,,the ,,creation ,,of ,,god4 ,,by ,,dr4 ,,jacob ,,hartmann1 ,m4,d4 ,st4 ,louis ,medical ,college2 ,bachelor of ,medicine1 ,toronto ,university2 ,m4,b4 ,trinity ,college1 ,ontario2 ,member of the ,college of ,physicians and ,surgeons1 ,ontario2 ,licentiate of the ,royal ,college of ,physicians and ,surgeons1 ,edinburgh1 ,scotland2 ,member of the ,county ,medical ,society of ,new ,york1 etc41 etc4 ,new ,york3 ,,the ,,truth ,,seeker ,,company1 #bh ,lafayette ,place4 ,,contents4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,the ,universal ,aspect1 #i ,,ii4 ,the ,earth1 #ba ,,iii4 ,the ,chemical ,aspect1 #ci ,,iv4 ,the ,sun1 #ea ,v4 ,genesis--,the ,creation1 #fg ,,vi4 ,genesis--,the ,garden of ,eden1 #hj ,,vii4 ,the ,deluge1 #ib ,,viii4 ,the ,scriptural ,god--,the ,creation1 #aja ,,ix4 ,the ,creation of ,god--,abraham1 #aab ,x4 ,moses--,confirmation of the ,idea of ,god1 #aai ,,xi4 ,samuel the ,kingmaker1 #ach ,,xii4 ,god ,save the ,king1 #adg ,,xiii4 ,jehova ,takes a ,rest1 #agj ,,xiv4 ,the ,end of ,national ,life1 #agh ,,xv4 ,the ,christian ,era1 #bjj ,,xvi4 ,organic ,life--,vegetable1 #bab ,,xvii4 ,organic ,life--,animal1 #bba ,the ,master ,tissues4 ,the ,muscular ,tissues4 ,the ,nervous ,tissues4 ,,xviii4 ,food and ,food-,substances1 #bdb ,,xix4 ,elimination of ,waste ,substances1 #bej ,in ,general4 ,by the ,lungs4 ,by the ,skin4 ,by the ,kidneys4 ,,xx4 ,digestion1 ,nutrition1 #bgh ,,xxi4 ,the ,elementary ,substances1 #cjj ,,xxii4 ,alcohol and ,its ,effects on the ,system1 #caj ,,xxiii4 ,the ,soul--,what is it8 #cba ,the ,mind4 ,,xxiv4 ,sin and ,salvation1 #cdj ,,xxv4 ,the ,ecclesiastical ,kindergarten1 #cec ,,xxvi4 ,rational ,review1 #cgb ,,xxvii4 ,visions--,bible ,dreams-,revelations1 #chj ,,xxviii4 ,the ,planetary ,gods1 #cib ,,xxix4 ,every ,man ,his ,own ,god1 #djc ,tables ,gateways to ,knowledge4 ,morals3 ,whence ,they ,spring4 ,,xxx4 ,the ,non ,credo1 #dah ,rules for ,human ,conduct4 ,,illustrations4 ,map of the ,intellectual ,faculties--,the ,mind1 opp4 title-page4 ,map of ,theological ,retrogression1 opp4 p4 #cij ,map of the ,deluge and ,garden of ,eden1 opp4 p4 #dcb ,,preface4 ,si les nommes taient capables de gouverner toute la conduite de leur vie par un dessein regl1 si la fortune leur tait toujours favorable1 leur me serait libre de toute superstition4 --,spinoza1 #afej4 ,il n'y a pas de moyen plus efficace que la ,superstition pour gouverner la multitude4 --,quinte ,curce4 ,but in the temple of their hireling hearts ,gold is a living god1 and rules in scorn ,all earthly things but virtue4 ,falsehood demands but gold to pay the pangs ,of outraged conscience2 for the slavish priest ,sets no great value on his hireling faith4 ,but human pride ,is skillful to invent most serious names ,to hide its ignorance4 --,shelley4 ,at this time1 in this age of agitation1 unrest1 dissatisfaction1 and doubt among the masses1 and all classes1 in every civilized part of the globe1 in all communities and human organizations1 in church and out of church1 ecclesiastical bodies of all shades2 besides the vast number of theories and doctrines of a popular socialistic1 anti-poverty1 communistic order1 etc41 a prevailing skepticism has seized the minds of men1 as to the truth1 validity1 and stability of the entire religious fabric4 ,the unsettled condition of the minds of men1 the disturbing elements of the laboring classes1 the church quarrels1 clerical litigations1 disputes1 wrangling1 and mutual hate about scriptural authenticity1 its truth and supernaturalism1 the heresies and blasphemies1 the unsatisfactory condition of the ,roman church1 the constant and unremitting papal correspondence1 the petty bickering1 the selfish zeal1 the greed for money1 the anxiety to raise funds for all kinds of ecclesiastical establishments1 naturally arouse suspicion whether the idea of a ,god is not going out of fashion1 whether the clergy has not lost faith in the ,book1 whether the ,jew1 the ,jehovistic aristocrat1 has not been the primary inventor of these supernatural wares1 whether the ,christian theologians are not beginning to lose their sway and grip and their pretended supernatural authority over their ignorant devotees4 ,we may ask frankly1 honestly1 truthfully1 and in perfect good faith3 ,has not the time arrived for a grand and human reformation8 ,for new methods of teaching1 for new and more accurate ideas1 for a more precise knowledge of the natural1 for instructions in absolute facts1 for a more thorough understanding of natural laws1 for a broader comprehension of man himself and his surroundings1 for an abandonment of all the supernatural subterfuge1 ignorance1 and superstition1 of religious fables1 miracles1 false theories1 and misleading doctrines as to ,god1 with their immense sacrifice of human life4 ,within the limits of the church nothing is to be hoped for1 nor can anything be expected1 except the greedy grasping of the hard-earned money of the ignorant laboring classes1 the fanatical devotees1 to sustain and uphold a mercenary priesthood1 a rotten supernatural system that has proved so pernicious to mankind4 ,europe1 at one time the rich pasture for the holy ,roman ,catholic apostolic church1 no longer pours the milk and honey into the supreme pontiff's lap as of yore4 ,in a letter dated ,rome1 ,feb4 #c;d1 ,ledochowski writes of ,leo ,,xiii4's solicitude for the good of religion in these parts3 ,the supreme pontiff has many reasons of sadness on account of the distresses which the impudent endeavors of wicked men are trying to bring upon ,christianity1 especially in ,europe4 ,on the other hand1 it is a great consolation to him to see the increase of ,catholicism1 with ,god's aid1 elsewhere in the world4 ,of course ,ledochowski signifies the pope's great admiration for the wonderful resources--for this flourishing1 prolific1 and generous ,american milch-cow4 ,the ,roman administration1 with that marvelous business tact so characteristic of that church1 turns its tender attention1 with all its pontifical flummery and grotesque maneuvers1 to insinuate its methods upon this republic1 to overawe us with a blaze of stupefaction1 profounder ignorance and superstition1 by honoring ,america with a resident tax-collector1 and to save ,gods1 their divinities1 with the ,christ1 ,holy ,ghost1 ,virgin ,immaculate1 saints1 angels1 and all the other theological absurdities4 ,is it not high time for man and woman to learn that their dependence on any supernatural aid is futile1 their prayers and appeals to an imaginary ,god worse than useless1 their cringing fear for the so-called sacred authority cowardly1 their submission to priestly rule and authority slavish1 and the inculcating of biblical church lore stupefying8 ,is it not time for man and woman to comprehend themselves1 their powers1 the uses of their several organs1 their functions1 and the natural laws that govern them8 ,that ideas1 thought1 consciousness1 intellect1 understanding1 imagination1 knowledge1 etc41 etc41 are but the functions of nervous matter8 ,that everything we know1 have discovered1 developed1 or produced1 is the natural product of nerve tissue4 ,in reviewing the history of this theologico-ecclesiastical organization--this ,jehovistic ,christianized system1 from the very beginning to the present time1 we find that this many-shaded1 ever-changeable1 greedy1 grasping creed has done during the four thousand years of its existence a vast amount of mischief and little or no good4 ,it had to be civilized instead of civilizing4 ,instead of elevating their followers1 priests rather made every effort to keep them in subjection1 steeped in ignorance and superstition4 ,in presenting these pages to the public1 it is for the purpose of exposing some simple intelligible facts1 some wholesome truths1 some few scientific revelations discovered by men of eminence1 knowledge1 and wisdom1 regarding ourselves1 this terrestrial globe1 and the universe at large of which we are part4 ,it is not possible in modern times to force men to believe1 to accept the impossible4 ,at this period of mental transition1 the tendency is to think1 to reason1 to gain knowledge and truth1 to be self-supporting1 self-sustaining1 independent1 free1 and untrammeled by barbaric delusion and terrorism4 ,they no longer fear and cower before a shadow of some supernatural imaginary thing or being that has no existence and never had4 ,man must learn to know that man is an evolution of nature's forces1 a product of this terrestrial globe2 that all the physical and physiological phenomena of his fine muscular and nervous system are the natural products and functions of his organization2 that whether soul1 spirit1 ,god or ,jehovah1 they were evolved in the brain of man2 that man1 as man1 with all his endowments1 faculties1 and capabilities1 is part and parcel of this earth1 a natural result of natural causes1 and the supernatural1 the ,god or gods1 is the natural product of man's working faculties4 ,the scientific world has long since discarded every idea of anything supernatural1 declared the impossibility1 falsity1 and absurdity of the scriptural fable1 and that ,god1 ,jehovah1 with all the ingenious priestly inventions1 has proved itself pernicious and oppressive to humanity and contrary to intelligence1 reason1 and common sense4 ,man to know his rights must know himself1 his nature and his natural surroundings1 and if he knows himself1 he will learn that ,god did not create man1 but that man created ,god1 and that every man is and must be his own ,god to be a true man4 ,know the natural1 never mind the supernatural4 ,,the ,,creation ,,of ,,god4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,universal ,,aspect4 ,the beginning of intellectual development consists of observant experience4 ,by frequent and repeated observation man acquired a familiarity with the subjects of that process--a clearer and better understanding of them4 ,thus1 the ,chaldean shepherds1 while minding their flocks of sheep and cattle1 lazily and continuously watched the sky and starry hosts1 and by degrees recognized1 and acquired a knowledge of1 many of the stars1 laying the foundation for astronomy4 ,authorities state that they composed seventy-two volumes on that science1 these books dating as far back as #b1edj ,b4,c41 treating of the polar star1 ,venus1 ,mars1 and so on4 ,it is possible that many errors attended their observations2 many mistakes may have entered their explanations4 ,that was natural1 considering the remoteness of the times and the lack of facilities4 ,knowledge and truth never come easily4 ,the former is very hard to acquire1 the latter very difficult to discover4 ,every truth1 every new idea1 has to battle against old established notions4 ,if the new idea is persisted in1 which is ordinarily the case1 a struggle must ensue4 ,the old idea resists1 refuses to yield1 no matter how false1 ridiculous1 or pernicious it may be4 ,yield1 however1 it must1 and does in the course of time4 ,truth must win in the long run1 though it has to fight its way through depths of ignorance1 prejudice1 and superstition1 sustained by hate1 bigotry1 terrorism1 and persecution4 ,as century after century passed in the ,dark ,ages1 apostles of science and truth appeared1 here and there1 now and then1 calm1 dignified1 patient1 persistent and persevering1 untiring1 self-denying1 men of superior intellect1 unswayed and undismayed by existing authorities4 ,these men gave us1 though not a complete1 a very ample revelation of nature1 unfolding its mysteries1 explaining its phenomena1 making known the truth as far as men had been able to discover up to their time4 ,nature with its laws man had to observe carefully in order to learn to unravel its secrets1 its workings1 its forces4 ,there is no way to reveal them except through the mind of man4 ,there are no means of knowing or discovering the intricacies and subtleties of nature's hidden and inexhaustible resources but by careful thought1 reason1 constant study and application4 ,not a single problem has ever been solved--in fact1 one cannot be solved--except by acquired intellectual powers1 developed by the refining process of education of the great nervous centers of man4 ,many scholars have devoted and still devote their time1 their energy1 their life1 in search of new facts1 new truths1 concerning the stars1 planetary system1 and this terrestrial globe we live on especially4 ,centuries before ,christ's time1 and after1 men were engaged in developing the science of ,astronomy--,anaximander1 ,hipparchus1 ,ptolemy1 ,copernicus1 ,galileo1 ,newton1 ,herschel1 and many others4 ,these men were the apostles of truth1 the teachers of facts1 and some of them were martyrs to science4 ,the great civilizer1 the press of modern times1 was recently filled with accounts about the planet ,mars1 comet1 etc41 giving all the detailed information obtainable4 ,everyone who reads the newspapers learns something about ,mars1 and ventures to give his opinion1 whether it is like the earth--inhabited1 has seas or atmosphere1 etc4 ,so that1 whatever new facts are revealed1 new truths announced1 the minds of men are made so much richer4 ,knowledge1 the progress of science1 the discoveries of important facts1 the improvements of political1 social1 or civil laws1 do not come to us spontaneously1 nor do they come to us suddenly in overpowering quantities2 it is a process of gradual acquirement1 a slow accumulation1 to which every generation contributes its quota of observation and experience that makes up the total wealth of aggregate thought1 and is handed down from generation to generation1 our common inheritance4 ,this common inheritance is neither all true nor all good4 ,a large proportion that has been handed down to us by the ancients is not true or good1 though it is believed to be true and good4 ,the revelations of absolute truths1 of actual facts1 are of more recent date--discoveries made within the last few centuries4 ,the spurious1 so-called revelations are the works of antiquity1 which are not based on truth or fact or knowledge or experience4 ,the mental faculties of pristine men were primitive1 and their ideas were as primitive4 ,they lived in an age of infancy2 it was all surprise1 wonder1 astonishment1 and miracle4 ,when ,kepler discovered the law that ,planets revolve in ellipses with the sun at one focus1 he worked hard for many days1 and after many trials succeeded4 ,he also discovered a second law1 which he defines1 ,a line connecting the center of the earth with the center of the sun passes over equal spaces in equal times2 and his third law1 ,the squares of the times of revolutions of the planets about the sun are proportioned to the center of their mean distance from the sun4 ,no one ever claimed for ,kepler1 nor has he laid claim himself1 that he was inspired by ,god1 or received the idea through any supernatural agency4 ,the hostile and bitter opposition that ,galileo met on the part of the ,christian ,church is too well known2 but the importance of his discoveries1 and the truth1 remains4 ,all intelligent persons ought to understand ,newton's law of gravitation4 ,if they understood the full import and significance of that law1 they would never believe in the absurd miracles of ,moses1 ,joshua1 ,elijah1 ,christ and ,company4 ,the law3 ,every particle of matter in the universe attracts every other particle of matter with a force directly proportional to its quantity of matter1 and decreasing as the square of the distance increases4 ,it is most remarkable--that man discovering great truths1 concerning which there has never been any dispute1 or controversy1 or fight2 that stand1 unaltered and unchanged1 forever4 ,such men have not been inspired by ,god1 ,jehovah1 ,christ1 or the ,holy ,ghost1 or anything supernatural4 ,they have accomplished their works by their powers of observation1 great mental efforts1 skillful explanation and elucidation1 accomplished by hard and untiring work4 ,it is astonishing that1 in the presence of so many revealed natural truths1 so many ascertained scientific facts1 and numerous discoveries in this century1 which is claimed to be much advanced in civilization1 intelligent persons--teachers1 preachers1 priests1 and those laying claim to scholarship--still believe that the visionary figures1 the product of distorted imagination or hallucination1 of men like ,isaiah1 ,ezekiel1 etc41 were of supernatural origin4 ,the incredible stories found in the ,bible1 the fabulous inventions concocted in the imagination of some person or persons away in ,chaldea many thousand years ago1 are still taught to be true1 and the children in the ,sunday-schools are instructed to believe these absurdities4 ,the undue haste exhibited in the first chapter of ,genesis1 in creating the earth1 etc41 is one of those wonderful puzzles to a child's mind4 ,it is a something that is not easily explained at length to young people without awaking the suspicion of its impossibility1 and requires considerable ingenuity to satisfy inquiring minds concerning it4 ,the supernaturalists get over it by a final and complete answer1 that admits of no argument--that ,with ,god everything is possible4 ,that being absolutely untrue1 the answer explains nothing1 but has a tendency to stupefy the child and hinder its educational advancement1 for the reason that such an answer puts a stop to all farther inquiry4 ,this really has been the effect of this pernicious teaching for many centuries4 ,all the stories1 fables1 myths1 handed down to us from antiquity may be classed in the same category4 ,there are many of them--yes1 a perfect wilderness4 ,all are true in part1 but false as a whole4 ,upon close examination we find glimmerings of truth in all of them4 ,the difference lies in the kind1 not in the quality4 ,in the biblical story of creation1 the writers had evidently observed1 and knew1 there were an earth1 water1 stars1 and something above the earth which they called heaven1 the atmosphere4 ,that was the limit of their knowledge4 ,they knew they existed1 and things and objects that surrounded them existed1 and they made an attempt in their primitive method to account for the manner in which these things came into existence4 ,they could know nothing about it1 because the most important discoveries were made thousands of years later4 ,hesiod1 #ijj ,b4,c41 in his ,theogonia1 invokes the ,muses who inhabit the heavenly mansions1 and whose knowledge of generation and birth he had formerly sung3 ,tell1 ye celestial powers1 how first the gods and world were made2 the rivers1 and the boundless sea1 with its strong surge4 ,also1 the bright1 shining stars1 and wide-stretched heaven above1 and all the gods that sprang from them1 givers of good things4 ,the ,muses answer3 ,first of all existed chaos2 next in order the broad-bosomed ,earth2 then ,love appeared1 the most beautiful of immortals4 ,from chaos sprang ,erebus and dusky night1 and from night and ,erebus came ,ether and smiling day4 ,he gives a further description1 which1 like the foregoing1 we know to be fiction1 yet to contain elements of truth4 ,we are not asked to believe all4 ,he says3 ,look up1 and view the immense expanse of heaven1 ,the boundless ,ether in his genial arms ,clasping the earth4 ,him callest thou ,god and ,jove4 ,it is no easy matter for a man of ordinary education to form a notion of the mental crudeness of the lower type of the human race of our own times2 it is far more difficult for him to divest his mind of all its acquisitions through study and observation1 and reduce his ideas to the level of those progenitors of his race1 the men of antiquity4 ,when men had to struggle with savage beasts1 it required superior intelligence to preserve themselves from destruction4 ,that might have led to the worship of the strongest animals1 such as the lion and the tiger4 ,but no sooner did man learn the use of iron1 which enabled him to kill these his gods1 proving himself superior to the thing he worshiped1 than these gods were thrown aside4 ,so long as man was unable to explain the mysterious appearances of the sun1 moon1 and stars1 he endowed them with his own intelligence4 ,he worshiped what was to him incomprehensible1 mighty1 wonderful2 made images representing their phenomena or forces for his adoration4 ,in his mind he pictured the sun as a warrior clad in golden panoply1 the pale moon he regarded as the queen1 and the stars as an immense host of spirits and heroes4 ,some interpreted the sun to be the child of darkness1 the morning the bride of heaven1 the clouds a fairy network1 and the heat a friend of man2 when the heat was very intense1 then the sun was slaying his children4 ,they would liken the dark clouds which rested on the earth to a terrible being whom they named the ,snake or ,dragon1 that shut up the waters in his prisonhouse4 ,when the thunder rolled they said that this hateful monster was uttering his hard riddles2 and when1 at last1 the rain burst forth1 they said that the bright sun had slain his enemy1 and brought the stream of life for the thirsting earth4 ,professor ,max ,mller says3 ,he begins to lift up his eyes2 he stares at the tent of heaven1 and asks1 ,who supports it8 ,he opens his ears to the winds1 and asks them1 ,whence and whither8 ,he is awakened from darkness and slumber by the light of the sun1 and him whom his eyes cannot behold1 and who seems to grant him the daily pittance of his existence1 he calls his life1 his health1 his brilliant ,lord and ,protector4 ,he gives names to all the powers of nature4 ,all sorts of names were invented to designate any particular force1 phenomenon1 or characteristic4 ,in the ,vedas the sun has twenty different names1 each one descriptive of the sun or its aspect4 ,in ,persia the blazing sun was adored1 and altars smoked perpetually of fire4 ,in ,gaul and ,britain pillars were raised to the sun1 altars to the moon1 and fires were heaped under sacrificial caldrons to ,cardwen1 the earth-goddess4 ,man's ideas of course underwent modifications as civilization advanced4 ,the religious idea had taken root and elaborated ramifications1 and laws were evolved to govern them4 ,the sun of prosperity shone2 communities grew stronger and more numerous2 from the worship of the physical laws of nature1 the laws governing morality became involved4 ,thus morals invaded nations1 over which they enthroned their gods4 ,every nation elaborated its own details1 and slowly took its relative position4 ,as these gods grew in importance men assumed the responsibility to guard them1 and the function to attend them4 ,thus a class called priests were chosen1 elected1 or self-appointed to minister to them4 ,these functionaries at the same time assumed the moral and political guidance of nations or communities1 and individuals4 ,in this manner arose hundreds upon hundreds of ,gods3 ,io1 ,isis1 ,jupiter1 ,juno1 etc41 etc4 ,the qualities of the gods1 like the qualities of men1 were good and bad4 ,they were good and evil1 light and dark1 life and death1 and were arranged to suit the time and occasion4 ,when laws were established to govern society1 obedience to these laws was declared to be right1 disobedience wrong4 ,men learned this2 they became conscious of what was right and what was wrong4 ,the ministration to these gods was acknowledged to be a righteous act4 ,rules were established to prevent any violation or infringement of the duty due to these gods4 ,a trespass in violation of anything considered sacred was regarded as an evil--a sin4 ,slowly the consciousness of sin1 of doing wrong1 of violating the law1 was recognized and established1 and the attitude men assumed towards the gods1 or their conduct towards them1 was regarded as moral holiness1 sanctity1 or piety4 ,the evolution of images1 idols1 gods and goddesses1 was not the work of a day1 but of very many centuries4 ,the same may be said of sacrifices1 worship1 ceremonies1 the laws concerning the same1 holiness1 sin1 good and evil1 sanctity1 sacrilege1 divinity1 blasphemy1 etc41 etc4 ,theologians1 as well as theological philosophers and theorists1 finding their pet notion of a god strangely interfered with and disturbed by the advancing progress in the knowledge of the natural sciences1 bring to their aid additional proof to demonstrate the existence of a god1 viz41 that all races of men1 wherever found1 savage1 barbarian1 ,indian1 ,african1 etc41 on the different parts of the earth's surface1 believe in a something higher and greater or more powerful than themselves1 a spirit1 a soul1 a supernatural being4 ,unfortunately for their argument1 this mental condition that is ascribed to the barbarians1 etc41 as being instinctive or innate--that is1 this supernatural element--this having an idea of something they do not understand--proves the contrary1 that there is no truth in their assumption4 ,the very fact that they have gone through that process1 or are going through it1 shows it a kind of educational distemper of a lower order that all primitive races have to pass4 ,as children who learn to read must first know their ,a ,b ,c1 it is the road that leads to a higher grade of thought4 ,they begin in surprise and wonder at the natural1 concerning which they know nothing4 ,they fear1 they adore the forces they cannot overcome4 ,they make images of them in their likeness and worship them4 ,when1 however1 they have learned through experience to overpower them1 they cease to respect them4 ,new forms are adopted1 modifications made1 and lastly so changed that but a mere shadow of the original remains4 ,all races began in a similar fashion1 varying in form and method4 ,the sun1 clouds1 atmosphere1 seasons1 oceans1 thunder1 and all other phenomena in nature--the inability to account for the existence of these led to worship1 sacrifice1 etc42 and images1 idols1 gods1 originated2 and in connection with them1 stories1 fables1 myths1 and fictions were supplied by the officiating priests or persons in attendance4 ,the fanciful creations of the imagination hold good and will hold good so long as we do not know anything of the realities of life1 of nature1 of the actualities1 of facts1 of truth4 ,but when the masses shall have learned more of nature1 then the visionary1 the imaginary god1 the heirloom and heritage of our antiquated forefathers1 will be thrown aside as the images were by ,abraham1 the idols dismissed or discarded later4 ,the relics1 the remnants1 of this barbarism still have a hold on the minds of men4 ,our entire religious fabric rests upon the creation as related in the ,bible1 handed down to us as the universally acknowledged text-book of all knowledge4 ,the time was when it was dangerous to doubt1 and imperiled one's safety or even life to openly state an opinion contrary to the supposed infallible assertions contained in the holy book4 ,the man or men who originally wrote that part of ,genesis had not the remotest idea what he or they were talking about4 ,he or they knew nothing of the subject-matter in consideration4 ,the story told is like many other fables that had their origin in those early days of waking humanity4 ,the great masses are not very much better off to-day as regards these notions4 ,they still believe in the ,bible1 and hang their hopes of salvation on its truth4 ,the churches teach it1 and it forms part and parcel of the church creed4 ,it will therefore do no harm to present a few facts--that the holiest priest cannot contradict1 that the most pious preacher must admit--that admit of no argument or controversy1 because absolutely true4 ,every intelligent person knows that we live on this earth2 that this earth is also called the world1 and that this world is a planet2 that this planet belongs to a family of planets4 ,this planet of ours1 this earth1 belongs to a system of planets known as the solar system4 ,and the solar system is mainly comprised within the limits of the ,zodiacs4 ,by the ,zodiacs is meant a belt of the ,celestial ,sphere4 #h on each side of the ,ecliptic is styled the ,zodiac4 ,this division is of very high antiquity1 having been in use among the ,hindoos and ,egyptians4 ,the ,zodiac is divided into twelve equal parts1 of #cj each1 called signs1 to each of which a fanciful name is given4 ,the sun is the center4 ,around him the planets revolve in ellipses4 ,the sun itself has a diameter of #hff1jjj miles4 ,the major planets revolving around the sun as far as known are as follows3 ,name4 ,distance from the sun4 ,diameter4 ,vulcan #ac1jjj1jjj miles4 unknown4 ,mercury #cf1jjj1jjj 11 #c1jjj miles4 ,venus #fg1jjj1jjj 11 #g1fjj 11 ,earth #ic1jjj1jjj 11 #h1jjj 11 ,mars #ada1jjj1jjj 11 #d1bjj 11 ,jupiter #dhc1jjj1jjj 11 #ij1jjj 11 ,saturn #hhf1jjj1jjj 11 #gc1jjj 11 ,uranus #a1ghb1jjj1jjj 11 #cc1jjj 11 ,neptune #b1gij1jjj1jjj 11 #cg1jjj 11 ,it is not an easy matter to imagine that we are suspended in space2 being held up1 not by any visible object1 but in accordance with the laws of universal gravitation1 whereby each planet attracts every other planet and is in turn attracted by all4 ,there are a number of minor planets1 satellites1 a moon1 and meteors or shooting-stars1 and comets1 etc41 etc4 ,the sun1 the great central globe1 is so vast as to overcome the attraction of all the planets1 and compel them to circle around him2 next we come to the planets1 each turning on its axis while it flies around the sun in an elliptical orbit2 then accompanying them are the satellites or moons1 each revolving about its own planet1 while all whirl in a dizzy waltz about the central orb2 next the comets1 rushing across the planetary orbits at irregular intervals of time and space2 and finally shooting-stars or meteors1 darting hither and thither1 interweaving all in apparently inextricable confusion4 ,to make the picture more wonderful still1 every member is flying with an inconceivable velocity1 and yet with such accuracy that the solar system is the most perfect timepiece known4 ,the moon's distance from the earth is #bci1jjj miles2 and it has a diameter of #b1afj miles4 ,the above gives some idea of the immensity of the solar system4 ,and it is but one of the myriads of systems1 and our earth a speck amidst it4 ,if on a clear night we cast our eyes upwards1 we behold a belt of closely dotted stars extending across the sky--the ,milky ,way4 ,this galaxy1 a luminous1 cloudlike band1 stretches across the heavens in a great circle1 and contains myriads of stars1 densely crowded together4 ,herschel remarks that #bhh1jjj stars once passed across the field of his great reflector in forty-one minutes1 and says3 ,thus we are to think of our own sun as a star of the second or third magnitude1 and of our little solar system as plunged far into the midst of the vortex of worlds1 a mere atom along that ',broad and ample road ,whose dust is gold and pavement stars4' ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,the ,,earth4 ,this earth we live on is a planet1 and belongs to the solar system of planets4 ,it shines brightly1 and appears to other worlds as other planets do to us4 ,it is nearly #be1jjj miles in circumference1 and has a diameter of a little over #h1jjj miles4 ,it is five and a half times denser than water1 and weighs about #f1jif1jjj1jjj1jjj1jjj1jjj1jjj tons4 ,the atmosphere that surrounds this earth is like a shell that is two hundred to three hundred or more miles in thickness4 ,we live at the bottom of an immense ocean of gaseous matter1 which envelops everything1 and presses upon everything with a force which appears1 at first1 perfectly incredible1 but whose actual amount admits of easy proof4 ,gravity being1 so far as is known1 common to all matter1 it is natural to expect that gases1 being material substances1 should be acted upon by the earth's attraction1 as well as solids and liquids4 ,this is really the case1 and the result is the weight or pressure of the atmosphere1 which is nothing more than the effect of the attraction of the earth on the particles of air4 ,the amount of pressure exerted upon every square inch of the surface of the earth1 and the objects thereon1 is from fourteen to fifteen pounds4 ,this enormous force is borne without inconvenience by the animal frames1 by reason of its perfect uniformity in every direction2 and it may be doubled1 or even tripled1 without inconvenience4 ,an important law which connects the volume occupied by a gas with the pressure made upon it1 is expressed by ,mariotte in the following manner4 ,this law is usually called ,mariotte's law3 ,the volume of gas is inversely as the pressure2 the density and elastic force are directly as the pressure1 and indirectly as the volume4 ,this law has been found to be true no matter how rarefied the air4 ,the atmosphere1 like everything else on earth or connected therewith1 and like all other planets known1 and the earth itself1 is composed of elements1 as we shall see presently4 ,the atmospheric air is composed of gases1 elementary substances1 known by the names of ,nitrogen and ,oxygen1 with variable proportions of carbonic acid and watery vapors1 and usually a trace of ammonia4 ,besides these1 there may occasionally be other substances present1 depending upon local causes1 as the odoriferous principles of plants and the miasmata of marshes1 etc41 etc4 ,nearly three-fourths of the atmosphere is composed of nitrogen1 while about one-fourth or less is oxygen4 ,the following is the relative proportion3 ,by weight4 ,by measure4 ,nitrogen #gf4i #gi4c ,oxygen #bc4a #bj4g ----- ----- #ajj #ajj ,its specific gravity is unity 7#a71 being the standard with which the density of all gaseous substances is compared4 ,it is #had times lighter than water1 and nearly #aa1jfe times lighter than mercury2 #ajj cubic inches weigh #ca grains4 ,oxygen is necessary to combustion1 to the respiration of animals1 and to various other natural operations1 by all of which that gas is withdrawn from the air4 ,it is obvious that its quantity would gradually diminish1 unless the tendency of these causes were counteracted by some compensating process4 ,this1 to some considerable extent1 is accomplished by vegetation1 as it is found that healthy plants1 under the influence of the sun's light1 constantly draw carbonic acid from the air1 the carbon of which is retained1 while the oxygen is returned4 ,the atmosphere becomes less and less dense from the surface of the earth upwards4 ,animals and vegetables exist in this atmosphere4 ,they cannot exist in any other4 ,all living things and beings live on this earth's crust4 ,vegetables are fixed to the soil of this earth1 while animals move freely upon it4 ,the earth's crust4--,sir ,charles ,lyell speaking of this earth's crust says3 ,by the 'earth's crust' is meant that small portion of the surface of our planet which is accessible to human observation1 or on which we are enabled to reason by observations made at or near the surface4 ,these reasonings may extend to a depth of several miles1 perhaps ten miles2 and even then it may be said that such a thickness is no more than #a_/djj part of the distance from the surface to the center4 ,the remark is just1 but although the dimensions of such a crust are1 in truth1 insignificant when compared with the entire globe1 yet they are vast and of magnificent extent in relation to man and to the other organic beings which people our globe4 ,referring to this standard of magnitude1 the geologist may admire the ample limits of his domain1 and admit at the same time that not only the exterior of the planet1 but the entire earth1 is but an atom in the midst of the countless worlds surveyed by the astronomer4 ,the solid part of this earth consists of distinct substances1 such as clay1 chalk1 sand1 limestone1 coal1 slate1 granite1 and the like4 ,it has been imagined that the various deposits on the earth's surface were created in their present form and in their present position4 ,on the contrary1 it has been shown that they have acquired their actual configuration and condition gradually1 under a variety of circumstances1 and at successive periods1 during each of which distinct races of living beings have flourished on the land and in the waters1 the remains of these creatures still lying buried in the crust of the earth4 ,the materials of this crust are not thrown together confusedly2 but distinct mineral masses called rock are found to occupy definite spaces and to exhibit a certain order of arrangement4 ,these rocks are divided into four great classes by reference to their different origin1 or in other words by reference to the different circumstances and causes by which they have been produced4 ,the first two divisions1 which will at once be understood as natural1 are the aqueous and volcanic1 or the products of water and those of igneous action at or near the surface4444 ,the aqueous rocks1 sometimes called sedimentary or fossiliferous1 cover a larger part of the earth's surface than any other4 ,these rocks are stratified1 or divided into distinct layers or strata2 these strata have been generally spread out by the action of water1 like what we daily see taking place near the mouth of rivers or on the land during a temporary inundation4 ,the remains of animals1 especially of aquatic species1 are found almost everywhere1 imbedded in stratified rocks2 and sometimes1 in the case of limestone1 they are in such abundance as to constitute the entire mass of rock itself4 ,shells and corals are the most frequent1 and with them are often associated the bones and teeth of fishes1 fragments of wood1 impressions of leaves1 and other organic substances4 ,when geology was first cultivated1 it was a general belief that those marine shells and other fossils were the effects and proofs of the deluge of ,noah2 but all those who have carefully investigated the phenomena have rejected this doctrine4 ,a transient flood might be supposed to leave behind it1 here and there upon the surface1 scattered heaps of mud and sand and shingle1 with shells confusedly intermixed2 but the strata containing fossils are not superficial deposits1 and do not simply cover the earth1 but constitute the entire mass of mountains4 ,ample proof of these reiterated revelations is given1 and it will be seen that many distinct sets of sedimentary strata1 each several hundreds or thousands of feet thick1 are piled one upon the other in the earth's crust1 each containing peculiar fossil animals and plants1 which are distinguishable1 with few exceptions1 from species now living4 ,the mass of some of these strata consists almost entirely of corals1 others are made up of shells1 others of plants turned into coal1 while some are without fossil4 ,volcanic rocks are those which have been produced at or near the surface1 whether in ancient or modern times1 not by water1 but by the action of fire or subterranean heat4 ,these rocks are for the most part unstratified1 and are devoid of fossils4 ,there are two other divisions of rock1 called ,plutonic rocks1 granite1 etc41 and ,metamorphic1 or stratified crystalline rocks4 ,the members of both these divisions of rocks agree in being highly crystalline and destitute of organic remains4 ,the composition of the aqueous rocks1 mineral composition of strata3 ,these may be said to belong principally to three divisions1 as follows3 #a4 ,arenaceous or siliceous rocks4 ,beds of loose sand frequently met with1 of which the grains consist entirely of silex1 which term comprehends all purely siliceous minerals1 as quartz and common flint4 ,quartz is silex in its purest form2 flint usually contains some admixture of alumina and the oxide of iron4 ,silica is the mineral used in the manufacture of glass1 mixed with a little potassium oxide and lime1 or lead1 etc4 #b4 ,argillaceous rock4 ,a mixture of silex or flint with a large proportion1 usually about one-fourth1 of alumina or argil2 but in common language1 any earth which possesses sufficient ductility1 when kneaded up with water1 to be fashioned like paste by the hand or by the potter's lathe1 is called clay4 ,such clays vary greatly in their composition4 ,they are1 in general1 nothing more than mud derived from the decomposition or wearing down of various rocks4 ,the purest clay in nature is porcelain clay or kaolin1 which results from the decomposition of a rock composed of feldspar and quartz1 and it is almost always mixed with quartz4 7,the kaolin of ,china consists of #ga4ae parts of silex1 #ae4hf of alumina1 #a4ib of lime1 and #f4gc of water47444 ,one general character of all argillaceous rocks is to give out a peculiar1 earthy odor when breathed upon1 which is a test of the presence of alumina4 #c4 ,calcareous ,rocks4 ,these consist mainly of chalk--lime and carbonic acid4 ,shells and corals also are formed of the same elements1 with the addition of animal matter4 ,any limestone which is sufficiently hard to take a fine polish is called marble4 ,many of these are fossiliferous2 but statuary marble1 which is also called saccharine limestone1 as having a texture resembling that of loaf-sugar1 is devoid of fossil4 ,siliceous limestone is an intimate mixture of carbonate of lime and flint1 and is harder in proportion as the flinty matter predominates4 ,marl slate bears the same relation to marl which shale bears to clay1 being calcareous shale4 ,magnesian limestone is composed of carbonate of lime and carbonate of magnesia2 the proportion of the latter amounting in some cases to nearly one-half4 ,it effervesces much more slowly and feebly with acid than common limestone4 ,gypsum is a rock composed of sulphuric acid1 lime1 and water4 ,it is usually a soft whitish-yellow rock1 with a texture resembling loaf-sugar1 but sometimes it is entirely composed of lenticular crystals4 ,alabaster is a granular and compact variety of gypsum found in masses large enough to be used in sculpture and architecture4 ,it is sometimes a pure snow-white substance4 ,it is a softer stone than marble and more easily wrought4 ,when geologists examine the earth's crust1 they usually commence with the surface on which we live1 and search downwards as far as possible4 ,lyell constructed a tabular view of the fossiliferous strata4 ,it must be borne in mind that we have no other methods of ascertaining the truth than by close observation1 making diligent search1 in order to discover what this earth's crust is made of4 ,we have no supernatural facilities to give us information1 and we are very certain there never were any4 ,what information we are reckoned to have1 handed down by our antiquated barbarian forefathers1 is of a different nature4 ,it refers--briefly stated--to the conduct of ,man1 the manner in which he shall act as an individual1 or collectively as a community2 including a great number of what are considered now theatrical or mountebank ceremonies1 fancy customs1 sacrifices1 and a repetition of certain phrases1 ordinarily called prayers1 accompanied by illustrative images and pictures1 and movements of body--fantastic symbols and devices created and prescribed by man4 ,having no other means of ascertaining facts1 man was naturally compelled to search for testimony in the earth's crust--to discover what it is composed of2 the kind of material2 how it was formed2 the time it took to form2 the period that elapsed between formations2 how the layers or strata were superposed one upon another2 what substances were found in them2 where organic life was first found2 what it consisted of2 when man first appeared4 ,by examining this table we get a glimpse of the true state of things4 ,this shows the order of superposition1 or chronological succession1 of the principal ,european groups3 ,i4 ,post-,tertiary4 ,a4 ,post-,pliocene4 ,periods and ,groups4 #a4 ,recent4 ,peat mosses1 shell marls1 with bones of land animals1 human remains and works of art4 ,newer parts of modern deltas and coral reefs4 #b4 ,post-,pliocene4 ,clay1 marl1 volcanic trap4 ,all the shell of living specimens4 ,no human remains or works of art4 ,bones of quadrupeds1 partly of extinct species4 ,,ii4 ,tertiary4 ,b4 ,pliocene4 #c4 ,newer ,pliocene4 ,boulder formation4 ,cavern formation1 or ,pleistocene4 ,three-fourths of fossil shells of extinct species4 ,a majority of the mammals extinct2 but the genera corresponding with those now surviving in the same great geographical and zoological provinces4 ,icebergs frequent in the seas2 glaciers on hills of moderate height4 #d4 ,older ,pliocene4 ,a third or more of the species of mollusca extinct4 ,nearly1 if not all1 the mammalia extinct4 ,c4 ,miocene4 #e4 ,miocene4 ,about two-thirds of the species of shells extinct4 ,all the mammalia extinct4 ,d4 ,eocene4 ,fossil shells of the ,eocene period1 with very #f4 ,upper ,eocene4 few exceptions1 extinct4 ,all the mammalia of extinct species1 and the greater part of them #g4 ,middle ,eocene4 of extinct genera4 ,plants of ,upper ,eocene indicating a south ,european or ,mediterranean #h4 ,lower ,eocene4 climate2 those of ,lower ,eocene a tropical climate4 ,,iii4 ,secondary4 ,e4 ,cretaceous--,upper4 #i4 ,maestricht beds4 ,yellowish-white limestone4 ,large marine saurians1 etc4 #aj4 ,upper white chalk4 ,marine limestone composed in part of decomposed corals4 #aa4 ,lower white chalk4 #ab4 ,upper green sand4 #ac4 ,gault4 ,dark-blue marl at base of chalk escarpment4 ,numerous extinct genera--conchiferous cephalopoda1 etc4 #ad4 ,lower green sand4 ,species of shells1 etc41 nearly all distinct from those of ,upper ,cretaceous4 ,f4 ,wealden4 #ae4 ,weald clay1 of fresh-water origin4 ,shells of ,pulmoniferous mollusca4 #af4 ,hastings sand4 ,fresh water4 ,reptiles of1 etc4 #ag4 ,purbeck beds4 ,limestone1 calcareous slate1 etc4 ,roots of trees2 plants1 etc4 ,g4 ,olite4 #ah4 ,upper ,olite4 ,portland building-stone1 sand4 #ai4 ,middle ,olite4 ,oxford clay1 dark-blue clay4 ,large saurians4 #bj4 ,lower ,olite4 ,preponderance of ganoid fish4 ,plants chiefly cycads1 conifers1 and ferns4 ,h4 ,lias4 #ba4 ,argillaceous limestone1 marl clay4 ,mollusca1 reptiles1 and fish analogous to the ,olitic4 ,i4 ,trias4 #bb4 ,upper ,trias4 ,red1 gray1 green1 blue1 and white marls1 and sandstone1 with gypsum4 ,batrachian reptiles4 #bc4 ,middle ,trias4 ,compact grayish limestone1 with beds of muschelkalk1 of dolomite and gypsum4 #bd4 ,lower ,trias4 ,plants different for the most part4 ,,iv4 ,primary4 ,j4 ,permian4 #be4 ,upper ,permian4 ,yellow magnesian limestone4 ,organic remains both animal and vegetable1 more allied to primary than to secondary period4 #bf4 ,lower ,permian4 ,marl slate4 ,thecodont saurians1 heterocercal fish1 etc4 ,k4 ,carboniferous4 #bg4 ,coal measures4 ,great thickness of strata of fluvio-marine origin1 with beds of coal of vegetable origin1 based on soils retaining roots of trees4 ,oldest of known reptiles4 ,sauroid fish4 #bh4 ,mountain4 ,carboniferous or mountain limestone4 ,limestone with marine shells and corals1 etc4 ,l4 ,devonian4 #bi4 ,upper ,devonian4 ,yellow sandstone1 paving and roofing stone4 ,tribe of fish with hard coverings4 ,no reptiles yet known4 #cj4 ,lower ,devonian4 ,gray sandstone4 ,m4 ,silurian4 #ca4 ,upper ,silurian4 ,tilestone4 ,oldest fossil fish yet discovered4 ,trilobites1 etc4 #cb4 ,lower ,silurian4 ,caradoc sandstone1 etc4 ,no land plants yet known4 ,footprints of tortoise1 etc4 #cc4 ,upper and ,lower ,cambrian4 ,,synopsis4 ,post-,tertiary4 ,pliocene4 ,tertiary or ,cainozoic4 ,miocene4 ,eocene4 ,mesozoic4 ,cretaceous4 ,jurassic4 ,secondary or ,mesozoic4 ,triassic4 ,permian4 ,carboniferous4 ,devonian4 ,primary or ,paleozoic4 ,paleozoic4 ,silurian4 ,cambrian4 ,the precise chemical action upon the elements composing these various geological formations at different remote periods1 is no doubt difficult to ascertain4 ,that there always has been some chemical action going on1 and that it is continually going on1 is certain4 ,how and to what extent we can judge only from the experience of actual observation in the laboratory4 ,mr4 ,crale remarks3 ,the whole surface of the land is exposed to chemical action of the air1 and of the rainwater with its dissolved carbonic acid1 and in colder countries the frost4 ,the disintegrated matter is carried down the slopes during heavy rain2 and1 to a greater extent than might be supposed1 especially in arid districts1 by the wind2 it is then transported by the streams and rivers1 which when rapid deepen their channels and triturate the fragments4 ,darwin says3 ,if the theory be true 7speaking of the time elapsed since the ,cambrian lowest formation7 it is indisputable that before the lowest ,cambrian stratum was deposited1 long periods elapsed1 as long as1 or probably far longer than1 the whole interval from the ,cambrian age to the present day2 that during these vast periods1 the world swarmed with living creatures4 ,here we encounter a formidable objection2 for it seems doubtful whether the earth1 in a fit state for the habitation of living creatures1 has lasted long enough4 ,sir ,w4 ,thompson concludes that the consolidation of the crust can hardly have occurred less than #bj or more than #djj million years ago1 but probably not less than #ih or more than #bjj millions of years4 ,these very wide limits show how doubtful the data are2 and other elements may have hereafter to be introduced into the problem4 ,mr4 ,crale estimates that about #fj million years have elapsed since the ,cambrian period1 but this1 judging from the small amount of organic change since the commencement of the glacial epoch1 appears a very short time for the many and great mutations of life1 which have certainly occurred since the ,cambrian formation2 and the previous #adj millions of years can hardly be considered as sufficient for the development of the varied forms of life which already existed during the ,cambrian period4 ,it seems almost impossible for an ordinary mind to grasp the magnitude of the figures1 the span of life being so short4 ,yet some idea may be formed when we compare the age of this earth's crust formation1 the hundreds of thousands of years that passed in the evolution of man1 and the brief space of time that has elapsed since he has become enabled to give an account of himself4 ,as regards the thickness of the earth's crust1 ,professor ,ramsey has given the maximum thickness1 from actual measurement in most cases1 of the successive formations in different parts of ,great ,britain2 and this is the result3 ,the ,paleozoic strata 7not including igneous bed71 #eg1aed feet4 ,secondary1 #ac1aij 11 ,tertiary1 #b1bdj 11 making altogether #gb1ehd feet2 that is1 very nearly thirteen and three-quarters ,british miles4 ,bchner in his work on ,force and ,matter states3 ,the so-called coal formation alone required1 according to ,bischoff1 #a1jjj1agg years2 according to ,chevandier's calculation1 #fgb1ghh years4 ,the ,tertiary strata required for their development about #cej1jjj years2 and before the originally incandescent earth could cool down from a temperature of #b1jjj degrees to #bjj1 there must1 according to ,bischoff's calculation1 have elapsed a period of #cej1jjj1jjj years4 ,valger calculates that the time required for the deposit of the strata known to us must at least have amounted to #fdh1jjj1jjj years4 ,i quote these figures simply to show how difficult it is1 and the labor required1 to form even a proximate idea as to the period of time that must have elapsed for the formation of the various strata known4 ,that all animals were not created at once is certain beyond all cavil and dispute4 ,the development of the various forms of life was an exceeding slow process1 and lasted very many thousand centuries4 ,that the earth's crust was not at certain stages of formation in a fit condition either to receive or to maintain the higher types of animal life1 is well known4 ,and we know that man's remains are found only in the uppermost surface of the earth's crust4 ,max ,mller says in his ,testimony of the ,rocks3 ,it was not until the earlier ages of the ,olite system had passed away1 that the class of ,reptiles received its fullest development4 ,and