prevent, the separation of +the Molecules forming the mass. It was like a desperate attempt to +prevent the "breaking up of the family." + +Each so-called Special Physical Property of Matter is seen to be but the +action of the Molecule resisting separation, in obedience to that law of +its being called "Attraction," or "Gravitation," or "Cohesion," or +"Adhesion"--but which might as fitly be called "Desire," or "Love." And, +remember, that this law does not seem to be merely one of +self-preservation of the Molecule--for it remains intact even after the +separation from its companions or family. It is more, for it is a law +that causes it to bend all its energies in remaining within "molecular +distance" or close companionship with its family, and resisting +disintegration. It is like the "social instinct" in Man, if one may be +pardoned from using the figure. + +Now for the Attraction of the Atoms--"Chemical Affinity," or "Chemism," +as it is called. An Atom, you know, is the chemical unit of Matter, and +the smallest particle of Matter that can enter into combination (leaving +the Corpuscle out of the consideration, for the moment). These Atoms +exhibit and manifest an Attraction for each other that causes them to +form combinations or "marriages," and thus to combine, forming a +molecule. But remember, always, that when Atoms "combine" they do not +merge their identities--they simply "marry," and nothing more. Each atom +maintains its own identity, and is found intact if the "marriage" is +destroyed by chemical process, which might be called the termination of +the molecular marriage, by "divorce," that is, by one Atom forsaking +its mate and seeking a new "affinity" in the shape of some more +attractive (or attracting) Atom. For, alas, the Atoms are more or less +fickle, and often leave their life-partners for some other fascinating +Particle. At times there is manifested a condition of "how happy could I +be with either, were t'other fair charmer away"--there is a conflict of +attractions. + +There is more "flirting" and "affairs of the heart" in the world of +Atoms than in the region of the Molecules, for while the latter are apt +to seek only the companionship of their own "family," or some nearly +related family, the Atoms have quite a number of possible "affinities," +and will invariably desert a lesser attraction for a greater one (thus +forming a new molecule) and leave the deserted one to get along alone as +best it may, or else form a new alliance with some other affinity who is +either impervious to the attraction of the more brilliant charmer, or +else is out of the danger of temptation. + +But, if we analyze and carefully consider this "Chemical Affinity," +"Chemism," we will see that it comes well under the definition of +"Attraction" as given by Webster, and quoted in the first part of this +chapter. It certainly comes under the rule of "_the power in nature +acting mutually between bodies, or ultimate particles, tending to draw +them together_," etc. + +The writer thinks that he is justified in asking you to consider +Gravitation, Cohesion, Adhesion and Chemical Affinity as related forms +of the same thing. If you do not like to call this "same thing" by the +name of "Gravitation," suppose we call it "The Law of Attraction," of +which Gravitation, Cohesion, Adhesion, Chemical Affinity or Chemism are +but different aspects. (This "relation" is described in Chapter XIII.) + +And the writer believes that this "Law of Attraction" is the underlying +cause of all that we call Energy, Force, Power, Motion, etc., in the +Physical world. For if "Gravitation" accounts for all "Mass Motion," or +"Mechanical Motion"--if Molecular Cohesion, and the vibrations +accompanying it, manifest in forms of "Molecular Motion"--and if Atomic +"Chemical Affinity" or "Chemism," manifest in "Atomic Motion"--and if +even the Corpuscles in their movements obey this same "Law of +Attraction" in some form--and if all Force and Energy is but a "Mode of +Motion"--then, if all this be true, are we not justified in claiming +that this "Law of Attraction" is the Basis of All Energy, Force and +Motion? And are we not justified in thinking of this "Law of +Attraction" as always manifesting in the direction of drawing together +particles of Substance--be those particles suns, planets, masses, +molecules, atoms or corpuscles--in pursuance of some basic law imposed +upon All-things, by That-which-is-above-Things? + +The following quotation is interesting, in our consideration of this +subject: + +"There are other forces besides gravity, and one of the most active of +these is chemical affinity. Thus, for instance, an atom of oxygen has a +very strong attraction for one of carbon, and we may compare these two +atoms to the earth and a stone lodged upon the top of a house. Within +certain limits, this attraction is intensely powerful, so that when an +atom of carbon and one of oxygen have been separated from each other, we +have a species of energy of position just as truly as when a stone has +been separated from the earth. Thus by having a large quantity of oxygen +and a large quantity of carbon in separate states, we are in possession +of a large store of _energy_ of position. When we allowed the stone and +the earth to rush together, the _energy_ of position was transformed +into that of actual motion, and we should therefore expect something +similar to happen when the separated carbon and oxygen are allowed to +rush together. This takes place when we burn coal in our fires, and the +primary result, as far as _energy_ is concerned, is the production of a +large amount of heat. We are, therefore, led to conjecture that heat may +denote a motion of particles on the small scale just as the rushing +together of the stone and the earth denotes a motion on the large. It +thus appears that we may have invisible molecular energy as well as +visible mechanical _energy_."--_Balfour Stewart._ + +To the writer it seems that the Particle of Substance finds within its +Mind-principle (for you know we have seen that all Substance had +something akin to Life and Mind) a constant craving, imbedded in its +very nature, which causes it to seek Satisfaction. This craving for +Satisfaction results in Unrest, and seeks a solution along two lines. +These two lines are indicated by two entirely different Desires that it +finds within itself--the first being a Desire or Inclination to seek the +companionship of some other Particle--the second being a Desire or +Inclination to be Free of Attachment or Entanglement. + +The Desire for Attachment arises from the force of the Law of Attraction +that exists between each Particle of Substance. The Desire for +Non-attachment arises from some inward inclination for Freedom. These +two Desires or Inclinations may be called the Desire for Impression and +the Desire for Expression. + +The Desire for Impression (or pressing in) manifests along lines of +action tending toward Attachment, Moreness, Companionship, Combination. +The Desire for Expression (or pressing out) manifests along the lines of +action tending toward Individuality, Freedom, Independence, +Unattachment, etc. And both are strong cravings--and both tend to +produce Unrest, which results in Motion. The "pull" of the Desire of +Impression exists always, and is always modified and counteracted by the +"push" of the Desire for Expression. And, resulting from the play of +these two Desires, or Forces, result Activity, Motion and Change. Like +the two conflicting angels in the Persian mythology--Ahriman and +Ormuzd--these two Desires wrestle with each other in the theatre of the +Universe--constant Motion and Change being the results. + +And, if the writer may be pardoned for dropping into Mysticism for the +moment, may it not be that these conflicting Desires for Separateness +and Unity, respectively, are but different forms of the Desire for +Satisfaction through Oneness. Impression seeks Oneness by combination +with other separated Particles, _but finds it not_. Expression seeks +Oneness by drawing apart and endeavoring to realize it in that way, +_but finds it not_. But both are but different aspects of the same +Desire for Satisfaction, and only when the Mind recognizes Oneness in +Diversity does Satisfaction come. And thus the lesson of the Particle +becomes the Lesson of the Man. + +These conflicting Desires of Inclinations of the Particles--the one +urging it along the lines of Attraction--the other along the lines of +Separation--produce the Dance of the Atoms--the Motion of the Particles. + +When the Particle manifests along the lines of Expression it pushes +itself away from the other Particle, and, consequently, also pushes the +other Particle away. When it manifests along the lines of Impression, it +pulls itself toward the other Particle, and at the same time pulls the +other Particle toward itself. In both cases the "medium" of the pulling +extends over the space separating them, as will be described in future +chapters. This pulling and pushing is called by Chemistry "Attraction +and Repulsion" of the Particles. + +It is perhaps unnecessary to state that the Force of the Attraction of +Cohesion or of Chemical Affinity is much stronger than that of +Gravitation, in the case of the same Particles. Otherwise, if one picked +up a piece of iron, the Attraction of Gravitation would cause its +particles to separate and fall to the ground, whereas, the Attraction of +Cohesion and that of Chemical Affinity enable the Particles to +counteract the pull of Gravitation, and thus remain intact. Compared +with Cohesion or Chemical Affinity, the pull of Gravitation is +incomparably weak. The force which holds together two atoms of water +represents a high degree of dynamic power, and the shock of forcible +separation of chemical atoms produces something akin to an explosion. So +we see that the Attraction of the Particles, while of the same nature as +Gravitation, is much higher in intensity. + +But notwithstanding the power of the Attraction, it seems to be a matter +inherent in the nature of the Particle, and to represent a something +like Will, in response to Desire. + +The varying "push and pull" or the two Desires, would necessarily cause +a revolution of each Particle on its own axis, and a revolution around +each other--besides many instances of rushing together and away from +each other. In these forms of Motion is to be found the cause of the +vibrations producing Radiant Energy, known as Light, Heat, Electricity +and Magnetism. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE THEORY OF DYNAMIC THOUGHT + + +From the preceding chapters we have learned that: + +(1) The forms of Force or Radiant Energy, known as Light, Heat, +Magnetism and Electricity, are "Modes of Motion," arising from the +Original Motion of the Particles of Substance (Molecules, Atoms, +Corpuscles or Electrons). And that such Original Motion of the Particles +arises from the Operation of The Law of Attraction; + +(2) That the forms of Attractive Force or Energy, known as Gravitation, +Cohesion, Adhesion, Atomic Attraction, Chemical Affinity or Chemism, and +Corpuscular Attraction, also arise from the operation of the Law of +Attraction; + +(3) That, from the above, it follows that: All Manifestations of Force +and Energy in Inorganic Substance (_viz._, both Radiant Energy in its +forms of Light, Heat, Magnetism, Electricity, etc.; and also Attractive +Energy in its forms of Gravitation, Cohesion, Adhesion, Chemical +Affinity or Atomic Attraction and Corpuscular Attraction) arise from the +operation of the Law of Attraction. + +It will be well to remember that the fact that some of the above forms +of Radiant Force or Energy, such as Heat, Light, Magnetism and +Electricity, may arise from Motion transmitted from other Substance, +does not alter the matter. For if they arise from "waves" from some +other Substance, it merely follows that the Original Motion that gave +rise to the "waves" arose from the operation of the Law of Attraction. +Or, if they arise from "interrupted Motion," it merely follows that the +Motion that is interrupted may be traced back to Original Motion that +arose from the operation of the Law of Attraction. So that all +Mechanical Power, and all the forms of Energy or Force producing the +same (omitting for the moment the forms of Energy or Force of "Living +Organisms," which will be described later on) arise from the operation +of the Law of Attraction. + +Now, for the next step. We have seen that the operation of the Law of +Attraction results from Vital-Mental Action on the part of the Life and +Mind Principle inherent in the nature of the Particles of Substance. +Consequently, all forms of Energy and Force arising from the operation +of The Law of Attraction--the latter being the result of Vital-Mental +Action--then it follows that: + +_All forms of Energy and Force having its origin in the Law of +Attraction are manifestations of Vital-Mental Action._ + +But this is not all--for we have not considered the Energy and Force +abiding in, and manifested by, what are called "Living Organisms," such +as human, animal and plant life, which are manifested by the physical +organisms or "bodies" of man, animal and plant. In order to avoid a long +digression into the realms of biology, we will omit all but a passing +reference to the theories that seek to identify the action of the cells +of organic life with those of the particles of inorganic life--for +remember, that Organic Substance has its Molecules, Atoms and +Corpuscles, as well as its higher combinations known as "Cells"--and we +will seek the ultimate source of all forms of Force and Energy, +exhibited by "Organic Life," in that which lies back of "Physical +Action." We need no argument here--for all will readily recognize that +behind the physical action of man, animal and plant, lies Life and Mind, +and that therefore all Force and Energy arising from such action must be +manifestations of Vital-Mental Action. + +And so, summing up our conclusions regarding Force and Energy and Motion +in Inorganic Substance--and then in Organic Substance--we arrive at an +understanding of the Basic Proposition of the Theory of Dynamic Thought, +which is as follows: + +BASIC PROPOSITION.