certainly very wonderful was the development which it did then receive4 ,reptiles became everywhere the lords and masters of the lower world4 ,when any class of air-breathing vertebrates is very largely developed1 we find it taking possession of all three terrestrial elements--earth1 air1 and water4 ,last of all1 the true placental mammals appear1 and thus1 tried by the test of perfect reproduction1 the great vertebral division receives its full development4 ,agassiz's ,principles of ,zoology says3 ,we distinguish four ages of nature1 comprehending the great geological divisions1 namely3 #a4 ,the ,primary1 or ,paleozoic age1 comprising the lower ,silurian1 the upper ,silurian1 and the ,devonian4 ,during this age there were no air-breathing animals4 ,the fishes were masters of creation4 ,we may therefore call it the ,reign of ,fishes4 #b4 ,the ,secondary age1 comprising the ,carboniferous1 the ,trias1 the ,olite1 and the ,cretaceous formations4 ,this is the epoch in which air-breathing animals first appear4 ,the ,reptiles predominated over the other classes1 and we may therefore call it the ',reign of ,reptiles4' #c4 ,the ,tertiary age1 comprising the ,tertiary formation4 ,during this age terrestrial mammals of great size abound4 ,this is the ,reign of ,mammals4 #d4 ,the ,modern age1 characterized by the appearance of the most perfect of created beings4 ,the majority of mankind trouble themselves but little whether progress is made in any one of the branches of science or not4 ,man has no time to think seriously of anything except to provide food for his family4 ,the priest does his thinking1 and he is made to contribute part of his labor to support the holy man who does the thinking for him4 ,all he knows is that his soul or his spirit1 his hereafter1 and his ,god are well cared for1 and he pays for it4 ,yet every man ought to understand that all his rights1 civil and political--all the freedom he enjoys--he has to thank science for procuring and securing4 ,shall it be seriously objected to the application of the sciences to philosophical problems that its results are not agreeable8 ,that the truth is not always agreeable1 nor always consolatory1 nor always religious1 nor always acceptable1 is as well known as the old experience of the almost total absence of reward1 either external or internal1 provided for its exemplars4 ,what this or that man may understand by a governing reason1 an absolute power1 a universal soul1 a personal ,god 444 is his own affair4 ,the theologians1 with their articles of faith1 must be left to themselves2 so of the naturalists with their science2 they both proceed by different routes4444 ,the same bloody hatred with which science was once persecuted by religious fanaticism would revive now1 and with it the ,inquisition and ,auto-da-f1 and all the horrors with which a refined zealotism has tortured humanity would be resorted to1 to satisfy the wishes of the theological cutthroats4 ,a man in advance of his age beholds the struggle of the contending parties from a high point of view1 and sees in the eccentricities of this contest merely the natural and necessary expression of the opposing elements which agitate our time4 ,no one can doubt that truth will finally emerge the victor4 ,it certainly will not be long before the battle becomes general4 ,is the victory doubtful8 ,the struggle is unequal2 the opponents cannot stand against the trenchant arm of physical and physiological ,materialism1 which fights with facts1 that everyone can comprehend1 while the opponents fight with suppositions and presumptions 7,bchner74 ,science and faith exclude each other 7,virchow74 ,fools still cling to faith2 wise men find the truth in science4 ,note4--,baily's ,history of ,astronomy1 ,part ,i1 page #ca1 #abd1 and ,part ,,ii1 pp4 #cc1 #ci1 maintains that ,india has existed as a nation1 as the records show1 #d1cbj1jjj years4 ,the ,indians divide this time into four principal periods3 ,first period1 that of innocence or simplicity1 #a1gbh1jjj years2 second period1 #bgf1jjj2 the third period1 #hfd1jjj2 and the ages of misfortune about #dbb1jjj--;,cali-yon-gan period4 ,similar statements are made by ,cicero 7,de ,divinat1 ,i1 #ai71 concerning the ,chaldeans3 ,condemnemus1 inquam1 hos aut stultiti aut vanitatis aut imprudenti qui #dgj millia annorum ut ipsi dicunt monumentis comprehensa continent4 ,,the ,,atmosphere4 ,the atmosphere is the gaseous envelope encircling the earth2 and it constitutes the ocean of air at the bottom of which we live4 ,we become aware of the existence of the air when we move rapidly and experience the resistance offered to the passage of our bodies1 and also when the air is set in motion1 giving rise to a wind4 ,we notice the pressure of the atmosphere if we withdraw the air from beneath the hand by a powerful air-pump1 for we then find that the hand is pressed down with a force equal to #a4jcc kilos4 on a square centimeter1 or nearly #ae lbs4 on every square inch4 ,the total atmospheric pressure which the human body has to support hence amounts to several tons4 ,but this pressure is not felt under ordinary circumstances1 because the pressure exercised is exerted equally in every direction4 ,the instrument used for measuring the pressure of the air is termed a barometer1 and the average pressure at the sea level is equal to that exerted by a column of mercury #gfj mm4 high4 ,the air being elastic and having weight1 it is clear the lower layers of air must be more compressed than those above them1 and hence the density of the air must vary at the different hights above the sea level4 ,the density of the air being thus dependent on the pressure to which it is subjected1 the higher strata of air become generally rarefied1 and it is hence difficult to say whereabouts the air ceases1 but it appears that the limit of the atmosphere is about #bjj to #cjj miles from the level of the sea4 ,if the whole atmosphere were of the same density throughout as it is at the earth's surface1 it would reach only to a height of a little more than five miles above the sea level4 ,aqueous vapor is contained in the air in quantities varying in different localities and at different times1 and depending mainly on the temperature of the air4 ,air at a given temperature cannot contain more than a certain quantity of moisture in solution2 and when it has taken up its maximum quantity1 it is said to be saturated with aqueous moisture4 ,the higher the temperature of the air the more water can it retain as vapor2 and when air saturated with moisture is cooled1 the water is deposited in liquid form in very small globules1 forming a mist1 fog1 or cloud4 ,this is the cause of the fall of rain1 snow1 and hail2 when warm air heavily laden with moisture from the ocean passes into a higher and colder position1 or meets with a stratum of air of lower temperature1 it cannot any longer retain so much aqueous vapor1 and a large quantity assumes a liquid form1 falling as rain when the temperature is above the freezing-point1 or crystallizing as snowflakes if the temperature is below that point4 ,hail is caused by the congelation of raindrops in passing through a stratum of air below the freezing-point4 ,the deposition of dew is caused by the rapid cooling of the earth's surface by radiation after sunset1 and by the consequent cooling of the air near the ground below the temperature at which it begins to deposit moisture4 ,in general the air contains from #ej to #gj per cent4 of aqueous vapor of the quantities necessary to saturate it4 ,if the quantity be not within these limits the air is either unpleasantly dry or unpleasantly moist4 ,the air contains1 besides the gases of oxygen and nitrogen1 carbonic acid1 ammonia1 accidental impurities1 and volatile organic matter1 which latter is the most important1 as it probably influences to a great extent the healthfulness of the special situation4 ,we become aware of the existence of such organic putrescent substances when entering a crowded room from the fresh air2 and it is probable that the well-known unhealthiness of marshy and other districts is owing to the presence of some organic impurities4 ,we may have occasion to refer to this when speaking of the deluge1 etc4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,the ,,chemical ,,aspect4 ,by the word chemistry we understand the science which investigates the composition of all material substances1 taking them apart or separating them1 by a chemical process1 and discovers the nature and properties of the minutest particle4 ,these small particles have received the name1 elements or elementary substances2 that term is applied in chemistry to those forms of matter which have hitherto resisted all attempt to decompose them4 ,we know that we have earth1 air1 water1 and we have seen in ,chapter ,,ii that the earth's crust is made up of many substances1 rocks1 coral reefs1 clay1 marl1 feldspar1 quartz1 limestone1 granite1 etc41 etc4 ,these substances are composed of small particles1 or elements1 and are called minerals or inorganic substances4 ,there is another class of substances1 called organic1 that are derived from living things or beings4 ,these are also taken apart or separated into their elementary substances4 ,as plants or animals1 all such elementary substances have received the name organic substances because plants and animals have organs of reproduction1 hence the name4 ,the taking apart of any substance into its constituent elements is called analysis by chemists4 ,the same elements can also be put together to produce various substances2 that is termed synthesis4 ,chemists have adopted a name for each of the elements1 and these names are represented by symbols1 or letters4 ,compound substances may contain two or more elements4 ,when the composition of a substance is determined by splitting the compound into its elementary constituents a chemical analysis of that substance is said to have been made2 and if the proportions by weight in which each of the constituents is present be determined1 a quantitative analysis of the substance has been made1 etc4 ,by chemical action1 we signify that which occurs when two or more substances so act upon one another as to produce a third substance differing altogether from the original ones in properties2 or when a substance is brought under such conditions that it forms two or more bodies differing from the original one in properties4 ,chemistry is called an experimental science4 ,in investigating all the materials within his reach1 whether solid1 liquid1 or gaseous1 whether contained in the earth1 sea1 or air2 whether belonging to the mineral1 animal1 or vegetable creation1 the chemist finds himself obliged to divide substances into two classes3 7#a7 compound substances--those which he is able to split up into two or more essentially different materials2 7#b7 elements or simple substances--those which he is unable thus to split up1 and out of which nothing essentially different from the original substances has been obtained4 ,compound bodies are made up of two or more elementary substances chemically combined with each other2 thus sulphur1 copper1 lead1 are elementary bodies2 out of each of these nothing different from sulphur1 copper1 lead1 can be obtained2 whereas when two of these bodies are heated together1 a compound is formed from which both of the original elementary constituents can at any time be obtained4 ,water is a compound body--it can be split up into two elementary gases1 hydrogen and oxygen2 common salt1 again1 is a compound of a gas 7chlorine7 with a metal 7sodium72 and limestone1 clay1 sugar1 and wax may serve as examples of compound bodies2 whilst phosphorus1 charcoal1 iron1 mercury1 and gold may be mentioned as belonging to the class of simple substances4 ,as to physical properties of gases--they have weight1 volume1 diffusion1 density1 etc4 ,theologians insist that there is a ,god1 a ,god that was first introduced to us by a man with the name of ,abraham1 advertised by ,moses1 and has been palmed off upon the masses as a something exceedingly wonderful4 ,a multitude of men who find it to their interest to advocate his pretended claims1 are still doing their utmost to sustain their ,god4 ,we are trying to discover where he is to be found1 whether he is a local or a universal ,god1 what he is composed of1 whether he resides on earth permanently or transiently1 whether he controls the entire solar system or more systems1 whether he occasionally takes a trip to other planets2 and if he has created everything we want to find out how he has created it4 ,for that reason we have to search1 taking a glimpse among the stars1 in the earth1 atmosphere1 etc4 ,since geology does not respond favorably1 we are trying to discover what this earth is composed of4 ,the elementary bodies at present recognized amount to sixty-four in number4 ,of these about fifty belong to the class called metals4 ,several of them are of recent discovery1 and as yet very imperfectly known4 ,the distinction between metals and certain non-metallic substances or metalloids1 although very convenient for purposes of description1 is entirely arbitrary1 since the classes graduate into each other in the most indefinite manner4 ,the following is a complete list of the elementary substances known1 giving their names1 symbols1 and combining weight3 ,symbols4 ,,metalloids4 ,combining ,weight4 ,elements of life3 of primary importance4 ,o ,oxygen #a ,,ii #af ,h ,hydrogen ,i #a ,n ,nitrogen ,v #ad ,c ,carbon ,,iv #ab ,elements of secondary importance4 ,cl ,chlorine ,i #ce4e ,br ,bromine ,i #hj ,i ,iodine ,i #abg ,f ,fluorine ,i #bi ,p ,phosphorus ,v #ca ,s ,sulphur ,,vi #cb ,si ,silicon ,,iv #bh ,b ,boron ,,iii #aa ,se ,selenium ,,vi #gi4e ,te ,tellurium ,,vi #agi ,mechanics1 arts1 science1 and medicine4 ,al ,aluminium ,,iv #bg4d ,ca ,calcium ,,ii #dj 7,cuprum7 ,cu ,copper ,,ii #fc4e 7,ferrum7 ,fe ,iron ,,iv #ef 7,plumbum7 ,pb ,lead ,,iv #bjg ,mn ,manganese ,,iv #ee 7,hydrargyrum7 ,hg ,mercury ,,ii #bjj 7,kalium7 ,k ,potassium ,i #ci4a 7,argentum7 ,ag ,silver ,i #ajh 7,natrium7 ,na ,sodium ,i #bc 7,stannum7 ,sn ,tin ,,iv #aah ,zn ,zinc ,,ii #fe4c 7,stibium7 ,sb ,antimony ,v #abb ,as ,arsenic ,v #ge ,ba ,barium ,,ii #acg ,bi ,bismuth ,v #baj ,cr ,chromium ,,vi #eb4b ,co ,cobalt ,,iv #eh4g 7,aurum7 ,au ,gold ,,iii #aig ,in ,indium ,,iv #gd ,mg ,magnesium ,,ii #bd ,ni ,nickel ,,iv #eh4g ,pd #b ,palladium ,,iv #ajf4f ,pt ,platinum ,,iv #aig4e ,sr ,strontium ,,ii #hg4e ,ti ,titanium ,,iv #ej ,w ,tungsten ,,vi #ahd ,u ,uranium ,,iv #abj ,little known1 rarely used4 ,be ,beryllium ,,ii #i4c ,cd ,cadmium ,,ii #aab ,cs ,csium ,i #acc ,cr ,cerium ,,iv #ib ,d ,didymium ,,ii #ie ,e ,erbium ,,ii #aab4f ,ir ,iridium ,,iv #aih ,la ,lanthanum ,,ii #ib ,li #c ,lithium ,i #g ,mo ,molybdenum ,,vi #if ,nb ,niobium ,v #id ,os ,osmium ,,iv #aii4b ,rh ,rhodium ,,iv #ajd4d ,rb ,rubidium ,i #he4d ,ru ,ruthenium ,,iv #ajd4d ,ta ,tantalum ,v #ahb ,tb ,terbium ,tl ,thallium ,,iii #bjd ,th ,thorium ,,ii #bca4e ,v ,vanadium ,v #ea4c ,y ,yttrium ,,ii #fa ,zr ,zirconium ,,iii #hi4f ,all matter is made up of very small particles which are chemically indivisible and which are termed atoms1 and the atom of each elementary substance differs essentially from that of every other4 ,all the atoms of each element are alike1 and chemical compounds are formed by the combination of unlike atoms4 ,hence the smallest particle of a compound consists of a group of atoms4 ,this group1 which can be divided by chemical but not by mechanical means1 is termed a molecule4 ,the smallest particle of an element in a free state is1 however1 not a single atom1 but a group of atoms mechanically indivisible1 or a molecule4 ,this explains why elementary bodies act more energetically and enter more readily into combination at the moment of their liberation from a combination than when in the free state4 ,when chemical changes occur1 it is the molecules which react upon one another1 and the change consists in the change of position of certain atoms contained in the groups4 ,when an element is set free from a compound1 the liberated join together to form molecules1 unless some body is present with which the element can combine4 ,by an atom we therefore understand the smallest portion of a chemical element which can enter into a chemical compound2 by a molecule1 the smallest portion of a simple compound body which can occur in the free state or which can take part in a chemical action4 ,all the elements1 with the single exception of fluorine1 combine with oxygen to form oxides4 ,in this act of combination1 which is termed oxidation1 heat is always1 and light is frequently1 given off4 ,when bodies unite with oxygen1 evolving light and heat1 they are said to burn1 or undergo combustion4 ,all bodies which burn in the air burn with increased brilliancy in oxygen gas2 and many substances1 such as iron1 which do not readily burn in the air1 may be made to do so in oxygen4 ,oxygen is a colorless invisible gas1 possessing neither taste nor smell4 ,hydrogen is a colorless invisible gas1 possessing neither taste nor smell4 ,it is the lightest gas known1 being #ad4dg times lighter than air4 ,it combines with oxygen to form water4 ,nitrogen is a colorless1 tasteless1 inodorous gas1 slightly lighter than air4 ,it does not combine readily with bodies1 and it is a very inert substance1 neither supporting combustion or animal life1 nor burning itself4 ,it has1 however1 no poisonous qualities1 and animals plunged into a jar of this gas die simply of suffocation from want of oxygen4 ,nitrogen exists in a free state in the air1 of which it constitutes four-fifths by bulk4 ,it occurs combined in the bodies of plants and animals1 and in various chemical compounds1 such as nitre1 whence the gas derives its name4 ,carbon is a solid element2 it is not known in the free state1 either as a liquid or as a gas4 ,carbon is remarkable as existing in three distinct forms1 which in outward appearance or physical properties have nothing in common1 whilst their chemical relations are identical4 ,these three allotropic forms of carbon are 7#a7 diamond1 7#b7 graphite or plumbago1 7#c7 charcoal4 ,these substances differ in hardness1 color1 specific gravity1 etc41 but they each yield on combustion in the air or oxygen the same weight of the same substance1 carbonic acid or carbon dioxide4 ,carbon is the element which is especially characteristic of animal and vegetable life1 as every organized structure1 from the simplest to the most complicated1 contains carbon4 ,if carbon were not present on the earth1 no single vegetable or animal body such as we know could exist4 ,in addition to the carbon which is found free in these three forms1 and contained combined with hydrogen and oxygen in the bodies of plants and animals1 it exists combined with oxygen as free carbon dioxide in the air1 and with calcium and oxygen as calcium carbonate in limestone1 chalk1 marble1 corals1 shells1 etc4 ,plants are able when exposed to sunlight to decompose the carbon dioxide in the air1 liberating the oxygen1 and taking the carbon for the formation of their vegetable structure1 whilst all animals1 living directly or indirectly upon vegetables1 absorb oxygen1 and evolve carbon dioxide4 ,thus the sun's rays1 through the medium of plants1 effect deoxidation1 or reduction1 whilst animals act as oxidizing agents with respect to carbon4 ,oxygen1 ,hydrogen1 ,nitrogen1 ,carbon--these are the life-giving elements4 ,they are the life-producing and life-sustaining elements4 ,neither animal nor vegetable life can exist without them4 ,the entire activity of nature depends upon them4 ,every organic substance contains them4 ,no organic substance can exist without them4 ,the principle of life is due to them4 ,from a blade of grass to an insect1 from an insect to an animal1 including man1 one cannot emerge into life without these elements4 ,the birth1 growth1 and development of plant and animal depend upon them1 the sustenance and nurture4 ,all our food-substances are almost wholly made up of these elements4 ,no force1 power1 or energy can be produced without their presence4 ,our muscular strength1 our nervous force1 our very thoughts1 our imagination1 as well as digestion1 respiration1 circulation of the blood1 depend on these elements4 ,our sensations1 our pleasures1 our pains1 depend upon them4 ,all the excitement and depression in life are dependent on them4 ,the beauties of vegetation1 all the various shades and colors of flower and blossom1 the tints and odors1 are dependent on them4 ,no phenomenon in nature1 no matter how terrible1 delightful1 or enchanting1 can be manifested without these elements4 ,no earthquake1 thunder1 storm1 lightning1 wind1 hail1 rain1 snow1 or ice could exist without them4 ,no light1 heat1 or motion--in fact1 none of the physical forces1 could be evolved without them4 ,our atmosphere1 ocean1 seas1 rivers1 forests1 are composed of them4 ,no art1 science1 mechanics1 architecture1 nor indeed anything that we now enjoy1 could exist without them4 ,gunpowder1 dynamite1 electricity1 and all else are dependent on these elements4 ,why attempt to enumerate the extraordinary roles they play on earth and in the universe8 ,every plant would wither1 every life would perish1 without ,oxygen2 this element may be truly called the breath of life4 ,the creation of ,god is dependent on these elements1 because were it not for man ,god would never have been4 ,the ark1 made of wood1 was composed of them4 ,the figure of ,christ1 and the ,virgin ,mary1 as she is called1 as well as all the saints1 were and are composed of ,oxygen1 ,carbon1 ,nitrogen1 ,hydrogen1 etc4 ,we know that these chemical elements enter into the composition of all things in nature--mineral1 vegetable1 animal4 ,we also may be absolutely certain that no more elements exist now1 at this present time1 than existed ten1 twenty1 or one thousand million of years ago4 ,chemical elementary substances have no greater relative weight towards one another1 nor a greater volume1 at this present time than they had at any time since the existence of this earth4 ,the total weight of all elements that enter into the formation of this terrestrial globe has never varied1 whether they were in solid1 fluid1 or gaseous state4 ,the law of gravitation has always existed4 ,elements that enter into the formation of organic beings1 vegetable or animal1 must in due time undergo decomposition and return to the same elements of which they were composed4 ,the chemical action has always been the same4 ,all substances are subject to chemical action when exposed to the primary elements1 oxygen and hydrogen especially4 ,an element can never be annihilated4 ,it may not be out of place to mention some of the substances in daily use4 ,for example1 water is composed of oxygen and hydrogen4 ,air is composed of oxygen and nitrogen4 ,bread1 of starch1 sugars--oxygen1 hydrogen and carbon4 ,meats1 of oxygen1 hydrogen1 carbon1 and nitrogen1 etc4 ,salt1 of sodium and chlorine4 ,vegetables1 fruits1 etc41 of oxygen1 carbon1 and hydrogen4 ,fats1 of oil4 alcohols1 of oxygen1 carbon1 and hydrogen4 ,the tissues of the animal body are composed of oxygen1 hydrogen1 carbon1 and nitrogen4 ,the combination of five elements produces electricity1 thus3 ,zinc 7,zn7 copper 7,cu7 sulphuric acid1 which consists of hydrogen 7,h#b71 sulphur 7,s71 and oxygen 7,o#d71 electricity4 ,a few examples in the changes of the combination of oxygen and hydrogen are shown in water4 ,under conditions of heat and cold it becomes ice1 steam1 dew1 rain1 hail1 snow1 clouds1 etc41 etc4 ,these phenomena are known4 ,we merely mention these facts to show how much has been discovered by human skill1 but of how much more remains to be discovered we can not form the slightest notion4 ,all that has been done in the field of science has been of actual benefit to humanity4 ,for the discoveries are based on fact and truth4 ,they are ushered into this world to alleviate and to lighten the struggle and the burden of men4 ,they come without oppression1 without crime1 without bloodshed4 ,they come as the great benefactors of mankind4 ,men would be much better off to-day if they received for their ,sunday lessons instruction in the natural1 instead of wasting their precious time in repeating the silly twaddle of supernatural extravagance1 that tends to stupefy instead of clearing up the understanding4 ,scientific research has advanced so far1 that not only are we able to know1 from the discoveries made1 the elementary composition of this earth1 and all that belongs thereto1 but other far more difficult problems have been partially solved4 ,that is1 with the aid of newly discovered instruments1 we can ascertain1 to a considerable extent1 the elementary composition of the sun1 stars1 and distant planets4 ,in #ahjb ,dr4 ,wollaston1 and later ,fraunhofer1 discovered and perfected an instrument called the spectroscope4 ,it consists of a prism1 fixed upon an iron stand1 and a tube carrying a slit4 ,when light passes through a slit it impinges upon a flint glass prism1 by which it is dispersed4 ,the light of burning metals has been tested in that manner4 ,thus when any light passes through the slit of a spectroscope1 the substance giving the light may be determined1 the elements burning ascertained4 ,if the solar spectrum be examined--the light of the sun's rays--numerous dark lines parallel with the edge of the prism are observed1 and reveal a number of colors giving the following3 red1 orange1 yellow1 green1 blue1 indigo1 violet4 ,these are intersected by fine black lines of different degrees of breadth and shade1 which are always present1 and always occupy the same relative position in the solar spectrum4 ,these are called ,fraunhofer's lines4 ,by the means of this instrument1 the spectra of the sun1 planets1 and moon have been analyzed1 and the color and position1 the kind of metals these distant bodies are composed of4 ,the sun's atmosphere1 from experiments made1 is known to contain metals1 such as soda1 iron1 etc41 in the condition of glowing gas1 the white light proceeding from the solid or liquid strongly heated mass of the sun which lies in the interior4 ,the metals hitherto detected in the sun's atmosphere are about fifteen or more--iron1 sodium1 strontium1 cadmium1 magnesium1 calcium1 chromium1 nickel1 barium1 zinc1 cobalt1 manganese1 aluminium1 titanium1 hydrogen1 etc4 ,so delicate is this instrument that #a_/ahjjjjjjj part of a grain of sodium can be detected1 and a portion of lithium weighing #a_/fjjjjjj part of a grain has been detected2 thus showing that there exists a very strong probability that the sun1 planets1 and moons are composed of similar1 if not the same1 elements that this earth is composed of4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,the ,,sun4 ,the ,colossus1 or brazen statue of the ,sun1 was placed across the mouth of the harbor of ,rhodes1 its legs stretched to such a distance that a large ship under sail might easily pass between them4 ,it was seventy cubits high1 or a hundred ,english feet2 its fingers were as long as ordinary statues1 and few men with both arms could grasp one of its thumbs4 ,scarcely sixty years had elapsed before this work of art was thrown down by an earthquake1 which broke it off at the knees1 in which position it remained till the conquest of ,rhodes by the ,saracens 7,a4,d4 #fhd71 when it was beaten to pieces and sold to a ,jew merchant1 who loaded nine hundred camels with its spoils4 ,anaxagoras 7#ejj ,b4,c47 taught that there was but one god1 and that the sun was only a fiery globe and should not be worshiped4 ,he attempted to explain eclipses and other celestial phenomena by natural causes1 saying that there is no such thing as chances1 these being only names for unknown laws4 ,for this audacity and impiety1 as his countrymen considered it1 he and his family were doomed to perpetual banishment4 ,man1 said ,protagoras of ,abra 7#dcj ,b4,c471 is the measure of all things4444 ,of the ,gods ,i know nothing1 neither whether they be nor whether they be not2 for there is much that stands in the way of knowledge1 as well the obscurity of the matter as the shortness of human life4 ,st4 ,john begins his writings3 ,in the beginning was the word1 and the word was with ,god1 and the word was ,god4 ,but ,john1 like many others of his time1 knew nothing more than the use of words to make riddles1 which he himself could not see through and no one else could understand4 ,the man or men who first composed that part of scripture that informs us how the sun and earth were created1 certainly knew nothing about it1 because all that is at present known is of comparatively recent date4 ,for many centuries1 the established religion1 the church1 and the representatives of the theo-,christian organization1 did all in their power to prevent light from penetrating their hidden benighted doings4 ,they looked upon themselves as being all in all1 knowing all in all--as having had everything worth knowing revealed to them by an agency no one else had access to4 ,the ideas of their mysterious doings1 of their mysterious ,gods1 are hidden from view in deep obscurity--like the temple of the ,egyptian ,isis1 that bore the inscription3 ,i am all that is1 that was1 and that will be1 and no mortal has lifted my veil4 ,the ancient writers of the scripture were full of deep1 mysterious ways1 and their writings of hidden meanings4 ,ordinary mortals were prohibited from making inquiry because the subject was considered too mysterious1 and much too sacred4 ,since then1 many mysteries have been dissolved1 or have been analyzed by the crucial test of science1 and it has been discovered that there is nothing hidden except what our ignorance prevents us from knowing4 ,we have lifted the sacred veil and looked into the temple of nature1 as she is1 and not as she appears4 ,the more we search1 the more we discover1 the nearer we get to the truth4 ,there is not the slightest reason why every man1 woman1 and child at proper age should not be instructed in matters wherein they are immediately interested1 the knowledge whereof would undoubtedly be to their benefit4 ,men have lived through centuries of fable1 ages of fiction1 long periods of myth4 ,the ,christian ,god is as much of a myth as any myth that ever existed4 ,humanity having passed through these various mental afflictions1 gone through so many bloody surgical operations1 we are1 as it were1 approaching a condition that will soon be declared as convalescent1 and this most miserable of theological nurses may at not a very remote period be dismissed4 ,we can say1 without the slightest conscientious scruple1 or fear of contradiction1 with reason to sustain us and the light of science to prove the truth1 that ,there is no ,god4 ,there never was--except such a one as men have invented1 held sacred1 and worshiped4 ,there is nothing sacred except what man makes sacred1 nothing holy except what man makes holy1 nothing divine except what man makes divine4 ,he makes his own ,god1 and he religiously1 piously1 devoutly prays to and worships it4 ,the more regularly he does so1 the more saintly he becomes1 or esteems himself4 ,for many thousand years the ,sun was worshiped1 held sacred1 sacrificed to1 entempled1 etc4 ,as reason and understanding increased1 they forsook him as a god1 dismissed him as they had dismissed many gods before him4 ,yet the sun was by far their greatest benefactor and best friend--more than they were aware of4 ,the sun is #ic1jjj1jjj miles from the earth4 ,supposing a railway could be built to the sun1 an express train traveling day and night1 at the rate of thirty miles an hour1 would require #ceb years to reach its destination4 ,the light of the sun is equal to #e1efc wax candles held at a distance of one foot from the eye4 ,the heat of the sun that we receive annually is sufficient to melt a layer of ice #ahj feet thick1 extending over the whole earth4 ,yet the sunbeam is only #a_/cjjjjj part as intense as it is at the surface of the sun4 ,moreover1 the heat and light stream off into space equally in every direction4 ,of this vast flood1 but one twenty-three-hundred-millionth part reaches the earth4 ,the diameter of the sun is about #hfj1jjj miles4 ,its volume is #a1cjj1jjj times that of the earth1 i4e41 it would take #a1cjj1jjj earths to make a globe the size of the sun4 ,its mass is #gej times that of all the planets and moons in the solar system1 and #cjj1jjj times that of the earth4 ,its weight may be expressed in tons thus3 #a1iaj1bgh1jgj1jjj1jjj1jjj1jjj1jjj1jjj4 ,the density of the sun is only about one-fourth that of the earth1 or #a4da that of water1 so that the weight of a body transferred from the earth to the sun would not be increased in proportion to the comparative size of the sun4 ,the sun rotates on his axis1 like a wheel1 once in about #be days4 ,our astronomers tell us that the solar heat is gradually diminishing4 ,in time the sun will cease to shine1 as the earth did long since4 ,newcomb says that in #e1jjj1jjj years1 at the present rate1 the sun will have shrunk to half its present size1 and that it cannot sustain life on the earth more than #aj1jjj1jjj years longer4 ,of this we may be assured1 there is enough heat to support life on our globe for millions of years to come4 ,the sun consists of a central orb1 liquid or solid1 of exceeding brightness1 which of itself would give a continuous spectrum1 or in other words which emits all kinds of light4 ,the sunlight is decomposed by means of the spectroscope1 already alluded to1 in order to discover the kind of elements it is composed of4 ,therefore ,tyndall says3 ,i think we now possess knowledge sufficient to raise us to the level of one of the most remarkable generalizations of our age4 ,it has long been supposed that the sun and planets have had a common origin and that hence the same substances are more or less common to them all4 ,can we detect the presence of any of our terrestrial substances in the sun8444 ,i have said that the bright bands of a metal are characteristic of the metal2 that we can without seeing the metal declare its name from the inspection of the bands4 ,the bands are1 so to speak1 the voice of the metal declaring its presence4 ,professor ,kirchhoff finds iron1 calcium1 magnesium1 sodium1 chromium1 etc41 in the sunlight spectrum4 ,we know also the total amount of solar heat received by the earth in a year1 and we can calculate the entire quantity of heat emitted by the sun in a year4 ,conceive a hollow sphere to surround the sun1 its center the sun's center1 and its surface at the distance of the earth from the sun4 ,the section of the earth cut by this surface is to the whole area of the hollow sphere as #a to #b1cjj1jjj1jjj2 hence the quantity of solar heat intercepted by the earth is only #a_/bcjjjjjjjj of the total radiation4 ,the heat emitted by the sun1 if used to melt a stratum of ice applied to the sun's surface would liquefy the ice at the rate of #b1djj feet an hour4 ,it would boil per hour #gjj1jjj millions of cubic miles of ice-cold water4 ,expressed in another form1 the heat given out by the sun per hour is equal to that which would be generated by the combustion of a layer of solid coal #aj feet thick entirely surrounding the sun2 hence the heat emitted in a year is equal to that which would be produced by the combustion of a layer of coal #ag miles in thickness4 ,these are the results of actual measurements2 and should greater accuracy be conferred on them by future determinations1 it will not deprive them of their astonishing character4 ,and this expenditure has been going on for ages1 without our being able1 in historic times1 to detect the loss4 ,when the tolling of a bell is heard at a distance1 the sound of each stroke soon sinks1 the sonorous vibrations are quickly wasted1 and renewed strokes are necessary to maintain the sound4 ,like the bell1 ,die ,sonne tnt nach alter weise4 ,but how is its tone sustained8 ,how is the perennial loss made good8 ,we are apt to overlook the wonderful in the common4 ,possibly to many of us--and to some of the most enlightened among us--the sun appears as a fire differing from our terrestrial fires only in the magnitude and the intensity of its combustion4 ,but what is the burning matter which can thus maintain itself8 ,all that we know of cosmical phenomena declares our brotherhood with the sun--affirms that the same constituents enter into the composition of his mass as those already known to chemistry4 ,but no earthly substance with which we are acquainted--no substance which the fall of meteors has landed on the earth--would be at all competent to maintain the sun's combustion4 ,the chemical energy of such substances would be too weak1 and their dissipation would be too speedy4 ,were the sun a solid block of coal1 and were it allowed a sufficient supply of oxygen to enable it to burn at the rate necessary to produce the observed emissions1 it would be utterly consumed in #e1jjj years4 ,on the other hand1 to imagine it a body originally endowed with a store of heat--a hot globe now cooling--necessitates the ascription to it of qualities wholly different from those possessed by terrestrial matter4 ,if we knew the specific heat of the sun1 we could calculate its rate of cooling4 ,assuming this to be the same as that of water--the terrestrial substance which possesses the highest specific heat--at its present rate of emission1 the entire mass of the sun would cool down #ae1jjj ,faht4 in #e1jjj years4 ,in short1 if the sun be formed of matter like our own1 some means must exist of restoring to him his wasted power4 ,the facts are so extraordinary1 that the soberest hypothesis regarding them must appear wild4 ,the sun we know rotates upon his axis2 he turns like a wheel once in #be days3 can it be the friction of the periphery of this wheel against something in surrounding space which produces the light and heat8 ,such a notion has been entertained4 ,but what forms the brake1 and by what agency is it held1 while it rubs against the sun8 ,the action is inconceivable2 but1 granting the existence of the brake1 we can calculate the total amount of heat which the sun could generate by such friction4 ,we know his mass1 we know his time of rotation2 we know the mechanical equivalent of heat2 and from these data we deduce1 with certainty1 that the entire force of rotation1 if converted into heat1 would cover more than one1 but less than two1 centuries of emission4 ,there is no hypothesis involved in this calculation4 ,there is another theory1 which1 however bold it may at first sight appear1 deserves our earnest attention4 ,i have already referred to it as the meteoric theory of the sun's heat4 ,solar space is peopled with ponderable objects4 ,kepler's celebrated statement that 'there are more comets in the heavens than fish in the ocean' refers to the fact that a small portion only of the total number of comets belong to our system1 and are seen from the earth4 ,but besides comets1 and planets1 and moons1 a numerous class of bodies belong to our system--asteroids1 which from their smallness might be regarded as cosmical atoms4 ,like the planets and the comets these smaller bodies obey the law of gravity1 and revolve in elliptic orbits around the sun2 and it is they1 when they come within the earth's atmosphere1 that1 fired by friction1 appear to us as meteors and falling stars4 ,on a bright night twenty minutes rarely pass at any part of the earth's surface without the appearance of at least one meteor4 ,at certain times 7the #abth of ,august and the #adth of ,november71 they appear in enormous numbers4 ,during nine hours of observation in ,boston1 when they were described as falling as thick as snowflakes1 #bdj1jjj meteors were calculated to have been observed4 ,the number falling in a year might perhaps be estimated at hundreds or thousands of millions1 and even these would constitute but a small portion of the total crowd of asteroids that circulate round the sun4 ,from the phenomena of light and heat1 and by the direct observation of ,encke1 on his comet1 we learn that the universe is filled with a resisting medium1 through the friction of which all the masses of our system are drawn gradually toward the sun4 ,and though the larger planets show1 in historic times1 no diminution of their periods of revolution1 this may not hold good for the smaller bodies4 ,in the time required for the mean distance of the earth from the sun to alter a single yard1 a small asteroid may have approached thousands of miles nearer to our luminary4 ,following up these reflections we should infer that while this immeasurable stream of ponderable matter rolls unceasingly towards the sun1 it must augment in density as it approaches the center of convergence4 ,and here the conjecture naturally rises that that weak nebulous light1 of vast dimensions1 which embraces the sun--the ,zodiacal light--may owe its existence to these crowded meteors4 ,however this may be1 it is at least proved that the luminous phenomenon arises from matter which circulates in obedience to planetary laws2 the entire mass constituting the ,zodiacal light must be constantly approaching1 and incessantly raining its substance down upon1 the sun4 ,we observe the fall of an apple and investigate the law which rules its motion4 ,in the place of the earth we set the sun1 and in place of the apple we set the earth1 and thus possess ourselves of the key to the mechanics of the heavens4 ,we now know the connection between hight of fall1 velocity1 and heat at the surface of the earth4 ,in the place of the earth let us set the sun1 with #cjj1jjj times the earth's mass1 and instead of a fall of a few feet1 let us take cosmical elevations2 we thus obtain a means of generating heat which transcends all terrestrial power4 ,it is easy to calculate both the maximum and the minimum velocity imparted by the sun's attraction to asteroids circulating round him2 the maximum is generated when the body approaches the sun from an infinite distance as the entire pull of the sun being then expended upon it2 the minimum is that velocity which would barely enable the body to revolve round the sun close to his surface4 ,the final velocity of the former1 just before striking the sun1 would be #cij miles a second1 that of the latter #bgf miles a second4 ,the asteroid on striking the sun with the former velocity1 would develop more than #c1jjj times the heat generated by the combustion of an equal asteroid of solid coal2 while the shock1 in the latter case1 would generate heat equal to that of the combustion of upward of #d1jjj such asteroids4 ,it matters not whether the substances falling into the sun be combustible or not2 their being combustible would not add sensibly to the tremendous heat produced by their mechanical collision4 ,here then we have an agency competent to restore his lost energy1 and to maintain a temperature at his surface which transcends all terrestrial combustion4 ,the very quality of the solar rays--their incomparable penetrating power--enables us to infer that the temperature of their origin must be enormous2 but in the fall of asteroids we find the means of producing such a temperature4 ,it may be contended that this showering down of matter must be accompanied by the growth of the sun in size2 it is so2 but the quantity necessary to produce the observed calorific emission1 even if accumulated for #d1jjj years1 would defy the scrutiny of our best instruments4 ,if the earth struck the sun it would utterly vanish from perception1 but the heat developed by the shock would cover the expenditure of the sun for a century4 ,to the earth itself apply considerations similar to those which we have applied to the sun4 ,newton's theory of gravitation1 which enables us1 from the present form of the earth1 to deduce its original state of aggregation1 reveals to us1 at the same time1 a source of heat powerful enough to bring about the fluid state--powerful enough to fuse even worlds4 ,it teaches us to regard the molten condition of a planet as resulting from mechanical union of cosmical masses1 and thus reduces to the same homogeneous process the heat stored up in the body of the earth1 and the heat emitted by the sun4 ,without doubt the whole surface of the sun displays an unbroken ocean of fiery fluid matter4 ,on this ocean rests an atmosphere of flowing gas--a flame atmosphere1 or photosphere4 ,but gaseous substances1 when compared with solid ones1 emit1 even when their temperature is very high1 only a feeble and transparent light4 ,hence it is probable that the dazzling white light of the sun comes through the atmosphere from the more solid portions of the surface4444 ,in conclusion1 thus writes ,professor ,thomson3 ',the source of energy from which the solar heat is derived is undoubtedly meteoric4444 ,the principal source--perhaps the sole appreciable efficient source--is in the bodies circulating round the sun at present inside the earth's orbit seen in the sunlight by us called ,zodiacal light4 ,the store of energy for future sunlight is at present partly dynamical--that of the motions of these bodies round the sun2 and partly potential--that of their gravitation towards the sun4 ,this latter is gradually being spent1 half against the resisting medium1 and half in causing a continuous increase of the former4 ,each meteor thus goes on moving faster and faster1 and getting nearer and nearer the center1 until some time1 very suddenly1 it gets so much entangled in the solar atmosphere as to begin to lose its velocity4 ,in a few seconds more it is at rest on the sun's surface1 and the energy given up is vibrated across the district where it was gathered during so many ages1 ultimately to penetrate as light the remotest regions of space4444 ',the heat of rotation of the sun and planets1 taken all together1 would cover the solar emission for #acd years2 while the heat of gravitation 7that produced by falling into the sun7 would cover the emission for #de1ehi years4 ,there is nothing hypothetical in these results2 they follow directly and necessarily from the application of the mechanical equivalent of heat to cosmical masses4'444 ,but1 continues ,helmholtz1 though the store of our planetary system is so immense as not to be sensibly diminished by the incessant emission which has gone on during the period of man's history1 and though the time which must elapse before a sensible change in the condition of our planetary system can occur is totally incapable of measurement1 the inexorable laws of mechanics show that this store1 which can only suffer loss1 and not gain1 must finally be exhausted4 ,shall we terrify ourselves by this thought8 ,men are in the habit of measuring the greatness of the universe1 and the wisdom displayed in it1 by the duration and the profit which it promises to their own race2 but the past history of the earth shows the insignificance of the interval during which man has had his dwelling here4 ,what the museums of ,europe show us of the remains of ,egypt and ,assyria we gaze upon in silent wonder1 and despair of being able to carry back our thoughts to a period so remote4 ,still1 the human race must have existed and multiplied for ages before the ,pyramids could have been erected4 ,we estimate the duration of human history at #f1jjj years2 but vast as this time may appear to us1 what is it in comparison with the period during which the earth bore successive series of rank plants and mighty animals1 but no man8 ,periods during which1 in our own neighborhood 7,koenigsberg7 the amber tree bloomed and dropped its costly gum on the earth and in the sea2 when in ,europe and ,north ,america groves of tropical palms flourished1 in which gigantic lizards1 and after them elephants1 whose mighty remains are still buried in the earth1 found a home4 ,different geologists1 proceeding from different premises1 have sought to estimate the length of the above period1 and they set it down from one to nine million of years4 ,the time during which the earth has generated organic beings is again small1 compared with the ages during which the world was a mass of molten rocks4 ,the experiments of ,bischoff upon basalt show that for our globe to cool down from #b1jjj to #bjj centigrade would require #cej millions of years4 ,and with regard to the period during which the first nebulous masses condensed1 so as to form our planetary system1 conjecture must entirely cease4 ,the history of man1 therefore1 is but a minute ripple in the infinite ocean of time4 ,for a much longer period than that during which he has already occupied the world1 the existence of a state of inorganic nature1 favorable to man's existence1 seems to be secured2 so that for ourselves1 and for long generations after us1 we have nothing to fear4 ,but the same forces of air and water1 and of the volcanic interior1 which produced former geological revolutions1 and buried one series of living forms after another1 still act upon the earth's crust4 ,they1 rather than those distant cosmical changes of which we have spoken1 will end the human race1 and perhaps compel us to make way for new and more complete forms of life1 as the lizard and the mammoth have given way to us and our contemporaries4 ,grand1 however1 and marvelous as are these questions regarding the physical constitution of the sun1 they are but a portion of the wonders connected with our luminary4 ,his relationship to life is yet to be referred to4 ,the earth's atmosphere contains carbonic acid1 and the earth's surface bears living plants2 the former is the nutriment of the latter4 ,the plant seizes the combined carbon and oxygen and tears them asunder1 storing the carbon and letting the oxygen go free4 ,by no special force1 different in quality from other forces1 do plants exercise this power--the real magician here is the sun4 ,we have seen how heat is consumed in forcing asunder the atoms and molecules of solids and liquids1 converting itself into potential energy1 which reappears as heat when the attractions of the separated atoms are again allowed to come into play4 ,precisely the same considerations which we then applied to heat we have now to apply to light2 for it is at the expense of the solar light that the decomposition of the carbonic acid is effected4 ,without the sun the reduction cannot take place1 and an amount of sunlight is consumed exactly equivalent to the molecular work accomplished4 ,thus trees are formed1 thus meadows grow1 thus the flowers bloom4 ,let the rays fall upon the surface of sand1 the sand is heated1 and finally radiates away as much as it receives2 let the same rays fall upon a forest1 the quantity of heat given back is less than that received1 for the energy of a portion of the sunbeams is invested in building up the trees4 ,i have here a bundle of cotton which ,i ignite2 it bursts into flame1 and yields a definite amount of heat2 precisely that amount of heat was abstracted from the sun in order to form that bit of cotton4 ,this is a representative case--every tree1 plant1 and flower1 grows and flourishes by the grace and bounty of the sun4 ,but we cannot stop at vegetable life2 for this is the source1 mediate or immediate1 of all animal life4 ,in the animal body vegetable substances are brought again into contact with their beloved oxygen1 and they burn within as a fire burns in a grate4 ,this is the source of all animal power2 and the forces in play are the same1 in kind1 as those which operate in inorganic nature4 ,in the plant the clock is wound up1 in the animal it runs down4 ,in the plant the atoms are separated1 in the animal they recombine4 ,and as surely as the force which moves a clock's hands is derived from the arm which winds the clock1 so surely is all terrestrial power drawn from the sun4 ,leaving out of account the eruption of volcanoes and the ebb and flow of the tides1 every mechanical action on the earth's surface1 every manifestation of power1 organic and inorganic1 vital or physical1 is produced by the sun4 ,his warmth keeps the sea liquid1 and the atmosphere a gas1 and all the storms which agitate both are blown by the mechanical force of the sun4 ,he lifts the rivers and glaciers up the mountains2 and thus the cataract and avalanche shoot with an energy derived immediately from him4 ,thunder and lightning are also his transmuted strength4 ,every fire that burns and every flame that glows dispenses light and heat which originally belonged to the sun4 ,in these days1 unhappily1 the news of battle is familiar to us1 but every shock1 and every charge1 is an application or misapplication of the mechanical force of the sun4 ,he blows the trumpet1 he urges the projectile1 he bursts the bomb4 ,and remember this is not poetry1 but rigid mechanical truth4 ,he rears1 as ,i have said1 the whole vegetable world1 and through it the animal2 the lilies of the field are his workmanship1 the verdure of the meadows1 and the cattle upon a thousand hills4 ,he forms the muscle1 he urges the blood1 he builds the brain4 ,his fleetness is in the lion's foot2 he springs in the panther1 he soars in the eagle1 he slides in the snake4 ,he builds the forest1 and hews it down1 the power which raised the tree and that which wields the axe being one and the same4 ,the clover sprouts and blossoms1 and the scythe of the mower swings1 by the operation of the same force4 ,the sun digs the ore from our mines1 he rolls the iron1 he rivets the plates1 he boils the water1 he draws the train4 ,he not only grows the cotton1 but he spins the fiber and weaves the web4 ,there is not a hammer raised1 a wheel turned1 or a shuttle thrown1 that is not raised1 and turned1 and thrown by the sun4 ,his energy is poured freely into space1 but our world is a halting-place where the energy is conditioned4 ,here the ,proteus works his spells2 the self-same essence takes a million of shapes and hues1 and finally dissolves into its primitive and almost formless form4 ,the sun comes to us as heat2 he quits us as heat2 and between his entrance and departure the multiform powers of our globe appear4 ,they are all special forms of solar power--the molds into which his strength is temporarily poured1 in passing from its source through infinitude4 ,presented rightly to the mind1 the discoveries and generalizations of modern science constitute a poem more sublime than has yet been addressed to the intellect and imagination of man4 ,the natural philosopher of to-day may dwell amid conceptions which beggar those of ,milton4 ,so great and grand are they1 that in the contemplation of them a certain force of character is requisite to preserve us from bewilderment4 ,look at the integrated energies of the world--the stored power of our coal fields2 our winds and rivers2 our fleets1 armies1 and guns2 what are they8 ,they are all generated by a portion of the sun's energy1 which does not amount to #a_/bcjjjjjjjjth of the whole4 ,this1 in fact1 is the entire fraction of the sun's force intercepted by the earth1 and1 in reality1 we convert but a small fraction of that fraction into mechanical energy4 ,multiplying all our powers by millions of millions1 we do not reach the sun's expenditure4 ,and still1 notwithstanding this enormous drain1 in the lapse of human history we are unable to detect a diminution of his store2 measured by our largest terrestrial standards1 such a reservoir of power is infinite2 but it is our privilege to rise above these standards and to regard the sun himself as a speck in infinite extension--a mere drop in the universal sea4 ,we analyze the space in which he is immersed1 and which is the vehicle of his power4 ,we pass to other systems and other suns1 each pouring forth energy like our own1 but still without infringement of the law1 which reveals immutability in the midst of change1 which recognizes incessant transference and conversion1 but neither final gain nor loss4 ,this law generalizes the aphorism of ,solomon that there is nothing new under the sun1 by teaching us to detect everywhere1 under its infinite variety of appearances1 the same primeval force4 ,to nature nothing can be added2 from nature nothing can be taken away2 the sum of her energies is constant1 and the utmost that man can do in the pursuit of physical truth1 or in the application of physical knowledge1 is to shift the constituents of the never-varying total1 and out of one of them to form another4 ,the law of conservation rigidly excludes both creation and annihilation4 ,waves may change into ripples1 and ripples into waves--magnitude may be substituted for number1 and number for magnitude--asteroids may aggregate to suns1 and suns may resolve themselves into flora and fauna1 and flora and fauna melt in air--the flux of power is eternally the same4 ,it rolls in music through the ages1 and all the terrestrial energy--the manifestations of life1 as well as the display of phenomena1 are but the modulations of the rhythm 7,tyndall ,lecture ,,xii74 ,,chapter ,v4 ,,genesis--,,the ,,creation4 ,man must pass through infancy and childhood before he reaches manhood and maturity4 ,races and nations also had to pass the stages of infancy and childhood1 with all their mistakes1 fancy1 and fable4 ,in these stages any kind of information and interpretation is readily accepted1 without inquiry and without investigation1 for the reason that they are not capable of either4 ,to inquire1 is the awaking of knowledge2 and to investigate1 requires understanding4 ,whatever knowledge has been acquired1 that knowledge can be imparted1 but no more4 ,if it be true1 it cannot be denied or contradicted2 if that knowledge be not true1 it will be subject to denial1 controversy1 and dispute1 when experience has ripened the understanding4 ,childhood will listen to anything without contradiction4 ,it accepts the matter as told and believes it4 ,as years pass on1 the story that once seemed so impressive and pretty1 that was listened to so eagerly1 loses its charm1 for lack of truth4 ,fairy tales of past ages were abundant4 ,every locality had them1 and was by them adorned in mystery and wonder4 ,they were ordinarily recited with startling impressiveness4 ,with awe places were pointed out of perhaps some strange apparition1 or prodigious occurrence4 ,all of such accounts were either deliberate inventions1 or concoctions of a prolific imagination4 ,early writings abound in them4 ,the improbability of a story grows stronger the farther you go back in the history of humanity4 ,many of these stories were incorporated in poems1 in heroic legends1 in tales of the mysterious births of kings and queens1 descendants of gods4 ,and the vast majority of the writers of antiquity mix fiction and fact1 the possible with the impossible4 ,they treat on the conduct of men1 their deeds and misdeeds1 according to the extravagant customs of the time4 ,the ,book called scripture writings is composed of three elements--fiction1 exaggeration1 and fact4 ,the fiction consists of all that portion of the writings that relates to ,god and his miraculous works4 ,the exaggeration consists of impossible doings of men1 such as accounts of miracle-healers1 resurrectionists1 flights to heaven1 etc4 ,the facts appertain to the ,jewish race actually--that they did exist as a nation1 and conducted their affairs in as barbarous a fashion as their neighbors4 ,for nearly two thousand years ,christianity has done its utmost to sustain the fiction portion as being absolutely true1 and still it teaches these absurdities to be true1 and anyone doubting their accuracy is liable to persecution4 ,for every doubter of the current belief1 whether in ancient or modern times1 is subject to discipline of the church to which he belongs4 ,recently in our own city many have been subjected to a mild form of persecution for doubting4 ,they were declared to be heretics1 blasphemers1 etc4 ,i speak of such men as ,dr4 ,newton1 ,dr4 ,briggs1 and others4 ,yet1 we must concede that every organization has a right to judge as to the qualifications of any one of its members1 especially if he is an office-holder4 ,they may reject or accept any member4 ,but since his membership depends on whether he believes in their mode of interpreting this fiction1 he must say that he believes it1 and proclaim to others that it is true1 though he knows it is not4 ,nothing on earth has given rise to so much dispute1 angry quarrel1 bitter hatred and abuse1 as this fiction4 ,it has been the cause of more villainy1 brutality1 massacres1 and bloody wars than all matters that concern humanity put together4 ,science universally agrees that the biblical story has not a particle of truth in it2 and the older it gets the more it suffers1 the weaker it gets1 and it finally must undergo complete dissipation1 in the presence of the strong light of natural truth4 ,we have a great deal to be thankful for1 to have and to enjoy the privilege1 the freedom1 of exercising and giving expression to opinions concerning matters that have been considered too sacred to be contradicted or criticised4 ,the time has come1 or is coming very fast1 that we shall be able to dispense with ,god1 ,christ1 the ,holy ,ghost1 and the ,bible as a sacred text-book1 both the ,old and ,new ,testament4 ,in order to do this we must examine some portion of its text4 ,we should do this for educational purposes4 ,every man and woman should acquire a proper amount of knowledge1 to enable them to think for themselves4 ,every person knows1 or ought to know1 that priest and preacher are especially educated to keep the masses as ignorant as they can possibly keep them4 ,it is their trade4 ,it is their bread and butter1 like that of every other trade or profession--it is their business1 their function1 their profit1 to sustain and uphold this tottering fabric1 this hollow sham1 this aerial nothing1 with not a truth1 not even a shadow of a truth1 to support it4 ,chapter i1 verse #a1 of ,genesis3 ,in the beginning ,god created heaven and earth4 ,verse #b3 ,the earth was without form and void4 7#a7 ,god could not have created the earth1 as a planet distinct and separate by itself4 ,this terrestrial globe belongs to a system of planets1 and they are all not only dependent on one another1 but all dependent on the sun for their existence4 7#b7 ,how can ,god create a planet1 this earth8 ,where did he get his material from8 ,and was it possible for ,god to overcome the laws of gravitation8 7#c7 ,does it not seem strange that ,god1 who seemed to have direct dealings with ,moses1 did not give him more information about it8 7#d7 ,theologians claim that ,god is the architect1 the designer1 the first cause1 the creator4 ,why did it take ,god to make this terrestrial globe six days8 ,if he was able to make it in six days1 he might as well have made it in one day1 yes1 one hour4 ,if the ,word was ,god1 and ,god was the ,word1 then the ,word ought to have displayed this magical art2 he might have simply said1 ,go6 ,the term designer1 architect1 creator1 implies skill1 human skill1 a being that has brain4 7#e7 ,as to heaven1 that part that is scripturally indicated as heaven is the atmosphere4 7#f7 ,we are nowhere told where ,god was when he was doing all this work4 ,whether he was floating in space among the meteors and asteroids1 or had his residence on ,mars or ,venus1 we are not informed4 7#g7 ,this earth always had a form4 ,a globe that revolves round its own axis1 once in twenty-four hours1 and round the sun besides1 cannot be without form4 ,it must necessarily have a globular form2 nor was it ever void4 ,there is no such thing as a void in fact2 it may appear so to one ignorant of natural phenomena4 ,that was undoubtedly the case when that matter was written up4 7#h7 ,it must also be remembered that every planet in the system of the sun receives a portion of his light4 ,the contact of the sun's rays with the elements of this earth is fatal to any such nonsensical proposition as a void4 7#i7 ,as to the darkness on the face of the deep1 that could exist only in isolated places1 because of an intense fog or mist4 ,the whole surface of the earth could not have a fog at one time4 ,that is impossible4 ,wherever the sun shines there is light4 7#aj7 ,and the spirit of ,god moved on the face of the waters4 ,what waters8 ,where8 ,we know that only one thing in this solar system can disperse a fog2 that is the sun4 ,verse #c3 ,and ,god said1 ,let there be light1 and there was light4 ,this is worse than childish2 it is stupid4 7#a7 ,how could ,god have light when the sun was not made8 7#b7 ,and if the sun existed1 it was silly on his part to say it4 ,verse #d3 ,and ,god saw the light that it was good1 and ,god divided the light from the darkness4 ,how is it possible for any sane person to believe such nonsense1 when everybody with a grain of common sense knows that light and darkness depend on the sun1 as day and night do8 ,and this is said to have constituted the first day's work4 ,if any man will read it carefully he will perceive that the composition is of a nature to entertain simple-minded people1 children1 who are unable to understand the ordinary phases of nature4 ,the second day's work is very droll4 ,verse #f3 ,and ,god said1 ,let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters1 etc4 ,verse #g3 ,and ,god made the firmament1 and divided the waters which were under the firmament and the waters which were above the firmament1 and it was so4 ,verse #h3 ,and called the firmament heaven4 ,there is not a particle of sense in this4 ,if the firmament is heaven1 and heaven the atmosphere1 we know that we cannot have any water above the firmament4 ,we may have clouds1 or a certain quantity of moisture1 but no water4 ,if the atmosphere is overloaded with moisture1 that moisture is sure to return to the earth in the shape of rain or other form4 ,this portion is important to pious persons1 that they may know where their souls go when they go to heaven--to the atmosphere6 ,theologians and religious writers contend that this earth was in a state of aqueous solution4 ,that is all wrong4 ,we have not oxygen and hydrogen enough to produce such a state with4 ,besides1 if it was in an aqueous solution what became of the sixty-two elementary substances that never enter into the composition of water8 ,nor can the majority of the elements be held in suspension by water4 ,the specific gravity of the different elements cannot be suspended to please anybody4 ,elisha is supposed to have performed that miracle2 he made an axe-head swim 7#b ,kings vi1 #f74 ,this same man also beheld a chariot of fire and horses of fire with which ,elijah went to heaven4 ,it seems surprising that men who claim to know something of science insist upon this miraculous supernatural work4 ,they ought to know better4 ,they ought to know that neither ,god nor man can stop the chemical action of the elements in the presence or absence of the sun's heat4 ,they ought to know that no supernatural power can suspend nature's forces1 or nature's laws4 ,they ought to know that no spirit1 whether belonging to ,god or not1 can effect such an aqueous solution as these pious gentlemen would have us believe4 ,the third day's work is remarkable4 ,it embraces the #ith to the #acth verses inclusive4 ,and ,god said1 ,let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place and let dry land appear4 ,was ,god ignorant of the existence of more oceans than one8 of the numerous seas and lakes8 or was this creation a local affair near the ,gulf of ,persia8 ,there is a singular phraseology used3 the first day's work is not qualified2 the second day1 ,it was so2 on the third day1 ,it was so1 it was good4 ,thus1 it seems1 ,god did not discover the quality of his work until the third day1 when he has it twice--,it was so1 as if in surprise1 and then that it was good1 as if he lacked self-reliance1 or was uncertain how the work would turn out4 ,verse #aa3 ,and let the earth bring forth grass1 the herb yielding seed1 and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind1 etc4 ,it is a pertinent question1 or questions3 7#a7 ,on what part of the globe were these planted8 7#b7 ,in what season of the year were they planted8 7#c7 ,did these thrive and flourish in the absence of sunlight8 and 7#d7 ,in what kind of soil and in what locality8 ,were these trees1 grass1 herbs1 planted at the ,north ,pole1 equator1 in a subtropical or in a mild climate8 ,was it winter1 spring1 summer1 or autumn8 ,was it sandy soil1 as in the deserts of ,arabia1 or hill1 valley1 or mountain8 ,or was it really somewhere in ,chaldea where the story originated8 ,remember1 we have no sun yet4 ,verse #ac3 ,and the evening and the morning were the third day4 ,god takes his rest during the night1 like any other toiler on the surface of this terrestrial globe4 ,he did not believe in working after proper hours4 ,no doubt he started with sunrise and stopped at sunset1 as shepherds and agriculturists usually do4 ,and ,god simply suspended the natural operations and went to bed4 ,i don't blame him4 ,he was tired4 ,then again1 grass might and does grow in a season1 but trees do not4 ,it takes quite a number of seasons for trees to bear fruit4 ,the elements that enter into their composition differ4 ,some have more of one element1 and grow on certain soil and flourish1 while others do not4 ,moreover1 there are only certain localities on earth where the growth of any can be accomplished4 ,the fourth day's work is something prodigious3 ,verse #ad3 ,and ,god said1 ,let there be light in the firmament of the heaven 7in the eighth verse ,god calls the firmament heaven1 but in the #adth calls it the firmament of the heaven7 to divide the day from the night2 and let them be for signs and for seasons1 and for days and years4 ,verse #ae3 ,and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon earth3 and it was so4 ,verse #af3 ,and ,god made two great lights2 the greater light to rule the day1 and the lesser to rule the night3 he made the stars also4 ,the inventor or the writer of these passages had not the slightest conception of what he was talking about4 ,he spoke and wrote of the mere appearance of what he beheld daily and nightly1 the sun and the moon4 ,they could not know1 in those remote ages1 the important role the sun plays in the solar system1 because whatever is known thereon is of very recent date4 ,talk of setting the sun in the firmament1 #ic1jjj1jjj miles' distance from the earth1 considering its bulk1 weight1 and condition1 is an outrage on common sense4 ,it is a monstrous piece of stupidity to make children believe it1 and it is an infamous fraud for any priest or preacher to teach it4 ,writers in order to explain away the above difficulty quote1 for example3 ,maimonides 7born #aaca ,a4,d47 in his guide1 ,rashi 7#ajcj7 and ,aben ,ezra 7#aaai7 in their commentaries1 hold that the light of the first day was that of the sun itself1 which revolving in its sphere from west to east and from east to west made a day of twenty-four hours4 ,the scripture's saying that it was created on the fourth day is incident to its thus demonstrating its effects upon plants1 which appeared on the third day2 rain1 which proceeded from the exhalations and vapors raised from the earth by the action of the sun's heat thereon1 being necessary to their vegetation4 ,therefore1 it is clear that there was no new creation on the fourth day2 but the heat implies that on that day the sun developed the effects of his heat on plants4 ,this is one of many explanations of philosophical commentators who have tried to explain away the difficulty of creation1 owing to the many doubts that arose in the minds of learned men about the tenth and eleventh centuries ,a4,d42 and especially the ,greek philosophers1 ,aristotle #d and others4 ,volumes upon volumes have been written in order to explain away the difficulties theologians encounter4 ,as science advances1 explanations and reconciliations become more difficult4 ,maimonides1 in his pious enthusiasm1 after having consulted ,aristotle and others1 is not quite certain1 but he claims 7according to ,more1 xi1 #ae73 ,i propose to show that the creation of the world1 as our religion teaches1 is not impossible1 and all philosophical reasonings to the effect that it is not so1 as ,i have said1 they may overthrow1 but cannot make any objection against us4 ,as for me1 ,i stand firm in my belief on the question1 of whether the world had a beginning or not4 ,i accept the solution of this problem from the prophets1 as the prophets explain these things1 which speculation cannot reach1 etc4 7,kusari ,i1 #fe1 #fg74 ,in other words1 ,maimonides1 the authors of the ,talmud1 and all other writers1 theological philosophers1 ,hebrew and ,christian1 prove the truth of the ,bible by the ,bible4 ,one portion of scripture must prove another portion to be true4 ,the ,jews use their own biblical authorities to demonstrate one another's statements4 ,isaiah gives evidence for ,moses1 and ,moses is made to testify for ,isaiah1 and so the ,jewish philosophers whip the devil round the ring4 ,the ,christians have a double hold4 ,they have a ,new ,testament4 ,they prove the statements made by persons figuring in the ,old ,testament by statements made in the ,new ,testament4 ,that is1 they make ,elijah1 ,elisha1 ,isaiah1 ,ezekiel1 ,moses1 etc41 give testimony for ,john1 ,mark1 ,matthew1 and ,luke2 and then make ,luke1 ,matthew1 ,mark1 and ,john give evidence for ,moses1 ,ezekiel1 ,isaiah1 ,elisha1 ,elijah1 etc4 ,the majority of theological writings and commentaries1 yes1 all of them1 were composed and written during the ,christian era1 and nearly one-half of these after the twelfth century4 ,all are employed with the same subject-matter4 ,although they lay claim that the ,talmud and other works treat of mathematics1 physics1 medicine1 etc41 they knew little or nothing about these things1 and the little they did know was mostly appropriated from the ,greek and other nations4 ,it is not an unusual occurrence for modern thinkers to interpret the statements of ancient writers as they originally never intended4 ,they spoke in enigmas1 parables1 simply philosophical phrases1 without stating a single fact1 implying nothing in particular and everything in general4 ,and he made the stars also4 ,make the stars6 ,we have shown in a previous chapter that this our solar system is but a speck among the starry host of the universe4 ,from verse #bj to #bc inclusive1 ,god created moving creatures in the water1 and fowl that may fly above the earth4 ,this general statement1 like all other statements in the ,bible1 is based on the principle that with ,god everything is possible4 ,unfortunately for ,god's adherents1 that is absolutely not the case4 ,the laws of nature are fixed1 permanent4 ,there is no exception in favor of any mortal and natural being1 and certainly not for any supernatural and imaginary being4 ,does it not seem strange that the only animal mentioned in the fifth and sixth days' performance is the whale8 ,great whales1 it says4 ,why great whales8 ,they had heard something about the whale1 he therefore received prominence1 and was mentioned4 ,they had no knowledge of other animals4 ,or was this great whale purposely inserted to do that extraordinary service to ,jonah8 ,and after all this work was done1 ,god saw that it was good4 ,evidently pleased with his handiwork4 ,on the sixth day he finishes his work--he brings forth living creatures4 ,why living creatures8 ,are not fish1 fowl1 and whales living creatures8 ,next come cattle and creeping things4 ,after he created the creeping things he made man4 ,verse #bg3 ,so ,god created man in his own image2 in the image of ,god created he him1 male and female created he them4 ,if man was made in his own image1 ,god's image1 ,god must have the semblance of man1 otherwise man would not be like him4 ,if ,god has the semblance of man1 and creates and desires1 works and rests1 like a man1 he is a man1 therefore cannot be supernatural--a ,god6 ,verses #bh1 #bi1 #cj3 ,god places all that he has created at the service of man1 giving him full control and dominion to make use of these benefits as he1 man1 thinks best4 ,and behold it was very good1 and then ,god took a rest4 ,the entire creation must have taken place in a mild or warm climate1 in some isolated locality on the face of the globe4 ,no mention is made of icebergs1 snow or hail4 ,there does not seem to have occurred the slightest impediment in any of the work done4 ,no evolutionary period1 except the night's rest ,god reserved for himself1 in addition to the whole day ,sunday1 or rather the seventh day4 ,we are now prepared to make some very pertinent remarks and ask some very pertinent questions3 7#a7 ,what period elapsed from the time man was created to the time man could use words or speech intelligently8 7#b7 ,we may assume that no one was present at the time of creation1 because man and woman were made the last thing on the sixth day4 7#c7 ,who was the first man that received this information8 ,after how many generations or centuries was this news published1 and to whom8 7#d7 ,we are not informed1 even by the holy book1 of the man's name who was the fortunate recipient of this valuable information4 7#e7 ,is it not highly probable that the man who first told this story might also have invented it8 ,we have no proof to the contrary1 except the mere say-so of somebody4 ,the statement1 as written1 is well enough as a fable2 that's all4 ,as to fact1 there is not a particle of truth to sustain it4 ,but if men are determined to believe it1 and are not open to conviction1 if they are willfully blind to the truth1 they must remain the slaves to a powerful ecclesiastical organization4 ,the #adth verse1 however1 betrays its origin4 ,when the sun and moon were made for seasons1 days1 and years1 as also for signs1 that shows a high degree of civilization4 ,these divisions did not take place before man was created8 ,were really these divisions made before a living creature inhabited this earth8 ,for whom8 ,for whose use8 ,writing had not been invented4 ,athates1 or ,hermes1 the ,egyptian1 is supposed to be the founder of hieroglyphics1 #b1acf ,b4,c4 ,and we do not hear of writing until #a1did ,b4,c4 ,it is claimed that writing was taught to the ,latins by ,europa1 daughter of ,agenar1 king of ,phoenicia4 ,the doctrine of the solar system as it is now accepted was first taught by ,pythagoras of ,samos about #ebi ,b4,c4 ,copernicus proved it in the sixteenth century1 and ,newton demonstrated the truth fully in the year #afie4 ,history claims for the ,egyptians that they were the first who fixed the length of the year4 ,the ,chaldeans and ,persians had adopted the lunar year before ,abraham ever dreamed of being exiled by his countrymen1 the ,chaldeans4 ,can any man be so silly as to believe that an almanac was made before man was created8 ,there is not an intelligent priest living who is ass big enough to believe any such nonsense4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,genesis--,,the ,,garden ,,of ,,eden4 ,the custom of six days' labor and one day's rest is a human invention1 and is based on the principles of economy1 power-saving1 labor-saving1 and had been a recognized institution long before the date of the supposed creation4 ,for if the statement of ,baily be true 7and we have no right to discredit it71 human beings have existed1 in one state or another1 above #d1jjj1jjj years4 ,the record of the ,hebrew race is insignificant in comparison4 ,the modern eight-hour movement is the outcome of the economic reforms of labor4 ,had the composers of the scripture known something of it at that time ,god might have worked only eight hours instead of from sunrise to sunset4 ,we cannot have the slightest doubt that the above first-given labor regulation existed long1 long ago4 ,the ,chaldeans had their mode of government1 their laws1 their social rules and regulations2 other neighboring nations had theirs2 it was therefore nothing new4 ,this six days' labor clause was incorporated1 but there was no need of a ,god to make it4 ,verse #d3 ,and these are the generations of the heavens and of the earth1 when they were created1 in the day that the ,lord ,god made the earth and the heavens4 ,what generations of heaven8 ,verse #g3 ,and the ,lord ,god ,in this chapter an extra title is assigned to ,god--it is the ,lord ,god6 ,why8 formed man of the dust of the ground1 and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life1 and man became a living soul4 ,this is a very grave error4 ,man is not made of dust of the ground4 ,there is comparatively very little dust in his composition4 7#a7 ,man contains no more dust than any other animal2 the proportion of inorganic constituents in him and other animals is about the same4 7#b7 ,animals are constructed anatomically and physiologically the same4 ,they have the same organs1 the same number of muscles1 and same number of bones1 with some few exceptions4 ,they are built on the same general principles as man2 or rather1 as man came later1 we will say that man is constructed on the same general principles as the animals4 7#c7 ,the same mechanism and functions are to be found in the one as in the other--respiration1 circulation1 digestion1 etc4 7#d7 ,the proportion of mineral matters contained in a man--or dust1 as it is termed in scripture--is about #a_/bc to #a_/bd of the bodily weight4 ,that is1 a body weighing about #abe to #acj pounds would yield about #d #a_/b to #e pounds of dust1 or rather ashes1 and the largest proportion of these ashes comes from the solid framework1 the skeleton1 the bones1 composed of phosphates and carbonate of lime4 7#e7 ,more than two-thirds of the body's weight is water--that is1 hydrogen and oxygen4 ,the principal elements found in the body are oxygen1 hydrogen1 nitrogen1 carbon4 ,there are traces of sulphur1 etc41 besides the mineral substances above alluded to4 ,thus man is not made of dust1 but of water1 oxygen and hydrogen1 nitrogen and carbon4 ,if they had made ,god say that he made man out of water1 he would have been much nearer the truth4 ,solomon repeats the same in his ,eccles4 iii1 #bj3 ,all go unto one place2 all are of dust1 and all turn to dust again4 ,in the burial service the same absurdity is repeated4 ,alter your service1 your prayer--put water in place of dust4 ,or better1 give all the four elements a chance4 ,do not teach children we are made out of dust4 ,it is not true4 ,teach the young what is true4 ,what is the good of lying because some man said1 ,god said so8 ,the breath of life4 ,is it not time that men of intelligence1 in this age of progress and civilization we boast so much of1 cease to pretend to believe such nonsense8 ,it is absurd to talk of its being parables and figures of speech4 ,either the text means what it says1 or it means nothing4 ,there has been an immense amount of controversy over two ,hebrew words1 viz43 nephesh--breath1 respiring1 life1 life strength1 animal soul2 ruach--anamos1 breath1 wind1 psyche1 soul1 spirit1 etc4 ,they thought that the life is in the blood4 ,lev4 xvii1 #aa3 ,for the life of the flesh is in the blood4 ,gen4 ix1 #d1 #e3 ,but the flesh with the life thereof1 which is the blood thereof1 etc41 etc4 ,this controversy has given rise to no end of studies1 as psychology--derived from the word psyche1--soul4 ,the literature that has been expended on this subject1 psyche1 soul1 cannot be easily estimated4 ,the matter has been twisted into a science1 discussed1 argued1 lectured on1 etc4 ,on the word ,theo1 ,theon--,deos--,god1 societies and sects1 etc41 have been formed1 as the ,theosophists4 ,what is the breath of life that caused so much controversy1 in church and out of church8 ,oxygen4 ,deprive a man of oxygen and he dies4 ,deprive a beast of oxygen and it dies4 ,oxygen thus is essential to life4 ,neither man nor beast1 as we said1 can live without it4 ,the issues which this has given rise to are bewildering--theological1 metaphysical1 ,theosophical1 philosophical1 ,agnostic1 gnostic1 spiritual1 etc41 etc4 ,oxygen1 however1 covers the ground4 ,it represents all1 so far as the life of a body is concerned4 ,we now come to ,paradise1 or the garden of ,eden4 ,we will try to locate this garden of ,eden geographically1 as nearly as possible correctly4 ,verse #h3 ,and the ,lord ,god planted a garden eastward of ,eden2 and there he put the man whom he had formed4 ,that was very kind of ,god4 ,verse #i3 ,god planted the tree of life also in the midst of the garden1 and the tree of knowledge of good and evil4 ,a wonderful tree surety4 ,what is most to be regretted is that the species has become extinct4 ,what a boon to humanity if but one tree were planted in every church4 ,verse #aj3 ,and a river went out of ,eden to water the garden2 and from thence it parted1 and became into four heads4 ,verse #aa3 ,the name of the first is ,pison2 that is it which compasseth the whole land of ,havilah1 where there is gold4 ,verse #ab3 ,and the gold of that land is good2 there is bdellium and the onyx stone4 ,verse #ac3 ,and the name of the second river is ,gihon3 the same is it that compasseth the whole land of ,ethiopia4 ,verse #ad3 ,and the name of the third river is ,hiddekel2 that is it which goeth toward the east of ,assyria4 ,and the fourth river is ,euphrates4 ,assyria was founded about #bbdg ,b4,c4 and is situated near the ,persian gulf2 and seems to be wedged in between the ,persian empire on the east1 ,arabia on the west1 or ,badien el ,arab1 and on the southern point the gulf of ,persia4 ,ethiopia comprises ,nubia1 ,sennaar1 and ,northern ,abyssinia1 and takes in a stretch of country on the west shore of the ,red sea4 ,the two countries are separated by the ,red sea1 and by ,arabia1 which extends from the east shores of the ,red sea to the west shores of the ,gulf of ,persia1 and ,assyria4 ,some one made a big blunder1 or ,johnston's atlas is wrong1 or they--,god--made a mistake in the name4 ,there is considerable distance between the two countries4 ,assyria lies in ,asia and ,ethiopia in ,africa4 ,egypt lies farthest north of what is usually known as ,ethiopia4 ,assyria is hemmed in1 north by ,armenia1 west by ,media and ,susiana1 south and southeast by ,babylon and ,mesopotamia4 ,the river ,tigris is the dividing line on the south and southeast4 ,the ,parachoatras and ,zagrus mountains form the dividing line on the western border1 and ,armenia is the boundary on the north4 ,chaldea is1 comparatively speaking1 a small tract of land situated between the river ,euphrates and the ,arabian desert1 or ,badien el ,arab1 with ,babylon on its north and the ,gulf of ,persia on the southwestern point4 ,the river ,euphrates takes its rise in the ,gulf of ,persia and runs westward1 and divides into four branches4 ,the first branch1 the ,pasitigris1 runs somewhat westward through ,susiana2 the second1 ,chaosper or ,kirkhah1 runs northward through ,susiana2 the third1 the river ,tigris1 runs north1 northwest1 separating ,babylon from ,susiana by ,assyria2 the fourth1 the river ,euphrates1 the farthest south1 runs westward1 etc4 ,this is the only river near the ,gulf of ,persia that divides into four branches1 and these are the four rivers that are indicated where the garden of ,eden was planted4 ,this is near enough geographically to locate this garden which the ,lord ,god planted4 ,it will indeed afford great pleasure for pious people to know whereabouts they can find the garden of ,eden4 ,in this rapid-transit age1 they can get an excursion ticket and reach this ,paradise in a few weeks4 ,this garden was planted in ,chaldea4 ,we will now see what ,god did next4 ,verse #ae3 ,and the ,lord ,god took the man1 and put him into the garden of ,eden to dress it and keep it4 ,god gave the position of gardener to ,mr4 ,adam4 ,the only stipulation in the contract between the ,lord ,god and ,adam was 7verses #af1 #ag71 he could eat of every tree in the garden except the tree of knowledge4 ,there is a ,god for you--wants to keep the man he made in his own image1 a living soul1 as ignorant and as stupid as possible2 in addition tempting him to commit a wrong act4 ,verse #ah3 ,and the ,lord ,god said1 ,it is not good that the man should be alone2 ,i will make him a help meet for him4 ,very considerate indeed on the part of ,god4 ,verse #ba3 ,and the ,lord ,god caused a deep sleep to fall upon ,adam1 and he slept2 and he took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh thereof4 ,this is the cleverest kind of surgical operation that was ever performed1 without loss of blood1 use of antiseptics or anesthetics1 without ligature1 etc4 ,and out of this rib he made a woman4 ,why did ,god make a man of dust and the woman out of the man's rib8 ,why did he breathe into the nostrils of the man and forget to do it to the woman8 ,the only reasonable explanation that can be given is that1 in those days1 among the ,chaldeans1 woman was considered an inferior creature1 possessing no soul4 ,she was the slave sometimes1 but the servant always4 ,she was the creature of man's lust1 of his passion1 and she was placed in the ,bible by the man that wrote it in just the position and condition she occupied at that period4 ,this is a gross falsehood1 it is debasing1 it is an infamous libel on truth4 ,does any woman believe that she is a bone of her husband's bone1 and flesh of his flesh8 ,verse #be3 ,and they were both naked1 the man and his wife1 and were not ashamed4 ,what is there extraordinary about that8 ,savage races up to this present time are found in many instances nude4 ,csar describes the ,germans as bathing promiscuously in a nude state4 ,columbus found our ,american ,indians nude4 ,evidently a degree of civilization had already been attained when this story was evolved4 ,the story had its origin in the romantic regions of ,chaldea1 somewhere in the neighborhood of the ,persian gulf1 near the river ,euphrates4 ,the singer1 the story-teller1 or the traveling minstrel tramped from place to place1 from one shepherd's tent to another1 relating the story to his crude1 barbarous countrymen1 reciting the curious yet pretty fable of how man was made2 the world made2 the garden made2 how gold1 onyx1 and bdellium were found1 and where2 lauding and glorifying their own country1 and making out that they were the immediate descendants of the gods4 ,every nation has its fairy tales1 its fables1 its myths1 its songs1 and its romances4 ,whether they have their origin in ,egypt1 or come down embellished from ,mount ,olympus1 whether they are the fairy tales of the ,rhine1 or those from the river ,euphrates in ,chaldea1 they are only the products of imagination4 ,they spring from fountains and from sacred groves1 ,and holy streams that flow into the sea 7,od4 x1 #cej74 ,next we come to chapter iii--the childish account of the serpent1 and the woman and the fruit she ate4 ,the serpent is made to say1 verse #e3 ,for ,god doth know that in the day ye eat thereof1 then your eyes shall be opened1 and ye shall be as gods1 knowing good from evil4 ,the first knowledge they acquired was1 that they discovered they were without clothes4 ,and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves aprons4 ,why sewed8 ,with what8 ,aprons were a very late invention1 and were never intended for any such purpose4 ,and then1 the conversation between the ,lord ,god and ,adam6 ,god calls for ,adam while he is hiding4 ,god inquires with a ,chinese simplicity1 ,where art thou8 ,this is the blandest kind of conversation that has ever taken place between mortal man and a ,god4 ,adam tells him that he has eaten some fruit4 ,like the boy who had stolen jam out of the jar1 it seems ,adam could not lie4 ,god grows petulant1 angry1 cross2 scolds him1 and immediately deprives him of his position and turns him out of the garden4 ,god had two reasons for doing what he did4 ,one reason was to punish ,adam for disobedience2 the second1 that ,god got afraid of ,adam4 ,verse #bb3 ,and the ,lord ,god said1 ,behold the man is become as one of us 7were there more gods than one871 to know good and evil2 and now1 lest he put forth his hand2 and take also of the tree of life1 and eat1 and live forever---- ,was it the fear of competition--that men might interfere with ,god's occupation1 infringe on his monopoly8 ,it seems to have a priestly ring1 this forbidding and preventing ordinary mortals to become intelligent4 ,the story is so framed as to express the line of conduct of the higher towards the lower1 of the slave towards his master1 of the laborer towards his lord2 and the #aith verse expresses the subjugation of the poor ignorant creature3 ,in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread1 till thou return unto the ground2 for out of it wast thou taken2 for dust thou art1 and unto dust shalt thou return4 ,it is the church and the priest that have taken care to keep the dust in the eyes of the masses4 ,they are the cherubim with a flaming sword that keep the masses away from the tree of life4 ,chapter iv relates to the crime of murder4 ,god instigates the crime4 ,abel kept sheep4 ,cain tilled the ground4 ,cain brought vegetables to ,god1 and ,abel brought the firstlings of his flock and fat4 ,god's taste ran in the meat line2 he was somewhat of an epicurean4 ,he respected ,abel and his offering1 but did not respect ,cain's4 ,then ,god asks ,cain why he is cross1 and after ,cain kills his brother ,abel1 he1 ,god1 says3 ,where is thy brother ,abel8 ,and ,god dispossesses ,cain and drives him east of ,eden to ,arabia4 ,a very arbitrary landlord this ,god4 ,chapter v3 ,the fourth chapter winds up with ,enos the son of ,seth4 ,verse #bf3 ,then began men to call upon the name of the ,lord4 ,now1 ,adam lived #icj years1 ,seth #iab years1 and ,enos #ije years4 ,god during this period was wholly occupied with these people4 ,murder is the only incident of importance during the first thousand years4 ,god takes a long rest for nearly #b1jjj years before anything of importance occurs4 ,this chapter treats of the genealogy1 age1 and death of the patriarchs from ,adam to ,noah4 ,the records of creation are by no means harmonious4 ,there are no less than one hundred and twenty opinions on the subject4 ,the difference between the latest and remotest dates is no less than #c1bfh years4 ,here are some of the dates of the supposed creation of the world4 ,they may be interesting to some1 as showing the uncertainty and inaccuracy3 ,hebrew1 #djjd ,b4,c4 ,septuagint1 #ehgc 11 ,talmudistic1 #ecdd 11 ,scaliger1 #ciej 11 ,petovias1 #cihd 11 ,dr4 ,hale1 #edaa 11 etc4 ,here we give the genealogy of ,adam and his line3 ,age4 #icj ,adam1 ,born #djjd ,b4,c4 ,died #cjgd ,b4,c4 ,abel1 11 #chge 11 #iab ,seth1 11 #chgd 11 #ije ,enos1 11 #cgfi #e 11 #iaj ,cainon1 11 #cfgi 11 #hie ,mahaloled1 11 #cfji 11 #ifb ,jared1 11 #cedd 11 #hae ,enos1 11 #cbhb 11 #ifi ,methuselah1 11 #ccag 11 #ggg ,lamech1 11 #cacj 11 #cfe ,enoch1 11 #cjag 11 7,translated87 #hae ,noah1 11 #bidh 11 #ejj bef4 flood4 #cae aft4 11 ,we may venture to make a very strong interrogation mark after these years4 ,they are1 however1 in harmony with the rest of the story4 ,noah closes the fabulous period4 ,we hear no more of ,god's doings until we come to ,abraham1 #aiba ,b4,c4 ,and ,abraham reached the age of #age years only4 ,chapter vi1 on the sons of ,god1 etc41 is next4 ,i beg to remind the reader we are still in ,chaldea1 near the ,gulf of ,persia2 near the river ,euphrates2 near the garden of ,eden1 where ,god created man2 where we found gold and precious stones2 the place where murder was committed2 near ,arabia1 etc4 ,the geographical location is important1 and let the reader also remember that the whole tract of land where all these transactions are supposed to have taken place is not so large as any moderate-sized state in our ,union4 ,if you will examine a map of this particular region1 it will help to bring the truth to your mind1 and add considerably to your understanding4 ,it is also well to bear in mind that in this small territory the art of agriculture was pursued1 as well as fruit-growing1 sewing was invented and aprons were made1 and ,eve had an apron before she had a dress1 and this high state of civilization existed as soon as man and woman appeared on earth6 ,what a contrast with other barbaric1 savage1 and uncivilized tribes6 ,eve had a decided advantage over the young female that was captured when ,columbus landed ,december #abth4 ,she was perfectly naked2 so says history4 ,verse #b3 ,the sons of ,god saw the daughters of men1 that they were fair2 and they took them wives all which they chose4 ,sons of ,god6 ,was ,god married8 ,if so1 to whom8 ,how many wives had he8 ,how many sons and daughters8 ,where was ,god's residence1 if he had any8 ,were his domestic relations pleasant or not8 ,was his family large or small8 ,pray give us some information4 ,our theologians will tell us1 ,ah1 that has a spiritual meaning4 ,verse #c3 ,and the ,lord not ,god said3 ,my spirit shall not always strive with man1 for that he also is flesh4 ,who8--,god8 ,yet his days shall be a hundred and twenty4 ,this is a crafty statement1 because it shows that the average length of life was the same as it is now1 with some few exceptions1 and as the fabulous age was past1 the only way to get out of the difficulty was to give timely notice that extraordinary ages should not occur again4 ,verse #d3 ,there were giants in the earth in those days2 and also after that1 when the sons of ,god came in unto the daughters of men1 and they bore children to them1 the same became mighty men which were of old1 men of renown4 ,who were these descendants of ,god that became mighty and men of renown8 ,after ,god's sons intermarry with the daughters of men1 the affairs of man grow worse1 instead of better4 ,and ,god grows despondent3 ,verse #e3 ,and ,god saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth1 and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually4 ,think of ,god's sons causing all this wickedness on earth4 ,he ought to have brought them up better4 ,what can we expect of a ,god that cannot raise his own children properly8 ,every imagination of the thoughts of his heart4 ,this exhibits the profound ignorance of ,god4 ,though he made man1 he did not know what the various organs in the body were for4 ,he ought to have known that the heart does not think4 ,its function is to circulate the blood--a truth which was not discovered until #afah by ,harvey1 of ,england4 ,verse #f3 ,and it repented the ,lord that he had made man on earth1 and it grieved him at his heart4 ,ha6 ,god has a heart1 and he has flesh1 and he has sons2 he knows what is good1 evil1 wickedness2 repents and grieves2 and has domestic relations with--evidently ladies1 by whom he has children4 ,we will not mind the preparations of the ark1 or the shipbuilding instructions given by ,god4 ,a ,god that knew something of mechanics1 shipbuilding1 dimensions1 measurement1 etc4--no wonder theologians call ,god a designer1 an architect4 ,he showed some skill in the construction of this boat4 ,as soon as ,noah had everything prepared1 had loaded his cattle1 etc41 food and provender1 ,god was ready to destroy his own sons and their relations by drowning them4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,the ,,deluge4 ,as to the region where the deluge occurred--on the northern edge ascend the ,persian mountains2 on the east the steep and lofty parallel chains of the ,indo-,persian boundary mountains1 and on the south the plateau for a thousand miles along the ,persian gulf and ,arabian sea is bounded by the wild terraced regions of ,beloochistan and ,faristan4 ,the second division includes the mountainous regions of ,armenia1 ,koordistan1 and ,azerbijan4 ,here the table-land is compressed about half its general width4 ,from this plateau1 of which a part is mentioned in scripture as the mountains of ,ararat1 rises the volcanic cone commonly styled ,mount ,ararat1 to the hight of #ag1bab feet above the sea level4 ,the highlands of ,syria rise gradually from the neighboring desert to the hight of #aj1jjj feet in ,libanus and ,antilibanus1 and slope steeply in terraces down to the narrow coastlands of ,phoenicia and ,palestine4 ,of the ,syrian and ,arabian lowlands1 the south is hot and arid1 with almost no oasis2 but the north is watered by the ,tigris and ,euphrates4 ,near this isolated corner of ,asia1 in the neighborhood of the ,persian gulf and the rivers ,euphrates and ,tigris1 where the deluge is supposed to have occurred1 in the lowlands of that region1 ,chaldea1 immense chains of mountains run in several directions1 with highlands #aj1jjj feet above the level of the sea4 ,verse #d3 ,for yet seven days1 and ,i will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights2 and every living substance that ,i have made will ,i destroy from off the face of the earth4 ,this deluge is supposed to have taken place about #bcdh ,b4,c4 ,hale puts it at #caed ,b4,c4 ,the sons of ,god came upon earth and married the daughters of men about #bidh ,b4,c42 about this date ought to be nearer the flood4 ,noah was #fjj years old when he floated in his ark4 ,we will consider1 first1 a general deluge4 ,a deluge over the whole earth is an impossibility4 #a4 ,we have to take in consideration the inequality of the earth's surface--lowlands1 highlands1 hills and mountains1 plateaus1 etc4 ,as to mountains3 ,asia possesses no less than sixty or seventy mountains1 the highest being some #bi1jjj feet above the sea's level--the ,himalaya1 ,everest4 ,africa boasts of some thirty or forty mountains1 the ,kenia and ,killamandja being #bj1jjj feet above the level of the sea1 the other mountains grading downward in hight4 ,europe is adorned with some seventy or eighty mountains1 ,mount ,blanc being the highest1 others ranging downwards4 ,south ,america boasts of some forty or more mountains1 the ,tupengater being the highest1 #bb1dej feet above the level of the sea4 ,north ,america counts some seventy or more mountains1 ,mt4 ,elias being #ag1ijj above the level of the sea4 ,we have plateaus and table-lands ranging from #aj1jjj feet above the level of the sea downward to near the sea's level4 ,the great basins between the highest points of the earth's surface are filled with water4 ,these immense expanses form oceans1 seas1 lakes1 rivers4 ,the ocean bed is just as uneven as the dry portion of the earth's surface4 ,the numerous islands are the mountains of the ocean bed1 some of greater1 others of lesser extent4 #b4 ,the fluid part of the terrestrial globe fills the hollow places of the solid portion of the earth's crust4 ,these are the great and small depressions1 or greater and smaller basins4 #c4 ,the earth's weight has always been the same1 neither increased nor diminished4 ,this includes both the solid and liquid part of this terrestrial globe4 #d4 ,the fluid portion of this terrestrial globe has neither increased nor diminished4 ,it cannot1 because the quantity of oxygen and hydrogen is limited to this earth4 ,none can get away1 and none can come to it4 #e4 ,water may change its position1 or state--split up into elements2 make clouds1 mist1 hail1 snow1 or rain1 or dew--but it ultimately returns to the great basin of water where it came from4 #f4 ,if water rises in any one locality beyond the ordinary sea level1 water has diminished in some other locality4 ,the quantity of water on the earth's surface has not increased1 except in one locality4 #g4 ,rain cannot fall over the whole surface of this earth at one time4 #h4 ,there is always daylight and sunshine1 night and darkness1 on this earth4 #i4 ,heat and cold vary in the different parts of this earth4 ,the atmosphere is different in the various parts of the earth's surface4 ,there is a perpetual winter1 summer1 spring1 or autumn in various parts on this globe4 #aj4 ,the rays of the sun strike the various portions of