--_That All forms and exhibition of Force, Energy, +Motion and Power are manifestations of Vital-Mental Action. And that, +consequently, at the last there is no Force but Vital-Mental Force; no +Energy but Vital-Mental Energy; no Motion but Vital-Mental Motion; no +Power but Vital-Mental Power._ + +It is possible that the average reader will fail to recognize the +tremendous importance of the above proposition. It is most +revolutionary, and is not only directly opposed to the Materialistic +theory which makes Matter the dominant factor--the only factor, in +fact--in Life; but it is also far different from the opinion of the +average person who has been taught to think of "blind force," "dead +matter," "mechanical energy," "power of machinery, engines," etc. And +yet, you are invited to go back over the path that leads up to the +theory, and test and examine every bit of the road for weak +spots--insecure bridges, etc.--the writer feels that the work will bear +examination. He thinks that he has succeeded not only in proving that +(1) The Universe is Alive and Thinking; and (2) That Mind is +Dominant--but he believes, also, that he has made at least partially +understandable the old occult and metaphysical aphorism that has been +heard so much in these later days--the statement that "All is Mind--Mind +is All." + +The only fact needed now is the proof of the old occult theory that +Matter or Substance blends gradually into Mind, and that in the end it +is found to have its origin there. So far, Science has not given us this +proof, but it begins to look that way, although Science does not dream +of what lies at the end of the road she is travelling. She tells us that +she sees Matter melting into Force or Energy, and that perhaps the +Universe may be found to be Energy or Force, at the last. But she +ignores the fact that her investigations have already proven (to those +who know how to combine them) that Mind is back of Force--that all Force +is Mental Force, at the last. And, so, you see it is not so far a cry +from Matter to Mind in these days of the Twentieth Century. The bridge +is being erected by the Materialists, but the Mentalist will be the +first to cross over it. + +But there are many important questions ahead of us for consideration in +relation to the Theory of Dynamic Thought. And we must hasten on to +them. + +One of the first questions that must be considered is that of the +transmission of Force, Energy or Motion. Science has told us that Light +travels and is "contagious," that Heat travels and is "contagious," that +Electricity travels and is "contagious," that Magnetism travels and is +"contagious." But is has failed to find evidences of Cohesive Force, or +Adhesive Force, or the Force of Gravitation, or the Force of Chemical +Affinity, or the Force of Corpuscular Affinity, being "contagious," and +although it recognizes that they must "travel" beyond the limits of the +bodies manifesting them, yet it has hazarded no theory or hypothesis, +worthy of the name, to account for the phenomenon. It informs us that +Light, Heat, Magnetism and Electricity "travel" (via waves of the +"Ether") at the rate of 184,000 miles per second--and that when they +reach their destination the "Ether waves" set up similar vibrations in +the Substance with which they come in contact. The only explanation of +the method or medium of "travel" is the "Aristotle's Ether" Theory, +which, while generally accepted as a working hypothesis, nevertheless, +brings a broad smile to the face of any thoughtful scientist who +considers it in detail. As for the medium of the transmission of +Gravitation, Cohesion, Chemical Affinity and Molecular Affinity, Science +is mute. All that she says is that Gravitation is believed to travel +_instantaneously_ over distances that it takes Light, travelling at the +rate of 184,000 miles per second, _over two thousand years_ to travel. +Verily, Gravitation defies Scientific theories and estimates, and laughs +at the "Ether." Let us see if the Dynamic Thought Theory throws any +light on the subject! + +The first step in the solution of the problem of the transferring and +communication of Energy is the remembrance of the fact that the Energy +is _purely Mental_. Be it Gravitation, Affinity or Attraction, on the +one hand--or Light, Heat, Magnetism or Electricity on the other--it is +all Mental Force. Attraction in all of its forms has been recognized as +Mental Action. And the vibrations that cause Light, Heat, Magnetism and +Electricity have been seen to result from the Law of Attraction, and, +therefore, are Mental. This being the case, would it not be wise for us +to look for a solution of the transmission of Force and Energy in the +region from which it originated--_the Mental Region_? Does not this seem +reasonable? Should not the explanation for Mental Effects be sought in a +Mental Cause? And should not the medium between Mind and Mind be looked +for in the Mental Region? + +Taking the liberty of peeping into some of the succeeding chapters of +this book--getting a little ahead of the story, as it were--let us +consider the operation of Mind in the higher forms of Life. Without +argument, or proof at this point, let us remember the well-founded +statements of fact--and the old occult teachings as well--that the Mind +is not confined to the limits of the body, but extends as an "Aura" for +some distance beyond the physical form. Let us also remember the +phenomena grouped together under the general subject of +"Thought-transference," "Thought-transmission," "Telepathy," or (the +best term of all) "Telesthesia" (meaning, literally "far-off +sensation"). The writer imagines that he hears the yell of derision go +up at this point from the materialistic personage, or "man on the +street," who has been induced to read this book by some well meaning +friend. "Thought-transference, Fiddlesticks," we may hear him cry, in +imagination. But let this reader remember--Fiddlesticks, or no +Fiddlesticks--that Thought-transmission is a proven fact--and that +thousands of people _know_ it to be so, absolutely, from their own +experience. It is too late in the day for sneers at the mention of the +term. + +Well, then, since Force is Mental, and we are looking for a Mental +explanation for the phenomenon of Transmission of Force, does it not +seem natural to consider Thought-transmission in that connection? +Answering a possible objection of some critical reader, to the effect +that before a "sensation" may be received, the receiver must have +"sense-organs"--a very good objection, but one that is answered by +Science itself--let us read on. + +Haeckel, the distinguished scientist, in his endeavor to prove that +Man's senses are but a development of something in inorganic life, has +called our attention to the fact that Molecules, and Atoms, are capable +of "receiving" sensations and "responding" thereto. He makes quite a +point of this in his latest works, and remarks, among many other things +showing his positive views on the subject of "sensation in the inorganic +world": "_I cannot imagine the simplest chemical and physical process +without attributing the movements of the material particles to +unconscious sensation_"; and again: "_The idea of chemical affinity +consists in the fact that the various chemical elements perceive the +qualitative differences in other elements--experience 'pleasure' or +'revulsion' at contact with them, and execute specific movements on this +ground_." He also quotes, approvingly, the remarks of Nageli, who said: +"_If the molecules possess something that is related, however distantly, +to sensation, it must be comfortable to be able to follow their +attractions and repulsions; uncomfortable when they are forced to do +otherwise_." Haeckel also says that in his opinion _the sensations in +animal and plant life are "connected by a long series of evolutionary +stages with the simpler forms of sensation that we find in the inorganic +elements, and that reveal themselves in chemical affinity_." Is not this +strong enough? Perhaps we may now be permitted at least to "assume" that +even the Atoms, Molecules and Corpuscles have "something like +sensation." + +Some one may now object that Haeckel speaks of "contact" between the +particles, and that sensation by contact (even in an atom) is far +different from sensation without contact, at a short distance. Quite +right, but if the objector will take the trouble to review the teachings +of Science regarding the relation of the Particles, he will see that the +Particles are _never "exactly" in contact_, except in moments of +collision, which, by the way, they carefully avoid. The Corpuscles, as +we have shown, have _"plenty of room" in which to move about_, and they +move in orbits around each other. The Atoms combine, _but there is +always room between them_, as may be seen by reference to the teachings +regarding the "Ether," which "fills up the cracks" according to the +theory. And the Molecules _also have "plenty of room,"_ as may be seen +by reference to that part of the subject, particularly to the comparison +of the drop of water magnified to the size of the Earth, in which the +Molecules would appear about the size of the original drop _with more +room between each than their own size_. + +In fact, as we have been shown in a previous chapter, the particles are +attracted only to a certain distance, at which they resist the impulse +or attraction and "stand off" a bit. They will not be forced too near +without creating disturbances, and manifestations of force, and if they +are separate beyond a certain distance the attractive power ceases to +operate. But _there is always some room between them_, and they bridge +over that room and exert and receive the attractive power _in some way_. +This is true not only of the particles but of the great bodies, like the +Earth and planets, that are attracted, and attract over great distances. +Now for the question: "How do they exert sense and attractive power over +the great comparative distance--great, comparatively, as well in atom, +as in planet and sun?" + +Some one may answer the question closing the last paragraph with the +word "_Electricity_." Very good--Electricity, like the "Ether," comes in +quite handy when one is forced to explain something not known. +"Electricity," like the "Glacial Period," "Aristotle's Ether," "Natural +Laws," and "Suggestion," is a most handy weapon of argument, and often +acts as a preventative to further inquiry and investigation until some +sufficiently irreverent of precedent arises to ask, "But Why and How?" +and starts the ball rolling again. + +But "Electricity" will not answer in this case, for the rate of the +"travel" of Electricity is well known--184,000 miles per second, which, +fast as it is, assumes the crawl of a "slow-freight" when compared with +the "instantaneous" rate of travel of Gravitation. And then Electricity +requires a "medium" and Gravitation does not, and in many other ways the +two are seen to be totally different. And in the case of the Space between +the Atom and Molecule and Corpuscle, it is no more reasonable to say +"Electricity" than it would be to say "Heat" or "Light"; and "Magnetism" is +not available for obvious reasons. Remember that Electricity, Light and +Heat are _caused_ by Motion resulting from Attraction, and _the child +cannot procreate the parent_. Heat, Light and Electricity may beget each +other (and they do). And Gravitation may procreate Heat, Light and +Electricity. But Heat, Light and Electricity _cannot procreate +Gravitation_--Never! And Light, Heat and Electricity require replenishing +from the common source of Energy, but Gravitation is self-sufficient and +asks no replenishing or storage-battery or power-house. Electricity, Heat +and Light come and go, appearing, manifesting and disappearing, swallowed +up by each other, or by Substance. But Gravitation is always +there--unchangeable--unwavering--immutable--invariable--Something above +Matter and Force--something majestic, awe-inspiring, sublime! Does it +take a wild flight of the imagination to see that this Something, that +is not Matter, and nor Force, _must be a manifestation of Mind_? + +Let us first apply this idea of Thought-transference to the operation of +the Law of Attraction between the Corpuscles, Atoms and Molecules of +Substance--the Particles of Substance. The particles are believed to +move to or away from each other in accordance with the workings of +Attraction and Affinity, in its various degrees. First they must +_desire_ to move--not Desire in the developed sense that we feel it, but +still elementary "feeling," or "inclination," or "tendency"--call it +what you will, but it remains rudimentary Mental Emotion--an E-motion +leading to Motion. (This is not a pun--look up the meaning of the word +Emotion and you will see its application.) + +Then, following the Desire, comes the action in the direction of +gratifying it. The Particles act to gratify Desire in two ways--acting +at a "distance," remember--they