the earth at different times4 ,this variation in the direction of the sun's rays produces a corresponding variation in the intensity of the sun's heat and light at different places1 and accounts for the difference between the torrid and the frigid regions1 etc4 #aa4 ,the atmosphere does not1 and cannot1 carry beyond a certain percentage of aqueous vapor4 ,when it becomes overcharged the moisture must fall1 in raindrops when the temperature is warm enough4 #ab4 ,the sun's heat regulates the amount of aqueous vapor the atmosphere can carry in the form of clouds4 ,when the atmosphere is fully saturated1 rain must fall4 #ac4 ,when the atmosphere is cool or cold1 the raindrops congeal1 and we have snow or hail4 #ad4 ,there are regions on the earth where it never rains1 probably never rained4 ,the rainless region of ,asia is of vast extent4 ,it includes part of ,tibet1 the great desert of ,gobi1 and part of ,mongolia--a space estimated to comprise about #b1jjj1jjj square miles4 ,there are other rainless regions on the face of the earth's surface4 ,there is a great diversity in the yearly amount of rainfall2 the highest is about #fj inches1 the lowest #ba and less4 #ae4 ,there is no great difference between the polar and equatorial diameter of the earth1 the average number of miles being about #h1jjj4 ,taking the above facts in consideration--the conformation of the earth's surface1 the elevation above the sea level1 table-lands or plateaus1 and mountains1 the fixed quantity of water upon the surface of the earth1 the influence of heat and cold1 the condition of the atmosphere1 etc41 a general deluge must be rigidly excluded4 ,supposing it rained forty days and forty nights1 how many inches of rainfall could we possibly get8 ,we can know to an inch the quantity of rain that would fall4 ,the water would certainly roll down the hills and mountains1 fill up the lakes and rivers1 overflow the banks1 and rise in the lowlands to a certain hight4 ,the deluge1 ,noah's deluge1 was a local affair1 if it ever occurred4 ,granting such a flood did take place1 it never extended beyond that portion of ,asia1 ,chaldea4 ,supposing that the rivers ,tigris and ,euphrates may have overflowed and caused a flood say of fifty feet rise above the level of the sea 7which is impossible1 because the surplus waters would flow into the seas and oceans71 how insignificant is the rise of fifty feet even in comparison with table-lands #aj1jjj feet above the sea-level1 and mountains #bj to #cj1jjj feet above the sea-level4 ,as to the extent of the rainstorm that caused this deluge1 ,i do not suppose that the clouds held in the atmosphere extended over #ejj1 or say #a1jjj1 square miles over the region where the rain fell4 ,as to collecting the animals for the ark from all over the globe1 that is just as ridiculous as the deluge itself4 ,it is to be presumed that the person or persons who wrote the first seven chapters of the ,bible had not the slightest idea of the geographical condition of the earth's surface4 ,it was not known4 ,they thought that their locality embraced the whole earth4 ,even in ,columbus's time they had no idea of the extent of this earth4 ,the seas that they probably had some knowledge of may have been the ,gulf of ,persia1 the ,red sea1 the ,mediterranean or ,arabian sea1 probably the ,caspian4 ,that was about the extent4 ,they had means neither of land travel nor of navigation4 ,verse #bj3 ,fifteen cubits upward did the water prevail1 and the mountains were covered4 ,a cubit1 standard1 contains #ba inches4 ,fifteen multiplied by #ba gives #cae inches1 or #bf feet #c inches4 ,how can #bf feet #c inches of water cover plateaus #aj1jjj feet high and mountains like the ,ida1 #d1jjj feet1 and the ,himalayas #bi1jjj feet in height8 ,mount ,ararat in ,asia ,minor is #ag1aab feet high4 ,these are figures4 ,they do not lie4 ,we have here positive proof4 ,i defy contradiction4 ,every man and woman with a little sense can prove it4 ,and any priest or clergyman that will maintain the truth of a general deluge after reading this statement1 is either a fool1 or a fraud and an infamous liar4 ,in fact1 the entire rainfall during the forty days and nights would have had as much effect on this globe as a pint of water would have to drown an elephant4 ,verse #ba3 ,and all flesh died that moved upon the earth1 both of fowl1 and of cattle1 and of beast1 and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth1 and every man4 ,verse #bb3 ,all in whose nostrils was the breath of life1 all that was on dry land1 died4 ,verse #bc3 ,and every living substance was destroyed1 which was upon the face of the ground1 both man and cattle and the creeping things1 and the fowl of the heaven2 and they were destroyed from the earth2 and ,noah only remained alive1 and they that were with him in the ark4 ,verse #bd3 ,and the waters prevailed upon the earth a hundred and fifty days4 ,mount ,ararat is situated in ,persia about #aej to #bjj miles south of the ,black sea1 and about #cjj miles west of the ,caspian sea1 about #ejj miles east of ,aleppo and the ,mediterranean sea1 and about #gjj miles north of the ,gulf of ,persia1 from ,mount ,sinai about #a1jjj or more miles northeast1 and a similar distance from the ,red sea4 ,arabia is about #gjj miles across between the ,persian gulf and the ,red sea4 ,the distance between the shores of the ,persian gulf and the ,caspian sea is about five hundred miles4 ,the ,caspian chain of mountains are situated about two hundred miles north of ,mount ,ararat1 and they extend from the ,sea of ,azof north1 running southwest to the ,caspian sea4 ,the entire tract of territory where this deluge is said to have occurred does not embrace one thousand miles in any given direction1 and takes in but two countries--,turkey and ,persia--and only a portion of either4 ,it does not extend farther north than the ,caspian mountains and the ,black sea1 east than the ,mediterranean sea1 west than the ,caspian sea1 and south than the ,persian gulf and ,arabia4 ,turkistan1 ,afghanistan1 and ,beloochistan form the eastern boundary of ,persia4 ,the twenty-six feet three inches of the rise of water in consequence of the rain could not have extended beyond the limits indicated above4 ,at the period of the deluge there were immense countries east of ,turkistan1 ,afghanistan1 and ,beloochistan--,russia north1 the ,chinese empire and ,hindostan farthest south4 ,europe and ,africa could not be reached4 ,so that all living substance was not destroyed and could not be destroyed4 ,nor was all living substance destroyed in the country where the flood occurred1 because those living on high table-lands were out of reach of the flood4 ,we must necessarily draw our own conclusions as to the truth or falsity of the statements contained in verses #ba1 #bb1 #bc4 ,some destruction of life may have taken place1 limited to the locality4 ,there are other evidences that go to show the incorrectness of the scripture4 ,the ,hindoo era1 or the era of the ,caleyung1 dates #cjja ,b4,c41 seven hundred and fifty-six years before the deluge4 ,this country was flourishing at the time of the flood4 ,moreover1 the ,hindoos counted their months by the progress of the sun through the ,zodiacs4 ,keep the figures of the deluge in mind1 #bcdh ,b4,c4 ,china1 north of ,hindostan and east of the deluged territory1 was flourishing #bgjj ,b4,c4 ,it was not touched by the flood4 ,it had its own floods1 separate and distinct from ,noah's4 ,in #bcdg ,b4,c41 one year after the flood1 ,noah made wine from grapes4 ,babylon was founded by ,belus #bbde ,b4,c4 ,astronomical observations were made #bbcd ,b4,c4 ,bricks were made #bbdg ,b4,c4 ,babylon was built #bbdg ,b4,c4 ,all this region was in a state of civilization one hundred years later1 when all men had been destroyed1 and the region had been under water twenty-six feet three inches for one hundred and fifty days4 ,one hundred years seems a long time1 and a great deal can be done1 that's true4 ,in those days civilization was exceedingly slow4 ,people did not progress so rapidly as we do in this ,new ,world4 ,there are regions where hardly any progress has been made4 ,they are at a standstill1 as it is termed4 ,the people live1 feed1 and die4 ,the inconsistency1 the untruth1 of the story of the deluge will be palpable to everyone1 if he or she will take the trouble to examine the geographical1 physical1 and historical facts4 ,i especially call the attention of hysterical1 fanatical theologians1 supernaturalists1 and the whole priestly class1 to the declaration that ,god had nothing to do with this deluge2 that the ,god in whom they believe must be an ass to think that he can drown out the whole terrestrial globe with forty days and nights' rain1 with a rise of water of twenty-six feet three inches4 ,it is impossible to enter into every detail in this brief statement4 ,there is1 however1 ample proof that a general deluge never occurred1 and that all animals1 whether men or beasts1 were never destroyed4 ,how much honor it would reflect for a convention of clergymen1 or a gathering of archbishops in saintly conclave assembled1 to solemnly declare the whole beginning of ,genesis a fabrication1 a fiction1 a fable--that ,god had nothing to do with any such performance2 that ,god could not do anything so foolish2 that ,god never did anything contrary to the laws of nature2 that neither ,god nor man could1 if they wished1 do anything contrary to the laws of nature4 ,and that ,we1 the archbishops1 bishops1 and clergy in general1 further declare and aver1 that we1 the sacred representatives of the ignorant masses1 no longer believe that ,god1 the so-called father almighty1 created either heaven or earth1 or beast or man1 or anything2 that we repudiate1 deny1 and reject all of the statements made in the book called the ,bible2 that we do not believe in any supernatural interference2 that we have erred and have misinstructed and misguided the masses2 that the whole story is false1 frivolous1 and incredible2 that neither the creation1 as recited1 nor the deluge1 or any part thereof1 as described1 is true4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,the ,,scriptural ,,god--,,the ,,creation4 ,the ,chaldeans were undoubtedly great admirers of nature at the time we first hear the name of ,abraham mentioned in connection with the ,bible1 about the year #aiba ,b4,c4 ,the people had already arrived at a high degree of civilization4 ,the country belonged to the ,assyrian empire under ,ninus the ,jupiter1 #bjfi ,b4,c4 ,how long this section of country had been populated1 and its inhabitants under a proper form of government1 we have no record--in all probability1 for many centuries4 ,the ,chaldeans had already invented a judicial astrology1 which was transmitted to the ,egyptians1 ,greeks1 and ,romans4 ,the science of astronomy was known to them1 and of it there are records as early as #bbcd ,b4,c4 ,the science of arithmetic was used by them--in all probability invented by them2 concerning it we have nothing recorded4 ,the kingdom of ,babylon existed #bbde ,b4,c4 ,an art of architecture of some kind was already in use among its people1 as we see from the fact that they had built important structures4 ,we have no records as to the proficiency they had arrived at in any other branch of science or art4 ,that the art of writing was known to them is probable1 otherwise they could not have recorded certain facts about astronomy4 ,the credit of first using hieroglyphics1 #bbab ,b4,c41 is given to ,athates1 or ,hermes1 the ,egyptian4 ,the correct division of the days of the week1 the months1 and the seasons may probably have been known to them1 though the ,jews take the credit4 ,that these ,chaldeans were great observers will not be disputed--otherwise they could not have discovered the fixed stars1 planetary system1 etc4 ,that they must have had considerable intellectual qualities--perceptive powers and skill in reasoning--developed will be admitted1 inasmuch as they were the inventors of astrology1 and of what more we have no knowledge4 ,they were great admirers of nature4 ,we may infer that from the fact that they were students of astronomy1 acute and close observers of nature4 ,what myths or fables they had1 we have at the present time no idea4 ,we have no historical knowledge of these people4 ,we know very little of their manners1 culture1 science1 arts1 degree of civilization4 ,other events occurred about that period4 ,a ,phoenician colony under ,partholani landed in ,ireland #bjdh ,b4,c4 ,in #bbjg ,b4,c4 the government of ,china was established--it had an imperial dynasty4 ,fohi was the ,chinese monarch4 ,in #bjhi ,b4,c4 ,sicyon was king of ,greece4 ,in #bahh ,b4,c4 ,egypt was established4 ,in #bjhe ,b4,c4 ,egypt was conquered by the shepherd kings of ,phoenicia4 ,in #aiih ,b4,c4 ,ching ,hong teaches the ,chinese the art of husbandry1 and the method of making bread from wheat and wine from rice4 ,in #bjie ,b4,c4 pyramids and canals in ,egypt4 ,the science of geometry begins to be cultivated4 ,in #bajj ,b4,c4 sculpture and painting are employed to commemorate the exploits of ,asymandyas4 ,we have no difficulty in arriving at a conclusion that considerable progress had been made in the art of government1 in the political and social world1 in the arts and sciences1 and also in the moral and religious departments of life4 ,as to whatever myths and fables they had1 of their origin we know very little1 or ,i may say nothing4 ,the story of the creation and the deluge is in all probability native to the soil4 ,the deluge was in all likelihood a local affair--an overflow of the river ,euphrates or the ,gulf of ,persia4 ,whether it rained forty days and nights or more1 water enough could not fall to the ground to do any serious damage1 beyond the locality where it occurred4 ,it would be not amiss even for the most pious1 ,god-fearing man to understand that the rainwater that falls to the surface of the earth was originally taken from the waters that are found on the surface of the earth4 ,the actual quantity of water on the earth was no more after the flood1 or after any flood1 than before4 ,the water changes position from one locality to another2 it does not increase or diminish in quantity1 whether it consolidates1 evaporates1 or liquefies4 ,whatever elementary form it may assume1 the law of gravitation holds its elements down to mother earth4 ,the idea entertained by many theologians1 that the whole earth was covered with water1 is absurd4 ,we have not water enough on the surface of this earth to serve any such purpose4 ,this problem is just as feasible as trying to drown a man in two inches of water--attempting to cover the entire earth with the water that is upon it4 ,from historical evidence we gather that the people that inhabited this region occupied their time chiefly with raising cattle1 and were prone both to the observation of nature and to superstition4 ,the nervous system had at this time undergone considerable training and culture4 ,their faculties were already developed4 ,they discussed and reasoned about current subjects1 especially about those subjects which were nearest and dearest to them--religion and politics4 ,and we are still discussing the same subjects with as much eagerness1 acrimony1 and hate as these ,chaldean shepherds did4 ,they were adorers of nature1 which was perfectly in harmony with their occupation4 ,the beauties1 the phases1 the phenomena of nature1 these they could not explain4 ,ignorant of their character and composition1 not understanding the natural1 they reasoned themselves into conclusions that there must be a power beyond that sets all these things in motion4 ,they knew nothing of ,god4 ,in all probability they created nothing new1 but may have modified whatever was handed down to them by their fore-fathers--notions1 customs1 well-outlined rules of conduct1 observances1 policy1 government1 etc4 ,the wiser and best-instructed portion of the community selected those things that to them were most beneficial1 and for which they thought they ought to be grateful--in their wonderment and admiration they made selection of that which was to them most striking--and this gradually led to a systematization of certain qualities1 certain excellences4 ,all things in nature are object-teachers4 ,when we have seen a thing several times1 we know it--learn its qualities1 etc4 ,so the forefathers of the ,chaldeans1 admiring nature1 came to recognizing what was best1 either in themselves or round about them4 ,in order to present these ideas1 powers1 and excellences in the most striking manner to the senses1 symbolic representations1 or typical forms1 were made1 about in the same or similar manner as playthings are made to instruct and amuse children4 ,all the idols and mythological gods are drawn from nature1 associated and endowed with such qualities as the human beings had from time to time attained4 ,the motives that suggested these were just as pure as any motives are now4 ,we have symbols and idols among us at this day1 four thousand years later4 ,it makes no difference whether it is ,christ on a stick1 the ,virgin ,mary on a canvas1 or the sacred heart of a saint1 it amounts to precisely the same thing2 it is object-teaching--an object-lesson4 ,these ,chaldeans had any number of symbols and idols1 and men were assigned to watch and guard them4 ,they had their ceremonies1 their gowns or priestly garbs2 they had their places for worship1 out of doors or indoors--everything that gave beauty1 dignity1 and sanctity to their performances4 ,in short1 we may conclude that they had what may be called an established religion1 with ceremonies1 sacrifices1 idols1 as well as social1 moral1 and political rules to govern them4 ,there was dissension in those days as there is now4 ,men differed1 argued1 discussed2 and differences arose4 ,new ideas were intolerated then1 as they are now4 ,the old would not yield to the new4 ,wrangling1 anger1 passion1 jealousy1 led to new formations1 antagonistic to the old4 ,the old systems had in all probability grown corrupt1 domineering1 cruel1 selfish1 and rapacious4 ,a reformation of some kind was in order4 ,men of ability and sagacity began to grow skeptical as regards the quality and ability of these numerous idols4 ,something similar is agitating the world to-day4 ,doubtless it is always to be found4 ,abraham was an agitator1 a reformer1 if you will4 ,josephus thus speaks of him 7,chap4 ,,vii73 ,he was a person of great sagacity1 both for understanding all things and persuading his hearers1 and not mistaken in his opinions2 for which reason he began to have higher notions of virtue than others had1 and he determined to renew and to change the opinions all men happened then to have concerning ,god2 for he was the first that ventured to publish this notion3 ,that there was but one ,god1 the creator of the universe2 and that as to other 7gods7 if they contributed anything to the happiness of men1 each of them afforded it only according to his appointment1 and not of their own power4 ,his opinion was derived from the irregular phenomena that were visible both at land and sea1 as well as those that happened to the sun and moon and all the heavenly bodies4 ',if1' said he1 'these bodies had power of their own1 they would certainly take care of their own regular motions2 but since they do not preserve such regularity1 they make it plain1 that so far as they coperate to our advantage1 they do it not of their own abilities2 but as they are subservient to him that commands them1 to whom alone we ought justly to offer our honor and thanksgiving4' ,for which doctrines when the ,chaldeans1 and the people of ,mesopotamia1 raised a tumult against him1 he thought fit to leave that country4 ,in other words1 he was driven from his country for sedition and heresy1 when he was seventy-five years old4 ,he settled down in a land called ,canaan1 where he built an altar1 and performed a sacrifice to ,god4 ,in this manner ,abraham began to cultivate a reformation and religion among his own people1 who were quite numerous4 ,the ,egyptians at this period were in a flourishing condition4 ,canaan was invaded by famine4 ,so ,abraham went down to ,egypt1 both to partake of the plenty they enjoyed1 and to become an auditor for their priests1 and to know what they said concerning the gods2 designing either to follow them1 if they had better notions than he1 or convert them to a better way1 if his own notions proved the truer4 ,at this time1 too1 much dissension1 quarrel1 and antagonism existed between the religious orders1 and ,abraham was not going to lose such an excellent opportunity4 ,josephus describes the condition of affairs as follows3 ,for whereas the ,egyptians were formerly addicted to different customs1 and despised one another's sacred and accustomed rites1 and were very angry one with another on that account1 ,abraham conferred with each of them1 and confuting the reasoning they made use of1 every one for their own practices1 he demonstrated that such reasoning was vain and void of truth2 whereupon he was admired by them in those conferences1 as a very wise man and of great sagacity when he discoursed on any subject he undertook2 and this not only in understanding it1 but in persuading other men also to assent to him4 ,he communicated to them arithmetic1 and delivered to them the science of astronomy1 etc4 ,finding perhaps that he could not make proselytes he returned to ,canaan4 ,he there divided the tract of land between himself and ,lot1 each one pursuing his own particular course1 ,abraham with his notions and ,lot with his1 unable to agree4 ,an incident worthy of notice occurred4 ,the ,assyrians made war on a number of kings1 the ,sodomites and ,lot among them4 ,the ,assyrians conquered1 and ,lot1 among the rest1 was made captive4 ,abraham1 with three hundred and eighteen men1 pursued the ,assyrians1 slew them1 captured all they had1 and gained a signal victory--thus showing that ,abraham was a power4 ,lot's affairs with his daughters we pass over1 since they have no special interest for us4 ,abraham had several wives or women1 by whom he had a number of children4 ,he had six sons by ,katurah1 ,ishmael by ,hagar1 ,isaac by ,sarah1 etc4 ,none of the sons adopted his method of thinking except ,isaac1 who at the age of twenty-five was to have been sacrificed to ,god4 ,isaac1 being a mild-mannered young man1 generous1 and obedient to his father's will1 readily consented4 ,upon that1 ,abraham changed his mind4 ,isaac then became the heir both of his property and of his ideas concerning ,god4 ,abraham had two brothers1 ,nahor and ,haron4 ,haron left a son1 ,lot1 and two daughters1 ,sarai and ,milcha4 ,nahor married ,milcha and ,abraham married ,sarai4 ,in this manner the family concentration began4 ,and when ,isaac was forty it was decided that he should marry the granddaughter of his brother ,nahor1 ,rebeka1 the sister of ,laban4 ,isaac in turn made choice of ,jacob as heir to his ideas and property--who took flight on account of ,esau1 and landed safely at his uncle ,laban's house in ,mesopotamia4 ,jacob married ,laban's daughters1 ,leah and ,rachel1 as well as their handmaids1 ,zilpha and ,bilhah4 ,now1 ,laban and his family were idolators4 ,so were ,esau and his family4 ,rachel took along with her the images of the gods which1 according to their laws1 they used to worship in their own country1 etc4 ,jacob raised his children strict to the rules laid down by his grandfather and father2 and the views as regards the rites of worship and circumcision1 as well as ,god in the abstract with all the carnal passions and emotions of man that formerly were the attributes of the idols1 as also the sacrifices4 ,the story of ,joseph is too well known to be repeated4 ,it is quite enough for our purpose that a famine drove this ,jacob's family1 as it did ,abraham1 to ,egypt1 where they increased and multiplied during a period of nearly four hundred years2 that ,joseph was famous in the land1 and the king gave ,jacob and his children leave to live in ,heliopolis--for in that city the king's shepherds had their pasturage4 ,this in brief is the story1 stripped of the peculiar phraseology1 which no doubt was in those days customary4 ,the trouble had begun with ,terah1 ,abraham's father1 who hated the ,chaldeans2 and the ,chaldeans returned the same with interest1 ,i suppose4 ,so they moved to ,haran in ,canaan and settled down on a tract of land1 by the right of squatter sovereignty1 as it would be called in our times4 ,terah1 the first squatter1 turned this land over as a heritage to his son1 ,abraham2 ,abraham to ,isaac1 and ,isaac to ,jacob4 ,in this manner it became the promised land1 the heritage of their fathers4 ,it is no easy matter to suppress and eradicate a practice1 a habit1 a custom1 once firmly ingrafted in a community4 ,prohibit it as much as you will1 it will be done secretly4 ,so after circumcising the ,hamerites and ,shechemites1 the sons of ,jacob slaughtered them1 on account of the seduction of ,dinah1 ,jacob's daughter4 ,he and his family had to leave for fear of their neighbors1 so ,jacob told his household to put away the strange gods that were among them1 and be clean and change your garments1 he said 7,gen4 xxxv1 #b74 ,this abstract idea of ,god that ,abraham called into life was not so firmly rooted as might have been expected4 ,the taint of the ancient gods more or less remained among them and occasionally cropped up here and there in a most prominent manner4 ,for four hundred years we hear nothing of ,god or his workings--whether the ,jews flourished or were oppressed--nor have the other descendants ever made mention4 ,abraham1 ,isaac1 and ,jacob call on this imaginary god when in an emergency1 when some task has to be accomplished1 some journey has to be undertaken1 or a battle has to be fought4 ,during the whole of the period they were in ,egypt1 notwithstanding they were sorely oppressed1 this ,god paid no attention to them1 until a man arose that produced a great crisis in the affairs of this people1 in the destiny of this family which had grown into a nation4 ,this was really the first reformation--that is1 modification--of the existing religious practices--their numerous gods1 perhaps their rites1 etc4 ,the sacrifices the ,jews retained1 with most of the usages and priestly rituals4 ,how many reformations or modifications had taken place before ,abraham the reformer1 we do not know2 and how long these gods 7they were very numerous7 were in existence we know still less4 ,the evolution of these idols1 the existing gods1 did not take place all of a sudden4 ,it may have taken thousands of years for anything we know4 ,it required considerable mental training to produce them4 ,intelligence had assumed some importance1 because the people had become proficient in argument1 skillful in reasoning1 and observers of nature4 ,the ordinary barbarian possesses no such capabilities4 ,his brain is not sufficiently cultured4 ,so long as his wants are amply supplied1 there is no necessity to exert himself1 the nervous system lies inactive1 and this inactivity involves the perpetuation of ignorance4 ,we may reasonably presume that these ,chaldeans1 these shepherds1 had through many centuries of slow culture acquired the knowledge they possessed1 the customs and habits they practiced1 the laws they promulgated1 and the rules of conduct enacted both for social and political purposes4 ,and any innovation on the established laws was resisted and punished1 pretty much as it is to-day4 ,so when ,abraham1 or ,terah his father before him1 started the reformation1 it caused a good deal of commotion and alarm4 ,the upholders of the settled state of affairs were shocked4 ,anger1 passion1 partisanship1 ran their course then1 as they do now4 ,these idolators were just as intolerant then as ,christians are to-day4 ,it was either submit or leave4 ,thus ,abraham's and ,terah's leaving the land of their fathers and settling on a tract of land where they could cultivate their new idea1 their new ,god1 was without any special act1 without miracle1 without supernaturalism1 without mystery1 perfectly human1 perfectly natural4 ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,,the ,,creation ,,of ,,god--,,abraham4 ,god1 such ,god as we know of now1 like all other things and beings on this terrestrial globe was evolved very1 very slowly in the minds of man--crude1 ill-shapen1 ill-fashioned1 grotesque1 barbarous1 savage1 semi-civilized3 harmonizing with his existing mental condition and all his surroundings2 a product of man's rudeness1 of his uncultured nature1 his inexperienced special senses1 with his nervous system just emerging from an instinctive animal life to a grade or two above its former intelligence--the first step towards real humanity4 ,god was not always presented to humanity in his present guise4 ,oh1 no2 everyone with a moderate degree of intelligence who chooses to examine the records will find that ,god has undergone vast and important changes--changes in tendencies and character1 conforming with the progressive or retrogressive forms of political and social life of the various communities1 corresponding with the periods of the time in which they lived4 ,the idea1 in its primary conception1 was slowly evolved1 without special meaning or signification1 dark1 mysterious1 incomprehensible4 ,we may say1 however1 that this idea of ,god was endowed with characteristics best known to men1 but of a higher quality than ordinarily then existing2 largely reflecting their makers1 an embodiment of their own powers and capabilities4 ,there was a time1 no matter how remote1 when there were creatures resembling the present form of man but of inferior nervous development1 that had no knowledge of either ,god or religion4 ,nor had man in those ages any more intelligence than he had acquired by experience1 or was necessary for his immediate use4 ,it improved as the exigencies of his wants arose1 fresh experience leading to new observations1 slowly adding to the already accumulated stock4 ,the intelligence of to-day would have been useless a hundred years ago1 to the same race even1 and of less use still two hundred years ago1 and so on4 ,it is very doubtful whether man at first was even conscious of his own existence1 any more than the higher type of brute life4 ,this consciousness slowly dawned upon him as his intelligence increased4 ,a child is not conscious of its own existence4 ,it exists so long as the necessary material is contributed towards its existence1 or until it has grown strong enough to contribute towards its own4 ,it may after a while acquire intelligence sufficient to become conscious of its own existence or not4 ,the same rule holds good among the types of man such as we find on earth at the present time4 ,during the early stages of man's existence1 the muscular powers were exercised most1 we may say almost exclusively1 the special senses serving in their function as a guide for those powers1 with the degree of intelligence obtained from the number of impressions received4 ,these senses had acquired their several experiences from the necessities that from time to time were made manifest4 ,there are writers who make use of extraordinary expressions in regard to nature1 as for example1 that ,nature is mighty1 beautiful1 wise1 etc4 ,nature is mighty only under certain conditions4 ,peculiar combinations of elements are essential4 ,the presence or absence of the sun's heat plays always an important part4 ,nature's being beautiful depends largely upon the education of the senses1 the capability of discerning symmetry1 harmony1 color1 etc41 and this is acquired by comparison1 taste1 and habit4 ,what strikes one eye as beautiful1 may have just a contrary effect on another1 or be passed with perfect indifference by a third4 ,as to wisdom1 nature can be wise only through a cultured1 well-educated1 evenly balanced mind4 ,the expression is applicable only to man4 ,wisdom is a particular quality eminently and evidently the product of a highly trained nervous system4 ,it is not an easy task at the present time to unravel the mental process of the earliest races of man that first led to the formation and the adoption of the idea that something existed more potent and more powerful than themselves4 ,yet if we carefully examine the mental condition of some of the wild1 barbarous nations existing at the present time1 we may infer1 with a reasonable degree of accuracy1 the mental process the earliest races of man were capable of4 ,races or tribes1 no matter how low in the scale of civilization1 that were perfectly secure in their possessions1 amply provided by nature against the encroachments of other races1 man or animals1 existed right along perfectly content1 exerting themselves just enough to gather in those substances which they found contributive to the sustenance of their lives4 ,the surplus time was spent in gamboling1 frisking1 playing1 amusing themselves in their primitive condition like children of nature as they were4 ,progress they made none4 ,there was no occasion for it4 ,their senses were exercised to the extent of their immediate wants and no more4 ,the natural head of the family or tribe was the oldest1 the father4 ,he controlled or governed his descendants4 ,so long as the father was able to exercise his supreme power he was the recognized head1 adviser1 leader1 etc4 ,while in this condition1 the primitive customs1 habits1 or usages practiced in their natural mode of living began1 and continued with very few changes for ages4 ,their language was as simple and crude as their mode of life1 just sufficient for their wants4 ,this mode of communication originated mainly from the necessities of life1 as hunger1 danger1 pleasure1 protection1 surprise1 fear1 etc4 ,for all these they found expressions1 sounds that conveyed the notions to one another1 quite intelligible among themselves4 ,they adopted names for things and beings with which they came in contact in their daily lives1 and for such instruments1 utensils1 and clothing as they from time to time invented or discovered by accident4 ,the sounds that expressed their immediate necessity of communicating with one another1 their wants--the cries of call1 pain1 etc4--had no form in particular1 no grammatical construction1 no rules4 ,their emotions and passions were limited1 because they knew no wants1 no conflicts1 other than those that arise from feelings inspired by their five senses4 ,and they really had language enough for all purposes--suitable and ample for their condition in life4 ,arts and sciences they had none4 ,their simple domestic arrangements were as primitive as they were4 ,their furniture consisted of little or nothing4 ,cooking utensils they needed none4 ,there was no occasion to cook2 nature's food was ample4 ,this they collected1 selected1 and fed upon4 ,clothing they had no use for1 in the warm climate they lived in4 ,they were clad in nature's garb1 male and female alike4 ,innocence and virtue was well understood among them4 ,they were moral in their way1 committed no wrong--there was no occasion for it4 ,there was plenty for everyone4 ,the larders of nature were free1 open1 and plentiful4 ,therefore all were satisfied and happy4 ,wealth or property they had4 ,all they surveyed was theirs4 ,what belonged to one belonged to the other4 ,mine and thine was unknown4 ,the more civilized qualifications of property right developed many centuries later4 ,commerce they knew nothing of4 ,there was no need for that1 since furniture1 utensils1 implements of agriculture1 weapons1 clothing of any kind1 they had no use for4 ,they had no laws--nor law-makers1 nor justices1 nor judges1 nor any officials known in later times4 ,and what is more1 they had no ,god1 or idol1 or myth1 or symbol1 or worship1 or prayer or religion1 or soul1 or spirit4 ,nor did they know anything about what we indicate by the epithets physical or metaphysical1 neither theological nor psychological1 neither gnostic nor agnostic4 ,they did not know of any of those things4 ,these were evolved and invented later1 as the necessities and exigencies arose1 as their wants increased1 and circumstances changed from internal to external conditions4 ,consequently1 their language was limited4 ,they made use of a limited number of words1 or produced articulate sound enough to express just what they wanted1 and no more4 ,they may have had two or three hundred different words or sounds in use4 ,we have men to-day among us that have not many more words at command1 and their ideas generally correspond in number and quality to their stock of words4 ,the stock of words and the stock of ideas always depend upon the amount of experience and the amount of exercise the five senses have had2 together with the urgencies and difficulties they have had to contend with4 ,the power of observation is developed in accordance as the opportunities arise4 ,each particular special sense develops its own faculties1 from the practice1 use1 and experience of that sense1 the role it is called upon to play as necessities arise4 ,and as each object is perceived or observed by the special sense1 it is recorded1 a picture of the same is retained in the great nervous storehouse for future reference4 ,the retention and recognition of the same goes to the formation of memory4 ,as the stock of objects increases1 words or sounds designating the same also increase in number1 and the material for the formation of ideas is also largely increased4 ,ideas can be formed only about such things as we know1 or rather such things as any one special sense has been impressed with1 has perceived and recognized4 ,those things or beings by which any one sense has not been impressed1 the mind neither has perceived nor is able to recognize4 ,everyone1 whether barbarian or civilized1 is perfectly familiar with those things or beings that immediately surround him--that is1 all those things and beings which the senses have already been impressed with1 perceived and recognized4 ,sounds1 or words1 have been invented to designate all such2 and these are known2 the picture representing any one object is retained1 stored away in the great nervous storehouse1 the brain--are remembered4 ,the oftener a thing is perceived1 the more familiar it becomes and the more easily recognized1 the firmer it becomes fixed and the more easily it is recollected4 ,thus primitive man1 with his few wants1 and these wants amply supplied by nature1 had or invented names for all of them4 ,these formed the earliest collection of names of objects--their appearance1 their actions1 their habits1 etc4 ,all these qualities were associated1 identified1 and presented by words1 in due time1 without the presence of the objects4 ,that is to say1 the simplest ideas were in this manner formed1 and the ideas so formed corresponded with the number of words1 and the number of words corresponded with the number of impressions received by the senses4 ,each sense presents its share--one sense more1 another less4 ,a person may have received a large number of impressions on the organ of vision--a painter1 for instance--and may have stored away a wealth of artistic knowledge1 yet the sense of hearing may be exceedingly poor in the number of impressions received4 ,such an individual would be rich in artistic ideas but comparatively poor in musical ideas4 ,so it is with all the special senses4 ,each sense receives impressions on its own account4 ,it has its own special nervous center1 and these special centers again are closely connected with the great mass of brain matter4 ,collectively they have for their function1 to receive impressions1 retain them1 store them away1 recollect them1 and reproduce them by articulate sound1 or to recognize them4 ,in this process then we have the formation of idea1 memory1 thought2 recollection is the endeavor to call back1 or form a figure of1 an object once already perceived--felt by the senses4 ,,chapter ,x4 ,,moses4--,,the ,,confirmation ,,of ,,the ,,idea ,,of ,,god4 ,we will here sketch the military career of ,moses4 ,we omit the early incidents of the life of ,moses--his childhood1 his growth1 his education--and begin with his active life4 ,and the occasion he laid hold of was this3 ,the ,ethiopians1 who are next neighbors to the ,egyptians1 made an inroad into their country1 which they seized upon1 and carried off the effects of the ,egyptians1 who in their rage1 fought against them1 and revenged the affronts they had received from them2 but being overcome in battle some of them were slain1 and the rest ran away in a shameful manner1 and by that means saved themselves1 whereupon the ,ethiopians followed after them in the pursuit1 and thinking that it would be an act of cowardice if they did not subdue all ,egypt1 they went on to subdue the rest with greater vehemence2 and when they had tasted the sweets of the country1 they never left off the prosecution of the war2 and as the nearest parts had not courage enough at first to fight with them1 they proceeded as far as ,memphis1 and the sea itself1 while not one of the cities was able to oppose them4 ,the ,egyptians1 under this sad oppression1 betook themselves to their oracles and prophecies 7,josephus1 ,ch4 ,x74 ,moses thereupon was appointed general of the ,egyptian army against the ,ethiopians1 and conquered them in the following manner3 ,but ,moses prevented the enemies1 and took and led his army1 before those enemies were apprised of his attacking them2 for he did not march by the river1 but by land1 where he gave a wonderful demonstration of his sagacity2 for when the ground was difficult to be passed over1 because of the multitude of serpents1 which it produces in vast numbers1 and indeed is singular in some of these productions1 which other countries do not breed1 444 ,when he had therefore proceeded thus on his journey he came upon the ,ethiopians before they expected him2 and joining battle with them1 he beat them1 and deprived them of the hopes they had of success against the ,egyptians1 and went on in overturning their cities1 and indeed made great slaughter of these ,ethiopians4 ,now when the ,egyptian army had once tasted of this prosperous success by the means of ,moses1 they did not slacken their diligence1 insomuch that the ,ethiopians were in danger of being reduced to slavery1 and all sorts of destruction4 ,and at length they retired to ,saba1 which was the royal city of ,ethiopia1 which ,cambyses afterwards named ,meroe1 after the name of his own sister4 ,this place was to be besieged with very great difficulty1 since it was both compassed by the ,nile quite round1 and the other rivers ,astapus and ,astaboms made it a very difficult thing for such as attempted to pass over them2 for the city was situate in a retired place1 and was inhabited after the manner of an island1 being encompassed by a strong wall1 and having the rivers to guard them from their enemies1 and having great ramparts between the wall and the rivers1 insomuch1 that when the waters come with the greatest violence1 it can never be drowned2 which ramparts make it next to impossible for even such as are gotten over the rivers to take the city4 ,however1 while ,moses was uneasy at the army's lying idle 7for the enemies durst not come to battle71 an accident happened3 ,tharbis was the daughter of the king of the ,ethiopians2 she happened to see ,moses as he led his army near the walls1 and fought with good courage1 and admiring the subtlety of his undertakings1 she believed him to be the author of the ,egyptians' success1 when they had before despaired of recovering their liberty1 and to be the occasion of the great danger the ,ethiopians were in1 when they had before boasted of their great achievements1 she fell deeply in love with him2 and upon the prevalency of that passion1 sent to him the most faithful of all her servants to discourse with him upon their marriage4 ,he thereupon accepted the offer on condition she would procure the delivering up of the city2 and gave her the assurance of an oath to take her to be his wife1 and that when he had once taken possession of the city1 he would not break his oath to her4 ,no sooner was the agreement made1 but it took effect immediately2 and when ,moses had cut off the ,ethiopians1 he gave thanks to ,god1 and consummated his marriage1 and led the ,egyptians back to their own land 7,josephus1 ,chap4 ,v47 ,these are simple facts1 wherein ,god plays no part4 ,it is a human transaction1 a conflict of forces2 the strongest and most skillful wins4 ,and when the last place of refuge1 the fortress1 is besieged1 and the ,ethiopians are thoroughly beaten1 the place seeming impregnable1 the army discouraged1 a woman1 the king's daughter1 betrays it1 and ,moses is victorious4 ,thermutis1 his mother by adoption1 raised him and educated him after the manner of princes4 ,he was a great favorite4 ,her influence gave him not only her protection1 advice1 and information1 but other great advantages such as no other being could obtain1 she being constantly at court and a sister to the king4 ,it was no small glory1 as well as experience1 he reaped4 ,that conquest made him the first man in the land4 ,that jealousies1 antagonism and hatred were engendered against him by his rivals1 that conspiracies were formed1 may readily be imagined1 and that finally his life was threatened4 ,finding it rather dangerous to remain in the country1 since he was being closely watched1 and all the roads were guarded1 and being no doubt fully informed of the plot1 ,moses fled4 ,he took flight through the deserts1 where his enemies could not suspect he would travel2 though he was destitute of food1 he went on1 and despised that difficulty courageously 7,jos474 ,moses was born in #aega ,b4,c41 and was made general of the ,egyptian army when he was about thirty-five or thirty-seven years of age4 ,in #aeca ,b4,c4 he fled from ,egypt and arrived at ,midian4 ,he made the acquaintance of a priest named ,raguel or ,jethro--his future father-in-law1 for he married ,zipporah1 ,jethro's daughter4 ,aaron1 his brother1 three years older1 being born #aegd ,b4,c41 must have been a man of considerable influence4 ,he remained during ,moses's absence in ,egypt4 ,the exodus of the ,israelites from ,egypt took place in #adia4 ,daring his forty years' stay with ,jethro he minded his cattle near ,mount ,sinai1 where many supposed wonders are related to have occurred4 ,that ,moses was not idle is self-evident4 ,a man of that particular type could not remain inactive4 ,what took place between him and ,aaron or between him and ,thermutis his stepmother is not recorded in history4 ,that some systematic organization did take place is very probable4 ,that all followed in the ordinary course of human events1 is to be presumed4 ,and that the plans were laid and matured1 how these people were to be molded into a nation1 and in what manner they were to leave ,egypt1 we cannot have a reasonable doubt4 ,it is more than likely that after the successful conquest1 he was fired with the ambition to become a ruler himself4 ,envy and jealousy prevented his ever assuming the crown of ,egypt1 but what was to hinder him becoming the head and leader of his own people8 ,in his solitary wanderings about ,mount ,sinai1 he was inspired with the thought of delivering his own people1 especially as the ,pharaoh1 his former protector1 was dead4 ,having all the necessary material at hand in court and out of court1 he proceeded to carry out his plans4 ,moses was the man who created ,jehova4 ,ex4 vi1 #c3 ,and ,i appeared unto ,abraham and ,isaac1 and unto ,jacob by the name of ,god almighty2 but by my name ,jehova was ,i not known to them4 ,not likely6 ,abraham1 ,isaac1 and ,jacob were of little or no culture4 ,they were herdsmen who simply differed from their neighbors by substituting an imaginary ,god for the numerous images and idols that were then in fashion4 ,they had not the remotest idea of the meaning of the ,god they worshiped1 such as ,moses now put into the word ,god4 ,it was no longer a mere abstract copy with him--a thing to dispute1 to reason1 to argue about4 ,to ,moses it became a stern reality4 ,the brain1 the nervous system1 the senses1 the faculties1 had undergone a revolution during the four hundred years4 ,moses1 with all the scholastic advantages1 raised and educated to rule and govern man and nations1 ambitious for power1 a great general1 a man of determination and force1 a man that was capable of plotting against plotters1 conspiring against conspirators1 who deliberately and shrewdly went to work to organize his people--he conceived then the idea that the simple old-fashioned ,adonay--,lord--had lost its importance1 being a common-place1 every-day ,god among the ,hebrews4 ,he invented the unpronounceable ,jehova4 ,it makes little difference whence it is derived1 whether from ,io1 ,jovis1 ,jupiter1 etc4 ,jehova and ,mount ,sinai are inseparable4 ,moses knew every stone and crag about that mountain4 ,a man does not live near a mountain1 especially a man of great vigor1 action1 and intellect1 but that he observes every nook1 every spot1 every footpath1 and every turn4 ,the conception of ,jehova originated at ,mount ,sinai2 and later the power1 the establishing and the realization1 of his ambition1 of his ,jehova1 took place4 ,the miraculous pretensions and the wonderful workings that appear in the scriptural phraseology were no doubt necessary for the purpose of carrying out the scheme ,moses had concocted4 ,in modern times we can regard it only as a very peculiar method of writing up a history4 ,moses had his emissaries and leaders among his people4 ,when they were told about the wonderful occurrences about ,mount ,sinai1 and what the ,great ,jehova said to ,moses1 the story was rehearsed and repeated--about the promised land1 their preservation1 their liberty4 ,of course1 what could they do otherwise than yield8 ,their hopes were elated1 and they were really interested1 and believed that the ,god of their forefathers had sent ,moses as their deliverer4 ,moses had already their confidence by his past history4 ,the hero1 the great conqueror of the ,ethiopians1 the savior of ,egypt--that alone was an immense prestige4 ,but when it was announced that the ,jehova1 the ,lord ,god1 etc41 had said this and that to him1 that he commanded him to do this and that1 where is the miracle1 where is the wonder1 that they obeyed8 ,when ,moses found that the ,hebrews would be obedient to whatsoever he should direct1 as they promised to be1 and were in love with liberty1 he began his negotiations with the king of ,egypt1 who had but lately received the government4 ,as to his contest with the ,egyptian priests in performing their respective tricks1 called miracles1 what wonder that these ignorant creatures believed1 when we find stupid people enough of all nations that believe in the miraculous cures of an old rag1 purporting to have belonged to ,christ or some one else8 ,whatever was done1 and how it was done1 we shall never know4 ,that there was nothing supernatural about the transaction is absolutely certain4 ,the people may have believed it to be supernatural1 as many millions believe to this day4 ,you may believe a circle to be square1 but that does not make it so4 ,the untutored brain is surprised at a trifle1 astonished at what it does not understand1 and regards every new trick as a miracle4 ,neither ,abraham1 ,isaac1 nor ,jacob could perform miracles4 ,they had no use for them1 knew nothing of them1 and really had not the talent to produce them4 ,miracles had not been invented1 or become the fashion4 ,moses was undoubtedly a proficient master of the magic arts1 and accomplished his purpose thereby4 ,after all1 those performances were simply a side-show4 ,he knew the strength of his people4 ,a general of his capacity does not undertake a task of that magnitude