exert the Attractive Force, which the +writer believes to be Mental Force, _transmitted by Mind, projection_, a +mental or psychic bond or connection being thus established. By means of +this bond of Mind, the Particle endeavors to (1) draw itself to the +object; and (2) to draw the object toward itself. In the case of the +Molecule, this Desire and Movement seems to be mutual, and evidenced by +and to all Molecules alike, _providing they be within Molecular +Distance_, as Science calls it. But in the case of the Atoms, it seems +to be different--for there is found a greater degree of "choice," or +"elective affinity." This "election" or "choice" is not altogether free, +but depends upon the relative likes and dislikes of certain "kinds" of +elements, as we have seen in previous chapters, although, to be sure, +these Elements are all made out of the same "stuff" in different +combinations. + +The details of Corpuscular Attraction are not known, so it cannot be +told whether "preferences" exist, or whether (in the words of the +street) all Corpuscles "look alike" to each other. It would appear, +however, that there must be some reasons for preference, among the +Corpuscles, else they would always form in the same combinations--always +act alike to each other, as they are alike in other actions--and thus +there would be but _one_ Element or kind of Atom, formed, instead of the +_seventy-five_, already known. To be sure, in this case, it _might_ be +that the _one_ kind of Atom formed would be the Atom of Hydrogen, and +that all other Elements, or Atoms, were modifications of that one--just +proving the dream of the Scientists of the Nineteenth Century. But, as +Kipling would say, "that is another story." + +To return to the Particle which we left trying to draw the other +Particle to itself, and itself toward the other. There is no _material_ +connection between them (and Electricity and Magnetism will not answer), +so what is to be done? Evidently the Particle knows, for it exerts _a +"drawing" power or force by means of the Mental-connection_, and two +come together. The Particle evidently is able to exert a repelling or +"moving away" power by reversing the process, the Mental-bond acting as +the medium. This may cause a smile, because we have never seen an +instance of bodies pulling themselves together by intangible "bonds." +_Haven't we?_ Then how about two pieces of magnetised steel, or two +electrified substances? Oh, that's different, you say. _Why, different?_ +Isn't _the bond intangible_? And, haven't we seen that both Electricity +and Magnetism were Mental Actions also? Oh,--er--but well,--oh yes, +_that's_ it--perhaps the Attracting Force is Magnetism or Electricity. +No, that will not do, for we have seen that Electricity and Magnetism +were _products_ of this Attraction, not _producers_ of it--the +Attraction must come _before_ Electricity and Magnetism, not _after_ +them--you are mixing Cause and Effect. And, even if you were right--and +you cannot be--wouldn't the Electrical or Magnetic Force be _called into +operation, and directed by the Mental Action_, arising from the Desire? +You cannot get away from Mental Action when you study the Law of +Attraction. + +"But, how about the fact that Heat causes the Particles to change their +vibrations, and draw apart, and all that sort of thing--and Electricity, +likewise?" you may ask. "Surely this takes the matter away from Mental +Action, doesn't it?" Well, the writer thinks that the phenomenon +referred to only helps to prove his theory. And he will endeavor to so +prove to you. + +The consideration of the facts related in this chapter, leads us to a +supplemental proposition to our Basic Proposition, which may be stated +as follows: + +SUPPLEMENTAL PROPOSITION I.--_Not only is the Law of Attraction the +manifestation of a Mental Process, or Vital-Mental Action; but also the +actual Force or Energy used in bringing the Particles of Substance in +closer relation, in accordance with that Law, is in its nature a Vital +Mental Force or Energy, operating between bodies or particles of +Substance, without a material medium._ + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE LAW OF VIBRANT ENERGY + + +In previous chapters we have seen that the phenomena of Radiant Energy, +known as Light, Heat, Magnetism and Electricity, had their origin in the +Motion of the Particles, the different classes of phenomena depending +upon the particular degree and nature of the aforesaid Motion of +Particles. + +We have seen also that Radiant Energy could be communicated or +transmitted from one body of Substance to another. And that the +communication of transmission might be accomplished not only by close +contact of the bodies, but by "waves" of some sort which were caused in +some "medium" (the Ether) by the vibrations of the Particles of the +body, and which "waves," when they reached the other body, were +transformed into vibrations of the Particles corresponding to those +manifested in the first body. The idea has been illustrated by the +sending telephone, the sound waves in the diaphragm of which were +transformed into waves of the Electric current, and thus passing along +the wires were transformed again into sound-waves by the diaphragm of +the receiving instrument. + +We have seen, also in the preceding chapter, that the medium by which +these vibrations were transferred, transmitted, or communicated, might be +supposed to be Mind, the operation being akin to Thought-transference. Now +let us examine into the workings of the matter. + +In the first place, we assume a certain state of vibration, existing in +a certain body of Substance--Heat, or Electricity for instance (either +illustration will answer.) Another body of Substance is brought in close +contact with the first body, and the vibrations of Energy pass on to the +second, not by "waves" but by a seeming actual passing of vibrations +without the need of intervening "waves." This, Science calls +transmission by Conduction, the theory being that the particles rapidly +"pass on" the vibrations from one to another. Convection or conduction +along other forms of Substance, such as hot-air, hot-water-steam, etc., +is but a variation of the above, as Substance is the medium in both +cases. The third form of transmission is by Radiation, whereby the +vibrations are transmitted by "waves" in some medium other than +Substance (according to the theory), as we have described in a +preceding paragraph, as well as in previous chapters. As a matter of +fact, a careful analysis of the matter will show that even in the +"Conduction" of the most solid Substance, there must be a "_medium not +Substance_" between the Particles of the Substance, _for the Particles +always have Space between them_--this being true of the Particles of +Air, as well as those of Iron. _So there is always Space to be traversed +by a "medium not Substance."_ But we need not stop to split-hairs +regarding this question, for the general explanation will explain this +also. + +Now, to get back to our body of Substance vibrating with Radiant Energy, +separated from a second body of Substance by a great distance--thousands +of miles in fact--millions would be better--let us take two worlds, for +instance--the Sun and the Earth. Ignoring for the moment the explanation +of Gravitations (which will be given later) and realizing that there _is +no medium of Substance_ existing between the two bodies, we must grant +that there is a "_medium not Substance_" existing between them, either +permanently or thrown out for the purpose of this special transmission. +We shall assume a medium existing before the need of the transmission +(for reasons to be seen later.) Our Theory of Dynamic Thought, and +Thought-Transference between bodies of Substance, compels us to suppose +that this medium _is a Mental Connection, or Mental Relation, existing +between the two bodies of Substance_. So, we must consider the question +of this medium of Mind transmitting the vibrations of Radiant Energy +from the Sun to the Earth. How can Mind conduct Radiant Energy? _It does +not conduct Radiant Energy_, but it does _transmit_--not Radiant +Energy--but the _Mental State that causes Radiant Energy Vibrations_. + +This statement of a "Mental State causing Radiant Energy Vibrations" +seems rather startling at first sight--but let us examine it. We have +seen that the Radiant Energy was caused by the Motion or Vibrations of +the Particles, which Motion or Vibration was the result of the workings +of the Law of Attraction, and which Law was but the manifestation of +Vital-Mental Action. And, at the last, the Vibrations of Radiant Energy +are the result of peculiar or particular "states" of the Life and Mind +of the Particle. The word "State" is derived from the Latin word +_Status_, meaning "position; standing," and is used generally in the +sense of "condition." + +This Mental State of the Particle may be described as a state of +"_Emotional Excitement_." Let us pause a moment to consider the meaning +of these words--it often helps us to understand a subject, if we examine +the real meaning of the words defining it. "Emotion" is derived from the +Latin word _Emotum_, meaning "to shake; to stir up"--the Latin word +being made up of two other words, _i.e._, _E_, meaning "out"; and Motum, +"to move." "Emotion" is defined as "a moving or excitement of the mind." +"Excitement" is derived from the Latin word _Excitare_, meaning "to move +out"--the English word being defined as "a calling to Activity; state of +Active feeling; aroused Activity." So you see that the idea of _Active +Motion_, and _Aroused Activity_, of Mind, permeates the term "Emotional +Excitement," that is used by the writer in connection with the Mental +State causing vibration of the Particles of Substance. The single word, +"Excitement," will be used by the writer, hereafter, in the above +connection, in order to avoid complex terms. To those who still object +to the use of a mental term in reference to motion of Substance, he +might remark that Science makes use of the term--"Excite," and +"Excitement"--in reference to Electrical phenomena, so that he is not +altogether without support in the use of the word. + +Now to return again to our body of Substance--the Sun--the Particles of +which are manifesting a great degree of "Excitement," evidencing in +Vibrations producing the phenomenon of Radiant Energy. The excitement is +shared equally by its Particles, the "contagion" having spread among +them. Even the Particles of its atmosphere are vibrating with +Excitement, and evidencing Radiant Energy. The Sun is in direct Mental +Connection with the Earth (as we shall see presently) and the Excitement +is transmitted by Thought-Transference (along this Mental Connection) in +the shape of Dynamic Thought-waves of Excitement. These waves have a +rate of speed of 184,000 miles per second--why this particular rate, or +any rate at all, is not apparent; it being very evident, however, that +this particular kind of Mental Action--Excitement, or Thought--is not +transmitted _instantaneously_ as is the Mental Quality known as Desire, +resulting in Attraction, or Gravitation, which seems to be rather a +Basic quality, rather than a temporary disturbance or emotional +excitement. But the writer must not get ahead of his story. + +The Excitement of the Particles of Substance composing the Sun is +"contagious," and the Thought-waves travel along the Mental Connection, +or medium, at a wonderful rate of speed. Soon they come in contact with +the Mental Atmosphere of the Earth and the Excitement becomes manifest +in Action, the Emotional Excitement being reproduced by the Particles of +the Earth's Substance nearest the surface which vibrate and manifest the +Radiant Energy in spite of themselves, for the tendency among Particles +is to "settle down," and remain "calm," rather than to participate in +Emotional Excitement. They have acquired a normal and fixed rate of +Vibration, or Mental State, after many years, gradually changing from a +high state of Excitement, to a comparative calm state. And, their +tendency and inclination is Conservative, and they are disposed to +resent and repel Radical states of Excitement or Disturbance, coming +from other less Conservative Bodies. + +The above fact partially explains why the communicated Excitement +manifests itself more strongly on the surface of the body "exposed" to +the contagion of Excitement. The Conservative influence is always at +work, and manages to absorb and equally distribute the Energy that is +beating down upon it, without allowing it to penetrate very far. The +Energy is used-up or absorbed, and neutralized by the lower vibrations +of the Mass. The effort of the Energy coming from the sending Body is to +"bring-up" the vibrations of the receiving body to the rate of the +sender; while the effort of the receiving body is to resist this +effort, and to reduce and "bring-down" the transmitted increased rate of +vibration of the Particles immediately exposed to the contagion. In both +cases the effort is toward "equalization" of the rate of vibrations. +This working of the law may be observed plainly in the case of Heat +vibrations--the Energy seeming to wish to "bring-up" the vibrations or +temperature of the second body, while the latter resists this effort, +and strives to "bring-down" the vibrations or temperature of those +Particles of itself that have "caught the Motion." The Energy is like a +Radical Agitator who wishes to stir up an Excitement, leading to "a +change," while the Body is like the Conservative element that prefers to +"let well enough