without calculating the convincing force to back his demands4 ,six hundred thousand men on foot--besides children and women--organized under leaders1 and no doubt equipped and ready for any emergency--an army of that size means a revolution of no small importance to a state4 ,to avert greater danger1 ,egypt let them go4 ,henceforth ,moses is the imperial master of the situation1 the dictator1 the ruler1 the lawgiver1 as determined as he is imperious--,i am the ,lord thy ,god4 ,and the man ,moses knew what he was talking about1 and the class of people he was talking to4 ,he was the organizer of the nation1 the creator of ,jehova1 the intimate of ,god4 ,no other man throughout the ,bible before or after ,moses pretended to talk with ,god face to face except ,moses4 ,and ,moses alone shall come near the ,lord 7,ex4 xxiv1 #b74 ,and he took every care that no other man should discover his secret workings4 ,i am that ,i am2 that is ,moses4 ,thus shalt thou say unto the children of ,israel1 ,i ,,am hath sent me unto you 7,ex4 iii1 #ad74 ,who but a man accustomed to command and be obeyed would dare use such language8 ,moses was fully familiar with the locality2 and ,mount ,sinai1 where he developed his scheme1 he would permit no one to approach4 ,take heed to yourself that ye go not up into the mount1 or touch the border of it2 whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death 7,ex4 xix1 #ab74 ,he would brook no nonsense4 ,he kept these poor ignoramuses in constant terror1 in constant dread1 of his ,jehova4 ,these precautions were used1 and terrible things threatened1 so that no one should intrude upon his privacy on the mountain1 and no doubt were necessary in order to secure his success4 ,we have no clear account of the manner in which these people left ,egypt4 ,the population must have numbered close upon three millions4 ,this is entirely omitted4 ,what ,god said to ,moses1 and ,moses said to ,god1 is continually repeated1 but historical facts are wanting4 ,we learn one important fact1 however--they did not leave poor4 ,when they departed from ,egypt this multitude had to be kept busy1 otherwise they would lose confidence in ,jehova and in ,moses1 and relapse into making images4 ,what kind of a ,god was this ,jehova8 ,in ,ex4 xxxi we find him giving directions about working in brass1 silver1 gold1 furniture1 designating who should work at it2 but ,god himself turns stone-mason--in verse #ah we find two tables of ,testimony1 tables of stone1 written by the finger of ,god4 ,if ,god had a finger1 he had a whole hand4 ,if he had one hand he may have had two4 ,to write needs practice1 sight1 brain1 and all other parts belonging to a man4 ,no doubt1 when the tables1 etc41 were written1 it was done by a man4 ,as to the ,ten ,commandments1 they were not new with ,moses4 ,they were a codification of ,chaldean and ,egyptian laws4 ,the day of rest was recognized long ago in those slave-making days4 ,it was a principle of economy1 power-saving4 ,six of the ,commandments are natural laws and are instinctively obeyed even among lower animals4 ,all other laws were adopted from recognized customs and usages of the people1 mostly taken from the ,egyptians1 with some few alterations1 perhaps1 suitable to the existing emergency4 ,when this ,republic was founded1 there were actually no new laws made1 but old laws modified to suit our case2 thus the ,constitution was framed4 ,moses did precisely the same thing4 ,the laws were the recognized habits1 practices1 customs1 laws1 usages1 long established among the nations in that region4 ,and ,god1 or ,jehova1 had as much to do with the framing of them as he had with the ,constitution of this nation4 ,leviticus may be truly called the cookery-book of ,jehova4 ,just think of it1 that ,god himself told them what to select and how to cook it4 ,they were instructed to forsake the idols or the images of ,god1 but retained the grosser barbaric practices of sacrificing4 ,the detailed account given of the bill of fare is interesting4 ,for a full description we beg to refer the reader to ,leviticus4 ,human nature was strong in ,moses4 ,he did what any man high in the affairs of a state would do4 ,he installed his own relations into office--first his own tribe1 the ,levites4 ,these were immediately installed as a permanent bureaucracy1 as well as aristocracy4 ,they were the rulers1 lawmakers1 preachers1 doctors1 etc4 7,num4 i1 #dg1 et seq474 ,his brother ,aaron and his sons were at once installed in the permanent offices4 ,a hereditary aristocracy was established and consecrated as priests of the nation 7,lev4 viii74 ,and the tribe of ,levi were also selected to minister unto the priests1 ,aaron and sons4 ,the actions of this supposed ,god are very curious1 and even amusing4 ,he assumes so many shades of color1 character1 and passion1 just as a man would under various degrees of excitement1 disappointment1 and discontent4 ,whenever ,moses found it necessary to act with promptness and resolution he found it convenient to use his ,lord ,god1 ,jehova1 and usually with excellent effect4 ,but when ,korah1 ,dathan1 and ,abiram rebel ,moses gives ,god advice 7,num4 xvi1 #ae74 ,and ,moses was very wroth1 and said unto the ,lord3 ,respect not thou their offering4 ,he at once suppresses the rebellion with a strong hand and puts an end to it4 ,wipe out of the biblical story the dust and cob-webs of superstition and ignorance1 cleanse it of the mire and dirt of barbarism1 and you find in ,moses a man of action1 sagacity1 and determination2 skillful in the arts of war2 a man of great will power1 energy1 and pluck1 breaking down all barriers1 overcoming all obstacles1 conquering all difficulties1 in order to secure the final success of his immense undertaking2 the creator of ,jehova1 the great ,i ,,am1 the maker of ,god1 the leader of a great army1 the organizer of a nation1 the lawmaker1 the lawgiver1 the molder and master mind of this great work4 ,his stratagem to preserve the ,egyptian army from serpents by filling baskets with ibises1 who devour and destroy serpents1 is an instance of his foresight1 leading his army safely through the swamps without damage1 during the war with the ,ethiopians4 ,the great feature of ,moses's ,mount ,sinai expedition1 and his absence for forty days1 and the production of the ,ten ,commandments1 keeps the theological world in a constant stew of wonder and admiration4 ,from the point of reason1 common sense1 and the light we have now1 there is nothing remarkable or wonderful about the forty days' absence or the ,ten ,commandments4 ,moses was provided with all the food he needed1 and all the assistance he needed1 during his stay in the mountain4 ,his own family1 as well as his wife's relatives1 knew all about the mountain1 while the masses were kept at a respectful distance1 on penalty of death4 ,what are these ,ten ,commandments8 #a4 ,one ,god 7the concentrated essence of the ,chaldean gods71 worship him only4 ,natural laws of #b4 ,have no other ,god1 image1 etc4 self-preservation #c4 ,don't swear by ,god4 and #d4 ,rest on the seventh day 7economy of self-protection4 muscular forces74 #e4 ,honor thy parents4 #f4 ,do not commit murder4 #g4 ,do not commit adultery4 #h4 ,do not steal4 #i4 ,do not bear false witness4 #aj4 ,do not desire another man's property4 ,all these laws had been in existence centuries before the coming of ,moses4 ,nations had already adopted them1 as a matter of necessity4 ,crimes of murder and robbery1 etc41 were familiar among the ,chaldeans and other nations4 ,when ,isaac sent messengers to ,nahor in order to secure ,rebeka for his wife1 they had to pass through ,mesopotamia1 in which it was tedious traveling1 both in winter1 for a depth of clay1 and in summer for a want of water2 and besides this1 for the robberies there committed 7,jos474 ,it must be remembered that society had reached a degree of organization and civilization2 that these fundamental principles1 these natural laws1 are observed to a considerable extent even among the lower animals1 and that they were strictly enforced in every barbarian as well as more civilized community4 ,in the codification of these laws by ,moses there is nothing wonderful1 nothing miraculous1 supernatural4 ,the whole matter consisted in the adoption of these fundamental principles1 these common-law usages1 and the proclaiming of them as the laws to govern this newly organized nation1 as all other nations had done centuries before them4 ,the laws incorporated in the book of ,leviticus1 etc41 consisting in the regulation or government of the nation1 appointing communities or families1 dealing with food1 dress1 sacrifice1 crime and its punishment1 trade1 commerce1 domestic affairs1 marriage1 and above all church affairs1 were mostly adoptions from other nations with certain modifications1 written up in the manner we find them4 ,the supernatural phenomena recited in the ,bible in the books of ,moses--what descended from heaven1 clouds1 pillars1 earthquakes1 thunder1 lightning1 rain1 deluge1 fire1 etc41 on and about ,mount ,sinai--and that ,god performed these wonders to oblige ,moses1 because he exercised his influence in prayer upon ,jehova--form the greatest piece of nonsense that ever was written4 ,clouds belong to the earth1 are composed of earthly elements1 are taken from the surface of the earth by a natural process and return to the earth by a natural process4 ,neither ,god nor man can influence them4 ,the same may be said of all other phenomena4 ,water cannot be composed from any other elements than oxygen and hydrogen1 and the silly theological twaddle cannot change it4 ,what we ought to know is1 at least something of the natural4 ,the more we know of the natural the less we believe of the supernatural--in fact1 the latter has largely disappeared4 ,in time1 let us hope1 these childish delusions will be regarded as some of the remnants of the past and infantile ages of humanity4 ,in all ages and at all times1 men of great merit have been admired and honored by mankind4 ,but the mythology and theology that enshrouds ancient heroes1 the deification1 the supernaturalism1 the sanctity1 the holiness1 and the delusions that accompany and surround their actions1 are entirely superfluous4 ,we have outgrown these fables4 ,and truly1 these imaginary attributions1 these visionary productions1 have outlived their usefulness4 ,whether it be ,moses1 ,david1 ,alexander1 ,hannibal1 ,csar1 ,charlemagne1 ,cromwell1 ,frederick the ,great1 ,napoleon1 or ,washington1 they were men1 nothing but men1 and their actions1 as also the great good resulting from their actions1 that benefited humanity1 were natural1 not influenced in any way or shape by the smallest particle of supernaturalism4 ,josephus speaking of ,moses says3 ,he was one that exceeded all men that ever were in understanding1 and made the best use of what understanding suggested to him4 ,he had a very grateful way of speaking and addressing himself to the multitude4 ,as to his other qualifications1 he had such a full command of his passions1 as if he hardly had any such in his soul1 and only knew them by their names1 as rather perceiving them in other men than himself4 ,he was also such a general of an army as was seldom seen1 as well as such a prophet as was never known1 and this to such a degree that whatsoever he pronounced1 you would think you heard the voice of ,god himself 7,b4 iv1 ch4 viii1 #di74 ,the following verse in the ,bible is undoubtedly true3 ,and there was not a prophet since in ,israel like unto ,moses1 whom the ,lord knew face to face4 ,moses deserves all the credit for molding the ,chaldean ,god into shape1 for creating ,jehova1 and for inventing prophets and the ,jewish oracles4 ,these oracles1 or pretended consultations or inquiries of ,god1 whether heathen or ,hebrew1 were all of a similar nature and character4 ,whenever the question asked was concerning the success or non-success of a battle1 whether they should fight or not1 the answer depended on the circumstances and the condition of affairs4 ,if the army was well disciplined1 had a good leader1 a good general1 better than the enemy1 they were going to fight4 ,if not so well organized1 weaker numerically1 or with an indifferent general1 they would let fighting alone4 ,the priests if well informed would give either a positive or a negative answer1 but if they knew nothing about either party1 they would deliver the answer of the oracle in such dubious expressions or terms1 that let what would happen to the inquirer1 the answer might be accommodated or explained to mean the event that came to pass4 ,the expressions of the ,bible during and after the time of ,moses are of oracular form1 and for that reason of a dubious nature1 of marvelous elasticity1 accommodating any and every opinion or inquiry1 susceptible of a vast variety of interpretations4 ,many portions may be made to mean anything or everything4 ,there being nothing positive about these biblical expressions1 followers of these doctrines have been explaining and explaining4 ,and as new views or opinions are set afloat1 clever talkers explain and explain1 and grow enthusiastic in explaining4 ,and as fashions change1 the explanations change4 ,for centuries these explanations and interpretations have been going on--over what8 ,among the ,jews there were several sorts of oracles3 as1 first1 those that were delivered viva voce1 as when ,god spoke to ,moses2 secondly1 prophetic dreams1 as those of ,joseph and others2 thirdly1 visions1 as when a prophet in an ecstasy1 a nervous1 excitable condition1 being properly neither asleep nor awake1 had what they called supernatural revelations2 fourthly1 when they were accompanied with the wearing of an ephod1 or the pectoral worn by the high priest1 who was endowed with the gift of foretelling future things upon extraordinary occasions2 and fifthly1 by consulting the prophets or messengers sent by ,god4 ,moses was the first great prophet1 the first great general1 the first great lawgiver1 the first and only organizer1 and with his death ,god1 ,jehova1 ceases to be active4 ,everything appears wonderful or miraculous if we do not understand it1 or are ignorant and credulous4 ,thus it was with the manna1 that usually falls in certain seasons of the year in that region4 ,even ,moses himself did not know what it was1 until it had stuck to his hands and he had tasted it4 ,it was no special favor to the ,jews4 ,it falls for all creatures alike1 but is not used until it is discovered that it has reached the season when it is good to eat4 ,nevertheless1 it is in our ,bible accounted a miracle4 ,no man has ever performed a miracle except to deceive or delude another1 who is ignorant of what he is performing1 or how it is performed4 ,miracles are natural events occurring to those that are ignorant1 or of little understanding2 or they are intentionally performed with the intent to deceive1 delude1 or defraud4 ,god himself1 all believers should know1 cannot perform a miracle1 contrary to the laws of nature--whether it be the laws governing planets or the laws that govern the various phenomena that appear from time to time on earth4 ,all are simply the result of some natural process4 ,what shrewdness ,moses used1 whatever cunning1 whatever diplomacy1 whatever wisdom or courage1 was the production of his own will power1 the evolution of his own brain1 acquired by education and training4 ,he utilized these powers to gain his ends1 to the best advantage and welfare of the people he was trying to organize4 ,he may have fully believed in the oracles he invoked1 the conception of his own powerful imagination4 ,he may have inspired himself by a concentration of nervous force1 stimulated by the immense responsibility that rested upon him4 ,the solitude he enjoyed in the mountain was of great service to his reflecting mind4 ,it gave him an opportunity to analyze every detail1 think over every circumstance1 form his ideas and his plans4 ,that it was to him a sanctuary1 a holy retreat1 we can easily imagine1 as every place that becomes a retreat for great thinkers is a sanctum to them1 and where1 when they are deliberating1 communing with themselves1 it is no place for strangers to intrude4 ,we must1 however1 not lose sight of an important fact--that whatever may be the products of the brain1 of the nervous system1 however stimulated or inspired the workings of the imagination and the production of ideas1 evolving powerful thoughts1 and however sublime and beautiful they may be1 they are the effect of the educated faculties2 the result of the combined forces of the great nervous centers4 ,notwithstanding the sagacity and cleverness of ,moses1 the barbarism and brutality of the age in which he lived was predominant in all his actions towards his enemies4 ,neither ,god nor ,jehova had any mitigating sentiment1 neither pity nor mercy4 ,the ark was a superstitious symbol1 and the priest the ready tool to carry out any system to deceive and delude the masses4 ,the ark1 the creation of ,moses1 ,aaron1 ,jethro ,co41 was nothing more than an idol of another form4 ,whether the idol is in the image of somebody or a four-cornered box wherein lies the difference8 ,for several centuries this wooden box plays an important role among these half-civilized barbarians4 ,they were no better than their neighbors1 and were not any farther advanced in civilization than the neighboring nations were--indeed1 not so much4 ,how ,christianity can hold that book1 the ,bible1 as sacred1 as a guide for the present civilized age1 is indeed a greater wonder and a far more complicated miracle than ever was performed in the ,bible4 ,the superstitious1 cowardly army of ,joshua refused to cross the river ,jordan1 but the miracle was performed when the priest carried the ark across the river--which was fordable1 because they could see the sand at the bottom1 and the stream was neither strong nor swift4 ,so the army forded the stream1 following the wooden box4 ,the same box was used before the walls of ,jericho4 ,the falling of the walls is related in a mysterious fashion1 but the slaughter of men1 women1 and children is made quite plain4 ,the only thing saved was that prostitute ,rahab who betrayed the city--and that was all the doings of ,god and the ,box4 ,joshua sends to ,ai three thousand men1 and the ,israelites get beaten4 ,then after some hocus-pocus ,joshua goes to ,ai with thirty thousand and he beats them1 and all the men and women that were killed at ,ai were twelve thousand 7,josh1 viii1 #be74 ,and then he hanged the king of ,ai 7verse #bi74 ,and this was a miraculous victory4 ,every natural phenomenon was interpreted as a miracle4 ,a hailstorm1 an aerial phosphorescence imitating sun and moon1 the clouds1 thunder1 etc4--are all miracles1 if they help to beat the enemy4 ,and after the slaying was done the kings were hanged 7x1 #bf74 ,altogether1 ,joshua conquered thirty-one kings and took possession of their territories4 ,these kingdoms could not have been very large affairs1 since the whole land is not very large4 ,the presumption is that superior numbers and better leadership in reality won the day4 ,when the strong hand of ,moses and ,joshua has disappeared 7,jehova is no longer the stronghold7 quarrels1 outrages1 and discontent arise4 ,eleven tribes retire from the field of action4 ,judah1 the warrior tribe1 does the fighting4 ,the ,levites1 this aristocratic tribe1 watch and guide the nation1 dwelling in the forty cities assigned to them4 ,i mention these two tribes especially on account of the important role they play hereafter4 ,a few statements of the mere facts will suffice4 ,joshua dies in #addc ,b4,c4 ,othniel succeeds4 ,judah's military force fights and beats the ,canaanites4 ,discord and fighting continue1 until ,eglon the king of ,moab enslaves them1 #acdc ,b4,c4 ,when ,eglon is killed they are freed for a short period1 when ,jabin the ,canaanite subdues them4 ,they are again freed and again enslaved1 and so on4 ,meantime they have their heroes1 as ,shamgar1 who kills six hundred ,philistines with an ox-goad1 and ,samson1 who kills one thousand ,philistines with a jawbone of an ass1 etc4 ,i will append to this chapter a description of some events of ,moses's career from ,tacitus1 ,chapter ,,iii3 ,many authors agree1 that when once an infectious distemper was arisen in ,egypt and made men's bodies impure1 ,bocchorius1 their king1 went to the oracle of 7,jupiter7 ,hammon and begged he would grant him some relief against this evil1 and he was enjoined to purge his nation of them1 and to banish this kind of men into other countries1 as hateful to the gods4 ,that when he had sought for1 and gotten them all together1 they were left in a vast desert2 that hereupon the rest devoted themselves to weeping and inactivity2 but one of those exiles1 ,moses by name1 advised them to look for no assistance from any of the gods or from any of mankind1 since they had been abandoned by both1 but bade them believe in him1 as in a celestial leader1 by whose help they had already gotten clear of their present miseries4 ,they agreed to it2 and though they were unacquainted with every thing1 they began their journey at random3 but nothing tried them so much as want of water2 and now they laid themselves down on the ground to a great extent1 as just ready to perish1 when a herd of wild asses came from feeding1 and went to a rock overshadowed by a grove of trees4 ,moses followed them1 as conjecturing that there was 7thereabouts7 some grassy soil1 and so opened large sources of water for them4 ,chapter ,,iv3 ,as for ,moses1 in order to secure the nation firmly to himself1 he ordained new rites1 and such as were contrary to other men4 ,all things are with them profane which with us are sacred2 and again1 those practices are allowed among them which are by us esteemed most abominable4 ,they sacrifice rams by way of reproach to 7,jupiter7 ,hammon4 ,an ox is also sacrificed1 which the ,egyptians worship under the name of ,apis1 etc4 ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,,samuel ,,the ,,kingmaker--,,the ,,warwick ,,of ,,antiquity4 ,our forefathers of antiquity1 no matter to what nation they belonged1 dressed every important event with a halo of mystery--fable1 myth1 and miracle4 ,they knew no better4 ,the mind1 the brain1 the senses1 had reached a stage of development that might well be called childish1 with sensuality and selfishness predominating4 ,fighting1 cruelty1 and lust were the leading actions prompted4 ,and as in the case of children1 ghosts and hobgoblins scared them1 shadows and darkness frightened them1 unusual sights and noises surprised and alarmed them4 ,and in their calmer moments they wondered4 ,and any natural phenomenon was interpreted as miraculous if it aided any undertaking1 and resulted favorably to them4 ,wealth and women were considered the capital prizes in those days4 7,that was three thousand years ago2 how is it with us87 ,they were men in physique1 but children in the development of their mental faculties4 ,it was then as it is now--every man talks about that which is uppermost in his mind2 he makes his comparisons with those things he is most familiar with2 his illustrations are drawn from those objects he sees most frequently2 his language never extends beyond the number of words at his command2 his memory is only equal to the number of things he has stored away2 his mind is made up or composed of those ideas that he has gathered from the experience of his senses2 his ideas from the number of objects he has come in contact with2 his knowledge consists of that which he has learned2 his thoughts and reflections extend to that which he knows and never beyond2 his understanding depends on all these2 and comparatively speaking1 few men are in advance of the age in which they live4 ,ideas1 like other things terrestrial1 have their birth1 growth1 development1 maturity1 and decline1 and finally they partially or wholly disappear4 ,the birth of the idea of ,god1 without the various objective representations1 had its origin in the mind of man2 ,abraham being the first1 or supposed to be the first1 man who conceived the notion that these images1 idols1 were not the proper thing4 ,he doubted the quality of the gods1 and the principal objection to these idols was that they had ears that did not hear1 eyes that could not see1 etc41 etc41 but the new ,god1 the later ,jehova1 could4 ,the strangest of all inconsistencies lies in the fact that while they endowed him with the human faculties1 passions1 emotions1 desires1 and feelings1 there is nothing tangible about his body4 ,nothing was accomplished with this ,god during several centuries in ,egypt4 ,moses brought his ,jehova out--as a stern reality4 ,he skillfully manipulated the idea4 ,his own intellect and experience1 his force and character1 were concentrated in this ,jehova4 ,his masterly organization1 his discipline1 his impressive sternness1 imperative and imperial1 his stupendous will power1 left a lasting impress upon this people during the four centuries4 ,this idea was nursed1 nourished1 and sustained by the ,levites1 and when they found their influence was waning they established a concentrated form of government by selecting a sanhedrin or council of seventy and electing the most eligible person they could find on the recommendation of ,samuel as their king4 ,this king was ,saul1 whose reign1 fortunately or unfortunately1 did not last very long4 ,competition and struggle with other nations had1 if anything1 an educational tendency4 ,as they grew numerically stronger1 jealousies arose4 ,ambitious men were grasping for power1 and contending faction naturally was the result4 ,the story about the lost asses is like that about another ass we have heard of1 that saw the angel and talked--we have many such1 even at the present day4 ,these stories are excellent fabrications to entertain juveniles with4 ,and people must be precious asses to believe this nonsense1 that ,god would be such an ass as to interfere with these asses4 ,but something occurred which was perfectly human1 and shows the character of the man4 ,it happened to be one of those critical moments in a nation's existence4 ,nahash the ,ammonite had made war against ,israel1 and encamped against ,jabest-,gilead4 ,saul hearing of it1 he did as follows 7#a ,sam4 xi1 #g73 ,and he took a yoke of oxen1 and hewed them in pieces1 and sent them throughout all the coast of ,israel by the hands of messengers1 saying1 ,whosoever cometh not forth after ,saul and after ,samuel1 so shall it be done unto his oxen4 ,and the fear of the ,lord fell upon the people1 and they came out with one consent4 ,thus ,saul collected an army of three hundred thousand men4 ,that is what may be termed practical politics4 ,he was victorious over the ,ammonites4 ,as to the prisoners of war1 whether captured or having given themselves up1 he caused their right eyes to be put out4 ,he plucked their right eyes out1 making them useless for war in the future4 ,when he went to war against the ,philistines1 his army observed how numerous the enemy were4 ,god's army was scared and hid in caves4 ,so he sent to ,samuel to consult the oracle1 like any other respectable heathen4 ,he also made a conquest of the ,amalekites1 whom he utterly destroyed4 ,the ,hebrews and these people had a grudge of several centuries' standing1 because when the ,jews went out of ,egypt they requested permission to pass through the ,amalekites' country1 which was refused them 7,ex4 xvii1 et seq474 ,but ,saul offended ,god by saving ,agag1 the king of the ,amalekites1 so said ,samuel 7#a ,sam4 xv1 #cb1 #cc74 ,then ,samuel said1 ,bring ye hither to me ,agag1 the king of the ,amalekites4 ,and ,agag came to him delicately4 ,and ,agag said1 ,surely the bitterness of death is passed4 ,and ,samuel hewed ,agag in pieces before the ,lord in ,gilgal4 ,saul's tenderness and mercy towards ,agag displeased the stern1 cruel priest and soldier4 ,his1 ,agag's1 life had to pay the penalty of death1 by the hand of the priest himself1 for an offense his forefathers were presumed to have been guilty of1 several centuries before4 ,all barbarities1 cruelties1 and slaughter were done in ,jehovah's1 ,god's1 the ,lord's1 name4 ,the same pious crimes were repeated centuries later1 under the pretext of doing some imaginary brutal ,god a great favor4 ,for this transgression ,saul is rejected by this priestly ,warwick4 ,for this human action this wily priest denounces him1 and ,saul's act of kindness is interpreted by this domineering priest as a crime against his ,god4 ,to carry out his political scheme1 ,samuel went to ,beth-lehem4 ,and the elders of the town trembled at his coming 7#a ,sam4 xvi1 #d74 ,the revengeful priest1 with a nerve of iron and a will of steel1 was not going to stand any nonsense4 ,saul had not obeyed him to the letter--it is1 ,off with your head6 ,samuel with all the church palaver1 priest discipline1 and pious hypocrisy1 selects a successor1 without compunction1 without ceremony1 and ,david is anointed to reign instead of ,saul4 ,from this time forth to the end of his life ,saul is constantly in hot water4 ,he slinks to his home at ,gibeah 7#a ,sam4 xv1 #cd7 like a whipped cur1 rejected and excommunicated by the priest4 ,full of apprehension and fear1 he blunders at every step he takes4 ,the priestly influence is gone1 and ,god has departed from him and is now with ,david4 ,the crafty ,samuel uses the expression1 when others question the propriety of his action3 ,men do not see as ,god seeth4 ,no6 ,men must have no will except the priest's will4 ,harassed and maddened by priestly cunning1 jealous and angered at ,david's success in acts of heroism1 ,saul loses courage1 as well as prestige with the people1 to such an extent that ,david finds it not a difficult task to organize a small army of his own1 carrying on a sort of desultory war on his own account4 ,samuel dies1 having governed his people twelve years himself1 and jointly with ,saul eighteen years4 ,he was the greatest man1 priest1 and general since the times of ,moses1 a man of singular sagacity and courage1 no doubt right royal and honest in his intentions and to his nation4 ,samuel did more to solidify the nation1 and terrify neighboring nations1 to infuse courage in his people and inspire them to acts of heroism1 than any other of the judges1 or any other man1 during this period4 ,a curious incident is related of the manner in which ,samuel came into the world4 ,it is the first one of its kind in the ,bible4 ,hannah1 the wife of ,elkanah1 had no children1 or as the ,bible phrase has it1 ,the ,lord had shut up her womb 7#a ,sam4 i1 #e1 #f74 ,so she continued praying before the ,lord1 and ,eli the priest marked her mouth 7verse #ab74 ,she conceived and bore a son1 and she named him ,samuel4 ,and ,eli the priest adopted ,samuel4 ,and the child did minister unto the ,lord before ,eli the priest 7ii1 #ab74 ,what the relations were between ,hannah and ,eli is not known1 but that his own sons were not very righteous is testified to by the following passage 7#a ,sam4 ii1 #bj73 ,now ,eli was very old1 and heard all that his sons did unto all ,israel2 and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation4 ,it was not an unusual thing1 in the temples of the heathens1 for women to accommodate the gods whenever they felt piously inclined2 and also the priests lost no opportunity to gratify their saintly passions1 or permit others to gratify theirs so long as it was to benefit the church4 ,samuel's father1 or rather reputed father1 did not belong to the priestly tribe4 ,he was an ,ephrathite4 ,eli his adopted father belonged to the priestly caste4 ,i simply cite this story to show how completely human these holy ,jehovaists were4 ,many crimes and disreputable acts were committed under the very shadow of the ,lord4 ,yet ,jehova was pleased with anything these priests delighted in4 ,eli was a heavy man 7iv1 #ah74 ,fat1 which ,i suppose they meant1 shows he was a good liver4 ,he broke his neck by falling off his seat on hearing the ark was taken by the ,philistines and ,israel beaten4 ,when ,samuel took the reins of government he was still young4 ,he subdued the ,philistines1 regained the ark1 and reorganized and consolidated the nation4 ,he made ,saul king and general1 and a stream of prosperity followed2 the choice was a good one1 and ,saul served his nation well so long as he was obedient to ,samuel's commands4 ,saul's humanity got the better of him1 he offended this stern1 dictatorial priest1 and lost his favor4 ,david1 his rival1 was already chosen and in the field1 on whom all ,samuel's influence and priestly glory was shed4 ,now ,god deserted ,saul and his cause4 ,henceforth the ,lord was with ,david4 ,samuel was the first and only kingmaker2 ,saul and ,david were his handiwork4 ,he was a priest1 a soldier and a statesman of more than ordinary capacity and qualities1 far superior to any of the judges that governed ,israel during the last four centuries4 ,he was stern and severe1 but without blemish otherwise4 ,he was1 as far as we can learn from history1 a relentless and cruel man towards his enemies4 ,he was of immense will-power1 resolute and energetic4 ,he was honored to an extraordinary degree by the people for whom he accomplished so much4 ,he left the nation at his death more firmly united than it had ever been--with an organized army1 a stable government1 and a well-filled treasury4 ,it was ,samuel that really raised the nation to the utmost hight that it ever attained1 for he laid the foundation for ,solomon's glory1 the zenith of ,hebrew nationality4 ,it is he that closes the second period of national life1 the people having attained under him its maximum standing as a nation1 and the greatness which culminated in ,solomon1 and the only political unity as a nation that the ,hebrews ever had4 ,a parallel may be drawn between the two periods4 ,the ,egyptian period3 ,four centuries or so pass without anything being done1 until a man rises possessing the necessary qualifications to mold these people into a nation4 ,the second period consists of a struggle with other nations1 almost continuously1 to exist4 ,necessities arise2 men present themselves who seize the opportunity to fill up the want for the time being1 until the coming of ,samuel1 the right man1 at the right time1 for the right place4 ,he closes the second act of the ,hebrews' struggle for nationality by giving them a centralized form of government1 and placing a king at their head to rule them4 ,all the transactions of his life were human1 natural4 ,his conduct was perfectly in harmony with the age he lived in4 ,the nation as a whole had become a little more civilized1 and had reached as high a point of intelligence as it ever attained--that is1 as a nation4 ,thus far we have not seen anything in their history that other nations had not to contend with4 ,to attribute their acts1 individually or as a nation1 to any supernatural power1 to ,god1 ,jehova1 or the ,lord1 is preposterous4 ,in their dealings1 their fightings1 their cruelty1 their brutality1 their superstition1 and their ignorance1 they were in no sense superior to any of the contemporaneous nations4 ,they were no better in their conduct than their neighbors4 ,the strongest had always the best of it2 the conquered had to submit to slavery or be killed1 women are captured and used1 and the plunder is divided4 ,notwithstanding the priestly rule of the ,levites1 the ,hebrews are constantly relapsing into idolatry1 brought back to the fold1 and relapsing again4 ,the church was at this time used for all sorts of corrupt purposes4 ,the ,jehova that had been brought into the theological world with such an immense boom by ,moses had expended a good deal of its original force4 ,the remembrance of that stupendous crisis of the ,hebrew national existence was kept alive and the flames were fanned by priestly interest4 ,the ,god after ,moses1 the ,jehova1 had shrunk into the ,lord1 and the ark was the representative of ,god4 ,the ark of ,god was taken1 444 when she heard tidings of the ark of ,god 7#a ,sam4 iv1 etc474 ,and the success or failure of the ,hebrews depended on the man who led them4 ,with a weak man as general or leader they were beaten1 with a strong man they won4 ,other nations meanwhile had sprung into life1 and become powerful1 without ,jehova--without the ,god of the ,hebrews4 ,they had1 however1 idols and images1 which seemed to behave with far greater propriety than the ,god of ,israel4 ,so well did these mythological deities manage their affairs1 that they almost swallowed up the whole ,hebrew race4 ,samuel1 having established a kingdom1 and crowned two kings1 ,saul and ,david1 dies1 leaving these two competitors in the field4 ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,,god ,,save ,,the ,,king6 ,that was the shout1 with the commencement of the new era1 when the tallest man in the nation appeared in the midst of the people that had assembled at the call of ,samuel 7#a ,sam4 x1 #bd74 ,i will give a short chronology of this ,united ,kingdom under three kings--,saul1 ,david1 and ,solomon3 ,saul is made king #ajie ,dies #ajee ,rules over ,israel about #dj years ,david born #ajhe ,kills ,goliath #ajfb ,reigns in ,hebron #ajee ,king over ,israel #ajdh ,dies #ajaf ,rules over ,israel about #dj years ,solomon is born #ajcf ,is crowned king #ajae ,lays foundation of ,temple #ajab ,dedicates the ,temple #ajjd ,worships idols #ihe ,dies #ige ,rules over ,israel about #dj years ,these figures may not be accurate4 ,they are as near as the dates can be had4 ,josephus gives the dates as follows3 ,saul reigned with ,samuel #ah years ,after the death of ,samuel #bb 11 ,david lived #gj 11 ,reigned in ,hebron #g yrs #fm 11 11 ,jerusalem #cc years ,solomon lived #id 11 ,having reigned #hj 11 ,there is a discrepancy somewhere4 ,something is wrong in dates1 like most other facts in the ,bible4 ,david was twenty-three years old when he killed ,goliath4 ,solomon was twenty-one years old when he was crowned king2 according to ,josephus1 fourteen years of age4 ,we have no further interest in the dates of those men1 but more in their acts and character4 ,being the rulers of ,god's own chosen people--with ,jehova for a pilot1 protector1 and guide--with the wooden ,box1 the ark1 with all its mysterious secrets and its holy enchantments2 priests1 prophets1 and sacrifices1 with all their secret necromantic performances1 these three men1 with all their godly professions1 were no better than they should have been1 even for the age in which they lived4 ,they were brutal1 gross1 and licentious4 ,barbarous crimes were committed by them1 with the sanction of their preposterous imaginary ,god--who is lauded at this present day to the very echo1 but the most stupendous piece of folly that ever was palmed off on civilized humanity4 ,saul1 the first king1 in exercising his terrible cruelty towards his enemies perhaps only followed the practices and customs of other nations4 ,why this bloodthirsty man caused #che persons to be murdered2 why he slaughtered all the inhabitants of ,nob1 men1 women1 and children1 because ,abimelech the priest supplied ,david with food1 are some of those things that pulpit orators can best explain4 ,the life of the priest was not sufficient to expiate the offense he had committed1 but ,saul had his whole family exterminated4 ,the ark was no longer available4 ,jehova had taken the juvenile ,david in hand4 ,the priestly oracle refused to be consulted4 ,he1 ,saul1 had recourse to a fortune-telling woman of ,endor1 who was employed to call up the spirit of ,samuel4 ,saul's jealousies1 his quarrels with ,david1 and all his misdeeds1 as well as bravery1 may be read by those that feel an interest in the matter4 ,he finally committed suicide by falling on his own sword1 and the next day the ,philistines cut his and his sons' heads off1 and deposited them before their idols1 ,dagon1 etc4 ,where was ,god8 ,can it be possible that our ,christian neighbors believe that the life and conduct of ,saul was directed by any supreme power8 ,that ,god directed ,saul to do so many foolish1 barbarous1 and murderous acts8 ,we shall probably be more interested in ,david1 the man after ,god's own heart4 ,david1 like ,saul1 was judiciously selected by ,samuel4 ,david's acts and ,david's conduct were no different from the acts and conduct of any other man in his position and possessing his characteristics4 ,he combined a good deal of philosophy with his bravery2 if the ,psalms were written by him we have before us a higher type of brain culture1 a mind that has undergone some training1 is capable of analyzing its own feelings and giving expression to them4 ,his comparisons never extend beyond that--beyond what he knows4 ,he appeals to the higher qualities of men--their good acts1 their virtues1 their just conduct1 their self-restraint1 their passions1 emotions1 faults1 and weaknesses4 ,he recognizes them in others1 and sees them reflected clearly in himself4 ,his distress and his fears1 his gladness and his joys1 his trust in an unseen power1 are all poetic1 some sweet and sentimental4 ,he speaks of his ,lord1 of his ,god1 as of the pleasant recollections of a dream4 ,jehova had long since lost the stern reality of ,moses1 and had changed with the changes the nation had undergone4 ,the formalities had been kept up1 the priestly luxuries had increased1 the ceremonies were more formal and business-like1 but the central power1 the centralized government of the people1 the mantle of authority1 had been shifted from high priest to king4 ,the ,god1 ,jehova1 was no longer the guide1 the power it had been4 ,for twenty-two years after the death of ,samuel1 ,saul had conducted his government and fought his battles without ,god1 ark1 or priest1 and sought advice and counsel from other and human sources4 ,skeptics even at this early period began to doubt the existence of a ,god1 ,the fool saith in his heart1 ,there is no ,god 7,ps4 xiv1 #a74 ,the theocratic period of #cie years from ,exodus to ,saul had already developed corruption in the church and licentiousness in the ,temple4 ,the priestly power received a terrible blow at the hands of ,saul when he slaughtered the priest1 ,abimelech1 and his family1 thus showing that the representative of ,god no longer inspired terror2 that the priest was nothing more than any other man2 that neither ,god1 ,jehova1 ark1 nor any other sanctified paraphernalia could protect him1 nor miracle interfere for his preservation4 ,opinions were freely expressed1 discussion arose1 and arguments were not wanting to sustain the doubts that had arisen as to the genuineness1 the truth1 of the ,god they had adopted4 ,neighboring nations had their gods4 ,how was it1 if their gods were not more potent1 that they should win so many battles1 and enslave the nation of the true ,god8 ,the same or similar arguments that ,abraham brought to bear on the ,chaldean gods were now beginning to be used against ,jehova4 ,david1 besides being an excellent soldier1 a brave general1 was a dreamer1 a man of imagination4 ,god was to him a sublime vision1 a reflected glory of the past4 ,to him1 an intense admirer of the beautiful1 trees1 hills1 and valleys1 and the phenomena of nature in general1 were the wonders of his imaginary ,god4 ,he was a musician1 a poet1 a dreamer1 in his moments of leisure4 ,everything he beheld courted1 kindled his admiration1 awoke new feeling in his sensitive nature1 from a pretty flower to a beautiful woman4 ,the conversations which he holds with his visionary ,god are the simplest and most confidential4 ,he pours out his grievances and his delight to him4 ,thou hast put gladness in my heart4444 ,i will both lay me down in peace and sleep 7,ps4 iv1 #h1 #i74 ,that ,christian translators of the ,bible presume to interpret certain passages and words to mean1 to foretell1 things or events that occurred one thousand years later1 is an assumption1 and warrantable neither by the text nor by the actions of the persons writing them4 ,david is supposed to have written the ,psalms4 ,when he speaks he refers mainly to himself1 addresses himself personally to his ,lord4 ,he1 ,david1 is himself interested4 ,then again he speaks of man and things in general1 without ever alluding to any one thing or body in the coming future4 ,david's ,psalm ii is headed ,the ,kingdom of ,christ4 ,the writer had no more idea of ,christ than he had of ,peter the ,great at the time that that ,psalm was written4 ,david wrote one hundred and fifty ,psalms as printed in the ,bible4 ,in the headings1 the superscriptions1 the solicitude of ,christian believers1 trying to torture meanings and significations out of sentences or expressions1 led them to commit gross errors1 as false as they are ridiculous4 ,judge for yourself3 ,psalm ii1 #a--,the ,kingdom of ,christ4 ,why do the heathen rage1 and the people imagine vain things8 ,verse #aj3 ,be wise1 now therefore1 ,o ye kings2 be instructed ye judges of the earth4 ,psalm xlv1 #a--,the majesty and ,grace of ,christ's ,kingdom4 ,my heart is inditing a good matter2 ,i speak of the things which ,i have made touching the king2 my tongue is the pen of a ready writer4 ,verse #aj--,the ,duty of the ,church1 etc4 ,hearken1 ,o daughter1 and consider1 and incline thine ear2 forget also thine own people1 and thy father's house4 ,psalm xlvi1 #a--;,confidence ,which the ,church1 etc4 ,god is our refuge and strength1 a very present help in trouble4 ,psalm xlvii--,the ,nations are ,exhorted ,cheerfully to ,entertain the ,kingdom of ,christ4 ,psalm xlviii--,the ,ornaments and ,privileges of the ,church4 ,in not one of these ,psalms is there the slightest allusion to a church4 ,it is the extravagant language of an exuberant mind1 the outcome of an overwrought imagination upon the subject he was thinking about4 ,psalm l1 #a--,the ,majesty of ,god in the ,church4 ,psalm li1 #ah--;,he ,prayeth for the ,church4 ,psalm lxviii1 #g--;,for ,his ,care of the ,church4 ,psalm lxxii1 #a--;,david ,praying for ,solomon1 etc42 and ,the ,truth of ,christ's ,kingdom4 ,psalm xciii--,the ,majesty and ,power of ,christ's ,kingdom4 ,psalm cxviii1 #ai--;,coming of ,christ's ,kingdom1 etc4 ,the passage referred to1 viz41 verse #ai1 is3 ,open to me the gates of righteousness2 ,i will go into them1 and ,i will praise the ,lord4 ,the absurdity of the interpretation is evident from the fact that out of one hundred and fifty ,psalms the ,christian ,bible-makers were able to find only five that could be twisted to make allusion to ,christ--the ii1 xlv1 lxxii1 xcviii1 and cxviii1 and from these certain sentences were selected1 and these verses have as much connection with ,christ or his kingdom as they have with the man in the moon4 ,six of all the chapters are supposed to allude to the church2 those are above cited4 ,david had not the remotest notion what would or could happen at any time during his life1 or at any time after his death4 ,he was a child of circumstances like ,saul1 and like many other men after and before them4 ,the same may be said of ,moses and ,abraham4 ,opportunity makes the man1 if the man is fitting1 able1 to seize the opportunity when it occurs4 ,no supernatural power had anything to do with any one of these men1 or any man that figured in the ,bible1 any more than ,god had to do with men that played prominent parts as leaders1 rulers1 kings1 or governors of other nations4 ,whatever power1 skill1 intellect1 or imagination was developed1 it was the proper sum-total of the experience1 observation1 and instruction of the world's progress4 ,the ,hebrews perhaps had special advantages in some respects over other nations1 through their migratory instinct or inclination4 ,the contact with so many other nations gave them the advantage of a broader experience and a greater variety of culture4 ,david had enjoyed special advantages4 ,after his first heroic action1 he became the leader of a band of desperadoes4 ,and ,saul himself unwittingly helped him1 by making the bargain with ,david that if he1 ,david1 brought him one hundred foreskins of the ,philistines1 ,saul would give him his daughter ,michal for wife4 ,david with his band of chosen men brought him two hundred1 and thus obtained his wife ,michal4 ,henceforth ,david leads a kind of bandit's life1 with his six hundred brave followers1 evading ,saul1 who is in hot pursuit of him1 and meantime fighting other nations1 ,philistines1 ,amalekites1 etc42 levying contributions1 making conquests1 whenever and wherever there was a chance2 falling in love easily and gracefully as the most expert leader of a gallant band4 ,the pretty1 attractive face of ,abigail1 the wife of ,nabal1 was an irresistible temptation4 ,nabal died from fright1 it is said4 ,later in life when he happened to cast his eyes upon the beautiful nude figure of ,bathsheba1 he immediately fell in love4 ,since he was a man of action he satisfied his passion almost immediately1 and poor ,uriah1 a captain of his1 was sent to the war to be killed4 ,he was a shrewd and bold warrior1 a great lover of woman1 a philosopher and a poet4 ,his ,psalms bear witness of his acts1 deeds1 and thoughts4 ,in consequence of his overindulgence with women he contracted a disease1 a disease of which he complains most bitterly4 ,psalm iv3 ,his bones are vexed1 he is weary with groaning--,all night make ,i my bed to swim2 ,i water my couch with my tears 7verse #f74 ,psalm xxxviii3 ,he is in a sad plight3 verse #c3 ,there is no soundness in my flesh2 verse #e3 ,my wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness2 verse #g3 ,for my loins are filled with a loathsome disease2 and there is no soundness in my flesh1 etc4 ,the gentleman in all probability was afflicted with a disease known as syphilis in its tertiary stage4 ,there is more of it4 ,a sober reading of these psalms will find them full of indications of human nature with its frailties1 weaknesses1 impulses1 mixed with superstitious fear1 a vivid imagination1 and an excitable temperament4 ,when his greatness had been established1 many conquests made1 great wealth accumulated1 numerous victories gained1 festivities were inaugurated4 ,in order to honor ,god and the ark1 ,david danced and jumped in complete undress before the ,box1 in a true half-civilized fashion4 ,we must not consider all these acts as faults4 ,he simply followed the customs of the age4 ,he was the highest representative type of the then struggling civilization4 ,samuel began1 ,saul developed1 and ,david consummated a new era of this part of the world of human history--while other sections of the globe were keeping abreast in organizing and drilling the human race to a higher sort of culture1 forming nations1 establishing kingdoms1 producing heroes1 evolving lawgivers and poets1 and advancing in the arts and war1 etc4 ,david died seventy years of age1 leaving a large and numerous family4 ,of his score of sons1 there is none worth talking about1 except ,solomon1 his successor4 ,the immense wealth he amassed laid the foundation for the glory of ,solomon1 who spent it lavishly1 luxuriously1 freely4 ,all in all ,david was an excellent character4 ,he preserved the ,twelve ,tribes1 exalting the nation1 consolidating the government1 making it respected and feared without1 and giving them by his valor peace and security and prosperity for the next ruler and for the nation4 ,this young gentleman1 ,solomon1 however1 had been fed with a golden spoon4 ,his senses and his passions were prematurely ripe4 ,he did not have to search for opportunity2 his desires were easily accommodated and satisfied4 ,his indulgences were many and frequent1 and his authority and arbitrariness were soon made manifest4 ,he was surrounded with the best scholars of the day1 and whatever facilities were then to be had were got1 either in philosophical works or in other books4 ,the higher studies consisted in close observance of moral conduct1 and contemplation of the outer world without knowing anything more than the outward appearances4 ,science1 art1 and mechanics were little known4 ,the school of poesy had begun4 ,theological disputes were in fashion1 and thus theological doubt furnished ample food for conjecture1 hypothesis1 and imagination4 ,men had already entered the field of controversy as to the falsity or the truth of the prevailing opinions4 ,king ,solomon in all his glory was the greatest showman upon earth at the time he was living4 ,let it be understood that it is not our purpose to write history4 ,that has long since been exhausted2 nothing new can be discovered4 ,it may1 however1 be profitable to call attention to the fact that all these men that figure in the scripture were human1 perfectly human4 ,that they acted and spoke in accordance with the prevailing degree of intelligence and customs of nations4 ,that in all their dealings and doings there is not one scintilla of evidence that they were anything else than perfectly natural4 ,that they were struggling as a nation for a position among the family of nations4 ,that their methods of warfare were no better than those of their neighbors4 ,by good generalship1 brave conduct1 and hard fighting they gained influence1 affluence1 and prestige4 ,by their conquests and victories they got into possession of a fair tract of land4 ,by robbery and plunder they amassed an immense amount of wealth4 ,by their continual successes under ,david's brave leadership they secured peace from their enemies1 their surrounding neighbors2 while those nations were subdued and weakened1 the ,israelites became powerful and strong4 ,a well-disciplined army1 a strong and united nation1 was the inheritance ,solomon received4 ,he was the prince-royal--his father a clever king1 and his mother the captain's wife1 ,mrs4 ,bathsheba1 later queen-wife of ,david4 ,he was the first real prince that had ever ruled ,israel--and also the one that caused their ruin1 as a nation1 by his extravagant and lascivious conduct4 ,the scriptural story begins in ,kings1 with the death of ,david4 ,solomon1 the prince of the blood1 was now king in his stead4 ,he ascended the throne when he was twenty-one years of age1 having received every educational advantage of a prince4 ,he1 after ,moses1 is the second ruler of ,israel that had been instructed and prepared for the high position he was about to occupy4 ,that is the only comparison that can be made between him and ,moses4 ,the latter was a giant of intellect1 action1 and determination1 while the former was a luxurious debauchee and squanderer of his father's patrimony4 ,why there should be so much adoration and adulation poured out on this man1 ,i fail to see4 ,because he built the temple and made profuse exhibition of his gold and silver8 ,he could not have built it if his father had not plundered other nations1 and given him1 ,solomon1 the money to build with4 ,because he had an immense number of chariots and soldiers1 decked with costly trappings8 ,the money was there to provide these with1 and later the people were pretty heavily taxed for his extravagance4 ,the only real point of glory may perhaps lie in the fact that he had one thousand women to play with4 ,we all know that he beats the record on that particular branch of human enterprise4 ,there was truly none like him before or since4 ,and lastly1 we have his purported writings1 consisting of the ,proverbs1 ,ecclesiastes1 and the ,songs of ,solomon4 ,no sooner was he seated on his throne than he began to remove all objectionable persons1 those that were likely to be troublesome or dangerous4 ,his elder brother1 ,adonijah1 whose aspiration led him to great things1 was dispatched by ,benaiah1 ,solomon's future general4 ,abiathar1 the priest1 he removed where he could do least damage4 ,joab1 ,david's general1 who sought the altar of the temple for protection1 ,solomon ordered ,benaiah to behead4 ,zadock he made high priest in place of ,abiathar4 ,shimei was the next man on the list for death1 and ,benaiah received order to kill him4 ,having removed all dangerous or antagonistic men1 ,solomon settled himself firmly in his kingdom4 ,those that are curious may read all about the ,temple1 his house1 the wall1 cherubim1 vessels and the like of gold1 the royal palace1 splendors1 etc41 etc4 ,he became what is termed a glorious king1 but luxury and women soon had their effect upon his judgment4 ,he had reached the zenith of ,israel's greatness4 ,he had touched the highest point of its eminence4 ,it was the golden age of the ,hebrews--the age of pomp1 pride1 braggadocio1 and exhilaration4 ,jerusalem became the great center of attraction4 ,everything obtainable was collected within its walls4 ,no expense was spared4 ,indeed1 the city became the center of luxury1 extravagance1 and licentiousness4 ,and ,solomon was surely1 though slowly1 paving the way for the destruction of the nation4 ,the older he grew the worse he got4 ,his reason gradually deserted him2 he wasted his energy and his strength on his women1 so that when he died he was despised1 if not hated1 by his people4 ,and he left such a rotten condition of affairs that it tumbled to pieces almost before he was dead4 ,in the course of human events1 certain results follow a given line of conduct in the affairs of man4 ,the current of events depends upon our actions1 whether good or bad1 better or worse4 ,drain or waste of force and energy1 of an individual or of a collective body as a community1 state1 or nation1 slowly but surely weakens1 undermining the natural healthy condition1 and ultimately leads to a breaking down1 and may bring about a final disintegration4 ,solomon began his reign with an abundance4 ,he had a plenty both of means and health2 a most extraordinary opportunity1 with an ample training and education2 an immense1 well-organized army2 a stable1 firm government1 with a full quota of understanding or wisdom4 ,as a rule men get wiser as they grow older4 ,they acquire greater deliberation1 sounder judgment1 better understanding1 more skill in the management of affairs1 of man and of state4 ,they are generally more conservative in their actions1 more cautious in their dealings1 more abstemious in their desires4 ,their pleasures are restricted1 their passions subdued1 their wants few1 and their pursuits in life so evenly regulated1 their conduct so accurately adjusted1 that a justice and a wisdom seem to guard every thought and every reflection4 ,solomon's course was like that of a balloon4 ,he started chockfull of wisdom4 ,he was a marvel1 and made a prodigious show4 ,he was a startling phenomenon1 the wonder of the age4 7,you know he asked ,god for wisdom and ,god gave it to him2 why did not ,god keep him wise87 ,in old age he lacked wisdom4 ,he had almost grown into a senseless imbecile4 ,he was a squanderer of energy1 a rou1 a debauchee1 a frivolous and licentious old man who frittered away his time and his brains on his women and their playthings4 ,when the pomp1 pride1 vanity1 show1 and bluster of his youth and manhood were exhausted1 all there was left was the remnants of a glaring painted show4 ,he had1 as it were1 danced and skipped and capered1 sung and spoken his lines1 in a blaze of glory and extravaganza on the stage of human affairs2 the curtain drops1 and alas1 you behold1 when the paint and gorgeous dress are removed1 a simpering1 brainless old image-worshiper4 ,but what a colossal church figure this man makes6 ,what a miraculous personality he is made to be6 ,what a wonderful creation of the ,christians' ,god6 ,a pity some pope has not canonized him and manufactured him into a saint4 ,as to his writings--if he really wrote them1 and they were not compiled or written for him--it is to be regretted that his conduct was not regulated by them4 ,a most astonishing perversion of truth is the attribution to the eight chapters of the ,song of ,solomon of the subject of the church's love unto ,christ4 ,the following are the chief interpretations3 ,chapter i1 verse #a3 ,the song of songs1 which is ,solomon's4 ,meaning--,the church's love unto ,christ4 ,verse #e3 ,i am black1 but comely1 ,o ye daughters of ,jerusalem1 as the tents of ,kedar1 as the curtains of ,solomon4 ,meaning--,she confesseth her deformity4 ,verse #g3 ,tell me1 ,o thou whom my soul loveth1 where thou feedest1 where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon1 etc4 ,meaning--,and prayeth to be directed to his flock4 ,verse #h3 ,if thou know not1 ,o thou fairest among women1 go thy way forth1 etc4 ,meaning--,christ directeth her to the shepherd's tent4 ,verse #i3 ,i have compared thee1 ,o my love1 to a company of horses in ,pharaoh's chariots4 ,meaning--,and showing his love to her4 ,verse #aa3 ,we will make thee borders of gold and studs of silver4 ,meaning--,giveth her gracious promise4 ,verse #ab3 ,while the king sitteth at his table1 my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof4 ,meaning--,the church and ,christ congratulate each other4 ,chapter ii1 verse #a3 ,i am the rose of ,sharon and lily of the valley4 ,meaning--,the mutual love of ,christ and his church4 ,verse #h3 ,the voice of my beloved6 behold1 he cometh leaping upon the mountains1 skipping upon the hills4 ,meaning--,the hope4 ,verse #aj3 ,my beloved spake and said unto me1 ,rise up1 my love1 my fair one1 and come away4 ,meaning--,the calling of the church4 ,verse #ad3 ,o my dove1 that art in the clefts of the rocks1 in the secret places of the stairs1 let me see thy countenance1 let me hear thy voice2 for sweet is thy voice1 and thy countenance is comely4 ,meaning--,christ's care of the church4 ,verse #af3 ,my beloved is mine and ,i am his3 he feedeth among the lilies4 ,meaning--,the profession of the church1 her faith and hope4 ,chapter iii1 verse #a3 ,by night on my bed ,i sought him whom my soul loveth3 ,i sought him1 but ,i found him not4 ,meaning--,the church's fight and victory in temptation4 ,verse #f3 ,who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke1 perfumed with myrrh1 and frankincense1 with all the powders of the merchant8 ,meaning--,the church glorieth in ,christ4 ,chapter iv1 verse #a3 ,behold thou art fair1 my love1 behold thou art fair2 thou hast doves' eyes within thy locks3 thy hair is like a flock of goats that appear from ,mount ,gilead4 ,meaning--,christ setteth forth the graces of the church4 ,verse #h3 ,come with me from ,lebanon1 my spouse1 etc4 ,meaning--,he showeth his love to her4 ,verse #af3 ,awake ,o north wind2 and come thou south2 blow upon my garden1 that the spices thereof may flow out4 ,let my beloved come into his garden and eat his pleasant fruits4 ,meaning--,the church prayeth to be made fit for his presence4 ,chapter v1 verse #a3 ,i am come into my garden1 my sister1 my spouse4 ,i have gathered my myrrh with my spice2 ,i have eaten my honeycomb with my honey2 ,i have drunk my wine with my milk2 eat ,o friends2 drink ye1 drink abundantly1 ,o beloved4 ,meaning--,christ awaketh his church with his calling4 ,verse #b3 ,i sleep1 but my heart waketh1 it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh1 saying1 ,open to me1 my sister1 my love1 my dove1 my undented2 for my head is filled with dew1 and my locks with the drops of the night4 ,meaning--,the church having a taste of ,christ's love1 is sick of love4 ,verse #i3 ,what is my beloved more than another beloved1 ,o thou fairest among women8 ,what is thy beloved more than another beloved1 that thou dost so charge us8 ,meaning--,a description of ,christ and his graces4 ,chapter vi1 verse #a3 ,whither is my beloved gone1 ,o thou fairest among women8 ,whither is my beloved turned aside8 that we may seek him with them4 ,meaning--,the church professeth her faith in ,christ4 ,verse #d3 ,thou art beautiful1 ,o my love1 as ,tirzah1 comely as ,jerusalem1 terrible as an army with banners4 ,meaning--,christ showeth the grace of the church4 ,verse #aj3 ,who is she that looketh forth as the morning1 fair as the moon1 clear as the sun1 and terrible as an army with banners8 ,meaning--,and his love towards her4 ,chapter vii1 verse #a3 ,how beautiful are thy feet with shoes1 ,o prince's daughter6 the joints of thy thighs are like jewels1 the work of the hands of a cunning workman4 ,meaning--,a further description of the church's graces4 ,verse #aj3 ,i am my beloved's1 and his desire is towards me4 ,meaning--,the church professeth her faith and desire4 ,chapter viii1 verse #a3 ,o that thou wert as my brother1 that sucked the breasts of my mother6 ,when ,i should find thee without1 ,i would kiss thee2 yea1 ,i should not be despised4 ,meaning--,the love of the church to ,christ4 ,verse #f3 ,set me as a seal upon thine heart1 as a seal upon thine arm1 for love is as strong as death2 jealousy as cruel as the grave2 the coals thereof are coals of fire1 which hath a most vehement flame4 ,meaning--,the vehemency of love4 ,verse #h3 ,we have a little sister2 and she hath no breasts2 what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for8 ,meaning--,the calling of the ,gentiles4 ,verse #ad3 ,make haste1 my beloved1 and be thou like to a roe or to a young hart upon the mountain of spices4 ,meaning--,the church prayeth for ,christ's coming4 ,these are the verses specifically interpreted and marked for ,christian worshipers4 ,it must be remembered that the most decent were selected4 ,to say the interpretations are absurd1 is putting it very mildly4 ,solomon had no more idea of ,christ than he had of the laws of gravitation4 ,he was describing and writing about that which was constantly occupying his mind and his time4 ,he portrays a love-sick swain1 with all the details that are pleasing both to his eye and to his fancy4 ,he gloats and feeds upon his passions1 thus3 ,his left hand should be under my head1 and his right hand should embrace me 7viii1 #d74 ,how fair and how pleasant art thou1 ,o love1 for delights 7vii1 #f74 ,there are threescore queens and fourscore concubines1 and virgins without number 7vi1 #h74 ,his mouth is most sweet2 yea1 he is altogether lovely4 ,this is my beloved1 etc4 7v1 #af74 ,thy lips1 ,o my spouse1 drop as the honeycomb2 honey and milk are under thy tongue 7iv1 #aa74 ,behold his bed1 which is ,solomon's2 threescore valiant men are about it1 etc4 7iii1 #g74 ,his left hand is under my head1 and his right hand doth embrace me 7ii1 #f74 ,behold thou art fair1 my love1 behold thou art fair2 thou hast doves' eyes 7i1 #ae74 ,it is an outrage on decency even to attempt to construe the intent of these songs4 ,the man sang about his woman1 like any other swain who delights in his love4 ,solomon enjoyed nude beauties1 as many men do in our day1 and he represented the various parts of the female anatomy most accurately4 ,he reveled in the luxurious contemplation of them4 ,pull down the curtain of hypocrisy and falsehood and let's have the truth--as it was1 as it is4 ,solomon died at a pretty fair old age1 having lived ninety-four years4 ,the country had been harassed by robbers1 the factions began to be restless1 conspiracies were forming1 and the people were nervously yet patiently waiting for a chance to revolt4 ,no sooner was he dead than the nation split into two kingdoms4 ,henceforth this people as a nation is doomed4 ,it soon disappears from the family of nations4 ,but--where is ,jehova all this while8 ,note4--,solomon's wickedness became intolerable1 fully confirming my former observations1 that his wickedness began early and continued very long 7,josephus1 ,bk4 viii1 ,chapter vii74 ,,the ,,two ,,kingdoms--,,judah1 ,,israel4 ,david was dead2 ,joab the great general had been decapitated by ,solomon2 and what ,samuel1 ,saul1 and ,david had built up1 ,solomon had been very successful in pulling down4 ,ten tribes revolted immediately and formed the kingdom of ,israel1 selecting ,jeroboam as their king1 #ige ,b4,c4 ,in order to establish a church1 a temple1 of his own1 and his own gods1 ,jeroboam made two golden heifers and built two little temples for them1 claiming that men had built the ,temple at ,jerusalem as men had built the temples here1 and so there was no difference between them4 ,besides1 they would save the journey to ,jerusalem4 ,this change was immediately put into effect4 ,one class or tribe was dissatisfied4 ,those were the ,levites1 and they emigrated to ,judea4 ,this new kingdom of ,israel was not over-tranquil4 ,prophets1 and stump orators1 agitators1 naturally arose4 ,dissension1 bickering1 and quarrels appeared4 ,the outlook for the kingdom was not of the brightest4 ,meantime ,jeroboam was in clover4 ,rehoboam1 the son of ,solomon1 was made king of the two tribes1 ,judah the fighting tribe and ,benjamin the king-giving tribe4 ,besides these two tribes1 we must not forget the ,levites1 for because of them his kingdom was augmented4 ,the priests of all ,israel were ,levites1 and there were quite a multitude of them4 ,rehoboam was a ,solomon on a very small scale4 ,he had only eighteen wives and thirty concubines1 and twenty-eight sons and threescore daughters4 ,he followed in his father's footsteps and led a jolly life1 as we should call it in our present age4 ,in #iga1 four years after he ascended the throne1 ,shishka1 king of ,egypt1 knowing of all the gold and silver ,solomon had stuck into the ,temple1 invaded ,judea with some four hundred thousand men1 etc41 without opposition1 cleared the temple of all the gold and everything of value1 and returned home without striking a blow4 ,rehoboam was a coward1 he was afraid4 ,as soon as ,judea was clear of ,shishka's army1 ,rehoboam had these gold ornaments that had formerly decorated the temple1 which had been carried away by ,shishka1 replaced by brass trimmings of the same make and style1 and delivered them to the keeper of the king's palace4 ,these people were too like their brethren in ,israel1 for they built them high places1 and images1 and groves on every hill1 and under every green tree 7#a ,kings xiv1 #bc74 ,and there was war between ,rehoboam and ,jeroboam all the days of his life 7#a ,kings xv1 #f74 ,these two nations therefore have been launched at a pretty fair pace on the downhill grade4 ,judah1 however1 had the best of it4 ,for the kingdom of ,israel lasted only two hundred and fifty-four years4 ,shalmanezer1 king of ,nineveh1 takes ,samaria and carries the ,ten ,tribes into captivity4 ,these are what are usually known as the lost tribes4 ,lost nonsenses6--they had forsaken their former method of worship and adopted another4 ,the kingdom of ,judah lasted to the time the ,temple was burnt1 #ehh ,b4,c41 having lasted three hundred and eighty-seven years--one hundred and thirty-three years longer than the kingdom of ,israel4 ,and what is more1 these are the very ,jews that are scattered all over the world4 ,these latter are the representatives of these three tribes1 ,levi1 ,benjamin1 and ,judah4 ,and if any person is curious enough to inquire of any ,jew to what tribe he belongs1 he will receive the answer that he belongs to one of the three above mentioned1 that originally formed the kingdom of ,judah4 ,why they were preserved is nothing miraculous4 ,it has nothing to do with ,god or ,jehova1 or the ark1 or any special grace1 as people generally believe4 ,the reason is plain and perfectly natural4 ,the ,levites preserved them1 the ,levites sustained them1 the ,levites were the brainy race4 ,the ,levites1 the priestly tribe who were appointed by ,moses1 himself one of that tribe1 to be the rulers1 governors1 lawgivers1 fosterers1 priests and preachers1 were the brain of the whole nation4 ,they clung to the idea of nationhood with all their priestly might1 craft1 and ingenuity1 and are still clinging to it1 with all their might and main4 ,judah and ,benjamin survived only because of the ,levites4 ,,the ,,miracle-,,mongers4 ,at #ieh ,b4,c4 ,abijah is king over ,judah4 ,he reigns only three years4 ,king ,asa follows1 #iee4 ,nadab follows ,jeroboam1 king of ,israel2 dies2 and ,baasha reigns in #ied4 ,and there was war between ,asa1 and ,baasha king of ,israel1 all their days 7#a ,kings xv1 #af74 ,these facts go to show that fighting continued between ,israel and ,judah4 ,foreign powers are now invited to help1 and the struggle continues4 ,in #iah ,ahab is king of ,israel4 ,it is during his reign that a new class of men rise1 agitators1 talkers1 prophets1 and small miracle-makers4 ,elijah makes his appearance4 ,jehu had already prophesied against ,baasha2 he was a minor star in the field of prophecy4 ,elijah the ,tishbite1 who was of the inhabitants of ,gilead1 said unto ,ahab1 etc41 says #a ,kings xvii1 #a4 ,ahab was king of ,israel #iah4 ,no miracles are reported to have occurred after ,moses4 ,joshua did not perform any1 except that incident about the sun4 ,during all these centuries from #addc1 the date of ,joshua's death1 up to the reign of ,ahab1 not a miracle-maker appears4 ,there are strong men1 bad men1 fighting men1 priests1 brave generals1 very wicked men1 etc41 but none performs a miracle4 ,another class of men are soon to appear4 ,they1 however1 do not make their appearance until a century later1 or so4 ,i mean the nervous men1 the visionary dreamers and prophets of the type of ,isaiah4 ,in addition1 any number of soothsayers1 necromancers1 fortune-tellers1 and quacks had entered into the business of miracle-making on a small scale4 ,and a new school of skeptics and philosophic speculators slowly developed4 ,civilization had not advanced much1 but it nevertheless was progressing4 ,the minds of men had undergone an evolution4 ,the ,jehova of ,moses1 or the simple abstract form of the ,chaldean idol of ,abraham1 had lost its force1 prestige1 and importance4 ,the ark1 that sacred box1 is completely lost sight of in these stirring times of revolution1 rebellion1 dissension1 and fighting4 ,the high priest since the time of ,saul had to take a subordinate position4 ,he was the minor oracle1 the fault-finder1 sometimes the counselor1 but never the leader4 ,there was also great competition among the prophets4 ,the trade had grown profitable1 consequently false prophets1 as they were termed1 were trying to gain royal favor4 ,the ideas about ,god and ,jehova had increased and multiplied4 ,disputes and confusion swayed the people4 ,idolatry flourished1 and the ,gods of ,abraham and ,moses were to some extent still sustained by the relatives of the man who created ,jehova1 ,moses4 ,man's progress in thought1 the evolution of the human brain1 is slow and uncertain1 especially when the line of advance is of a speculative and problematic character4 ,it is not like a scientific question1 that can be demonstrated2 accompanied by actual proof and absolute certainty2 with no discussion or equivocation1 no denial or speculation2 which once established remains forever the same4 ,euclid's geometry has never been disputed4 ,hippocrates in medicine--whatever he said that was known and true1 remains unchanged4 ,everything that is based upon facts lasts forever4 ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,,jehova ,,takes ,a ,,rest4 ,god rests and lets the ,hebrews take care of themselves for a period of four hundred and seventy-six years4 ,during these several centuries we hear nothing of miracle or of prophecy1 of any importance4 ,in fact1 we have passed the only time ,god or ,jehova made himself at all conspicuous4 ,he never appeared again so prominently4 ,he made his exit with ,moses4 ,when we hear of ,jehova it is but the mere echo of his former self4 ,it is not our purpose to examine or criticise the balance of the ,old ,testament1 but for the sake of showing how human and natural is all the course of these people struggling and making an attempt to exist as a nation1 it will be well to consider the actual state of affairs of ,god's people1 after they had become a nation4 ,joshua1 the disciple of ,moses1 the general and leader after him1 subdued and conquered the territory ,moses had indicated1 and divided the land among eleven tribes4 ,he followed the example of his master4 ,he was a man of resolution and energy1 and at this time he had a well-disciplined army4 ,he was quick and active in his movements1 with the prestige of ,moses to back him4 ,he made war on neighboring nations1 slaughtered1 hanged1 and conquered1 sparing nothing4 ,he was shrewd and strategic4 ,he consolidated the nation4 ,he was wise1 eloquent1 and persuasive4 ,this closes the existence of the republican or theocratic form of government1 not a very glorious career of the ,hebrews as a nation4 ,nothing very remarkable occurs during these four centuries1 but we have a variety of incidents1 all interwoven with superstitious notions of a barbaric1 miraculous nature4 ,besides the introduction of the ,box1 called the ark1 female agitators and heroines are introduced4 ,debora and ,barak deliver the people from ,sisera1 by means of ,mrs4 ,jael ,heber1 who drives a tent-nail through his temple while he is asleep4 ,then there is great rejoicing and another miracle is performed4 ,meantime they were in slavery under the ,assyrians for eighty years--freed by ,othniel2 under the ,moabites eighteen years--freed by one ,ehud4 ,under the ,canaanites they were in slavery twenty years1 and were delivered by ,barak and ,debora4 ,the ,midianites afflicted the country for seven years1 and ,gideon delivered them4 ,and this period called the era of the judges winds up with the ,benjamites abusing the wife of a ,levite1 from the effects of which she dies4 ,thereupon the husband cuts the body up in twelve pieces and sends one to each of the ,twelve ,tribes--of course through his brother ,levites4 ,war is made upon the ,benjamites whereby they are nearly exterminated4 ,lust1 robbery1 plunder1 slaughter1 superstition1 and barbarism marked these few centuries with little intermission4 ,the ,levites had utilized the time in establishing the church and their priestly order1 and that was actually the governing power during the four hundred and seventy-six years1 but always under the name of the ,god of ,moses1 and was therefore designated the theocratic form of government4 ,i ask now in all seriousness1 can anyone possessing a reasonable amount of understanding really believe that a ,god1 such as ,jews and ,christians would make us believe that ,jehova is1 could behave in the manner recited in the history of the judges8 ,it is a poor god that cannot restrain his people from committing crimes and depredations1 restraining their brutal instincts and passions1 keeping them in order1 at peace among themselves and with others4 ,these intestine quarrels began in ,moses's time1 at the formation and organization of the ,jews as a nation1 and ceased only with their destruction4 ,the church which was called into life by ,moses was firmly established during this period with all the priestly paraphernalia of an ,egyptian temple4 ,aaron may rightly be considered as the first pope of the church1 and the ,levites the priestly tribe4 ,and these are the garments which they shall make2 a breastplate1 and an ephod1 and a robe1 and a broidered coat1 a miter1 and a girdle1 and they shall make holy garments for ,aaron thy brother1 and his sons1 that he may minister unto me in the priest's office4 ,and they shall take gold1 and blue1 and purple1 and scarlet and fine linen 7,ex4 xxviii1 #d1 #e74 ,these theatrical garments we have to this day in the ,christian churches4 ,some additions have been made1 corresponding and harmonizing with the events that have occurred since4 ,we must not for one moment suppose that the ,hebrews were the only people that were active and struggled for existence--which existence in their case this ,jehova ,christendom still looks upon as most miraculous4 ,as a nation the ,jews never invented anything4 ,jehova is the only thing humanity at large has inherited1 and he has been a cause of quarrel and discord ever since4 ,joshua dies #addc and ,saul is made king #ajie4 ,other nations during this period advance more rapidly in civilization without ,god1 without ,jehova1 than the ,hebrews do with his assistance4 ,dardanus1 king of ,troy1 is busy building cities #adhj ,b4,c4 ,danmoni invades ,ireland #adfc ,b4,c4 ,perseus establishes the kingdom of ,mycene #adeg ,b4,c4 ,crockery is made by the ,greeks #adij ,b4,c4 ,all kinds of tools and weapons are being made4 ,at #adec ,olympic games are celebrated in ,greece4 ,hercules makes his appearance and arrives in ,phrygia #abbe ,b4,c4 ,the ,trojan war begins #aaid and ,helen elopes with ,paris #abjd ,b4,c4 ,latinus in #abci reigns in ,italy4 ,in #aada the temple of ,ephesus is burnt by the ,amazons4 ,many nations may be cited using dancing music4 ,singing had already developed4 ,i cite these few items to show that the world was doing bravely without ,jehova or ,god4 ,in #aaae the ,chinese not only knew of the mariner's compass1 but were compiling a standard dictionary containing forty thousand characters--which is said to have been completed by ,pa-aut-she #aajj ,b4,c4 ,these brief statements1 these few historical facts--and there are any number of them--,i recite for the purpose of showing that other nations developed1 other kingdoms existed1 other peoples had already made considerable advances in art1 science1 lawmaking1 government1 priestcraft1 without ,god1 without ,jehova1 without the ark4 ,these other nations had their oracles1 their ceremonies1 their customs4 ,and what is more1 they still exist as nations4 ,they no doubt had their wonders1 their miracles1 their spirits1 their souls1 their ghosts1 their holy of holies1 their sanctums1 their angels1 and their divinities1 and whatever else has from time to time been invented to control and deceive the masses and to satisfy the priests4 ,what everybody should understand is that these ,hebrews during the theocratic form of government were no better than1 and in fact not so good as1 other nations1 or any of their neighbors4 ,the stage of civilization has never yet advanced beyond the natural capacity and capability of the people at any time4 ,whatever stage has been reached in the world's progress in the past1 it was in harmony and corresponded with the degree of nervous culture that had been attained4 ,and just in proportion as the senses were developed1 intelligence and understanding advanced4 ,the senses are the sole originators of ideas4 ,the collective experience and training of these senses becomes the standard by which we may judge the height of knowledge any class of people may have reached4 ,nations kept pace with one another1 copying from one another1 imitating or modifying or improving those things and conditions with which they were brought in contact1 whether by travel1 commercial intercourse1 or war4 ,all these means of communication served as a means of exchanging ideas1 of adopting1 rejecting1 or improving whatever degree of civilization had been attained4 ,at no time has any individual1 community1 or nation been especially favored by any supernatural endowment1 influence1 or miraculous contribution towards their advancement4 ,but each has always been improved by the force1 energy1 power1 of some individual or individuals whose training and education has been such as to fit him or them to concentrate and carry out the ideas that have perhaps been floating for a greater or lesser time in the intellectual atmosphere4 ,when civilization has outgrown the swaddlings of the times1 something must yield4 ,a change is sure to be effected4 ,although it may not take place without a struggle1 or at once1 ultimately it will and must attain the necessary accommodation4 ,change or revolution has never yet taken place without some new ideas having been evolved4 ,doubts have arisen1 and processes of reasoning have been set in motion1 plans made1 in order to upset the old ideas1 to replace them by the new4 ,new ideas and improvements ripen slowly4 ,the minds of men are not ready to receive and adopt them4 ,skepticism as to the existing state of things makes way for the newer and advanced condition of affairs4 ,our understanding and reasoning faculties are limited to the state of progress and the steps that have been made in the advancement of civilization4 ,we may be a little before our time1 but never very much4 ,we could never have had an electric light if ,volta had not discovered the battery4 ,nor would steam power be so generally used if the marquis of ,worcester had not had the idea suggested to him ,a4,d4 #affc of a way to drive up water by fire1 etc4 ,men must learn to know and understand that all knowledge1 whether belonging to mythology1 idolatry1 fable1 romance1 theology1 philosophy1 or science--all rules adopted for our mode of conduct1 either as individuals1 communities1 or governments--are the products of the brain1 evolved by degrees by a perfectly natural process4 ,and just as we advance from infancy to childhood1 from childhood to youth1 from youth to puberty1 from puberty to manhood1 from manhood to maturity1 from maturity to reasoning1 from reasoning to judgment1 from judgment to wisdom1 so humanity has gone step by step1 through many thousands of centuries perhaps1 slowly improving in intelligence1 accumulating experience4 ,observing so many phenomena in nature they did not understand1 it was all surprise and wonder4 ,and not being able to account for them1 in consequence of the infantile development of their nerve centers1 admiration of their beauty and usefulness led to gratitude and worship4 ,and they at length made themselves images representing these extraordinary phases4 ,thus idols in all probability originated4 ,like children with dolls1 they dressed them1 painted them1 played with them1 imitated living beings in their form and shape1 endowing them with some of the best human qualities or virtues known to them4 ,the collection of these representations1 especially the most prominent ones1 formed in due time the center or focus round which fables and myths gathered4 ,the older they grew1 the more they were honored1 till at length they became established institutions4 ,the history of the human race begins with fables1 myths1 childish stories1 and with idols4 ,these prevail until some one arises and either disputes their authenticity or proves them unreasonable4 ,this tends to produce new ideas1 disputes1 conflicts1 angry passions1 and separation4 ,differences of opinion concerning old ideas and methods lead to the formation of new ones1 especially when the old ones cease to interest and become impracticable or burdensome4 ,new ideas in time take the place of the old ones1 improved1 modified1 and adapted to the existing circumstances and conditions4 ,the ,levites had for several centuries attempted to govern the ,hebrews by means of ecclesiastical discipline1 laws1 and leadership1 but finally discovered that it was anything but a success4 ,every form had been tried4 ,they were threatened with destruction1 in spite of their ,jehova and the wooden ,box1 the ark4 ,some new stimulant had to be tried to bring about a more healthy condition of affairs4 ,to consolidate the nation if possible1 to infuse a new spirit1 and divert ideas from discontent1 turmoil1 and dissension1 a king was suggested4 ,samuel finding a very tall man who bore an excellent reputation for courage and wise conduct1 one of the tribe of ,benjamin1 he selected him as a proper person to become king of the ,jews4 ,this man's name was ,saul4 ,samuel himself not only was a clever priest and prophet1 but also possessed the necessary qualities to make a good general4 ,it was he who defeated the ,philistines after they had gained one victory over the ,israelites and captured their ark4 ,during this period of their existence as a republic1 an ecclesiastical republic--the theocracy1 as it is called--they had to contend and struggle1 and undergo many vicissitudes4 ,it was barbarian fighting against barbarian4 ,regardless of their having on the one side ,jehova and the ark1 and on the other side ,dagon ,co41 the victory always remained with the best-disciplined or more numerous army1 which also possessed good generalship4 ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,,the ,,end ,,of ,,national ,,life4 ,the ,hebrew monarchy established under ,saul #ajie ,b4,c41 continued and cemented under ,david1 and weakened and ruined under ,solomon1 terminated in the year #ige ,b4,c41 lasting altogether one hundred and twenty years4 ,this marks the culmination of national greatness and glory--and the rapid decline and disintegration4 ,we now come upon the rise of a new class of men1 prophets of a new school--visionary men1 dreamers and agitators1 reformers--besides miracle-mongers and fault-finders4 ,discontent reigned4 ,men began to sing the glories of their past greatness1 the wonders of ,jehova1 the miracles of ,moses1 and the promises that the ,lord had made to their forefathers1 ,abraham1 ,isaac1 and ,jacob1 of the land that flowed with milk and honey4 ,it seems almost unaccountable1 even from a theological1 ,christian standpoint1 that ,god1 ,jehova1 the ,lord almighty1 should not be able to exhibit his wonderful powers regularly1 systematically1 instead of by fits and starts1 on special occasions1 after intervening centuries4 ,why should a ,god come and go by leaps and jumps1 appearing and disappearing at distant ages1 now helping and then punishing8 ,why lead and mislead8 ,why permit people to be so foolish and senseless as to create rival gods8 ,why should he be jealous of a wooden god1 or of any other kind of an idol8 ,why should it be necessary to whip people into understanding ,god1 knowing him8 ,why were there so many thousand people slaughtered to force conviction of his marvelous powers8 ,is it not an outrage on common sense for a ,god to stoop to mountebank tricks1 subterfuge1 and delusion1 so-called miracles1 in order to establish his existence1 or his presence8 ,if ,god made man1 why did he not make him properly to begin with1 so as to suit himself at least8 ,why did he not make him so as to know the father right from the start8 ,why should this almighty ,god1 this ,jehova1 keep his chosen people continually on the rack of transgression1 crime1 and folly8 ,why did he create them so that they should so easily forget him1 and devote their reverence1 their veneration1 their sacrifices1 and their prayers to some brass or wooden image8 ,the excuse so frequently made throughout the ,bible1 as a reason for losing battles or being made captives1 that the ,jews forsook their ,jehova1 their ,god1 is no extenuating circumstance4 ,how comes it that the nations with the heathen gods were victorious and finally conquered the ,hebrew nation and led them forth as captives8 ,the heathen gods must have been equal1 indeed frequently superior1 to the ,hebrew ,god1 because they1 the heathen gods1 were so very often victorious1 and finally subdued the ,hebrews4 ,the two nations ,judah and ,israel fell into idolatry almost immediately4 ,solomon even preferred ,ashtoreth1 the goddess of the ,zidonians2 and after ,milcom1 the abomination of the ,ammonites 7#a ,kings xi1 #e71 and how many other strange gods we have no record4 ,israel began as a kingdom #ige ,b4,c42 ,jeroboam1 a servant of ,solomon1 was the first king and ,hoshea the last2 ,shalmanezer1 king of ,assyria1 took ,samaria by force1 and drove the ,ten ,tribes into ,media captives1 in the year #gba ,b4,c42 this kingdom having lasted two hundred and fifty-four years1 and having had during that time nineteen kings4 ,the kingdom of ,judah lasted longer1 beginning at the same time1 #ige ,b4,c4 ,rehoboam1 the son of ,king ,solomon1 was the first king4 ,the captivity of ,judah and the destruction of ,jerusalem was completed #ehh ,b4,c4 ,judah had existed as a nation about three hundred and eighty-seven years4 ,jehoiachin and ,zedekiah were the last kings4 ,during this period they had about twenty-one kings4 ,nebuchadnezzar1 king of ,babylon1 made a conquest of ,egypt1 besieged ,jerusalem1 pillaged and burnt the ,temple1 and carried everything away that he could lay his hands on4 ,with few exceptions1 a worse1 a more brutal set of men than these rulers never governed any nation4 ,during their successive reigns1 we find an unbroken succession of the barbarities which were at that time the generally recognized method of warfare1 accompanied by licentiousness1 and all the other savageries of these semi-civilized people4 ,prophet traffic flourished in those days4 ,there were as many kinds of prophets as there were gods1 with a complement of priests to correspond4 ,religious hate and intolerance was manifest on every occasion towards one another4 ,to gain power and control the affairs of state was the chief aim and object4 ,they would curse and destroy one another whenever a favorable opportunity occurred4 ,two religious fanatics became especially conspicuous about #iah ,b4,c41 ,elijah and later ,elisha4 ,the antagonism and hostility between the leaders of factions was now very intense4 ,jezebel slaughtered the prophets of her opponents1 and ,elijah1 who was the leader of the ,jehova faction1 cursed and raved1 and many hundred prophets of ,baal were slaughtered 7#a ,kings xviii1 #ai1 #dj74 ,it was brutality against brutality1 crime against crime1 savagedom against savagedom4 ,the bloody struggle continued right along1 the slaying being employed on any and every occasion4 ,thus he caused the killing of the several fifties1 as related in #b ,kings i4 ,elijah was a zealot2 harsh1 bitter1 and merciless to the opponents of his faith4 ,as to the miracles1 they answered the purpose well enough for a lot of ignorant1 half-civilized country people4 ,we have had similar tricks repeated by priests all along1 deluding1 cheating1 and defrauding the poor simple-minded1 ignorant classes4 ,and it came to pass as they still went on and talked1 that behold1 there appeared a chariot of fire1 and horses of fire1 and parted them both asunder2 and ,elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven 7#b ,kings ii1 #aa74 ,how could a man go up to heaven8 ,the atmosphere around this terrestrial globe is about two to three hundred miles in hight4 ,the law of gravitation prevents the smallest particle from leaving the earth's surface1 much more a body of the weight of a man4 ,the whirlwind belongs to the earth1 and never reaches beyond a certain hight4 ,besides1 everything taken up by a whirlwind or cloud in due time returns to mother earth4 ,as for the horses and chariot of fire1 in later days pious persons pretend to have seen similar appearances4 ,a man sitting before a fire fancies he sees all kinds of pictures and faces2 they are the reflections of his mind4 ,so when one fancies representations of figures and objects in the clouds1 or in the moon1 they are either delusions of vision1 or the fancied picture of the imagination4 ,there are delusions of hearing4 ,an unsound condition of the nervous system may produce hallucinations of such a nature2 a disease or a mental derangement may occasion this sort of nervous disturbances4 ,a new feature was introduced by these men--the healing art1 resuscitating the supposed dead1 casting out evil spirits1 laying on hands1 etc4 ,a sillier piece of charlatanism was never put in print than ,elisha's miraculous resuscitating trick on a child in a cataleptic fit 7#b ,kings iv1 #cd1 etc474 ,a craftier or more cunning piece of business was exciting ,jehu1 ,king ,ahab's general1 to rebel1 and to slaughter the whole of the king's family4 ,elisha sends a young prophet to ,jehu to pour oil on his head and anoint him king1 on his promise to exterminate the king's family 7#b ,kings ix73 ,for the whole house of ,ahab shall perish2 and ,i will cut off from ,ahab him that pisseth against the wall and him that is shut up and left in ,israel 7#b ,kings ix1 #h74 ,ahab1 ,jezebel1 and ,ahab's seventy sons were all slaughtered4 ,all the great man's priests1 and his kinsfolk1 were slain4 ,and ,elisha called together all the prophets of ,ahab's faction1 all those that worshiped ,baal1 and killed them all off4 ,general ,jehu was made king as a recompense for the services he had rendered to the ,elisha faction4 ,that was about #hhd ,b4,c4 ,usurpation1 conspiracy1 and bloody crimes mark this period4 ,intrigue1 robbery1 spoilings1 lust1 and degradation seem epidemic in these nations4 ,when they were not fighting each other1 they were warring with these barbarities4 ,elijah had undoubtedly a powerful party at his command when he prompted ,jehu to revolt and assume the reins of government4 ,he had everything pretty well organized when ,elijah said1 ,and it shall come to pass1 that him that escapeth ,hazael shall ,jehu slay2 and him that escapeth from the sword of ,jehu shall ,elisha slay4 ,yet ,i have left seven thousand in ,israel1 all the knees which have not bowed unto ,baal 7#a ,kings xix1 #ag1 #ah74 ,these seven thousand were no doubt his immediate disciples1 not the commoner herd of people4 ,he selected a man to succeed him1 whom he no doubt knew well--a farmer1 for ,elisha was plowing when he was chosen as chief agitator1 arch-conspirator1 and inheritor of all the rights and privileges of a revolutionary leader 7#a ,kings xix1 #bj1 etc474 ,this plowman1 prophet1 and conspirator combines in himself also the healer1 preacher1 and leader1 etc4 ,he cures ,naaman's leprosy1 causes iron to swim1 brings blessings to some and curses to others4 ,these knavish tricks succeeded with the ignorance and superstition of the day4 ,the people could be swayed in any direction by a clever1 determined1 bold talker1 consequently were easily excited into the committal of any acts1 no matter how revolting or brutal4 ,these political factions led by prophets and priests were not so gentle and polite towards one another as they are at the present day4 ,the church ruled4 ,gods of either side alternately were in power4 ,those in power killed off those who were out of power4 ,whether it is ,elijah or ,elisha1 leaders of the ,jehova party1 or ,queen ,jezebel1 leader of the ,baal prophets of the other party1 the result always depends upon numbers and clever leadership4 ,ferocious brutality never ceases but for a short while4 ,there is not a spark of humanity1 no mercy1 not an act of kindness or consideration4 ,menahem was king of ,israel #ggb ,b4,c4 ,he smote ,tipsha and all that were therein4 ,and all the women therein that were with child he ripped up 7#b ,kings xv1 #af74 ,thus we have page after page marked with bloody crime in the book called sacred history1 scripture1 and what not4 ,and alas6 this is ,god's work1 ,god's own book1 ,god's own people4 ,much has been said about the inaccuracies in the ,bible--the contradictions1 the errors that are found4 ,we are not concerned in any of them4 ,we are interested in directing the attention of the reader to the book called holy scripture1 a book believed to have been written by supernatural inspiration1 relating to certain acts done by ,god2 and these acts1 accompanied by wonders1 were performed for a people especially selected by him1 that were under his protection1 guidance1 direct supervision2 and their leaders1 lawgivers1 kings1 priests1 prophets1 and teachers were by reason of their holiness in communication with this ,god1 either directly or indirectly1 and thereby were endowed with powers that rendered them capable of doing things contrary to the fixed laws of nature4 ,we have endeavored to point to a few of the acts of the greatest and best men figuring in that book called scripture4 ,these men were not divine nor were their acts divine4 ,their acts were not humane1 nor anything approaching what is understood to be humane at the present age4 ,on the contrary1 their acts were barbarous1 savage1 brutal1 cruel1 and in many instances outrageous4 ,they1 the ,hebrews1 were no better than their neighbors the heathens1 whatever their name or nationality might be4 ,the heathen with their idols were just as good in war1 in battle1 as1 if not better than1 the ,jews were with their ,god1 their ,jehova1 and the ark1 and finally succeeded in subduing the ,jews1 burning their ,temple with ,god's ark1 vessels1 etc41 taking them captives1 and destroying them as a nation4 ,it is evident from history that the principal men of the nation were corrupt2 that both the kingdom of ,israel and that of ,judah were rotten to the core4 ,they were continually warring with each other1 as with other nations4 ,their abuses gave rise to public agitators1 who always found supporters4 ,men of the ,elijah and ,elisha stamp never lose an opportunity1 and they made the most of all of it while they lived4 ,they introduced a school of thought and action that laid the foundation for new sects that culminated in the remote future4 ,the belief in medical miracles was more firmly fastened upon the minds of their followers by the prophets1 fortune-tellers1 and healers1 than by any class previous4 ,other nations meantime were progressing in civilization--literature1 the art of warfare1 etc4 ,greece was gaining laurels4 ,homer appeared4 ,hesiod wrote about #ijj ,b4,c4 ,tyrtus's ,elegies1 ,archilochus's ,satires1 etc41 about #gjj ,b4,c4 ,the ,persians and ,romans were rising and making rapid progress and conquest1 soon to sweep smaller peoples and nations aside4 ,these heathen made conquests1 gained victories1 transplanted the captives1 and were altogether far more prosperous and successful with their idols than the ,hebrews were with their ,god4 ,nothing else better proves that the struggles for supremacy among the human families were perfectly natural1 each side depending always on their leaders1 their skill in fighting1 their bravery1 and their organization2 that their ,gods1 their idols1 their oracles1 and their priests played but a small part in the transactions of life2 and that all the gods1 whether idols1 or mythological1 or ,jehovistic1 and no matter of what nationality1 had all about the same material value1 power1 and importance4 ,from our modern standpoint all the gods may be classed in one category4 ,we may safely pronounce them to be creatures of imagination1 sprung into existence through ignorance1 fears1 and superstition4 ,they are all alike false1 frivolous1 and foolish4 ,they have not a particle of truth in them4 ,and the ,gods that are now held in such high esteem by many people1 are no better than the ,chaldean idols4 ,judah is still struggling to retain her grip on her national life4 ,every effort prolongs the agony4 ,hezekiah is king #gag ,b4,c4 ,isaiah is the prophet4 ,romantic dreamer1 songster1 critic1 and man of visions1 he sees distress1 ruin1 and misery before him2 recalls the glories of the past1 but sees none of the faults2 sees the greatness of the nation of ,solomon1 ,david1 and ,saul1 and now beholds the national degradation4 ,he laments this dreadful condition with a bitterness of feeling4 ,then he hopes against hope that something will happen in the future that will bring about a happy state of his nation and reproduce the golden prosperity of those glittering ages that are gone4 ,this man is a close observer1 a visionary man1 and a critic4 ,he writes and sings of his own people1 of his own country4 ,in the introduction which he gives himself in ,isaiah i and ii1 he presents his vision concerning ,judah and ,jerusalem1 etc4 ,he reproaches them for their sin1 iniquity1 corruption1 etc43 ,your country is desolate1 your cities are burned with fire2 your land1 strangers devour it in your presence1 and it is desolate1 as overthrown by strangers 7i1 #g74 ,his dream and hope of the future3 ,and he shall judge among the nations1 and shall rebuke many people2 and they shall beat their swords into plow-shares1 and their spears into pruning-hooks3 nation shall not lift up sword against nation1 neither shall they learn war any more 7ii1 #d74 ,this entire chapter1 like most of the chapters of ,isaiah1 is a work of the imagination4 ,it is the fancy of a dreamer who mentally sees the thing he longs for4 ,in his nervous exaltation1 