alone," and resists the stirring-up process, and exerts +itself to restore quiet, and to maintain accustomed conditions. + +The explanation of the phenomenon given in any work on Physics or +Natural Philosophy will answer fairly well in the consideration of this +Theory of Dynamic Thought, the only important change being required, +being the substitution of "Thought-waves" for "Waves of the Ether" of +Science. Science has described the "working operations," as might be +expected from her years of careful study and examination. She has erred +only in the Theory or Hypothesis advanced to account for the facts. Her +"Ether" handed down by Aristotle, is admitted by her to be paradoxical +and "unthinkable"--but she has had none other to substitute for it. She +will probably sneer at the Dynamic Thought, and Thought-Transference +theory advanced in this book--if indeed she takes the trouble to examine +it. But sometime, from her own ranks--among her most advanced +members--will arise a man who will claim that "All Force is Mental +Force," and that "Transference of Energy is Thought Transference." And +the Scientific World will accept the doctrine after it finds itself +unable to fight it down--and it will give new names and terms to its +workings. And it will proclaim loudly the "new" Truth. And this little +book, and its writer will be ignored--but its work will go on. The +writer although probably doomed to have himself and his theory laughed +at by the masses of people (whose children will accept the teachings of +this book) does not feel discouraged by the prospect. He cares nothing +for personal credit--the truth being the important thing. Like Galvini, +(whose words appear on the title page of this book) he may cry: "_I am +attacked by two very opposite sects--the scientists and the +know-nothings. Both laugh at me, calling me the 'Frog's Dancing Master,' +but I know that I have discovered one of the greatest Forces in +Nature._" The illustration given above of the transmission of the +Excitement of the Particles of the Sun to the Particles of the Earth, +will answer equally well in the case of Light, Heat, Magnetism and +Electricity. And it will answer in the case of the transmission of these +Forces between Atoms, Molecules, and Masses as well as between Worlds +and Solar Systems. Any bodies subject to the Law of Attraction may and +do, so transmit Vibrations. In our consideration of "The Riddle of the +Sphinx," which forms the subject of the next chapter, we shall obtain +further particulars of the workings of the Law. + +The consideration of the facts and principles stated in this chapter +brings us to a second Supplemental Proposition, which may be stated as +follows: + +SUPPLEMENTAL PROPOSITION II.--_The rates of vibration of the Particles +of Substance may be likened to "Mental States"; and a high degree of the +same may be called an "Excitement." This "Excitement" may be, and is, +communicated from the Particles of the body manifesting it, to the +Particles of other bodies--the medium of such communication being a +Mental Connection or Mental Relation existing between the two bodies of +Substance, without the employment of any material medium--and which +Excitement, so communicated, reproduces in the second body the +vibrations manifested in the first body, subject, always, to the +counteracting efforts of the second body to maintain its accustomed, and +former, rate of vibration, and Mental State._ + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE RIDDLE OF THE SPHINX + + +It is with no light emotion, or jaunty air, that the writer approaches +this part of his subject. On the contrary, he feels something like awe +when he contemplates the nature of that great Something which he is +called upon to attempt to "explain" in a few pages. He feels, in only a +lighter degree, the emotion that one experiences when, in occasional +moments, his mind leads to a contemplation of The Infinite. He feels +that that which men mean when they say "Gravitation" and "The Ether," +are but symbols and feeble concepts of Something so far above human +experience that the Mind of Man may grasp only its lowest shadings, the +greater and higher part of it, like the higher rays of the Spectrum, +being hidden from the experience of Man. + +In his endeavor to pass on to you his ideas regarding the Something that +explains both Gravitation and the Ether, he must ask you to endeavor to +form a Mental Picture of a "Something." This Something must fill all +Space within the Limits of the Universe, or Cosmos--if limits it has. +It must be an expression of the first of the attributes of The +Infinite--the one called Omnipresence, or Presence-everywhere--and _yet +it must not be The Infinite Presence_. It also must be an expression of +the second of the attributes of the Infinite--the one called +Omnipotence, or All-Power--and _yet it must not be The Infinite Power_. +It also must be an expression of the third attribute of The +Infinite--the one called Omniscience, or All-Knowing--and _yet it must +not be The Infinite Wisdom_. It must be an expression of All the +Attributes that _we think of_ as belonging to The Infinite--_and yet +through them All we may see The Infinite, Itself, in the background, +viewing its expressions_. + +This Something that you are asked to think of is that Something +regarding which the mystics have dreamed; the philosophers have +speculated; the scientists have sneered and smiled--that Something that +Men have thought of as The Universal Mind or the Cosmic Mind. + +You are asked to think of this Something as a great Ocean of Pure Mind, +permeating all Space--between Solar Systems--between Worlds--between +Masses of Substance--between the Molecules, Atoms, and Corpuscles. In +and about and around everything--yes, even in Everything--in the very +essence of the Corpuscle it is--in truth _it is that Essence itself_. + +Bound up in the bosom of that Mighty Ocean of Mind must reside all +Knowledge of the Universe--of all "this side of God." For that +All-Knowledge is but a knowing of its own region. Latent within itself +must be locked up all Energy, or capacity for Force or Motion, for all +Force or Energy is Mental. In its very presence it exemplifies the +capacity of filling All Space. Omnipresent; Omnipotent; Omniscient--all +the attributes of The Infinite are manifested in it--_and yet it is but +the outward expression of That-Behind-the-Veil, which is the Causeless +Cause of All_. + +In that Great Ocean of Universal or Cosmic Mind, bodies of Substance are +but as floating specks of dust--_or even bubbles formed of the substance +of that Ocean itself_--on the surface of that Ocean, there may arise +waves, currents, ripples, eddies, whirlpools,--storms, hurricanes, +tempests,--from its bosom may rise vapor, that after stages of clouds, +rain-drops, flowing in streams, rivers, bays, at last again reach the +source of its origin. These disturbances and changes we call Energy, +Force, Motion--but they are but surface manifestations, and the Great +Ocean is serene in its depths, and, in reality, is unchanged and +undisturbed. + +This, friends, is that which the writer asks you to accept in the place +of Aristotle's Ether. Is it a worthy exchange? + + * * * * * + +We have seen that the Attraction of Gravitation was different from any +other so-called form of Force and Energy--both in its operations and +laws, as well as in its constancy and self-support. And that it was +different from the other forms of Attraction such as Cohesion, Chemical +Affinity, etc. And, so we must consider it as more than a mere +"Emotional Excitement" in the Mind of the Particle--that bubble on the +surface of the Ocean. And it must be different from the special forms of +Attraction manifested by the Atom and Molecule. It must be a simpler, +more basic, and yet a more constant and permanent thing. It must exist +before and after "Excitement; Vibration; Cohesion; and Chemical +Affinity." _It must be the Mother of the Forces._ + +Let us imagine the Cosmic Mind as a great body of Something filling +Space, instead of as the surface of the Ocean, which figure we used just +now--either figure is equally correct. This great Cosmic Mind is to be +thought of as filling Space, and containing within its volume (Oh, for a +better word!) countless worlds, and suns, as well as smaller bodies of +Substance. These suns and world, and bodies are apparently free and +unconnected, floating in this great volume of Mind. But they are not +free and unconnected--they are linked together by a web of lines of +Gravitation. Each body of Substance has a line reaching out in a +continuous direction, and connecting it with another body. Each body has +one of such lines connecting it with _each_ particular "other body." +Consequently, each body has countless lines reaching out from it; some +slender, and some thick,--the thickness depending upon the ratio of +distances maintained by, and relative sizes of, the particular bodies +that it connects. This system of "lines" form a great net-work of +connections in the volume of Mind, crossing each other at countless +points (but not interfering with each other.) And although the number +may be said to be "countless," still these lines do not begin to cover +the entire dimensions of Space, or of the Mind that fills it. There are +great areas of Space entirely untouched by these lines. If one could see +the system of lines, it probably would appear as a sheared off section +of a great spider's web, with lines in all directions, but with "plenty +of room" between the lines. _Perhaps these lines converge to a common +centre, and that centre may be----!_ But this is transcendental +dreaming--let us proceed with our consideration of the use of these +lines. + +It is to be understood, of course, that these "lines" _are not material_ +lines--not made of Substance--but rather, "conditions" in the Cosmic +Mind. Not Thought-waves arising from the Excitement of Particles, but +Something more basic, simpler, and more permanent. Let us look closer +and we will see that the great lines of Gravitation radiating from, and +connecting world with world--sun with planet--are really cables composed +of much smaller lines, the finest strands of which are seen to emanate +from each Corpuscle or Particle of Substance--the "line" of Gravitation +reaching from the Earth to the Sun being composed of a mass of tiny +strands which connect each Particle of one body with each Particle of +the other. The last analysis shows us that _each Particle is connected +with every other Particle in the Universe by a line of Attraction_. + +_These "Lines of Attraction" are what we call Gravitation_--purely +Mental in nature--Lines of Mind-Principle in the great volume of mind. + +These lines of Gravitation must have existed from the creation of the +Particle, and the connection between Particle and Particles must have +existed from the beginning, if beginning there was. The Particles may +have changed their positions and relations in the Universe, but the +lines have never been broken. Whether the Particle existed as a free +Corpuscle--whether combined as Atom or Molecule--whether part of this +world or sun or planet, or that one countless millions of miles +removed--it mattered not. The Line of Gravitation always was there, +between that Particle and every other Particle. Distance extended and +thinned the line, or the reverse, as the case might be--but it was +there, always. Obstacles proved no hindrance to passage, for the lines +passed through the obstacle. Can it not be seen that here is the secret +of the fact that no "time" is required for the passage of +Gravitation--it apparently traveling instantaneously, whereas, in fact, +it does not "travel" at all. And does not seem that this theory also +explains why no medium is required for the "travel" of Gravitation? And +does it not explain why Gravitation is not affected in its "passage" by +intervening bodies? Gravitation does not "travel" or "pass"--it remains +constant, and ever present between the articles, varying in degree as +the distance between the Particles is increased, and _vice-versa_; and +increasing and decreasing in effect, according to the number of +Particles combining their lines of Attraction, as in the case of Atom, +Molecule, Mass, World. Gravitation is a Mental Connection or Bond +uniting the Mind in the several Particles, rather than their Substance +or Material. + +Along these lines of Gravitation pass the "Thought-waves," resulting +from the Excitement of the Particles--these fleeting, changing, +inconstant waves of Emotion--how different they are from the changeless, +constant exhibition of Gravitation. And along these same lines--when +shortened by close contact, travel the impulses of Cohesion and Chemical +Affinity. Gravitation not only performs its own work, but also acts as a +"common-carrier" for the waves of Desire-Force, and the Thought-waves of +Excitement of the Particles, manifesting as Attractive Energy, and +Radiant Energy, respectively. + +The writer asks you to remember, particularly, that while the +Desire-waves of the Particles,--and their Thought-waves of +Excitement--are changeable, disconnected, and inconstant; the Line of +Gravitation is never broken, and could not be unless the Particle of +Substance was swept out of existence, in which case the balance of the +Universe would be overturned, and chaos would result. The Divine Plan is +perfect to the finest detail--every Particle is needed--is known--is +counted--and used in the Plan. And Gravitation is the plainest evidence +of the REALITY of The Infinite that is afforded us. _In it we see the +actual machinery of The Infinite._ No wonder that great thinkers have +bowed their heads reverently before its Power and Awfulness, when their +minds have finally grasped its import. Verily the sparrow's fall is +noted, and known, as the Biblical writer has recorded, for the fall is +in obedience to that great Law that holds the Particles in their +places--that makes possible the whirl of worlds, and the existence of +Solar Systems--that, indeed, makes possible the Forms of Life as we know +them--that Something that forever and ever has, and will, silently, +ceaselessly, untiringly, and without emotion, fulfilled its work and +destiny--GRAVITATION. + + * * * * * + +The Theory of Dynamic Thought also holds that in addition to the +existence of the Cosmic Mind, or Ocean of Mind-principle--and the Lines +of Attraction that run through it, each particle has its Mental +Atmosphere, or Aura. The Aura is an Atmosphere of Mind that surrounds +the Particle--and also the larger bodies--and also living forms higher +in the scale. This Aura is merely an extension of the bit of Mind that +is segregated or apparently separated from the Cosmic Mind, for use by +the individual Particle, Mass, or Creature. Through, and by means of +this Aura the Particle takes cognizance of the approach and nature of +the other Particles in its vicinity. The same rule holds good in the +case of the Creatures, including Man, as we shall see in a later +chapter. The fact is mentioned here, merely in order to connect the +several manifestation of Mental Phenomena mentioned in the several parts +of this book. + + * * * * * + +Some may object to the Theory of the Lines of Gravitation being the only +"carriers" of the Energy of the Sun, as being contrary to the conception +of Science that the Sun radiates Energy _in all directions equally_, +just as does a piece of hot iron, or a lamp. Answering this objection, +the writer would say that there is a decided difference in the two +cases. The iron or lamp radiates its heat and light to the particles of +the surrounding air and other Substance in close distance, the "lines" +being very close together,--so close in fact that they seem to be +continuous and having no space between them, at least no Space +sufficiently large to be detected by the eye of Man, or his instruments. +But with the Sun the case is different, for the distances are greater +and the lines spread apart as the distance is increased. Draw a diagram +of many fine rays emanating from a central point, and you will have the +idea at once. If Space were filled with Substance, just as is the +Atmosphere of the Earth--the Air, is meant of course--then indeed would +the lines practically be joined together, but as Space between the +worlds is almost devoid of Substance, the lines between the Sun and the +other worlds, and planets, spread out rapidly as the distance from the +Sun increases. + +To show how this objection is really an additional proof of the Theory +the writer begs to call your attention to the fact that according to the +calculations of the physicists in Science, the Sun's energy would have +been exhausted in 20,000,000 years, granting that it was dispersed +equally in all directions during that time. But, _note this_, Science in +its other branches, namely in Geology, etc., holds that the Sun already +has been throwing out energy for 500,000,000 or more years, and seems +able to stand the strain for many millions of years more. Thus Science +is arrayed against Science. Does not this Theory harmonize the two, by +showing that the Sun does _not_ emanate Energy in _all_ directions, +equally, and at all times--but, on the contrary radiates Energy _only +along the lines of Gravitation, and in proportion to the relative +distances and sizes of the bodies to whom such Energy is radiated_? + +The writer need scarcely state that in the short space at his disposal, +in the pages of this book, he has been able merely to outline his Theory +of Dynamic Force, as applied to the Inorganic World. The patience of the +average reader has limits--and he must pass on to other features of the +workings of the theory, namely the Mental Life of Man, in which the same +laws are manifested. But, he feels that those interested in the phases +of the subject touched upon, may explain for themselves the missing +details by reference to the teachings of Modern Science on the subjects +of Physics, remembering, _always_, to substitute the Theory of Dynamic +Thought for the "Ether" theory that Modern Science borrows from +Aristotle as a temporary "makeshift." The writer believes that this +Theory will account for many of the missing links in Physics--a broad +statement, he knows, and one either extremely impudent or superbly +confident, according to the view-point of the critic. + + * * * * * + +The writer may be able to throw a little additional light, probably, +upon the question of the relation between Gravitation, and the +Excitement-waves of Radiant Energy. Without attempting to go into +details, he wishes to suggest that in view of the fact that the +Particles are connected by the "Lines of Gravitation," any great, +extended, and rapid disturbance of a number of Particles would cause a +series of undulating or wave-like movements in the "lines," which might +be spoken of as waves of "Agitation or Unrest" in the Lines of +Gravitation. This Agitation, or Unrest, of course, would be thus +communicated to all other Particles toward whom lines extended, the +intensity or effect of such Agitation or Unrest depending upon the +relative distances, and the number of Particles involved. We may easily +imagine how the intense and high rate of vibration among the Particles +of the Sun, manifesting as intense Heat, would cause a like high degree +of Agitation or Unrest among the Lines of Gravitation--the "lines" +dancing backward and forward; around and about; following the movements +of the Particles, and thus producing "waves" of Gravitational Agitation +and Unrest, which when communicated to the Particles of the Earth, would +produce a similar Excitement among the Particles of the latter. In the +same way the "Sun-spots," and consequent terrestial electrical +disturbance may be explained. + +While not absolutely tying himself to this particular conception of the +details of the workings of the law, the writer feels free to say that +he considers it a very reasonable idea, and one that in all probability +will be found to come nearer to explaining the phenomena, than any other +hypothesis. It certainly coincides with the "undulatory wave" theory of +Science. The idea is but crudely expressed here, for lack of space, it +being impossible to attempt to go into details--the mere mention of +general principles being all that is possible at this time and place. + + * * * * * + +And now, for a few additional words on the subject of our theory that in +place of the hypothetical Ether of Science--a Substance that is not +Substance--there exists a great Ocean of Cosmic Mind. The idea is not +without coroborative proof in the direction of the thought of advanced +thinkers even among the ranks of Science. + +While Science has accustomed the public to the idea that in the +Universal Ether might be found the origin of Matter--the essence of +Energy--the secret of Motion--it has not spoken of "Mind," in connection +with this Universal Something. But the idea is not altogether new, and +some daring Scientific thinkers have placed themselves on record +regarding same. Let us quote from a few of them--it will make smoother +our path. + +_Edward Drinker Cope_, in several of his writings, hinted at the idea +that _the basis of Life and Consciousness lay back of the Atoms, and +might be found in the Universal Ether_. + +_Dolbear_ says: "_Possibly the Ether may be the medium through which +Mind and Matter react_." + +_Hemstreet_ says: "_Mind in the Ether is no more unnatural than Mind in +flesh and blood_." + +_Stockwell_ says: "The Ether is coming to be apprehended as an +_immaterial_, superphysical substance, filling all space, carrying in +its infinite throbbing bosom the specks of aggregated dynamic force +called worlds. _It embodies the ultimate spiritual principle_, and +represents the unity of those forces and energies from which spring, as +their source, all phenomena, physical, _mental and spiritual_, as they +are known to man." + +_Dolbear_ speaks of the Ether as a substance, which, besides the +function of energy and motion, has other inherent properties "_out of +which could emerge, under proper circumstances, other phenomena, such as +life, or mind or whatever may be in the substratum_." + +_Newton_ spoke of it as a "_subtle spirit, or immaterial substance_." +_Dolbear_ says: "The Ether--the properties of which _we vainly strive to +interpret in the terms of Matter_, the undiscovered properties of which +ought to warn every one against the danger of strongly asserting what +is possible and what is impossible in the nature of things." + +_Stockwell_ says: "That the Ether _is not Matter in any of its forms_, +practically all scientists are agreed. _Dolbear_, again, says: If the +Ether that fills all space is not atomic in structure, presents no +friction to bodies moving through it, and is not subject to the law of +gravitation, it _does not seem proper to call it Matter_. One might +speak of it as a substance if he wants another name for it. As for +myself, I make _a sharp distinction between the Ether and Matter_, and +feel somewhat confused to hear one speak of the Ether as Matter." + +And yet, in spite of the above expressions, no Scientist has dared to +say in plain words that the Ether, or whatever took the place of the +Ether, _must be Mind_, although several seem to be on the verge of the +declaration, but apparently afraid to voice their thought. + + * * * * * + +In view of what we have seen in our consideration of the facts and +principles advanced in this chapter, we are invited to consider the +following two Supplemental Propositions: + +SUPPLEMENTAL PROPOSITION III.--_Connecting each Particle of Substance +with each and every other Particle of Substance, there exists "lines" of +Mental Connection, the "thickness" of which depends upon the distance +between the two particles, decreasing in proportion as the distance is +increased. These "lines" may be considered as "conditions" of the great +Ocean of Cosmic Mind which pervades and fills all Space, including the +essence or inner being of the Particles of Substance, as well as the +space between the said Particles. These "lines" are the "Lines of +Gravitation," by and over which the phenomenon of Gravitation is +manifested. These Lines of Gravitation have always existed between each +Particle and every other Particle, and have persisted continuously and +constantly, throughout all the changes of condition, and position, and +relation, that the Particles have undergone. There is no "passage" or +"transmission" of Energy or Force of Gravitation over these lines, or +any other channel, but, on the contrary the Energy or Force of +Gravitation is a constant and continuous Mental Connection or Bond +existing between the Mind of the Particles, rather than between their +Substance or Material._ + +SUPPLEMENTAL PROPOSITION IV.--_The Lines of Gravitation, mentioned in +the preceding proposition, are the medium over which travel, or are +transmitted the "Thought-waves" resulting from the Excitement of the +Particles, and by which waves the "Mental States" are communicated or +transmitted. The same medium transmits or carries the Mental Force of +Attraction--Cohesion, Chemical Affinity, etc., evidencing in the +relation of the Particles to each other. Thus Gravitation not only +performs its own work, but also acts as a "common carrier" for the +"waves of Excitement," manifesting as Radiant Energy; and the waves of +Desire-Force, manifesting as Attractive Energy._ + + * * * * * + +And here, the writer rests his case in the action in the Forum of +Advanced Thought, entitled "_The Theory of Dynamic Thought vs. The +Theory of Aristotle's Ether_," in which he appears for the Plaintiff. He +begs that you, the members of the jury, will give to the evidence, and +argument, due consideration, to the end that you may render a just +verdict. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE MYSTERY OF MIND + + +The writer, in this book, has treated the two manifestations of Life, +_viz._, Mind and Substance, as if they were separate things, although he +has hinted at his belief that Substance, at the last, might be found to +emanate from Mind, and be but a cruder form of its expression. The +better way to express the thought would be to say that he believes that +both Substance, and Mind _as we know it_, are but expressions of a form +of Mind as much higher than _that which we know as Mind_, as the latter +is higher than Substance. But he does not intend to follow up this +belief, in this book, as the field of the work lies along other lines. +The idea is mentioned here, merely for the purpose of giving a clew to +those who might be interested in the conclusions of the writer, +regarding this more remote regions of the general subject. + +The writer agrees with the Ancient Occult Teachings regarding the +existence of The Cosmic Mind, as he has stated in the last chapter. +This Cosmic Mind, he believes, is independent of Substance, in fact it +is the Mother of Substance, and its twin-brother, _Mind as we know it_. + +_Mind, as we know it_, and Substance are always found in connection with +other. It is true that the form of Substance, used by Mind as its body, +may be far finer than the rarest vapor that we know, but it is Substance +nevertheless. The working of the Great Plan of the Universe seems to +require that Mind shall always have a body with which to work, and this +rule applies not only in the case of the densest form of Substance and +the Mind-principle manifesting through it, but also in the case of the +highest manifestation of Mind, as we know it, which requires a body +through which to manifest. + +This constant combination of Mind and Substance--the fact that no +Substance has been found without at least a trace of Mind, and no Mind +except in relation to and combination with Substance, has led many +scientific thinkers to accept the Materialistic idea that Mind was but a +property of Substance, or a quality thereof. Of course, these +philosophers and thinkers have had to admit that they could form no idea +of the real nature of Mind, and could not conceive how Substance really +_could_ "think," but they found the Materialistic idea a simpler one +that its opposite, and so they fell into it. Notwithstanding the fact +that there was always a Something Within that would cry "Pshaw!" at the +conclusion of the argument or illustration, these men have thought it +reasonable to believe that there was no such thing as Mind, except as a +result of "irritation of tissue," etc. But, nevertheless, there is +always a Something in us that, in spite of argument, keeps crying like a +child, "_'taint so_!" And, wonderful to relate, we heed the little +voice. + +This Materialistic theory is a curious reversal of the facts of the +case. Even the very conclusions and reasoning of these thinkers is made +possible only by the existence of that Mind which they would deny. The +human reason is incapable of "explaining" the inner operation of the +Mind, upon a strictly and purely physical basis. _Tyndall_, the great +English scientist, truthfully said, "_the passage from the physics of +the brain, to the corresponding facts of consciousness, is unthinkable. +Granted that a definite thought and a definite molecular action of the +brain occur simultaneously, we do not possess the intellectual organ, +nor apparently any rudiment of the organ, which would enable us to pass +by a process of reasoning from the one phenomenon to the other._" + +The Materialist is prone to an attempt to rout the advocates of "Mind" +with a demand for an answer to the question, "What is Mind?" The best +answer to that question lies along the proverbial Irishman's lines of +answering a question by asking another one, resulting in the "answering +question," "What is _Matter_?" As a fact, the human reason is unable to +give an intelligent answer to either question, and the best opinion +seems to be to consider them as but two aspects of Something, the real +origin of which lies in Something Higher, of which both are aspects or +forms of expression. + +The Occult Teaching, with which the writer agrees, is that the "Mind" +inherent in any portion of substance, from the Corpuscle up to the Brain +of Man, is but a segregated (or apparently separated) portion of the +Universal Mind-principle, or Cosmic Mind. This fragment of Mind is +always connected with Substance, and, in fact, it is believed that it is +separated from the Universal Mind, and the other Separate Minds by a +"film" of the rarest Substance, so fine as to be scarcely +distinguishable from Mind. This separation is not a total separation, +however, for the fragment of Mind is in connection with all other +fragments of Mind, by "mental filaments," and besides is never out of +touch with the Cosmic Mind. + +But, comparatively, the fragment of Mind is _apart_ from the rest, and +we must consider it in this way, at least for the purpose of study, +consideration, and illustration. It is like a drop in the Ocean of Mind, +although connected, in a way, with every other drop, and the Ocean +itself. + +The individual Mind is not closely confined within the Substance in +which it abides, but extends beyond the physical limits of the +Substance, sometimes to a quite considerable distance. The Aura, or +egg-shaped projection or emanation of Mind, surrounding each Particle +and each Individual, is an instance of this. In addition to the Aura, +there is possibly an extension of Mind to a considerable distance beyond +the immediate vicinity of the physical limits, the connection, however, +never being broken during the "life" term. + +Mental influence at a distance, however, does not always require the +above mentioned projection of the Mind. Thought-waves often answer the +purpose, and, besides, there is such a thing as the imparting of Mental +vibrations to the small particles of Substances with which the +atmosphere is filled, which vibrations continue for quite a time, often +for a long period after the presence of the individual producing them. +These matters shall be discussed in later chapters of this book. + +The Mind of Man is a far more complex thing that is generally imagined +by the average man. Not only in its varied manifestation of +consciousness, but its great region of "below-consciousness" or Infra +Consciousness, as it is called. It shall be the purpose of the sequel to +this book (now in preparation) which will be entitled "The Wonders of +the Mind," to describe these inner workings, and to point out methods of +utilizing the same. + +Our next chapter, entitled "The Finer Forces of the Mind," will lead us +into this field. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +THE FINER FORCES OF THE MIND. + + +It was the writer's original intention to close the book with the +chapter in which he brought to a close his argument, and presentation of +the case of "Dynamic Thought." The book was written for the purpose of +demonstrating that Theory, and it naturally should have closed there. +The writer has in simultaneous course of preparation a companion book, +entitled "_The Wonders of The Mind_," in which, in addition to +information and instruction regarding the latent powers and hidden +regions of the mind--including an investigation of the Infra-conscious +and Ultra-conscious Regions; Automatic Thinking; Occult Systems of +Mentation; Mental Development, and Unfoldment, etc.--he purposes taking +up the subject of "Dynamic Thought," from the Mental Plane of Man. And +he thought it better to keep the two branches of the subject separate +and apart. + +But, notwithstanding the above facts, he feels that he cannot close the +present book--the consideration of the present phase of the subject, +without at least a passing reference to the fact that "Dynamic Thought" +is fully operative on the Plane of Human Mentation, as on the Plane of +Atomic Mentation. In fact, Man has the same power, potentially, that is +possessed by the Atom, only refined to a degree corresponding to the +development of Man as compared to that of the Atom. The Power is raised +to a higher Plane of Mentation, but is fully operative. + +Just as the body of Man contains physical life corresponding with the +different stages of lower physical life, mineral, vegetable, and +animal--for instance, the mineral-like bones, and the mineral salts in +the system; the plant-like life and work of the cells; and the +animal-like flesh, and physical life; in addition to the wonderful +brain-structure and fine brain development, peculiar to Man--so has Man +the lower Mental Qualities of the lower life, in addition to his +glorious Human Consciousness that is reserved for the Highest Form of +Life on the globe. + +In his Mental regions, man has the power of the Atom of attracting +particles of Substance to him, that he may combine it with other +Substances in building up his body--then he has the plant-like cell +mentation, that does the building-up work, and repairs wounds, and +damaged parts, etc.--then he has the animal mentation evidencing in the +passions, desires, and emotions of the purely animal nature, and which +mentation, by the way, keeps Man busy in controlling by means of his +higher mental faculties, that are God's gift to Man, and are not +possessed by the animals. But all this will form part of the sequel, +"_The Wonders of The Mind_," and are merely mentioned here in passing. + +And, just as Man is enabled to use elementary the physical qualities +that he finds in his body, and to turn same to good account in living +his human life, so does man, consciously, or unconsciously, make use of +these elementary Mental powers in his everyday mental life. And if he +but realizes what a _conscious_ use of these faculties, guided by the +Human Will, will do, Man may become a different order of being. This is +the basis of the Occult Teachings, and the Mysteries of the Ancients, as +well as the teachings of the modern secret esoteric bodies and +societies, such as the "Rosicrucians" and "Hermetic Brotherhood," and +several other societies whose names are not known--the _real_ societies +are referred to, not the brazen imitations that unscrupulous men are +holding out to the public as the original orders, membership being +offered and urged for the consideration of a few dollars. It is needless +to say that membership in the _real_ Occult orders is _never urged_, +and _cannot be bought_. + +But to return to the subject--the Individual Mind of Man is in direct +touch, not only with the great Cosmic Mind, but also with the Individual +Mind of every other Man. Just as the Particles are bound by lines of +Attraction, so are the Minds of Men bound together by lines of Mind, or +Mental filaments. And just as special forms of Attraction exist between +the Particles, so do special forms of Attraction exist between Men. And +just as Particles are influenced at a distance by other Particles, so +are Men influenced at a distance by other Men. And just as the Particle +draws toward itself that which it Desires, so do Men draw toward +themselves that which they Desire. And just as Mental-States and +"Excitement" are transmitted, or communicated from Particle to Particle, +so are Mental States or "Excitement" transmitted or communicated from +Men to Men. "_As Above so Below--as Below so Above_," says the old +Occult Maxim, and it may be found to operate on every plane. + +The phenomena of Thought Transference; Telepathy; Telesthesia; Mental +Projection; Suggestion; Hypnotism, Mesmerism, etc., etc., may be +explained and understood, by reason of an acquaintance with the "Theory +of Dynamic Thought," as explained in this book. An understanding of one +gives you the key to the other--for the Law operates precisely the same +on each particular plane. If the reader will think over this statement, +and then apply it to his investigations and experiments, he will find +that he has the key to many mysteries--the loose end of a mighty ball of +thread, which he may unwind at his leisure. + +Let us begin by a consideration of the process of Thought-production in +the Human Mind. In this way we may arrive at a clearer idea of the +Mental Phenomena known as Thought-Force; Mental Power; Thought-waves; +Thought-vibrations; Mind-transference; Mental Influence, etc. To +understand these things we must begin by understanding the Process of +Thought-production. Here is found the Secret of the phenomena named, and +much more. + +In the first place, while the Brain is the Organ of the Mind--the +Instrument that the Mind uses in producing Thought, still the Brain does +_not_ do the thinking, nor is the brain-matter visible to the eye, the +material instrument of thinking. The Brain (and other portions of the +nervous systems, including the "little brains" or ganglia, found in +various parts of the body) is composed of a certain substance--a fine +form of Plasm, which however is but the ground-work of foundation for +finer forms of Substance used in the production of Thought. Science has +not discovered this finer Substance, for it is not visible to the eye, +or to the finest instruments, but trained Occulists know that it exists. +This fine Substance escapes the scalpel and microscope of the biologists +and anatomists, and, consequently, their search for "Mind" in the Brain +is futile. There is something more than "tissue to be irritated" in the +Brain. But, remember, that this "something more" is still Substance, and +not Mind itself. + +Thought is a form of "Excitement" in this fine brain-substance, which we +may as well call Psycho-plasm, from the two Greek words meaning "the +mind," and "a mold, or matrix," respectively--the combined word meaning +the "mould or matrix of Mind," in other words the material Substance +used by the Mind in which to "cast" or "mold" Thoughts. + +This Excitement in the Psychoplasm manifests in vibrations of its +particles--for, like all Substance, it has "particles." All scientists +agree that in the process of thinking there is an expenditure of Energy, +and a "using-up" of material Substance. Just how this is effected, they +do not know, but their experiments have shown that there is Energy +manifested and used, and also Substance consumed. + +The secret of the production of Thought does not lie in the Brain or +nervous system, which are but the material substratum upon which the +Mind works, and which it uses as a mold or matrix for the production of +Thought. Thought is the product of Mind directing Force upon Substance +in the shape of Psychoplasm. And Energy is manifested in the production +of Thought just as much as in the operation of the Law of Attraction, or +Chemical Action. "_What_ Force and Energy?" may be asked. The answer is +"_Mental_ Force!" But although the answer stares them right in the face, +scientists deny that Mind contains Force or Energy within itself, and +persist in thinking of Force as a "mechanical thing," or as necessarily +derived from the common forms of Energy, such as Heat, Light or +Electricity. They ignore the fact that Mind has a Finer Force which it +uses to perform its work. + +How do the Atoms attract each other and move together? There is an +evidence of Force and Energy here that is not Heat, Light or +Electricity--what is it? When a man wishes to close his hand, he Wills +that it be closed, and sends a current of this Finer Force of the Mind +along the nerve to the muscle, and the latter contracts and the hand is +closed. A similar process is used in every muscular action. _What is +the Force used?