visions appear1 incoherent1 meaningless1 except to himself4 ,he brings different parts of different objects together1 representing things and scenes he is familiar with1 in the form of pictures1 natural in parts but unnatural and impossible as a whole4 ,as for my people1 children are their oppressors and women rule over them 7iii1 #ab74 ,he describes the tinkling ornaments about their feet1 and their cauls and their round tires like the moon1 their chains and bracelets and mufflers1 the bonnets1 and the ornaments of the legs1 and the headbands and the tablets and the earrings1 and the rings and nose-jewels1 the changeable suits of apparel1 and the mantles1 and the wimples1 and the crisping-pins1 and the glasses1 and the fine linen1 and the hoods1 and the vails1 etc4 ,this portion is no doubt realistic4 ,it shows his mental condition and the mood he was in4 ,his humor changes3 ,now ,i will sing to my well-beloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard 7v1 #a74 ,in this chapter he touches upon everything that strikes his fancy4 ,hell1 wind1 land1 instruments1 lions1 etc41 etc41 are all introduced4 ,he rambles all over nature4 ,imaginary ideas are mixed with realities indiscriminately1 for illustration1 comparison1 lamentation1 or complaining4 ,high in the temple he sees the ,lord sit2 sees the seraphim with six wings1 etc4 7vii74 ,and in chapter viii he has a great roll and writes in it with a man's pen concerning ,maher-shalal-hash-baz4 ,verse #a3 ,and ,i went to the prophetess2 and she conceived1 and had a son4 ,then said the ,lord to me1 ,call his name ,maher-shalal-hash-baz 7#c74 ,isaiah lived after the captivity of the ,ten ,tribes4 ,he also knows of the constant fighting between the ,ten tribes and the two1 ,israel and ,judah4 ,israel has been carried away captive to other lands and its country has been given to a people called ,cutheans1 or ,samaritans4 ,these cultivated and adopted in some measure the ,jewish religion4 ,in moments of despondency he refers to them as he refers to ,moab and other nations elsewhere4 ,the whole ,christian faith seems to be based on the prophecy of the ninth chapter of ,isaiah1 #fth and #gth verses4 ,isaiah starts out in this chapter speaking of the time when ,god first lightly afflicted the land of ,zebulon and the land of ,naphtali1 etc4 ,in the #fth verse he says1 ,for unto us a child is born1 unto us a son is given1 etc4 ,that man has no reference to ,christ as ,maher-shalal-hash-baz4 ,chapter viii1 verse #h3 ,and he shall pass through ,judah2 he shall overflow and go over1 he shall reach even to the neck1 and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of the land1 ,o ,immanuel4 ,this really means the son which the prophetess conceived1 and called ,maher-shalal-hash-baz4 ,chapter ix1 verse #ba3 ,manasseh and ,ephraim1 and ,ephraim and ,manasseh2 and they together shall be against ,judah1 etc4 ,he talks in a confused1 mystified fashion1 alluding now to this people1 now to that2 at one time to the ,tribes and at another to the ,moabites1 ,assyrians1 then to ,egypt or ,zion2 dreams of tyrants1 hypocrites1 and his hopes revived about the remnants of ,israel4 ,when he speaks of the child he has not the remotest dream of ,christ4 ,he has no foreknowledge1 except what his judgment suggests4 ,he feels annoyed and irritated1 then his hope and aspiration soothe and comfort him1 and in chapter xi he describes a most happy state of affairs3 ,the wolf also shall dwell with the lamb1 and the leopard shall lie down with the kid1 and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together1 and a little child shall lead them 7verse #f74 ,and the cow and the bear shall feed2 their young ones shall lie down together1 and the lion shall eat straw like an ox 7xi1 #g71 etc4 ,the wildest and most extravagant kinds of interpretation are given to various passages in ,isaiah4 ,into them the theologians force a meaning3 ,chapter xxxv1 #a3 ,the wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them and the desert shall rejoice1 and blossom as the rose4 ,christians say it means the joyful flourishing of ,christ's kingdom4 ,in chapter xliii1 verse #b1 ,jehova declares3 ,i1 even ,i1 am the ,lord2 and beside me there is no savior4 ,he repeats it in chapter xliv1 verse #f3 ,i am the first1 and ,i am the last1 and beside me there is no ,god4 ,verse #h3 ,is there a ,god beside me8 yea1 there is no ,god2 ,i know not any4 ,chapter xlix3 ,listen1 ,o isles1 unto me2 and hearken ye people from afar2 the ,lord hath called me from the womb2 from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name4 ,this is supposed to mean1 ,christ being sent to the ,jews complaineth of them4 ,chapter lv3 ,thus saith the ,lord1 where is the bill of your mother's divorcement1 whom ,i have put away8 or which creditors is it to whom ,i have sold you8 ,behold6 for your iniquities you have sold yourselves1 and for your transgression is your mother put away4 ,it is said that this means1 ,christ sheweth that the dereliction of the ,jews is not to be imputed to him1 by his ability to save4 ,this is the ,christian interpretation of the above passage4 ,it is a misrepresentation of facts as well as meaning4 ,why twist1 torture1 and falsify it8 ,isaiah lived in stirring times4 ,after the captivity of the ,ten ,tribes1 the government and the people were corrupt4 ,an invasion was at hand4 ,sennacherib invades ,judea #gab-gaa ,b4,c4 ,the ,medes and ,assyrians were also fighting for supremacy4 ,being an educated man1 he knew the history of his nation--their trials1 the triumph and the glory they had enjoyed1 and the decline of this people with its pride and pomp to a passing away4 ,he had ample material to supply his imagination2 he therefore dreamed1 sang praises1 saw visions1 hoping for something to turn up1 miraculous or otherwise1 to save the remnant of his nation4 ,he cannot be compared to the two strong1 rough miracle-mongers of ,israel1 ,elijah and ,elisha1 that had lived over a century before him4 ,this idealistic dreamer had not the slightest knowledge of coming events1 of what was to happen seven hundred years later4 ,the minds of men had slowly undergone changes4 ,the rigidity of the ,mosaic laws had undergone some modification1 and some change in interpretation as to the meaning of the many commands and usages4 ,with every battle and with every invasion new notions1 new customs1 were introduced4 ,the transition was surely laying the foundation for various schools1 which was inevitable as the intelligence and education progressed4 ,after ,isaiah ,jeremiah comes1 as a natural result of the age4 ,manasseh1 king of ,judah1 had been carried captive to ,babylon1 and restored to power #fgg ,b4,c4 ,ammon and ,josiah follow4 ,the latter is killed1 and his successor1 ,jehoahaz king of ,judah1 is deposed and carried to ,egypt #fji4 ,three years later ,nebuchadnezzar conquers ,jerusalem4 ,jehoiachin reigns three months1 and he is carried off captive to ,babylon1 besides three thousand of the principal persons of dignity1 and among these was ,ezekiel 7#eih ,b4,c474 ,zedekiah was appointed king4 ,he was the uncle of ,jehoiachin1 twenty-one years of age when he began his reign2 a bad one it was1 and he suffered for it4 ,and he was the last of the kings of ,judah4 ,in #ehh ,b4,c4 ,jerusalem was captured and destroyed1 the ,temple burnt2 the sons and friends of ,zedekiah were slain2 ,zedekiah's eyes were put out1 and he was bound and taken to ,babylon4 ,jeremiah had spoken a good many truths1 and given them ample warnings what would happen4 ,he met with a great deal of opposition--was thrown into prison and made to suffer for his boldness4 ,his exhortations and his appeals availed nothing4 ,the heads of the high priests and those of the rulers were cut off4 ,the destruction was complete4 ,jeremiah wrote fifty-two chapters1 and ,christian interpreters managed to find two places in this entire writing that indicated ,christ's kingdom3 ,chapter xxiii1 verse #e2 ,behold the days come1 saith the ,lord1 that ,i will raise unto ,david a righteous branch1 and a king shall reign and prosper and shall execute justice and judgment in the earth--meaning1 ,christ shall rule and save them4 ,chapter xxxi1 verse #bb3 ,how long wilt thou go about1 ,o thou backsliding daughter8 for the ,lord hath created a new thing in the earth4 ,a woman shall compass a man--meaning1 ,christ is promised4 ,these are the only two spots whence any possible allusion can be drawn4 ,this man is unlike the visionary1 romantic dreamer ,isaiah1 whose imagination and nervous exaltation kept him more or less in a state of excitability and carried him into regions of dreamland where his hopes and wishes were planted4 ,jeremiah writes up the historical occurrences2 passes judgment on his own people and on the nations his people had to struggle with1 bewailing their corruption1 wickedness1 wretchedness1 misery4 ,he never dreams of ,christ or ,christianity1 nor does he in any part allude to ,christ4 ,he also1 like ,isaiah1 wrote and acted in accordance with the times he lived in4 ,he was a steadfast friend to his disciple ,baruch4 ,his lamentations describing the miserable state of ,jerusalem1 bewailing its calamities1 are perfectly human1 and perfectly natural for a patriot and a poet of his time4 ,ezekiel was in ,chaldea among the captives about #eij ,b4,c4 ,this man is also largely endowed with a prolific imagination2 he is a visionary man4 ,he adopts a new method of talking2 when the word of the ,lord comes to him1 ,son of ,man is the manner in which he is addressed4 ,jeremiah uses the expression1 ,sayeth the ,lord1 or the word to ,jeremiah from the ,lord saying----,isaiah uses1 ,thus saith the ,lord4 ,ezekiel wrote forty-eight chapters4 ,the following are interpreted to mean ,christ3 ,chapter xxxiv1 verse #bj3 ,therefore thus saith the ,lord ,god unto them3 ,behold ,i1 even ,i1 will judge between the fat cattle and between the lean cattle--meaning1 the kingdom of ,christ4 ,chapter xxxvi1 verse #be3 ,then will ,i sprinkle clean water upon you2 and ye shall be clean2 from all your filthiness1 and from all your idols1 will ,i cleanse you--meaning1 the blessings of ,christ's kingdom4 ,chapter xxxvii1 verse #bj3 ,and the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes--meaning1 the promises of ,christ's kingdom4 ,the political methods of governing nations which had their origin in the ages of barbarism1 ignorance1 and brutality1 left the rotten remnants to construct upon them a system of rules for the guidance of the masses1 to control1 subjugate1 and restrain their mental faculties1 the development and advancement of their understanding1 and to perpetuate the suppression of their higher intellectual powers4 ,the beliefs in a ,god with the inferior natural human functions were handed down to us through many centuries1 undergoing transitions and changes to suit the occasions1 circumstances1 and times4 ,the toning down of the ,hebrew ,god is in the first instance mainly due to the beneficent influences of the heathen1 as they were then called4 ,the educational facilities the ,jews enjoyed during their captivity were of a better and higher order1 and how much of the entire book called scripture is due to these opportunities afforded them we shall never know4 ,history teaches us1 however1 that ,ezra1 when ,cyrus was king of ,persia1 #deg ,b4,c41 was permitted to go to ,jerusalem to collect what manuscripts and data he could find1 and he is credited to have written the ,chronicles #dec ,b4,c4 ,how many more books or parts were written and compiled by ,ezra and his companions will remain a mystery4 ,the work of resuscitating the nation--to recover its former importance1 to restablish some of its former glory--was attempted seventy years later1 under ,cyrus1 who granted the ,jews the privilege to return and rebuild the ,temple4 ,they were prompted to do this out of pure motives of patriotism1 and it can be regarded only as a struggle to continue to exist as a portion of a historic people4 ,the ,levites were instrumental in bringing about their return4 ,the tribes were those belonging to the kingdom of ,judah4 ,at this time an opposition temple and an opposition religion was established by the people of ,samaria1 a mixture of ,cutheans and ,israelites4 ,the rivalry and hatred towards each other was as intense as the hatred and bitter factional fight had been between the ,ten ,tribes and the two tribes ,israel and ,judah4 ,affairs did not succeed well4 ,there were quarrels1 wrangles1 application to higher authorities to arbitrate and decide their differences and disputes4 ,new kings1 new powers1 came for conquest and plunder4 ,new leaders1 new governors1 deceit1 treachery1 rebellion1 assassination1 mark these centuries under ,assyrians1 ,persians1 ,greeks1 and ,romans1 until #fc ,b4,c41 when ,judea was made a ,roman province4 ,meantime new sects had organized under different names1 each one giving its interpretation as to the signification of the laws contained in the books that were handed down to them4 ,from the multiplicity of opinions1 sects1 factions1 and fanaticisms1 the already modified ideas were about to undergo a farther transition1 that helped to inaugurate what might well be termed a reformation4 ,while this nation was crumbling to pieces other nations had advanced in civilization1 in art1 science1 and literature1 that never claimed to have done anything under the influence of a ,jehova1 or any symbol representing him4 ,these nations--,greeks1 ,romans1 ,persians--seemed to have succeeded better with mythological gods than the ,jews with theirs4 ,they had laws to govern them1 which required neither smoke nor thunder to make them4 ,man1 plain man1 made them4 ,some were surrounded with mysterious ceremonies1 symbols2 others were not4 ,lycurgus reforms the constitution of ,sparta #hhd ,b4,c4 ,carpets are made for tents about this time4 ,the art of sculpture rises in ,egypt4 ,buddha's religion is introduced into ,india1 and an attempt is made to discover the primitive language of mankind by ,psameticus2 and1 what is of considerable importance1 children are being educated in the ,grecian language and manners #ffj ,b4,c4 ,these facts are mentioned to show that nations that were not hampered with the ,jehovistic religion1 that had no miracles1 wonders1 or arks1 were more advanced in the national sciences1 had made farther progress in the general civilization of mankind1 than the ,hebrews4 ,the electricity of amber was discovered by ,thales1 and he also taught the spherical form of the earth as the true cause of lunar eclipses1 #fdj ,b4,c4 ,schools of learning flourished in many places4 ,authors appeared whose writings are classic to this day--,sappho1 ,alcus1 sop1 ,pittachus4 ,solon's legislation in ,athens superseded the laws of ,draco4 ,it was not the ,mosaic ,god that made these people intelligent1 gave them their understanding4 ,their enlightenment was due simply to the natural processes of the great nervous centers1 independent of all supernatural interference4 ,the school of statuary was opened at ,athens by ,depoenus and ,scyllis4 ,comedies were enacted on a cart by ,susarian and ,dolon4 ,dials were invented by ,anaximander1 etc4 ,learning is encouraged at ,athens1 and a public library is founded4 ,all this and much more occurs about #edj ,b4,c4 ,persia1 too1 is rapidly spreading its empire2 growing powerful2 progressing in wealth1 commerce1 and learning4 ,zoroaster founds his philosophy1 without bloodshed1 rapine1 or murder4 ,rome is in a nourishing condition2 takes its first census #efe ,b4,c4--#haa1gjj citizens--spreading its empire4 ,we must ever bear in mind that all these nations were called heathen1 and their methods of belief are looked upon by ,christian teachers as much inferior to their own4 ,confucius1 the ,chinese philosopher1 is not inferior in his morality to any of the moralists of the age in which he lived1 #ebb ,b4,c4 ,and we may safely say he is equal even to the morals of to-day4 ,manners1 methods1 and fashions change1 but certain principles remain4 ,we can examine the pages of the history of other human races and compare them with the ,jews1 ,god's own chosen race1 his own people1 and the heathen takes the prize in every branch of science1 art1 and the progress of civilization4 ,the ,hebrews for many1 many centuries1 with their blind infatuation with the supernatural1 their constant superstitious practices of their ceremonial1 their senseless devotion to an imaginary piece of extravagance1 were so steeped in stupidity and ignorance that they had neither time nor inclination to observe and examine nature and its workings1 so remained slaves to their preposterous practices4 ,republics become fashionable4 ,corinth starts with her republican form of government #ehb ,b4,c41 and ,rome follows in abolishing a regal government and establishing a republic #eji ,b4,c4 ,the ,carthaginians make a voyage to ,great ,britain for tin1 etc4 ,sophocles1 ,plato1 ,socrates1 ,aristophanes1 and a host of renowned men rise to teach the world how to think1 how to speak4 ,philosophy1 medicine1 morality1 poetry1 history1 comedy1 tragedy1 arts1 and science had a firm hold on the public mind4 ,a degree of refinement both in manner and in conduct prevailed among all classes4 ,it was about this time that ,ezra and his companions were compiling--rather collecting--fragments for composing the book of ,chronicles4 ,other books may have been compiled or written4 ,nehemiah followed ,ezra4 ,he rebuilt and repeopled ,jerusalem4 ,for all that1 nothing good of a permanent character was accomplished4 ,time goes on1 centuries accumulate2 intelligence1 experience1 and a higher grade of civilization appear4 ,nations grow more powerful4 ,the struggle for supremacy continues1 and ,judah1 like a shuttlecock1 is thrown about from nation to nation1 now under one dominion and now under another4 ,religious opinions1 however1 are forming4 ,they are hostile1 bitter1 inimical towards one another2 accompanied with all the hatred1 jealousy1 spite1 that religious differences usually engender4 ,they are all anxious to hold office1 priestly or otherwise1 consequently bribery1 lying1 and misrepresentation are the means used to gain the influence of those in power4 ,the rivalry between the sects makes matters no better4 ,the ,samaritan sect were already in existence when ,ezra returned to ,jerusalem4 ,hostilities led to conflicts1 and there was little peace between them4 ,in ,judea there were several sects1 holding various opinions4 ,like so many political factions1 each sought control1 and tried to uphold its peculiar views and interpretations4 ,the ,sadducees sprang into life about #bdd ,b4,c4 ,this sect believed that the soul dies with the body2 nor do they regard the observance of anything besides that the law enjoins them2 for they think it an instance of virtue to dispute with those teachers of philosophy whom they frequent2 but this doctrine is received but by few1 yet by those still of greatest dignity4 ,but they are able to do almost anything of themselves2 for when they become magistrates1 as they are unwillingly and by force sometimes obliged to be1 they addict themselves to the notions of the ,pharisees1 because the multitude would not otherwise hear them 7,josephus74 ,this sect1 one would judge1 consisted of the wealthy and more enlightened class4 ,the ,pharisees live meanly1 despise delicacies in diet1 and they follow the contract of reason2 and what that prescribes for them1 as good for them1 they do2 and they think they ought earnestly to strive to observe reason's dictates for practice4 ,they also pay respect to such as are in years2 nor are they so bold as to contradict them in anything which they have introduced2 and1 when they determine that all things are done by fate1 they do not take away the freedom from men of acting as they think fit2 since their notion is1 that it hath pleased ,god to make a temperament1 whereby what he wills is done1 but so that the will of man can act virtuously or viciously4 ,they also believe that souls have an immortal vigour in them1 and that under the earth there will be rewards or punishments according as they have lived virtuously or viciously in this life2 and the latter are to be detained in an everlasting prison1 but that the former shall have power to revive and live again2 on account of which doctrines they are able greatly to persuade the body of the people2 and whatsoever they do about divine worship1 prayers and sacrifices1 they perform them according to their directions2 insomuch that the cities gave great attestation to them1 on account of their entire virtuous conduct1 both in the actions of their lives1 and of their discourse also 7,josephus74 ,the doctrine of the ,essenes is this1 that all things are best ascribed to ,god4 ,they teach the immortality of souls and esteem that rewards of righteousness are to be earnestly striven for1 and when they send what they have dedicated to ,god unto the ,temple1 they do not offer sacrifices1 because they have more pure lustrations of their own2 on which account they are excluded from the common court of the ,temple1 but offer their sacrifices themselves2 yet is their course of life better than other men2 and they entirely addict themselves to husbandry4 ,it also deserves our admiration1 how much they exceed all other men that addict themselves to virtue1 and this in righteousness2 and indeed to such a degree that as it hath never appeared among any other men1 neither ,greeks nor ,barbarians1 no1 not for a little time1 so hath it endured a long while among them4 ,this is demonstrated by that institution of theirs1 which will not suffer anything to hinder them from having all things in common2 so that a rich man enjoys no more of his own wealth than he that hath nothing at all4 ,there are about four thousand men that live in this way2 and neither have many wives1 nor are desirous to keep servants2 as thinking the latter tempts men to be unjust2 but as they live by themselves1 they minister one to another4 ,they also appoint certain stewards to receive the income of their revenues1 and of the fruits of the ground2 such as are good men1 and priests1 who are to get their coin and their food ready for them4 ,of a fourth sect of ,jewish philosophers1 ,judas the ,galilean was the author4 ,these men agree in all other things with ,pharisaic notions2 but they have an inviolable attachment to liberty1 and say that ,god is to be their only ruler and lord4 ,they also do not value dying any kind of death1 nor indeed do they heed the deaths of their relations and friends1 nor can any such fear make them call any man ,lord 7,josephus74 ,these matters are quoted to show the changes and modifications religious opinions were undergoing1 and must have undergone for many centuries previously1 until they reached the present stage4 ,the arguments1 discussions1 and reasons given1 as well as the beliefs adopted1 differ only in degree and kind from those when ,abraham and his father dissented from the mode of worship then extant in ,chaldea1 some one thousand nine hundred years previous1 and from the modifications introduced by ,moses1 the greater part of which were adopted from the ,egyptians--whence the ,jews really got the first taste of civilization4 ,these religious notions of the ,jews are the opinions1 simply the opinions1 of a small branch of the human family4 ,there are a great many others4 ,during all these centuries little or nothing was known of the natural1 of the more intimate relations of nature and nature's forces4 ,and of all nations the ,jewish race knew the least4 ,they were too much occupied with the supernatural to ever learn anything of the natural4 ,the supernatural idea sprang from the mire of ignorance and barbarism and savagery4 ,crime and outrage mark the centuries as it rolled along in the tide of human events1 halting only when forced1 and renewing its current when there was nothing to bar its way--struggling madly1 conquering1 fighting1 subduing4 ,life was of no value1 and everything was brutally crushed under this monstrous supernatural idea1 until at length it was brought to halt by superior natural forces that in time crushed and subdued it4 ,after one thousand four hundred years of ,jehovaism1 of various shades and hues1 this religion emerges from the past ages to the coming centuries in a new garb1 slightly improved1 somewhat milder in temper1 and wearing altogether a new mask1 so that neither ,father ,abraham nor ,general ,moses would recognize his offspring4 ,,chapter ,,xv4 ,,the ,,christian ,,era4 ,we come to the beginning of the second two thousand years of modified ,jehovaism1 called the ,christian era4 ,the ,christian era1 like the ,chaldean-,abrahamic era1 and like the ,mosaic-,jehovistic era1 was introduced in a mysterious manner4 ,both the ,mosaic and the ,christian were accompanied with miracles1 differing in degree and intensity1 as also corresponding with the changes and transitions of the times1 the progress of intelligence1 and the development of brain power4 ,if ,moses had made the attempt to perform his miracles in ,christ's time1 he would have been hooted4 ,he could not have deceived these masses with his tricks as he did the ignorant horde he led out of ,egypt4 ,these people had no opinion1 no idea1 no intelligence4 ,they were the obedient tools and slaves of anyone who exhibited superior skill to control them and keep them in subjection1 as the ,catholic and ,greek church make the ignorant masses subservient to their will at this day4 ,the small end of the wedge of science had begun to make its way into the dense solid mass of ignorance and superstition1 through the thick coating of ,jehovistic supernaturalism4 ,this thin end1 however1 opened a chink big enough to give us the first glimpse of the natural4 ,men began to think1 reason1 calculate4 ,their past experience made them think and compare the various conditions of man and things in nature4 ,philosophy1 arts1 science1 had taken root1 in opposition to and in spite of any supernatural theory or any ,jehovistic influence4 ,the natural is the proper antidote for this supernatural poison4 ,greece was one of the first nations that helped to lift the heavy fog that obscured man's intellectual vision3 ,b4,c4 ,aristus writes a treatise on conic sections1 #chj ,dionysius invents catapult1 #cii ,aristotle1 the founder of the ,peripatetics1 logician and philosopher1 ,plato1 ,diogenes1 ,demosthenes 7,philippics71 etc41 #cfh ,gausias of ,sycion invents caustic painting1 the art of burning colors into wood and ivory1 #cce ,lysistratus invents molds from which to cast wax figures1 #cbh ,the gnomon is invented or constructed to measure altitudes1 ,euclid of ,alexandria writes his celebrated ,mathematics1 that has never been contradicted or modified1 and is used at the present day1 #cjj ,dionysius the astronomer at ,alexandria finds the solar year to consist of #cfe days #e hours and #di minutes1 ,archimedes the mathematician demonstrates the property of a lever and other mechanical powers1 also the art of measuring solids and surfaces and conic sections1 and constructs a planetarium1 ,the art of making paper and printing invented by the ,chinese1 #bjj ,attalus1 king of ,pergamos1 introduces a book with leaves of vellum1 instead of rolls1 ,pasidonius calculates the hight of the atmosphere to be #hjj stadia1 ,scipio ,nascia invents a water clock1 ,hipparchus lays the foundation of trigonometry1 fixes the first degree of longitude1 the meridian1 ,these few citations ,i hope will be convincing proof of the progress made1 thus showing that men were observing1 reasoning1 calculating1 governed by demonstration and proof4 ,it would have been impossible for ,moses1 or any other man1 to perform miracles of the nature theologians believe1 at the time of ,christ4 ,two conditions are always necessary for every miracle--profound ignorance on the one hand1 and a clever fraud on the other4 ,there are1 however1 another class of miracles1 that are at all times in order2 that are played and plied on human failing and human weakness1 always coupled with ignorance on the one side1 and dishonest scoundrelism1 a fraud by a priest or church mountebank1 on the other4 ,in disturbances of nature1 no one believes unless he has ocular proof and demonstration1 knowing that these things are subject to natural laws and no one man could produce an earthquake or a thunderstorm4 ,no man could stop the current of the ,mississippi river either by praying or by throwing a stick over it4 ,what we can do1 that has the appearance of a miracle1 is to play upon the susceptibilities1 failings1 weaknesses1 and imaginations of ignorant human nature4 ,these cure-alls1 these medical wonder-workers1 these spiritual charlatans1 these theological miracle-mongers1 these fanatical frauds1 were introduced more prominently in the ,bible story by the celebrated political agitators ,elijah and ,elisha4 ,the ,christian form of religion is a modification of the ,hebrew1 mixed with either ,greek or some other of the numerous doctrines existing at that period4 ,the hero of this reformation is brought to our notice in what is scripturally called a miraculous manner4 ,matthew introduces the subject by saying 7i1 #ah73 ,now the birth of ,jesus ,christ was in this wise3 ,when as his mother ,mary was espoused to ,joseph1 before they came together1 she was found with child of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,we have noticed how 7,gen4 vi1 #b7 the sons of ,god married the daughters of men--who the lady was1 the mother of these sons1 we do not know1 or by what process they were brought into this world4 ,there are instances in the ,bible when prayer had the effect of producing that interesting condition on woman4 ,we have also the example of ,eli1 that fat1 lascivious priest 7whose sons entertained themselves behind the altar with the ladies7 who assisted ,hannah when the ,lord closed her womb4 ,the ,temple has served many outrageous purposes1 and many amusing as well as instructive lessons might be gathered4 ,fortunately the ,jewish ,temple is no exception4 ,the heathen temples were equally guilty4 ,during the reign of ,tiberius1 the ,romans had a temple of ,isis1 and they had a god called ,anubis4 ,a man with the name of ,mundus fell in love with a married lady called ,paulina1 who bribed the priests to permit him to appear to ,paulina in the temple as the god ,anubis4 ,the priest representing the god ,anubis invited ,paulina to the temple in order to be entertained by that god4 ,her husband1 pleased with the favor1 consented4 ,paulina was entertained all night at the temple by what she supposed to be the god ,anubis1 ,mundus representing him4 ,paulina was delighted1 her husband also1 but ,mundus could not hold his tongue4 ,tiberius heard of it2 he caused the temple1 priests1 and all to be burnt1 and ,mundus was exiled for three months4 ,the priests were crucified4 ,anyone curious to know particulars about this matter may consult history4 ,in modern times1 living as we do in an age of reason1 fact1 and science1 we do not take the same view of these particular occurrences such as the ,bible speaks of as our forefathers1 the ancients who lived in an age of fancy and imagination4 ,the ,holy ,ghost1 unless he is in the substantial form of a man1 can accomplish nothing1 and either ,mrs4 ,mary ,joseph had committed an act of indiscretion before marriage1 or ,joseph himself was the father4 ,it would be far more decent for all parties concerned to legitimatize the child4 ,the effect or result would be just the same1 since the young gentleman is to be the great reformer of that age1 clever1 meek1 mild1 amiable as he is represented to be in the ,new ,testament4 ,mark begins his gospel3 ,the beginning of the gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 the ,son of ,god4 ,luke begins historically and then tells his virgin story 7i1 #bg74 ,john philosophizes1 and tells us that 7verse #ah7 no man hath seen ,god2 the only begotten son which is in the bosom of the father1 he hath declared him4 ,in verse #de he is called the son of ,joseph4 ,the entrance of ,christ into this world is the most stupid and ridiculous piece of nonsense that was ever written4 ,if ,christ is the son of ,god he can be no relation of ,david1 and ,joseph can certainly not be his father4 ,or if the ,holy ,ghost was the cause of ,mary's condition before marriage1 ,joseph condoned the offense by living with her1 and is the father by adoption and not by nature2 and can by no means be a relation or descendant of ,david4 ,then again1 if ,joseph is the father1 ,jesus is not the son of ,god4 ,in that case1 he might be a relation of ,david1 but no relation to ,god4 ,men of ordinary education no longer believe either in the ,holy ,ghost1 the manner of ,christ's coming1 nor in his divinity4 ,it is an absurd fabrication1 an impossibility and contrary to nature4 ,i repeat once more1 that neither ,god1 his spirit1 nor his holy ghost1 can perform anything that is in direct opposition to the laws of nature4 ,the miracles that are attributed to ,jesus ,christ by ,matthew1 ,mark1 ,luke1 and ,john are invariably of a medical nature2 embracing all kinds--lepers1 palsy1 fevers1 dropsy1 the blind1 the dumb1 the lame--hemorrhages of women1 casting out devils1 curing lunatics1 healing every disease4 ,the manner of curing is very peculiar--by touch1 by rebuke1 by word1 by spit and touch4 ,a sample or two will suffice3 ,mark vii1 #cb3 ,and they bring unto him one that was deaf1 and had an impediment in his speech2 and they beseech him to put his hand on him4 #cc3 ,and he took him aside from the multitude1 and put his fingers into his ears1 and he spit1 and touched his tongue4 #cd3 ,and looking up to heaven1 he sighed1 and said unto him1 ,ephphatha1 that is1 be opened4 #ce3 ,and straightway his ears were opened1 and the strings of his tongue were loosed1 and he spake plain4 ,matt4 xvii1 #ae1 etc43 ,christ rebukes the devil out of a lunatic4 ,chapter xx1 #cd3 ,he touches the eyes of two blind men and they see4 ,luke viii1 #dc3 ,and a woman having an issue of blood twelve years1 which had spent all her living upon physicians1 neither could be healed by any4 #dd3 ,came behind him1 and touched the borders of his garment2 and immediately1 her issue of blood stanched4 ,chapter viii1 #ed 7woman dead73 ,and put them all out1 and took her by the hand1 and called saying1 ,maid1 arise4 #ee3 ,and her spirit came again1 and she arose straightway1 etc4 ,john ix1 #a3 ,and as ,jesus passed by1 he saw a man1 which was blind from his birth4 ,verse #f3 ,when he had thus spoken1 he spat on the ground1 and made clay of the spittle1 and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay4 ,luke xiv1 #b3 ,he cures a man of dropsy1 etc4 ,that these cures were actually performed is not very probable1 for the simple fact that the art of medicine was little known1 and least known among the ,jews4 ,that these four witnesses really were present at the time these operations were performed1 we have no proof4 ,luke says ,christ cures blindness by touch2 ,john makes him use spit and clay4 ,we are not told that he was trying experiments4 ,anyway1 every operation was successful4 ,raising people from the dead was equally successful4 ,why should we wonder that such miracles could be performed among the lower classes1 rude1 uneducated1 and poor8 ,they were ready to believe any kind of plausible deception2 and it was among this class that he found his adherents4 ,these performances called miracles are supposed to have happened nearly two thousand years ago4 ,at that time the masses were not to be compared to the masses of to-day in education1 understanding1 or in the progress made in every branch of art1 science1 literature1 mechanics1 etc4 ,the church ,christianity has also progressed somewhat1 and there can be no possible excuse for the priests of to-day affirming these pretended cures of ,christ4 ,they ought to know that the notions of these things are due to feebleness of intellect in the uncultured brain1 to the lack of understanding and the gullibility of the masses4 ,christ and his disciples were as ignorant as the masses concerning medicine or the healing art4 ,they knew absolutely nothing about it4 ,at #cbe ,a4,d41 later #cah1 fathers of the then existing ,christian organizations approved of the entire contents4 ,nay1 a large part of it may have been manufactured by them4 ,at this day there is no reason that men should not know better4 ,every man1 whether priest or layman1 ought to understand that so-called miraculous cures can be performed only by men1 priests or others1 that premeditatedly1 with intent1 cheat1 swindle1 and defraud some portion of the public1 in consequence of the ignorance of the one1 and the superior knowledge1 shrewdness1 and cunning of the other4 ,it is a flagrant abuse of authority1 a miserable condition of our laws1 a stupendous piece of bigotry1 an outrage1 that a man can be punished for speaking the truth1 and it is an actual miracle that people are still so wonderfully stupid as to believe in the scandalous deception of the healing qualities of an old rag1 a coat1 pretended to have belonged to ,christ or some one else4 ,recently we read in the daily paper1 the ,sun3 ,berlin1 ,sept4 #bf4--;,in ,treves1 ,herr ,reichar has been sentenced to six weeks' imprisonment for ridiculing the holy coat and for attacking the ,roman ,catholic prelates because they encouraged the people to believe that it had healing qualities4 ,his publisher1 ,herr ,sonnenburg1 was sentenced to three weeks' imprisonment4 ,the chief charge against them was blasphemy4 ,even in this city1 some miserable cheat or cheats attempted to perpetrate the same sort of scoundrelism in one of the ,catholic churches4 ,during the recent cholera desolation in ,hamburg1 we read3 ,in all the churches services of prayer for the abatement of the plague have been held4 ,they have been attended by crowds which have filled the buildings 7,sun74 ,in ancient times plagues were regarded as visitations from ,god2 to-day we know that they are the products of filth and starvation4 ,sanitary measures and food for the starving are needed1 instead of prayer4 ,the churches would answer a far better purpose converted into soup-kitchens and healthy lodging-houses for the poor and homeless4 ,in ,russia the condition is still worse4 ,the degradation of the masses is extreme4 ,of the dreadful doings there we hear but the slightest echo4 ,the ,russian priest is an ignorant1 intolerant1 selfish1 tyrannical brute4 ,in time of cholera the clergy walk in procession through the streets in church garb1 with banners1 crosses1 candles1 chanting and praying1 while the dirt1 filth1 and cholera poison lie all around them4 ,the pilgrimages to ,lourdes are another ecclesiastical swindle4 ,the poor1 miserable dupes are enticed in order to be plundered4 ,from the ,tribune1 ,zola at ,lourdes1 we quote3 ,nothing could be more truly sensational than the annual pilgrimage thither1 the flocking to that shrine of tens of thousands of devotees1 dozens of special trains running to it daily2 the daily processions1 with thousands of priests and tens of thousands of the laity2 the fervent prayers of the supplicants1 and the wild exaltation of those that are miraculously healed--or who believe themselves to be healed4444 ,so ,m4 ,zola1 accompanied by ,mme4 ,zola1 were at ,lourdes1 and following the crowd1 proceeded at once to the holy grotto4 ,he found it surrounded by more than twenty thousand people1 of both sexes and of all ages and conditions4 ,indeed in none of his novels is a more striking scene portrayed than that4 ,in the afternoon the daily procession occurred4 ,at its head marched no less than two thousand priests1 monks1 and nuns4 ,then came the holy sacrament1 borne beneath a silken canopy4 ,after it came the sick and the suffering who had come thither to be cured4 ,these were cripples on crutches or leaning on the arms of friends2 the blind1 led by their friends or fellow-pilgrims2 sick and deformed infants in their mothers' arms2 here and there a cripple and a blind man arm in arm1 relying upon each other1 the one for support1 the other for guidance4 ,behind these thousands came other thousands of suppliants1 sightseers1 perhaps some scoffers1 while yet other thousands stood by and gazed upon the scene4 ,it is indeed a miracle that we have so many such persons at this stage of progressive civilization4 ,but the church and its priests have exerted every influence to prevent its advance4 ,fortunately the world at large has outgrown this childish nonsense to some extent4 ,the development of our civil laws1 with a greater knowledge of the natural laws1 keep the church and priestly fanatics in subjection4 ,as to the resurrection of ,christ's body1 or anyone else's body1 we may put it down as fabulous and untrue4 ,dead bodies do not rise--cannot rise4 ,from the moment a body is dead the process of decomposition begins1 and resuscitation is an impossibility4 ,no one believes it1 and the priest of this century even doubts it1 though the manner of ,christ's birth and death forms the creed of ,christian believers1 and reads as follows3 ,i believe in ,god1 the father almighty1 maker of heaven and earth1 and in ,jesus ,christ his only son our ,lord1 who was conceived by the ,holy ,spirit1 born of the ,virgin ,mary1 suffered under ,pontius ,pilate1 was crucified1 dead and buried4 ,he descended into hell2 the third day he rose again from the dead2 he ascended into heaven1 and sitteth at the right hand of the ,father1 whence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead4 ,i believe in the ,holy ,ghost1 the ,holy ,catholic ,church1 the communion of saints1 the remission of sins1 the resurrection of the body1 and life everlasting4 ,does anyone1 except the most ignorant1 believe any of the items contained in the above creed8 ,the men that composed the ,old1 and later the ,new ,testament1 may have been sincere in their belief1 may have acted from pure motives1 and ,i give them credit that their endeavors were honest1 that they knew no better4 ,they could not know the truth1 have knowledge of the natural4 ,its forces1 its capabilities1 its phenomena--these were unknown to them4 ,they erred1 were mistaken in what they observed2 that of itself is ample excuse for their opinions4 ,no such excuse exists at this present time1 and no men or set of men1 however organized1 priestly or otherwise1 should be permitted to delude and stupefy the more ignorant portion of a community4 ,the judge on the bench ought to know better than punish a man because he ridicules the efficacy of an old coat to cure miraculously4 ,it is a disgrace to our civilization1 and should not be tolerated4 ,we have a right to criticise any idea1 opinion1 set of opinions1 or ceremonies1 no matter how ancient1 how originated or by whom entertained or put into practice4 ,we have as much right to protest against the truth or falsity of their statements1 as any of our forefathers had in remote ages4 ,any individual that permits his prejudices to get the better of his judgment1 because he belongs to this or that church1 is unfit to serve in a public capacity4 ,the judge or magistrate that sentenced ,reichar and ,sonnenberg at ,treves deserves to be branded as the greatest jackass that ever decorated a bench4 ,ridicule is the only weapon that wipes out these shameful practices1 that helps to enlighten the masses1 that elevates their thoughts and makes their understanding4 ,it is disgraceful enough for the ancients to have crucified ,christ for his opinions1 beheaded ,paul for his preaching1 and crucified ,st4 ,peter for his energy4 ,abraham had a right to have his opinions4 ,he differed with the ,chaldeans about their gods1 ridiculed them1 despised them1 argued1 reasoned1 as best he knew how4 ,he had to leave the land of his birth for his opinions4 ,moses had a right to set up his ,jehova1 organize a nation1 and fight under his banner4 ,he forced a success with superior numbers and superior skill4 ,coming to ,christ1 ,paul and ,peter had a right to their opinions4 ,they suffered for their opinions1 yet their opinions held4 ,we of to-day have a right to deny the truth of their opinion4 ,we have a right to deny any part or the whole of their doctrine1 their pretensions1 their errors2 we have a perfect right to decline to accept their say-so for proof of anyone's having done certain things by supernatural aid4 ,and neither church nor priest can force people to believe in their absurdities1 when our reason1 understanding1 and common sense tell us that it is neither true nor possible4 ,few men are so dull that they do not recognize the fact that it is unpleasant1 as well as unprofitable1 for an organized body of men1 whether church or other organization1 who have prospered1 gained influence1 control and authority over men1 territory or wealth1 by means of certain ideas or opinions1 to be interfered with or encroached upon by a new and opposing organized body1 with new ideas or opinions1 lest the former might lose some of their influence1 control1 or authority over men1 territory1 or wealth4 ,selfishness and self-preservation lie at the root of this1 and every aggressive movement will be hindered1 checked1 or prevented if possible4 ,,chapter ,,xvi4 ,,organic ,,life--,,vegetable4 ,the constituent elements that enter into vegetable life consist in the main of three elementary substances4 ,these essential elements consist of oxygen1 hydrogen1 and carbon4 ,the secondary elementary bodies consist of nitrogen and earthy elements1 sulphur and phosphorus4 ,there are also found other elementary substances in lesser quantities in vegetable structures1 as potassium1 sodium1 calcium1 magnesium1 silicon1 aluminium1 iron1 manganese1 chlorine1 bromine1 and iodine4 ,these are the materials of which vegetables are made4 ,vegetables derive all the materials of their fabric from the earth and the air4 ,plants can possess no simple elements which these do not supply4 ,they may take in1 to some extent1 almost every element which is thus supplied4 ,the elements above mentioned are not of universal occurrence1 nor are they all components of any one vegetable tissue4 ,although plants and animals have no peculiar elements2 though the materials from which their bodies spring1 and to which they return1 are common earth1 water1 and air1 yet in them these elements are wrought into something widely different from any form of lifeless mineral matters1 under the influence of what is usually termed the principle of life4 ,this may be said to consist of a favorable condition brought about by the union of certain elements1 under a moist atmosphere and a high temperature1 combined with other powerful forces in nature4 ,when this terrestrial globe began to cool the matter predominating in the atmosphere was water or its elements oxygen and hydrogen1 carbonic acid and nitrogen2 under the influence of a high temperature1 and powerful sources of electricity1 numerous combinations were produced between the elements2 first carburetted hydrogen1 then a nitrogenous combination1 more or less analogous to the albuminous matter which we know 7,huxley74 ,among the innumerable combinations nature produced1 during a series of infinite ages1 slowly undergoing transformation1 the mixture of these substances1 acting chemically upon one another1 generating and regenerating at the expense of their surroundings1 composed the first living being4 ,this being was of excessive simplicity1 comparable to the organisms which we call monera4 ,the sun's heat acting upon these elements1 and the elements acting upon one another1 produced motion4 ,heat is motion1 expansion1 restrained and acting in its strife upon the smallest particles of bodies4 ,the principles of life were first produced by the action of the sun's heat upon these vitalizing elements1 setting them in motion1 generating the required force4 ,the surrounding condition being favorable1 the simplest form of physiological life was produced4 ,once under the influence of what may now be termed the principle of life1 in connection with which alone such phenomena are manifested1 the three or four simple constituents effected peculiar combinations1 giving rise to a few organizable elements--as they are termed1 because of them the organized fabric of the vegetable or animal kingdom is built up4 ,this fabric is in a good degree similar in all living bodies2 the solid parts1 or tissues1 in all assuming the form of membranes1 arranged so as to surround cavities1 or form the walls of tubes1 in which fluids are contained4 ,such a structure is called organized structure1 and the bodies so composed are called organized bodies1 because such fabrics consist of parts coperating with one another as instruments or organs adapted to certain ends1 and through which alone the living principle1 under whose influence the structure itself was built up1 is manifested in the operations which the animal or plant carries on4 ,there is in every organic fabric1 a necessary connection between its conformation and the action it is destined to perform4 ,this is equally true of the minute structure1 or tissue1 as revealed by the microscope1 and of the larger organs which the tissues form in all plants and animals of the higher grades1 such as a leaf1 a petal1 or a tendril1 a hand1 an eye1 or a muscle4 ,the term organization formerly referred to the possession of organs in this larger sense1 that is1 of conspicuous parts or membranes4 ,it is now applied as well to the intimate structure of these parts1 themselves made up of smaller organs through which the vital forces directly act4 ,protoplasm1 called by ,huxley the basis of physical life1 is nothing more than a homogeneous albuminous matter4 ,an isolated albuminoid is not living any more than an acid or a base equally isolated is a chemically active body4 ,but a mixture of two or several albuminous substances 7a protoplasm contains at least two7 might be living1 similarly as a mixture of an acid and a base demonstrates the chemical activity of the two bodies4 ,but1 whereas in the combination of an acid and a base1 the formation of a new body puts an end to the dynamic manifestations of the mixture2 the albuminous matter which by its union gives birth to a protoplasm1 that is to say1 to living matter1 is capable of generating itself at the expense of the medium in which it is placed1 and in proportion to the dynamic manifestations which it produces1 gives birth to some rejected excreta in its midst4 ,living matter may be roughly compared to an electric pile1 the elements of which are capable of regenerating indefinitely4 ,this continual exchange of the elements of living bodies and the medium in which they are placed1 is one of the conditions of life4 ,life is the continued organization1 while the molecules constituting the organized body 7organism7 are in a state of mobile equilibrium1 or a continual renovation4 ,a grain of vegetation1 or an animal 7,rotifera7 slowly dried1 might not manifest any vital property for a long time4 ,far from constituting an example opposed to our definition1 it on the contrary goes to corroborate it4 ,whilst the chemical elements which compose it could not act one upon the other1 it was necessary that they should be dissolved3 ,corpora non agunt nisi sulta4 ,one might compare these organisms to a pile where nothing except the fluid is wanting4 ,the eggs of certain animals 7birds1 etc471 that require a certain heat in order to develop completely1 furnish us a case analogous to those chemical actions which could not be accomplished in a perfect manner except by a sufficient elevation of temperature4 ,the long discussions that have taken place in the last few years on this question1 the attempted efforts to demonstrate or refute the heterogenic doctrine1 have but indifferently served