_ + +Science admits the existence of this Force, and calls it "Nervous +Energy," or "Nerve Force." It holds that it must be something like +Electricity, and some even go so far as to say that it _is_ Electricity. +They base their ideas upon the fact that when Electricity is applied to +the muscle of living or dead animals, they contract just as they do when +this "Nerve Force" is applied, and every movement of the muscles may be +so produced by Electricity, which becomes a counterfeit Nerve Force. +But, here is the point, this Force cannot be identical with Electricity, +_for none of the appliances for registering electric currents will +register it_. It is not Electricity, _but is some Finer Force of the +Mind_, generated in the material substratum that the Mind uses as a base +of operation. + +This Fine Force of the Mind is generated in some way in the Brain and +Nervous System, by action upon the Psychoplasm. The Brain, or brains +(for Man has several centres worthy of that term) are like great dynamos +and storehouses of this Force, and the nerves are the wires that carry +it to all parts of the system. More than this, the nerves have been +found to be generators of Force, also, as well as the Brain. +Experiments have shown that the supply of Force in a nerve vanishes when +the nerve is used, in which case it draws upon the storehouses for an +additional supply. + +This Fine Force of the Mind is really the source of All Energy, for as +we have shown in previous chapters, all Motion arises from Mental +Action, and this form of Force or Energy is the primal Force or Energy +produced by the Mind. And this Force is in operation in all forms of +Life, from the Atom to the Man. And not only may it be used by the +Particle, but Man, also, has it at his disposal. + +As a proof that Substance is "used-up," and Energy manifested in the +production of Thought, Science points to the fact that the temperature +of a nerve rises when it is used, and the temperature of the Brain +increases when it is used for extended Thought. Scientists have claimed, +and advanced a mass of proof to back up the same, that Thought was as +much a form of Energy as was the pulling of a train of cars, and was +attended by the production of a definite amount of Heat, resulting from +the activity of the fine substance of the physical extended resistant +and composite substratum. + +But, Science has taken all this to mean that Thought and Mind were +purely material things, and properties of Matter. It has claimed that +"Matter Thinks," instead of that Mind uses the Matter or Substance, in +its finer forms, as a _substratum for the production of Thought_. +Buchner, the leader of the purely Materialistic school, claims +positively that Thought is but the product of Matter. He says: "Is it +not a patent fact, obvious to all but the wilfully blind that _matter +does think_? De la Mettrie made merry over the narrowness of the +mentalists, in saying: 'When people ask whether matter can think, it is +as though they asked whether matter can strike the hours!' Matter, +indeed, as such, thinks as little as it strikes the hours; but it does +both, when brought into such conditions that thinking, or hour-striking +results as a natural action or performance." + +The above quoted opinion of Buchner shows how narrow and one-sided a +talented man may become by reason of shutting out all other points of +view, and seeing only one phase of a subject. The example of the +"hour-striking" is a poor figure for the Materialists, for although +matter _does_ strike the hours, it does so only when wound up by Man +under direction of his Mind. And in the manufacture, adjustment, and +winding of the clock, Mind is the Cause of the Action. And, more than +this, the very action of the coiled spring that is the immediate cause +of the striking, results from the _mental_ effort of the Particles of +the spring endeavoring to resume their accustomed position, under the +law of Elasticity, as explained in our chapters on Substance. + +Science renders valuable service in showing us the details of the +"mechanism" of Thought, but it will never really _explain_ anything +unless it assumes the existence of Mind, back of and in everything. It +may dissect the brain-cells, and show us their composition, but it never +will find Mind under the scalpel, or in the scale or test-tube. Not only +is this true, but it cannot even discover the fine Psychoplasm which is +used in the production of Mind. But we may make use of its +investigations regarding the matter of Activity of Brain-substance in +the process of Thought, and by combining them with our belief regarding +the existence of Mind we may form a complete chain of reasoning, without +any missing-links--these missing-links appearing both in the case of the +"no-mind" philosophers, and the "no-matter" metaphysicians. + +This theory of Mind and Substance considered as the two aspects of +Something Higher, from which both have originated or emanated, will come +to be regarded as the only "thinkable" proposition, in the end. And, +with this idea in view, we may use the facts and experiments of the +Materialists, while smiling at their theories. And, with but a slight +change of words, we may turn against them their own verbal batteries. In +this way, we may take Moleschott's famous statement: "_Thought is but a +motion of Matter_," and render it intelligible by making it read as +follows: "_Thought produces Motion in Matter_." + +This Finer Force of the Mind is in full evidence to those who look for +it, and although it may not be registered by the scales or instruments +designed to register the coarser grades of Force, still it _is_ +registered in the minds of men and women, and in the actions resulting +from their thoughts. These living registers of the Force respond readily +to it,--and every one of us is such a register. Just as is the Force a +much higher grade of Energy than the forms usually considered as +comprising the entire range of Energy, so are the instruments required +for its registration much higher than those used to determine the +degrees of Heat, Light, Electricity, and Magnetism. It may be that the +future will give us instruments adapted for the purpose--in fact it +begins to look even now as if the same were forthcoming. But whether we +have such mechanical instruments, or not, the living instruments give us +a sufficient proof of the existence of the Force, and its operation. + +Well--the writer still finds himself unable to bring the book to a +close. He added this chapter, to show that the property of Dynamic +Thought extended to the highest development of Mind, as well as abiding +in the lowest. And, now that he has ventured upon the subject, he finds +himself impelled to give you a few instances of the workings and +operations of that Law, in the case of Human Mental Life. And this means +one more chapter--but only one, remember. The book must come to an end +sometime remember. And, so we will pass over into another chapter, which +will be entitled, "Thought in Action." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THOUGHT IN ACTION + + +Without attempting to go into details, or to enter into explanations, +the writer purposes taking his readers on a flying trip through the +region of "Thought in Action," or "Dynamic Thought in Operation in Human +Life." The details of this fascinating region must be left for another +and more extended visit, in our next book (before mentioned) which will +be called "_The Wonders of The Mind_." But he thinks that even this +flying trip will prove of interest and instruction. + +Let us start with a hasty look at Man himself. Not to speak of his +"Seven Planes of Mind," which belongs to the next visit, we find him a +very interesting object. Not only has he a physical body, apparent to +our senses, but he has also a finer or "astral body," which he may use +(unconsciously, or consciously, when he learns how) for little +excursions away from the body, during his lifetime. This Astral Body is +composed of Substance just as his denser physical body. The field and +range of Substance extends far beyond the powers of ordinary vision, as +even the Materialists must admit when they talk of "Radiant Matter," +"Etherial Substance," etc. Then he has currents of Fine Force coursing +through his nervous system, which may be seen by those possessing +"Astral Vision," if the teachings of the Occultists be true. + +Then he, like the Particle, has an "Aura" or egg-shaped projection of +Mind and fine particles of Psychoplasm, which has been thrown off in the +process of Thought, and which clusters around him, producing a "Mental +Atmosphere," which constantly surrounds him, and makes itself "felt" by +those coming in his presence. Those who read these words may remember, +readily, the "feeling" they have experienced when coming in contact with +certain people--how some radiated an atmosphere of cheerfulness, +brightness, etc., while others radiated the very opposite. Some radiate +a feeling of energy, activity, etc., while others manifest just the +reverse. Many likes and dislikes between people meeting for the first +time, arise in this way, each finding in the mental atmosphere of the +other, some inharmonious element. These radiations are perceived by +others coming into their range. + +Occultists tell us that the character of a man's thought vibrations may +be determined by certain colors, which are visible to those having +"Astral Sight." There is nothing so wonderful about this, when it is +remembered that the various "colors" of light, comprising the visible +colors of the spectrum, ranging from red, on through orange, yellow, +green, blue, indigo, and terminating in violet, arise simply from +different rates of vibration of the Particles of Substance. And as +Thought is produced by Mind causing vibrations in the Psychoplasm, why +is not the Astral Colors reasonable? We cannot stop to consider these +colors in detail, but may run over the ones corresponding to each marked +Emotion of Thought, as reported by the Occult teachings. + +For instance the shade of the thought manifesting in physical or organic +functions, is of a colorless white, or "color of clear water"; and the +color of the thought manifesting in Fine Force or Vital Energy, is that +of air,--heated air arising from a furnace or heated ground--when it +emerges from the body although of a faint pink when in the body itself. +Black represents Hate, Malice, etc.; Gray (bright shade) represents +Selfishness, while Gray of a dark dull shade represents Fear. Green +represents Jealousy, Deceit, Treachery, and similar emotions, ranging +from the dull shades which characterize the lower and cruder forms, to +the bright shades which characterize the finer, or more delicate forms +of "Tact," "Politeness," "Diplomacy," etc. Red (dull shade) represents +Sensuality and Animal Passion, while red (bright and vivid) represents +Anger. Crimson, in varying shades, represents the phases of "Love." +Brown represents Avarice or Greed. Orange represents Pride and Ambition; +and Yellow, in varying shades, represents grades of Intellectual Power. +Blue is the color of the Religious thoughts, ranging, however, through a +great variety of stages, from the dull shade of superstitious religious +belief, to the beautiful violet of the highest religious emotion or +thought. What is generally known as "Spirituality" is characterized by a +Light Blue of a peculiarly luminous shade. Just as there are ultra-red, +and ultra-violet rays in the spectrum, which the eye cannot perceive, so +Occultists inform us there are "colors" in the Aura or Mental Atmosphere +of a person of unusual psychic or occult development, the ultra-violet +rays indicating the thought of one who is pursuing the higher planes of +occult thought and unfoldment, while the ultra-red is evidenced by those +possessing occult development, but who are using the same for base and +selfish purposes--"black-magic" in fact. There are other shades, known +to Occultists, indicating several highly developed states of Mind, but +it is needless to mention them here. + +But the influence of these Particles of "Thought-stuff" thrown off from +the Mind Psychoplasm under the vibrations produced by the Mind during +the process of Thought, does not cease with the phenomena surrounding +the Aura. They are radiated to a considerable distance, and produce a +number of effects. We will remember how the Corpuscles or Electrons are +thrown off by Substance in a high state of vibration. Well, the same law +manifests in the vibrations attendant upon the production of Thought. +The particles are thrown off in great quantities each vibrating at the +rate imparted to it during the process. No these particles of +"Thought-stuff" do not compose the "Thought-waves"--the latter belong to +a different set of phenomena. + +These particles of vibrating "Thought-stuff" fly off from the brain of +the thinker, in all directions, and affect other persons who may come in +contact with them. There is an important rule here, however, and that is +that they seem to be attracted by those minds which are vibrating in +similar thought-rates with themselves, and are but feebly +attracted--and in some cases, actually repelled--by minds vibrating on +opposite lines of Thought. "Like attracts Like," in the Thought World, +and "Birds of a feather flock together," here as elsewhere. + +Some of these particles of "Thought-stuff" are still in existence, and +vibrating, which proceeded from the minds of persons long since dead, +the same being emitted or thrown off during the lifetime of the persons, +however. Just as a distant star, which was destroyed hundreds of years +ago, may have emitted rays which are only now reaching our vision, years +after the destruction of the star which emitted them--and just as an +odor will remain in a room after the object causing it has departed the +particles still remaining and vibrating--and just as a stove removed +from a room may leave heat vibrations behind it--so do these particles +persist, vibrate, and influence other minds, long after the person who +caused them may have passed out of the body. In this way, rooms, houses, +neighborhoods, and localities may vibrate with the thoughts of people +who lived there long ago, but who have since passed away, or removed. +These vibrations affect people living in these places, to a greater or +lesser extent, depending upon circumstances, but they may always be +counteracted or changed (if they are of undesirable nature) by setting +upon positive vibrations on a different plane of mind, or character of +thought. + +The mind of a thinker is constantly emitting or throwing off these +particles of "Thought-stuff"; the distance and rate of speed, to and by +which they travel, being determined by the "force" used in their +production, there being a great difference between the thought of a +vigorous thinker, and that emanating from a weak, listless mind. These +projections of Thought-stuff have a tendency to mingle with others of a +corresponding rate of vibration (depending upon the character of the +thought.) Some remain around the places where they were emitted, while +others float off like clouds, and obey the Law of Attraction which draws +them to persons thinking along similar lines. + +The characteristics of cities arise in this way, the general average of +Thought of their inhabitants causing a corresponding Thought-atmosphere +to hang over and around it, which atmosphere is distinctly felt by +visitors, and often determines the mental character of the persons +residing there, in spite of their previous characteristics--_that is, +unless they understand the Laws of Thought_. Some neighborhoods, also, +have their own peculiar Mental Atmosphere, as all may have noticed if +they have visited certain "tough" neighborhoods, on the one hand, and +neighborhoods of an opposite kind, on the other. Certain kinds of +Thoughts and Actions seem to be contagious in certain places--_and they +are_ to those who do not understand the Law. Certain shops seem to have +their own atmosphere--some reflecting confidence and honest dealing, and +others radiating an atmosphere that causes patrons to hold tightly to +their pocketbooks, and, in some extreme cases, to be certain that their +buttons are tightly sewed on their garments. Yes, places like people, +have their distinctive Mental Atmospheres, and both arise from the same +cause. + +And each person draws to himself these particles of vibrating +"Thought-stuff" corresponding with the general mental attitude +maintained by him. If one harbors feelings of Malice, he will find +thoughts of malice, revenge, hate, etc., pouring in upon him. He has +made himself a centre of Attraction, and has set the Law into operation. +His only safe course is to resolutely change his thought vibrations. + +A most remarkable form of these particles of Thought-stuff is evidenced +in the case of what are known among occultists as "Thought-forms," +which are aggregations of Particles of Thought-stuff energized by +intense and positive thought, and which are sent out with such intensity +and positiveness, that they are almost "vitalized," and manifest almost +the same degree of mental influence that would be manifested by the +sender if he were present where they are. This highly interesting phase +of the subject would take many chapters to describe in detail, and we +must content ourselves with a mere passing view. To those who are +interested in the subject, the writer would say that he purposes +considering them at considerable length, in the forthcoming book "_The +Wonders of The Mind_," which has been alluded to elsewhere. + +Besides the operation of these particles of Thought-stuff emitted during +the production of Thought, there are many other phases of Thought +Influence, or Thought in Action. The principal phase of this phenomena +arises from the working of the Law of Attraction between the respective +minds of different people. Just as are the Particles of Substance united +and connected by "lines" of connection, so are the minds of Men +connected. And the strong "pull" of Desire manifests along these lines, +just as it does in the case of the Atoms. There has been much written of +recent years regarding this "Drawing Power of the Mind," and although +some of what has been written is the veriest rubbish and nonsense, yet +under it all there remains a strong, form, substantial substratum of +Fact and Truth. Men _do_ attract Success and Failure to them--people +_do_ attract things to them--as strange as it may seem to the person who +has not acquainted himself with the laws underlying the phenomenon. + +There is no "miracle" about all of this--it is simply that the Law of +Attraction is in full operation, and that people of similar thoughts are +drawn together by reason thereof. The workings of this Law are somewhat +intricate, but all of us are constantly using them, consciously or +unconsciously. We draw to ourselves that which we Desire very much, or +that which we Fear very much, for a Fear is a Belief, and acts in the +direction of actualizing itself, _sometimes_. But, again, as Kipling +would say: "But, that's another story." This phase of the subject is a +mighty subject in itself, and "the half has not been told" even by the +many who have written of it. The writer intends to try to remedy the +deficiency in his next book, however. + +Then, again, the "Excitement" of Thought, in the minds of people may be +transmitted or communicated to the minds of others, and a similar +vibration set up, under certain conditions, and subject to certain +restraining influences--just as in the case of the Particles of +Substances in a body or Mass of Substance. And, in many ways that will +suggest themselves to the reader who has mastered the contents of the +earlier chapters of this book, the phenomena of Dynamic Thought in the +case of the Atoms, and Particles, may be, and are duplicated in the case +of Individual Minds of Men. + +The reader will see, readily, that this theory of Dynamic Thought, and +the facts noted in the consideration thereof, give an intelligent +explanation for the respective phenomena of Hypnotism, Mesmerism, +Suggestion, Thought-transference, Telepathy, etc., as well as of Mental +Healing, Magnetic Healing, etc., all of which are manifestations of +"Dynamic Thought." Not only do we see, as Prentice Mulford said, that +"Thoughts are Things," but we may see "_just why_" they are Things. And +we may see and understand the laws of their production and operation. +This theory of Dynamic Thought will throw light into many dark corners, +and make plain many "hard sayings" that have perplexed you in the past. +The writer believes that it gives us the key to many of the great +Riddles of Life. + +This theory has come to stay. It is no ephemeral thing, doomed to "die +a-borning." It will be taken up by others and polished, and added to, +and shaped, and "decorated"--but the fundamental principles will stand +the stress of Time and Men. Of this the writer feels assured. It may be +laughed at at first, not only by the "man on the street," but also by +the scientists. But it will outlive this, and in time will come to its +own--perhaps long after the writer and the book have been forgotten. + +This must be so--for the idea of "Dynamic Thought" underlies the entire +Universe, and is the cause of all phenomena. Not only is all that we see +as Life and Mind, and Substance illustrations of the Law, but even that +which lies back of these things must evidence the same Law. Is it too +daring a conception to hazard the thought that perhaps the Universe +itself is _the result of the Dynamic Thought of The Infinite_? + +Oh, Dynamic Thought, we see in thee the instrument by which all Form and +Shape are created, changed and destroyed--we see in thee the source of +all Energy, Force and Motion--we see thee Always--present and +Everywhere--present, and always in Action. Verily, thou art Life in +Action. Thou art the embodiment of Action and Motion, of which Zittel +hath said: "Wherever our eyes dwell on the Universe; whithersoever we +are carried in the flight of thought, everywhere we find Motion." Suns, +planets, worlds, bodies, atoms, and particles, move, and act at thy +bidding. Amidst all the change of Substance--among the play of +Forces--and among and amidst all that results therefrom--there art thou, +unchanged, and constant. As though fresh from the hand of The Infinite, +thou hast maintained thy vigor and strength, and power, throughout the +aeons of Time. And, likewise, Space has no terrors for thee, for thou +hath mastered it. Thou art a symbol of the Power of The Infinite--thou +art Its message to doubting Man! + +Let us close this book with the thought of the Greatness of this Thing +that we call Dynamic Thought--which, great as it is, is but as the +shadow of the Absolute Power of The Infinite One, which is the Causeless +Cause, and the Causer of Causes. And in thus parting company, reader, +let us murmur the words of the German poet, who has sung: + + "Dost thou ask for rest? See then how foolish is thy desire; the stern + yoke of motion holds in harness the whole Universe. + + "Nowhere in this age canst thou ever find rest, and no power can + deliver thee from the doom of Activity. + + "Rest is not to be found either in heaven or on earth, and from death + and dying break forth new growth,--new birth. + + "All the life of Nature is an ocean of Activity; following on her + footsteps, without ceasing, thou must march forward with the whole. + + "Even the dark portal of death gives thee no rest, and out of thy + coffin will spring blossoms of a new life." + + +FINIS. + + + + +SUCCESS-THOUGHT + + +The desire of every reader is to get, hot from his pen, all that a +progressive writer has to say. Readers of this book will be interested +in knowing that Mr. William Walker Atkinson is on the regular editorial +staff of THE SEGNOGRAM, and that the choicest of his "I Can and I Will" +preachments are appearing in each issue of that magazine. + +THE SEGNOGRAM is a monthly magazine for Success-Thought Thinkers and +Readers. It has one mission to fill--the upbuilding--the betterment of +man. It has no time to quarrel with any creed, sect, doctrine or belief. +The Law of Love is its controlling influence--it has none other. To read +it is to be imbued with its high teachings. It is a Success Magazine +that teaches how to win Success without preaching about it. It believes +in doing things, because in doing things we win Success. + +Do you desire to come in with us? Do you want to join our circle of +thousands of Success readers? Do you want to get the cream of +Success--thought? If so you must not lag behind. Keep to the front by +keeping in touch with Mr. Atkinson and his coworkers, Messrs. A. Victor +Segno and H.M. Walker. + +The price of the magazine is 50 cents a year, five cents the copy. Write +for sample copy if you never have seen it. + + +ADDRESS + + The Segnogram Publishing Co. + LOS ANGELES, CAL. + + + + +TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE: + + +Obvious typos and printer errors have been corrected without comment. In +addition to obvious errors, the following changes have been made: + + Page 17: Missing word "are" was added to the phrase, "And he believes + that there are Beings in existence...." + + Page 86: Missing word "the" was added to the phrase, "... one of the + Atoms of our molecule...." + + Page 100: Missing word "miles" was added for meaning in the phrase, + "... the rate of 184,000 miles per second." + + Page 107: Missing word "be" was added for meaning in the phrase, "... + the Atom was supposed to be a vortex-ring...." + + Page 189: 'incon-constant' changed to 'inconstant' in the phrase, "... + are changeable, disconnected, and inconstant...." + + Page 209: 'difference' changed to 'distance' in the phrase, "And just + as Particles are influenced at a distance by other Particles, so are + Men influenced at a distance by other Men." + +Other than the above changes, no attempt has been made to correct common +spelling, punctuation, grammar, etc. The author's usage is preserved as +printed in the original publication. Unconventional and/or inconsistent +spelling which has been preserved includes, but is not limited to the +following: + + seive + Corelation + terrestial + mould/ mold + +Inconsistent hyphenation which has been preserved includes: + + to-day/ today + view-point/ viewpoint + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Dynamic Thought, by William Walker Atkinson + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 41892 *** |