the purposes of science4 ,they have made us at least to see more clearly the impotence of chemistry and physiology alone to solve the biological problem4 ,it is impossible for anyone to study with care the organization of the ,infusoria1 and even the ,protista1 and believe that beings so complex are formed by spontaneous generation4 ,the size of an animal or a vegetable signifies nothing in this question4 ,the imperfections of the micrographic investigation have alone permitted the notion of the creation of beings such as the ,paramecia1 the ,mucidina1 etc4 ,even in the more inferior ,protista1 the ,bacteria1 and other ,schizomycites1 the hypothesis of heterogeny is reversed by the simple observation that these beings present a very complicated metamorphosis4 ,an evolution1 that is to say a series of supposed forcible metamorphoses1 a special condition of the germ1 resulting from heredity1 consequently proves a generation dependent on other than anterior organisms4 ,this reasoning1 however1 demonstrates in an unobjectionable manner that the first living beings were formed independent of all prexisting organization1 and that these beings were as little organized as possible4 ,the latest progress in chemistry and in biology permits us to raise the veil partly in recovering the obscure origin of living matter4 ,,animal-,,vegetables1 ,,protista4 ,when we behold the plants and animals that ordinarily surround us1 the distinction between the animal and vegetable kingdom is somehow intuitive4 ,and it seems a loss of time and trouble to indicate the character which separates these two from each other4 ,it is not the same when we descend the scale of organisms4 ,then we arrive at an inferior region where the distinction disappears gradually1 and we soon conceive the existence of a frontier zone between the animal and vegetable1 a neutral territory which has been designated the kingdom of ,protista4 ,they reproach naturalists for admitting the kingdom of ,protista1 accusing them of doubling the difficulty1 instead of abolishing it2 since it is necessary to establish a distinction between ,protista1 on the one part animal1 on the other vegetable4 ,that objection could be made every time they established a new division in the organic kingdom4 ,it does not signify anything for those who know that all divisions that trench on biology are purely subjective and that nature does not bend to our strict system of classification4 ,natura non facit saltus4 ,all living bodies can be decomposed into visible elements under the microscope1 and these have been named ,plastides or ,cells4 ,that word is employed in a more general sense4 ,the most simple ,plastide is the ,cytode1 a simple mass of protoplasm without a nucleus or membranous envelope4 ,a cell in a restricted meaning of the word is a ,cytode presenting a nucleus1 that is to say1 a mass of protoplasm in the midst of which is a distinct part of the substance ambient differentiated by its aspect and its property4 #a4 ,plants and animals are always produced under the influence of a living body similar to themselves4 #b4 ,they develop from a germ or rudiment1 and run through a course of changes1 to a state of maturity4 #c4 ,plants increase by a process through which foreign materials are taken1 made to permeate their interior1 and deposited interstitially among the particles of the previously existing substance2 that is1 they are nourished by food4 #d4 ,plants and animals alone possess the power of assimilation1 or the faculty of converting the proper foreign materials they receive into their own peculiar substance4 #e4 ,connected with assimilation1 as a part of the functions of nutrition1 is a state of internal activity and unceasing change in living bodies2 these constantly undergoing decomposition and recomposition1 particles which have served their turn being continually thrown out of the system as new ones are brought in4 ,this is true of both plants and animals1 but more fully of the latter4 #f4 ,the duration of living beings is limited4 ,they are developed1 they reach maturity1 they support themselves for a time1 then perish by death sooner or later4 ,mineral bodies have no life to lose1 and contain no internal principle of destruction4 ,once formed1 they exist until destroyed by some external power4 ,they lie passive under control of physical forces4 ,life4 ,the great characteristic of plants and animals is life1 which these beings enjoy1 but minerals do not4 ,we may safely infer that life is not a product1 or result1 of the organization2 but is a force manifested in matter1 which it controls and shapes into peculiar forms--into an apparatus1 in which means are manifestly adapted to ends1 by which results are reached that are in no other way attainable4 ,as we rise in the scale of organized structure from plants through the various grades of the animal organization1 the superadded vital manifestations become more and more striking and peculiar4 ,but the fundamental characteristics of living beings--those which all enjoy in common1 and which necessarily give rise to all the peculiarities above enumerated--are reducible to two1 viz43 #a4 ,the power of self-support1 that of nourishing themselves by taking in surrounding mineral matter and converting it into their own proper substance2 by which individuals increase in bulk or grow1 and maintain their life2 #b4 ,the power of self-division or reproduction1 by which they increase in number and perpetuate the species4 ,a striking illustration may set both points in a strong light4 ,the larva of the flesh-fly possesses such power of assimilation that it will increase its own weight two hundred times in twenty-four hours1 and such consequent power of reproduction that ,linnus did not exaggerate when he affirmed that ,three flesh-flies would devour the carcass of a horse as quickly as a lion4 ,the distinction between vegetable and mineral is therefore well defined4 ,but the line of demarcation between plants and animals is by no means so readily drawn4 ,ordinarily1 there can be no difficulty in distinguishing a vegetable from an animal4 ,all the questionable cases occur on the lower confines of the kingdom1 which exhibit forms of the greatest simplicity of structure1 and of a minuteness of size that baffles observation4 ,even here the uncertainty may be attributed rather to the imperfection of our knowledge1 than to any confusion of the essential characteristics of the two kinds of beings 7the kingdom of ,protista above alluded to74 ,the essential characteristics of vegetables doubtless depend upon the position which the vegetable kingdom occupies between the mineral and the animal1 and upon the general office it fulfills4 ,plants are those organized beings that live directly upon the mineral kingdom1 upon the surrounding earth1 air1 water4 ,they alone convert inorganic1 or mineral1 into organic matter2 whilst animals originate none1 but draw their whole sustenance from the organized matter which plants have thus elaborated4 ,plants1 having thus the most intimate relations with the mineral world1 are generally fixed to the earth1 or other substance upon which they grow1 and the mineral matter upon which they feed is taken directly into their system by absorption from without1 and is assimilated under the influence of light in organs exposed to the air1 while animals1 endowed with volition and capable of responding promptly to external impressions1 have the power of selecting the food ready prepared for their nourishment1 which is received into an internal reservoir or stomach4 ,the permanent fabric of plants is composed of only ,carbon1 ,hydrogen1 and ,oxygen4 ,the tissue of animals contains an additional element1 viz41 ,nitrogen4 ,plants1 as a necessary result of assimilating their inorganic food1 decompose carbonic acid and restore its oxygen to the atmosphere4 ,animals in respiration continually recompose carbonic acid1 at the expense of the oxygen of the atmosphere and the carbon of plants4 ,,chapter ,,xvii4 ,,organic ,,life--,,animal4 ,we have seen that the principal elements1 the most active1 that enter into the composition of plant life1 that form the food substance for the support and nourishment of animals1 are mainly composed of three elements1 ,oxygen1 ,hydrogen1 and ,carbon2 that during evolution1 growth1 and development certain elements are absorbed and assimilated1 while others1 the gases1 are exchanged4 ,plants yield up ,oxygen and take in ,carbonic acid from the atmosphere1 which they store up and elaborate4 ,we have also seen that all the elements that enter into the composition of the various sorts of vegetation1 are1 chemically considered1 seventeen in number4 ,,animal ,,life4 ,the animal1 like the vegetable1 is also composed of chemical elements1 and by chemical analysis has been found to contain eighteen1 as follows3 #a4 ,of primary or vital importance3 ,oxygen1 ,hydrogen1 ,carbon1 ,nitrogen4 #b4 ,of secondary importance1 entering into the more solid structures3 sulphur1 phosphorus1 calcium1 sodium1 chlorine1 silicon1 potassium1 fluorine1 magnesia1 iron4 #c4 ,accidental constituents3 ,magnesium1 alumina1 copper1 and lead4 ,the compounds found in the body are recognized as being derived from organic and inorganic substances4 ,organic substances are obtained3 #a4 ,from plants and vegetables1 and are termed carbohydrates or non-nitrogenous substances1 being composed of ,oxygen1 ,carbon1 and ,hydrogen--as starch1 sugar1 etc4 #b4 ,from animals3 nitrogenous substances2 these compounds contain ,oxygen1 ,hydrogen1 ,carbon1 and ,nitrogen--as meat1 white of eggs2 these are also termed albuminous4 #c4 ,mineral1 elements of inorganic origin1 as soda1 potassium1 phosphorus1 etc4 ,the more highly organized tissues found in the animal are composed of five elements1 as muscle1 brain1 blood2 these are ,oxygen1 ,carbon1 ,hydrogen1 ,nitrogen1 and sulphur4 ,albumen1 for example1 exists in most of the tissues of the body1 but especially in the nervous tissue1 lymph1 chyle1 blood1 etc4 ,fibrine is found most abundantly in the blood and the more perfect portions of the lymph and chyle4 ,gelatinous substances are contained in the cellular or fibro-cellular tissues in all parts of the body1 as tendons1 ligaments1 cartilages1 bone1 skin1 mucous membranes1 etc4 ,chondrine is obtained from cartilages1 etc4 ,the general chemical composition of these substances is as follows3 ,albumen4 ,fibrine4 ,gelatine4 ,chondrine4 ,carbon #eb4e #eb4g #ej4dj #di4ig ,hydrogen #g4j #f4i #f4fd #f4fc ,nitrogen #ae4e #ae4d #ah4cd #ad4dd ,oxygen #bb4j #bc4e #bh4eh ,sulphur #a4f #a4b #bd4cf #j4ch 7,inorganic elements47 ,phosphorus #j4d #j4c ------ ------ ------ ------ #ajj4jj #ajj4jj #ajj4jj #ajj4jj ,it will be observed that in the composition of these tissues1 more than half of their constituent elements is ,carbon4 ,there is but a very small quantity of ,hydrogen4 ,the most abundant inorganic substance in the body is water1 which is composed of ,oxygen one and ,hydrogen two 7,,oh#b74 ,more than two-thirds of the body is made up of water4 ,the body is composed of various structures4 ,of the chief tissues of the human body1 the weight is as follows3 ,the skeleton #ae4i per cent4 ,the muscles #da4h 11 ,thoracic ,viscera 7lungs1 heart1 etc47 #a4g 11 ,abdominal ,viscera 7liver1 etc47 #g4b 11 ,fat #ah4b 11 ,skin #f4i 11 ,brain #a4i 11 ,let us examine1 briefly1 each of these4 ,the skeleton4--,the skeleton1 or solid framework of the body1 is mainly formed of bones1 but is completed in some parts by the addition of cartilages4 ,the bones are bound together by means of ligaments1 and are so disposed as to support the softer parts1 protect delicate organs1 and give attachment to the muscles by which the different movements are executed4 ,there are two hundred and four bones in the body3 ,the vertebral column contains #bf ,the skull--cranium and face #bb ,the hyoid bone--bone of the tongue #a ,ribs and sternum1 forming the thorax #be ,the upper limbs--arms and shoulders #fd ,the lower limbs #fb ,small bones1 including the patella or kneecap1 to the number of #af ,the organic constituents form about #cc4c per cent of the composition of bone1 while the remainder1 #ff4g per cent1 is inorganic matter2 as follows3 ,organic matter 7gelatine and blood-vessels7 #cc4cj ,phosphate of lime #ea4jd ,carbonate of lime #aa4cj ,inorganic substances ,fluoride of calcium #b4jj ,phosphate of magnesia #a4af ,soda and chloride of sodium #a4bj ,the mineral or earthy matter enters very largely into the composition of bone4 ,a fibrous membrane covers bone externally1 and is called periosteum4 ,the hollow bones contain marrow1 composed of fat1 #if parts2 water1 #c2 connecting tissue1 #a4 ,bones are supplied with blood-vessels1 which carry the nutritious fluid to them4 #a4 ,the master tissues4 ,primarily1 it is the tissue1 and not the blood1 that gets loaded with carbonic acid1 the latter simply receiving the gas from the former by diffusion1 and the oxygen which passes from the blood into the tissues being at once taken up in some combination4 #b4 ,nearly one-half of the weight of the body consists of the skeletal muscles1 and about one-quarter of the total blood in the body is contained in them4 #c4 ,the muscles are always producing carbonic acid 7,,co#b71 and when they contract there is a sudden and extensive increase of the normal production4 #d4 ,oxygen is necessary for the life of the muscle2 it is for the nervous tissue1 but for muscular tissue especially4 #e4 ,when venous blood1 instead of arterial1 is sent through the blood-vessel of a muscle1 the irritability speedily disappears1 and unless fresh oxygen is administered the muscle soon ceases to act and dies4 #f4 ,the oxidation power is determined by the tissue and by the tissue only4 #g4 ,all the available evidence goes to show that oxidation takes place in all the tissues and not in the adjoining blood4 ,the master tissues of the body are the muscular and nervous tissues4 ,all other tissues may be regarded as the servants to these4 ,these tissues are the all-important tissues in the body4 ,the muscular tissues constitute and carry out the power1 force1 or energy of the body4 ,they set the body in motion4 ,they do the work4 ,they regulate the delicate movements of the organs of special sense or function1 as the eye1 the ear1 the tongue1 the nose1 larynx1 thorax1 abdomen2 and fighting1 defending1 building1 destroying1 labor and mechanical skill of whatever nature1 depend on them4 ,of exercise1 sport1 pain and pleasure1 sensation1 emotion1 expression of the face1 in fact all in all in every act of life1 the muscles1 the voluntary muscles1 must perform the work4 ,they are called the muscles of ,animal life4 ,they are ,voluntary2 they may be set in action at will4 ,for guidance1 control1 cordination1 sensation1 and motion1 the muscular tissues are dependent on the nervous tissues4 ,it is not difficult to understand1 ,i think1 as will be explained later on1 that all muscular movements are perfectly natural1 purely physical and mechanical4 ,the nervous tissue will be a little more difficult to comprehend1 for causes that are reasonable and plain4 ,all animals are provided with two distinct sets of organs3 #a4 ,the master tissues1 the nervous and muscular tissues1 the voluntary muscular tissues1 which are the organs of animal life1 the voluntary1 the active organs that do the work1 consume the food1 and throw off the waste material2 and #b4 ,the servants to these1 the involuntary tissues1 the organs of organic life that prepare the food1 carry it to the master tissues1 and bring away the waste material4 ,the inherent qualities of both these sets of organs are instinctive1 with this difference--the former1 the voluntary1 the controlling and working master tissues1 are capable of development1 progressively1 acquiring intelligence1 maturing into educatedness1 etc4 ,the latter1 the involuntary1 are simply servants to these1 and they perform their functions in the same manner instinctively all through life4 ,the muscular and nervous tissues are the educable tissue4 ,by repetition1 practice1 and exercise they improve and at length exhibit certain degrees of skill in the performance of their work4 ,on the other hand1 the organs of mastication1 deglutition1 digestion1 absorption1 excretion1 circulation1 and respiration simply perform their functions instinctively1 without possessing the capacity of improvement1 and without regard to volition4 ,these act involuntarily throughout life1 as preparers and carriers of nourishment to the master tissues1 and removers of waste material4 ,the work of the muscular tissues is comparatively easy to understand4 ,we can see the work done1 can account for it1 can demonstrate it4 ,the performances are capable of absolute proof1 and controversy therefore is out of question4 ,the nervous tissues present quite another state of things4 ,the great mass of cerebral matter1 with all its complicated organs and their appendages1 are hid within the cranium of the skull4 ,we have no ocular proof of anything that is done by that structure1 or of the manner in which the tissue acts4 ,that we can see1 hear1 taste1 and smell we know4 ,we recognize the organs that perform these functions4 ,sensation1 feeling1 memory1 thinking1 cannot so easily be accounted for4 ,among the masses it is a mystery to-day4 ,the doctrine of a dual existence in man is old1 still it is held on to with remarkable tenacity4 ,the church still teaches and preaches that soul or spirit is a part of some great personality or individuality not at all connected with nature--supernatural1 divine1 godly4 ,this supernatural part1 it is said1 is placed in man some time during the process of birth4 ,this subject will be more fully discussed farther on1 in order to show what queer views theologians formerly held on some scientific subjects4 ,i beg to quote from a ,talmudistic scholar and philosopher some thousand years ago3 ,,philosophico-,,anatomical ,,views ,,of ,a ,,celebrated ,,hebrew ,,author1 ,,after ,,talmudistic ,,interpretation4 ,jehuda ha-,levi ben ,samuel1 whose ,arabic name was ,abulhassan1 considered an authority and philosopher of repute1 was born in ,castile #ajhe ,a4,d4 ,he adopted medicine for his profession1 but was also a traveler1 philosopher1 and student1 and a ,talmudistic scholar and writer4 ,he wrote a book called ,sepher ,hakusir3 ,book ,kusari4 ,it is a philosophico-theologico-scientific treatise1 conducted in dialogue between himself and the king of ,kusar1 who became convinced of the truth of his argument and was converted to the ,hebrew faith4 ,in the fourth part1 section #be1 page #bdf1 ,jehuda ha-,levi is explaining the harmonious working of the whole universe1 and in evidence thereof he cites the world1 soul1 and year1 very learnedly setting forth the mysterious working of creation1 the supernatural origin and significance of the ,hebrew letters1 the secret and hidden meaning of their number1 etc4 ,this is based upon the principle that one rests on three1 three on seven1 and seven on twelve1 as follows3 ,letters3 ,three ,mothers1 ,a4 ,m4 ,sh4 ,alof1 ,mem1 ,shin4 ,world1 ,air1 ,water1 ,fire4 ,man1 ,chest1 ,abdomen1 ,head4 ,year1 ,dampness1 ,cold1 ,heat4 ,letters3 ,seven double one4 ,b4 ,g4 ,d4 ,k4 ,ph4 ,r4 ,t4 ,bet1 ,gimmel1 ,dalet1 ,kof1 ,fe1 ,rosh1 ,tave4 ,world3 ,saturn1 ,jupiter1 ,mars1 ,sun1 ,venus1 ,mercury1 ,moon4 ,man3 ,wisdom1 riches1 dominion1 life1 kindness1 posterity1 peace4 ,year3 ,the seven days in the week4 ,the twelve single one letters not mentioned--,man3 ,organs of hearing1 seeing1 smelling1 speaking1 tasting1 begetting1 dealing1 walking1 thinking1 anger1 laughing1 sleeping4 ,world3 ,the twelve ,zodiacs4 ,one on three and three on seven and seven on twelve4 ,and these numbers have their functions in common one with another4 ,for example1 'the kidneys counsel1' 'the spleen laughs1' 'the stomach sleeps1' 'the liver gets angry4' ,it is not to be wondered at that the kidneys have power to give counsel2 we observe something similar when the testicles have been removed2 one that has been castrated is weaker than a woman2 the beard does not grow1 and1 what is more significant1 the person can no longer give advice1 counsel4 ,the spleen laughs because of her natural functions1 by reason of the blood being protected against the black gall and thickening and turbidity1 and from this clearness1 purity1 nothing but brightness and joy comes4 ,the liver is angry because of the bitterness she forms4 ,the stomach sleeps by reason that it stands in relation with the organs of nourishment4 ,the heart is not thought of1 because it is the king4 ,no more do they take in consideration the lungs and diaphragm1 because they are necessarily so constituted to be of service to the heart2 accidentally only do they serve the rest of the body1 and are originally not designed to serve4 ,the brain is under the senses1 which emanate from that organ1 and are thence distributed4 ,moreover1 as to the organs that are situated below the diaphragm1 therein lies a deep meaning4 ,these are the primary vegetations1 the primary generatives4 ,the diaphragm separates the vegetative from the animal life1 as the throat separates the animal from the rational 7,plato in his ,timus explains74 ,out of the primary generatives1 out of the world vegetative1 there where the root of being exists1 the seed comes1 and there the embryo is fashioned out of four elements4 ,god has selected certain parts for his sacrifices--fat1 blood1 the peritoneum on the liver1 the kidneys4 ,on the contrary1 he did not select the heart1 or the brain1 or the lungs1 or the diaphragm4 ,this is a deep mystery2 the explanation is forbidden4 ,therefore the prescript1 that the ,jezisa is permitted to be studied only after undergoing some preparation1 by few persons1 and only under certain formalities1 etc4 ,maimonides1 or ,moses ben ,maimon 7,rambam71 #aaca-abje ,a4,d41 wrote ,god ,hazaker1 the ,strong ,hand1 a very celebrated commentary on the ,talmud4 ,he held similar views1 and is also considered a very learned authority4 ,,the ,,muscular ,,tissues4 ,the voluntary muscles are for the most part placed in close relation with the skeleton1 being attached to the hard parts1 and moving these in different directions by their contraction4 ,the muscles are all symmetrical1 and with the exception of the sphincters and one or two others are in pairs4 ,each muscle constitutes a separate organ1 composed chiefly of contractile fibrous tissue1 which is called muscular1 and of other tissues and parts which may be regarded as accessory4 ,thus muscular fibers are connected together in bundles or fasciculi1 and these fasciculi are again embedded in and united together by a quantity of connective tissue1 forming the perimysium2 and the whole is usually inclosed in an external sheath of the same material4 ,many of the muscles are connected at their more or less tapering extremities with tendons by which they are attached to the bones or hard parts2 and the tendinous bands frequently run to a considerable length either on the surface of the muscle or between its fibers4 ,there are two chief kinds of muscular tissue1 the striped1 and the plain or unstriped1 and they are distinguished by structural peculiarities and mode of action4 ,the striped form of muscular fibers is sometimes called voluntary muscle1 because all muscles under the control of the will are constructed of it4 ,the plain or unstriped variety is often termed involuntary1 because it alone is found in the greater number of muscles over which the will has no power4 ,the involuntary or unstriped muscles are made up of elongated1 spindle-shaped fiber cells1 which in their most perfect form are flat1 from about #a_/dejj to #a_/cejj of an inch broad1 and about #a_/fjj to #a_/cjj of an inch in length2 very clear1 and granular and brittle so that when they break they often have abruptly rounded or square extremities4 ,the fibers of involuntary muscles form the proper muscular coats of the digestive canal1 sophagus1 urinary bladder1 trachea1 bronchi1 gall-bladder1 blood-vessels1 lymphatics1 etc4 ,to this kind of fiber1 muscular fiber1 the term organic is often applied4 ,the sympathetic or ganglionic portion of the nervous system1 which consists of a chain of ganglia connected by nervous cords1 extends from the cranium to the pelvis1 along each side of the vertebral column1 and from which nerves with ganglia proceed to the viscera in the thoracic1 abdominal1 and pelvic cavities4 ,by its distribution1 as well as by its peculiar mode of action1 this system is less immediately connected with the mind1 as conducting either sensation or the impulses of the will2 it is more closely connected than the cerebro-spinal system is with the processes of organic life4 ,the muscles of animal life1 or striped muscles1 include the whole class of voluntary muscles1 the heart1 and those muscles neither completely voluntary nor completely involuntary1 etc4 ,all these muscles are composed of fleshy bundles called fasciculi1 inclosed in coverings of fibro-cellular tissue1 by which each is at once connected with1 and isolated from1 those adjacent to it4 ,each bundle is again divided into smaller ones similarly ensheathed and similarly divisible2 and so on1 through an uncertain number of gradations1 till we arrive at the primitive fasciculi or the muscular fibers peculiarly so called4 ,muscular fibers consist each of a tube or sheath of delicate structureless membrane1 inclosing a number of filaments or fibrils4 ,they are of cylindrical form1 or of prismatic with one or more sides1 according to the manner in which they are compressed by adjacent tissues4 ,their average diameter is about #a_/ejj of an inch1 and their length never exceeds an inch and a half4 ,the arrangement of the elementary substances in a muscular fiber 7the sarcos element or protoplasm inclosed in the sarcolemna1 the sheath7 composing a muscular fiber may be compared to ,volta's pile or an electric battery4 ,in fact1 both muscle and nerve are made up of electrical molecules1 each of the two ends of which is negative--though the development of the electrical current is at present very imperfectly known4 ,besides1 there is every reason to believe that the ground substance is similar in nature to ordinary protoplasm1 but without the granular character commonly but not always exhibited4 ,blood-vessels are largely distributed in the substance of a muscle1 carrying the materials necessary for its nourishment and chemico-vital changes1 and there are also lymphatic vessels as in other vascular parts of the body4 ,nerves run through every muscle1 by which the muscular contractions are called forth1 and a low degree of muscular sensibility is conferred upon the muscular substance4 ,the blood-vessels of the muscular tissues are extremely abundant1 so that when they are successfully filled with a colored injection the fleshy parts of the muscle contrast strongly with its tendons4 ,the arteries1 accompanied by their veins1 enter the muscle at various points and divide into branches1 etc4 ,the nerves of a voluntary muscle are of considerable size4 ,their branches pass between the fasciculi and repeatedly unite with each other in form of a plexus1 which is for the most part confined to a small part of the length of the muscle1 or muscular division1 in which it lies4 ,the voluntary muscles to which distinct names have been given in the system amount to about #bdj1 and they naturally fall under the following four great divisions 7the muscles are symmetrical and with few exceptions are in pairs73 ,a4 ,in the axial part of the body3 #a4 ,muscles of the head and neck1 #ge #b4 ,muscles of the vertebral column and trunk1 #ea ,b4 ,in the limbs3 #c4 ,muscles of the upper extremities1 #eh #d4 ,muscles of the lower extremities1 #ei ,flesh and blood have nearly the same ultimate composition4 ,on evaporating #ajjj parts of blood it yields #gij parts of water and #baj parts solid residue4 ,the elements that enter into the composition of the solid matter are as follows3 ,flesh4 ,blood4 ,carbon1 #ea4hf #ea4if ,hydrogen1 #g4eh #g4be ,nitrogen1 #ae4jc #ae4jg ,oxygen1 #ba4cj #ba4cj ,ashes1 #d4bc #d4dc ,the general composition of a human muscle is shown by the following table3 ,water1 #gdd4e ,myosin and other matters1 elastic elements1 etc4 #aee4d ,solids4 ,soluble elements1 #ai4c ,gelatine1 #bj4g ,extractives1 #cg4a ,fats1 #bc4jb #ee4e ,the muscles of the flesh form a large proportion of the weight of the whole body4 ,calculated for a man of #aej pounds' weight3 ,the skeleton1 bone1 #bg lbs4 ,the muscles1 #fc 11 ,the viscera1 with skin1 fat1 blood1 etc41 #fj 11 ,the property of muscular tissue by which its peculiar functions are exercised1 is its contractility--contraction or shortening4 ,this is excited by all kinds of stimuli1 applied either directly to the muscles1 or indirectly to them through the medium of their nerves4 ,the muscular tissues perform all the physical work--as locomotion1 every kind of action and exertion--of the body4 ,the quantity of blood circulated through the body is estimated to be from about #a_/aj to about #a_/ac part of the body's weight1 and about #a_/d of that is distributed in the muscles4 ,as regards the action of the muscles the following general principles ought to be kept in view3 #a4 ,that the force exerted by any muscle during its contraction is in proportion to the number of muscular elements or fibers composing the muscle4 #b4 ,that the extent of motion1 in so far as it merely depends on the shortening of the fibers of the muscle1 is in proportion to the length of the fibers4 #c4 ,that the direction of the force produced by a contracting muscle is in the line of the axis of the whole muscle if it runs straight between its opposite points of attachment1 but in the line of the portion attached to the moving part of the muscle1 or its tendon1 if it be bent in its course1 etc4 ,,the ,,cerebro-,,spinal ,,system4 ,the ,nervous ,tissue4 ,the nervous system consists of the cerebrum1 pons varolii1 cerebellum1 medulla oblongata1 the spinal cord with its nerves and the sympathetic ganglia1 etc4 ,the cerebrum or brain proper constitutes the highest and much the largest portion of the encephalon4 ,the cerebrum consists of two halves1 that are connected with each other by the corpus callosum1 and with the peduncular masses of the cruri cerebri1 the processus a cerebello ad cerebrum2 the series of eminences1 or cerebral centers or ganglia1 concealed from view1 named corpora quadrigemina1 optic thalamus and corpora striata1 etc4 ,the cerebral hemispheres are by far the most bulky part of the cerebrum4 ,various commissural structures unite the two hemispheres1 including the corpus callosum and fornix2 and some smaller structures1 viz41 the pineal gland1 the petuitary bodies1 and the olfactory bulb4 ,the cerebral hemispheres together form an ovoid mass1 in contact with the vault of the cranium1 and with its smaller end forward1 its greatest width being opposite to the parietal eminences4 ,they are separated in the greater part of their extent by the great longitudinal fissure4 ,the surface of the hemisphere is composed of gray matter1 and is molded into numerous smooth tortuous eminences1 named convolutions1 or gyri1 which are marked off from one another by deep furrows1 called sulci4 ,the cerebrum is divided into lobes for convenience of study1 five in number1 called frontal1 parietal1 occipital1 temporal1 sphenoidal1 and central4 ,the internal structure of the cerebrum is composed of white matter4 ,it consists of tubular fibers varying in size in various parts1 but in general still smaller than those in the cord1 their average diameter being #a_/ajjjj of an inch4 ,the fibers of white substance present no division4 ,they are arranged in bundles1 separated by a network of delicate connective tissue1 consisting of cells1 etc4 ,the cells are of various forms and sizes--spheroidal1 angular1 fusiform1 etc4 ,the fibers radiate from the white center of each convolution in all directions into the gray cortex1 having a course for the most part perpendicular to the free surface4 ,in passing through the gray substance they are arranged in bundles about #a_/aejj of an inch in diameter1 thus separating some of the nerve cells1 etc4 ,the olfactory tract and bulb1 the corpora quadrigemina1 corpora genicolate1 optic thalamus1 corpora striata1 are all more or less mixed4 ,they possess gray matter4 ,the nerves immediately connected with the brain are of several kinds4 ,and there are twelve pairs of them4 ,they are called cerebral nerves4 ,there are four kinds4 #a4 ,nerves of special sense4 #b4 ,nerves of common sensation4 #c4 ,nerves of motion4 #d4 ,mixed nerves of sensation and motion4 ,the nerves of special sense may with great propriety be termed the nerves of observation1 perception--the gateways of intelligence and education4 ,i4--,nerves of special sense3 #a4 ,the olfactory supplies the nose1 special sense of smell4 #b4 ,the optic supplies the eye1 special sense of sight4 #c4 ,the auditory supplies the ear1 special sense of hearing4 #d4 ,part of the glosso-pharyngeal supplies the tongue and pharynx4 #e4 ,the gustatory1 lingual branch of the fifth1 supplies the tongue1 sense of taste4 ,,ii4--,nerves of common sensation3 #a4 ,the ophthalmic supplies the eye4 #b4 ,the superior maxillary supplies the upper jaw and teeth4 #c4 ,the inferior maxillary supplies the lower jaw and teeth4 ,,iii4--,nerves of motion3 #a4 ,the third nerve1 motor acuti4 #b4 ,the fourth nerve1 trochlear or ,supply the muscles pathetic4 of the eye4 #c4 ,the fifth1 branch of fifth4 #d4 ,the sixth1 abducers4 #e4 ,the facial nerve supplies the muscles of the face4 #f4 ,the hyperglossal supplies the muscles of the tongue4 ,,iv4--,mixed nerves3 #a4 ,the pneumogastric supplies lungs1 heart1 stomach1 larynx1 etc4 #b4 ,the spinal accessory supplies some muscles of the back4 ,the average weight of the brain in the adult male is about #di #a_/b ounces1 a little more than three pounds avoirdupois2 in the female #dd ounces2 the average difference between the two being from #e to #f ounces4 ,the spinal cord has a length of about #af to #ag inches1 and weighs about #a #a_/b ounces4 ,the spinal cord is a continuation of the medulla oblongata1 is lodged in the spinal canal1 and gives off #ca pairs of nerves1 that supply all the muscles of the body with sensitive and motor nerves4 ,the medulla oblongata is pyramidal in form1 having its broad extremity upwards4 ,it is expanded laterally at its upper part4 ,its length from the pons varolii to the lower extremity of the pyramid is about an inch and a quarter2 its greatest breadth is nearly an inch2 and its thickness from before backwards is about three-quarters of an inch4 ,the medulla is the link between the brain and the spinal cord4 ,the majority of centers for various organic functions are situated in it2 as follows3 #a4 ,the respiratory center1 with its neighboring convulsive center 7venous blood excites convulsive centers1 etc474 #b4 ,the vaso-motor center4 #c4 ,the cardiac-inhibitory center4 #d4 ,the diabetic center1 or center for producing artificial diabetes4 #e4 ,the center for deglutition4 #f4 ,the center for the movements of the sophagus1 with its vomiting center4 #g4 ,the center for reflex excitation of the secretion of saliva1 with which may be associated the center through which the vjus 7pneumogastric7 influences the secretions of pancreatic juice1 and possibly of the other digestive juices4 #h4 ,the center for the dilation of the pupil by means of the cervical sympathetic4 ,from the surface of the medulla certain of the cranial nerves arise1 namely the sixth 7abducens71 glosso-pharyngeal1 pneumogastric1 spinal accessory1 etc4 ,the fibers from the spinal cord pass upwards through the medulla oblongata and various other structures and finally reach the cerebrum4 ,the cerebellum1 or hinder brain1 consists of a body1 and of three pairs of crura or peduncles1 by which it is connected with the rest of the cerebro-spinal axis4 ,the cerebellum is covered with a gray cortical substance1 rather darker than that of the cerebrum4 ,its greatest diameter is transverse1 and extends to about three and a half or four inches2 its width from before backwards is about two or two and a half inches2 and its greatest depth is about two inches1 but it is much thinner round its outer border4 ,it consists of two lateral hemispheres joined by a median portion called the vermiform process1 and other structures therewith connected1 etc4 ,minute structure3 ,the cortical gray substance is composed of an external clear gray layer1 an inner grayish-red granule layer1 and between the two a single layer of large cells with long processes1 termed the corpuscles of ,porkinge 7after the man who first described them74 ,outside all is the layer of fibers and vessels of the pia mater4 ,the external layer consists of a delicate matrix1 probably of the nature of connective tissue1 consisting of cells and fibers1 etc4 ,the cerebellum is probably concerned in the cordination of movements4 ,its functions seem especially connected with afferent impulses proceeding from the semicircular coats4 ,the spinal cord is a cylindriform column of nerve substance connected above with the brain1 through the medium of the medulla oblongata1 terminating below1 about the lower border of the first lumbar vertebra1 in a slender filament of gray or vesicular substance1 the filum terminale1 which lies in the midst of knots of many nerves forming the cod equina4 ,through the center of the cord1 running in a longitudinal direction1 is a minute canal1 which is continuous through the whole length of the cord1 and opens above into the space at the back of the medulla oblongata and pons varolii1 called the fourth ventricle2 the aqueduct of silvius connects it with the third ventricle1 lateral and fifth ventricles1 near the base of the brain4 ,the cerebro-spinal fluid circulates in the interior of these ventricles and spinal cord4 ,what precise mechanical function it subserves is only surmised1 not known4 ,the cerebro-spinal axis is protected by three membranes1 named also meninges4 ,they are3 #a4 ,an external fibrous membrane1 named dura mater1 which closely lines the interior of the skull1 and forms a loose sheath in the spinal canal2 #b4 ,an internal areolo-vascular tunic1 the pia mater1 which accurately covers the brain and spinal cord2 and1 #c4 ,an intermediate membrane1 the arachnoid1 which lies over the pia mater1 the two being in some places in close connection1 and in others separated by a considerable space4 ,the sympathetic nerves are distributed in general to all the internal viscera1 and to the coats of the blood-vessels4 ,some organs1 however1 receive their nerves also from the cerebro-spinal system1 as the lungs1 the heart1 and the upper and lower parts of the alimentary canal4 ,the great gangliated cords consist of two series1 in each of which the ganglia are connected by intervening cords4 ,these cords are placed symmetrically in front of the vertebral column and extend from the base of the skull to the coccyx4 ,with respect to the functions of the sympathetic nervous system1 it may be stated generally that the sympathetic nerve fibers are simple conductors of impressions as those of the cerebro-spinal system are1 and that the ganglionic centers have 7each in its appropriate sphere7 the like powers of conducting and of communicating impressions4 ,the general processes which the sympathetic appears to influence1 are those of involuntary motion1 secretion1 and nutrition4 ,nerve centers4 ,this term is applied to all those parts of the nervous system which contain ganglion corpuscles1 or vesicular nerve-substance--i4e41 the brain1 spinal cord1 and the several ganglia which belong to the cerebro-spinal and the sympathetic system4 ,each of these nervous centers has a proper range of functions1 the extent of which bears a direct proportion to the number of nerve fibers that connect it with the various organs of the body1 and with other nervous centers2 but they all have certain general properties and modes of action common to them as nervous centers4 ,the brain does not issue any force1 except when itself impressed by some force from within1 or stimulated by an impression from without2 neither do the other nerve centers without such previous impressions produce or issue motor impulses4 ,the more certain and general office of all the nervous centers is that of variously disposing and transferring the impressions that reach them through the several centripetal fibers4 ,in nerve fibers impressions are conducted only in the simple isolated course of the fiber2 in all the nervous centers an impression may not only be conducted1 but also communicated2 in the brain alone it may be perceived4 ,in all cases in which the mind either has cognizance of1 or exercises influence on1 the process carried on in any part supplied with the sympathetic nerve1 there must be conduction of impressions through all the nervous centers between the brain and the part4 ,but instead of1 or as well as1 being conducted1 impressions made on nervous centers may be communicated from the fibers that brought them to others1 and in this communication may be either transferred1 diffused1 or reflected4 ,along nerve fibers impressions or conditions of excitement are simply conducted2 in nerve centers they may be made to deviate from their course1 and may be variously diffused1 reflected1 or otherwise disposed of4 ,function of nerves4 ,the office of nerves as simple conveyors or conductors of nervous impressions is of a twofold kind3 #a4 ,they serve to convey to the nervous centers the impressions made upon the peripheral extremities or parts of their course2 #b4 ,they serve to transmit impressions from the brain and other nervous centers to the parts to which they are distributed4 ,for this twofold office of the nerves two distinct sets of nerve fibers are provided1 in both the cerebro-spinal and sympathetic systems4 ,those which convey impressions from the periphery to the center are classed together as centripetal or afferent nerves1 or nerves of sensation--sensitive nerves4 ,those1 on the other hand1 which are employed to transmit central impulses to the periphery are classed as centrifugal or afferent nerves or motor nerves1 conveying impulses to the voluntary and involuntary muscles1 etc4 ,nerves are constructed of minute fibers or tubules full of nervous matter1 arranged in parallel or interlacing bundles1 which bundles are connected by intervening connective tissue in which their principal blood-vessels ramify4 ,the size of nerve fibers varies1 and the same fibers do not preserve the same diameter through their whole length1 being largest in their course within their trunk and branches of nerves1 in which the majority measure from #a_/bjjj to #a_/cjjj of an inch in diameter4 ,as they approach the brain or spinal cord1 and generally also in the tissue in which they are distributed1 they gradually become smaller4 ,in the gray or vesicular substance of the brain or spinal cord they generally do not measure more than from #a_/ajjjj to #a_/adjjj of an inch4 ,the chemical composition of nervous matter4 ,like most of the other tissues of the body1 the nervous substance contains a large proportion of water 7from three-fourths to four-fifths of its weight74 ,of the residue which remains after the removal of this by evaporation or other means1 the larger part consists of a phosphuretted fat1 which may be obtained crystallized1 and in this condition was termed protagon4 ,the crystalline substance1 however1 is in reality a mixture of two other substances1 lecithin and neurin4 ,cerebrin is also described as being frequently met with in conjunction with lecithin4 ,lecithin4 ,neurin4 ,cerebrin4 ,cholestrin4 ,carbon1 #dd #e #ag #bf ,hydrogen1 #ij #ae #cc #dd ,nitrogen1 #a #a #a ,phosphorus1 #a ,oxygen1 #i #b #c #a ,,chapter ,,xviii4 ,,food ,,and ,,food-,,substances4 ,there are two kinds of food3 #a4 ,those food substances that are derived from the animal kingdom2 and1 #b4 ,food substances that are derived from the vegetable kingdom4 ,food is taken into the system to replace the material expended by the human body1 or the waste products which are thrown off from the master tissues4 ,definition3 ,food may be defined to be any natural substance1 vegetable or animal1 recognized as such1 that has undergone neither the process of fermentation nor that of putrefaction4 ,food may be considered in its relation to two purposes--the nutrition of the tissues1 and the production of heat4 ,under the first of these heads will be included many other allied functions1 as for example1 secretion and generation2 and under the second1 not the production of heat only as such1 but of all other forces correlated with it1 which are manifested by the living body4 ,foods derived from the animal kingdom are called nitrogenous substances1 or azotized4 ,they are also known by the name of proteids4 ,these are mainly derived from meat1 milk1 eggs1 etc4 ,of several we will examine the chemical composition4 ,it will be well to state in general terms that all food substances contain in their composition from two-thirds to three-fourths1 or even more1 of water--some more1 some less4 ,proteids4 ,albumen4 ,caseine4 ,syntonin4 ,gluten4 ,gelatine4 ,carbon1 #gb ,hydrogen1 #aab ,oxygen1 #bc ,nitrogen1 #ah ,sulphur1 #a ,phosphorus1 ,r4 #b ,non-,nitrogenous ,substances4 ,carbon4 ,hydrogen4 ,oxygen4 #a4 ,starch 7amyloids71 #ah #cj #ae ,sugar cane1 #ab #bb #aa #b4 ,oils and fats composed of stearic acid #ah #cf #b of mutton or beef1 #c4 ,mineral--,saline matters1 as chloride of sodium1 phosphate of lime4 ,animals cannot subsist on any but organic substances1 and these must contain the elements which are naturally combined with them--in other words1 not even organic compounds are nutritive unless they are supplied in their natural state4 ,pure fibrine1 pure gelatine1 and other principles purified from the substances naturally mingled with them1 are incapable of supporting life for more than a brief time4 ,moreover1 health cannot be maintained by any number of substances derived exclusively from one only of the two chief groups of elementary principles mentioned above4 ,a mixture of nitrogenous and non-nitrogenous organic substances1 together with the inorganic principles which are severally contained in them1 is essential to the well-being1 and generally even to the existence1 of an animal4 ,the truth of this is demonstrated by experiments performed for the purpose2 and is also well illustrated by the composition of the food prepared by nature as the exclusive source of nourishment to the young mammals1 namely milk4 ,the composition of milk is3 ,human4 ,cow's4 ,water1 #hij #heh ,solids1 #aaj #adb ---- ---- #ajjj #ajjj ,caseine1 #ce #fh ,butter1 #be #ch ,sugar 7with extracts71 #dh #cj ,salts1 #b #f --- --- #aaj #adb ,carb4 ,hyd4 ,nit4 ,oxy4 ,sulph4 ,r 7unknown74 ,caseine1 #gb #aab #ah #bc #a #b ,in milk1 it will be seen from the preceding table1 the albuminous group of aliments is represented by the caseine1 the oleaginous by the butter1 the aqueous by the water1 the saccharine by the sugar of milk4 ,let us compare the composition of these four organic substances and water3 ,oxy4 ,hyd4 ,carb4 ,nitr4 ,sulph4 ,r 7unknown element74 ,water1 #a #b ,sugar1 ,,oh#b #aa #bb #ab ,caseine1 #bc #aab #gb #ah #a #b ,olein1 #f #ch #ba ,among the salts of milk are phosphate of lime1 alkaline and other salts1 and a trace of iron2 so that it may be briefly said to include all the substances which the tissues of a growing animal need for their nutrition and which are required for the production of animal heat4 ,the yolk and albumen of eggs stand in the same relation as food for the embryos of oviparous animals1 that milk does to the young mammalia2 and affords another example of mixed food being provided as the most perfect nutrition4 ,the composition of fowl's egg is3 ,white4 ,yolk4 ,water1 #hj4j #ec4gc ,albumen1 #ae4e #ag4dg ,mucus1 #d4e yellow oil #bh4ge ,salts1 #d4j #f4j ,the food substances4 #a4 ,amyloids1 starch and sugars4 ,starch is derived from grain and vegetables1 as wheat1 barley1 rye1 oats1 corn1 rice1 sago1 tapioca1 beans1 peas1 etc4 ,the vegetables contain from #ge to #ij per cent of water4 ,starch and sugars are derived from such as potatoes1 turnips1 carrots1 beets1 etc41 etc4 ,the fruits are largely composed of water1 sugars1 and acids4 ,all these classes of food contain only three elements4--,starch3 ,carbon4 ,hydrogen4 ,oxygen4 #ah #cj #ae ,in their composition we have fifteen molecules of water presented carrying eighteen atoms of carbon4 ,sugar3 ,carbon4 ,hydrogen4 ,oxygen4 #ab #bb #aa ,in this case again we have eleven molecules of water carrying twelve atoms of carbon4 ,this is the chemical composition of starch and sugar food4 #b4 ,fats are also composed of three elements only--carbon1 hydrogen1 and oxygen4 ,take the fat of mutton or pork3 ,carbon4 ,hydrogen4 ,oxygen4 #ba #dj #a ,all other animal oils and fats are composed of these three elements only4 #c4 ,albuminous substances--meats1 beef1 mutton1 veal1 pork1 birds1 and fish1 of all descriptions4 #d4 ,besides these1 mineral salts1 already mentioned4 #e4 ,and lastly1 water--of which by far the greatest quantity is consumed4 ,the quantity of food ought to be in amount sufficient to replace the waste products of the body4 ,an amount should be taken into the system equal in kind and quantity to the material expended4 ,since we know the amount of carbon1 hydrogen1 nitrogen1 oxygen1 and the salts that are excreted by the kidneys1 skin1 and lungs1 we may easily calculate the amount of various kinds of food needed to replace them4 ,the outcome being known1 the income can be regulated accordingly4 ,the expenditure or waste1 we have seen1 in daily loss amounts in carbon to about #d1ejj grains1 and in nitrogen to #cjj grains2 besides a certain quantity of water1 etc4 ,we therefore require starchy substances1 meat and fat1 water1 etc41 to replace the quantity lost4 ,bread1 for example1 contains #cj per cent of carbon and #a per cent of nitrogen4 ,if bread alone1 therefore1 were taken as food1 a man would require in order to obtain the requisite nitrogen #cj1jjj grains1 containing of carbon1 #i1jjj grains2 of nitrogen1 #cjj grains--an excess of carbon above the amount required of #d1ejj grains4 ,but a combination of bread and meat would supply much more economically what was necessary3 ,carbon4 ,nitrogen4 #ae1jjj grains of bread 7rather more than #b pounds7 contains #d1ejj grs4 #aej grs4 #e1jjj grains of meat 7about #c_/d pounds7 contains #ejj #aej ----- --- #e1jjj #cjj ,so that #c_/d pounds meat and #b pounds of bread1 or its equivalent1 would supply the needful carbon and nitrogen with but little waste4 ,from all these facts it will be plain that a mixed diet is the best and most economical for man2 and the result of experience entirely coincides with what might have been anticipated on theoretical grounds only4 ,the quality and quantity of foods to be taken depends largely upon their digestibility4 ,the quantity of food necessary for a healthy man taking free exercise in the open air is as follows3 ,meat #af ounces or #a pound avoir4 ,bread and all other #ai 11 11 #a4ai 11 11 carbohydrates1 ,fat1 butter1 #c #a_/b 11 11 #j4bb 11 11 ,water #eb 11 11 #c4ch 11 11 ,the quantity and quality of food taken into the system every twenty-four hours1 should depend upon the amount and kind of labor done1 whether muscular or nervous1 whether sitting or not1 inactive or active1 whether indoors or out of doors2 upon the kind of atmosphere we breathe2 upon season and climate1 etc42 also upon the opportunities we have of throwing off the surplus carbon and nitrogen that the system has been overcrowded with4 ,these conditions determine the proper variations of the income1 since that has to be regulated and corrected by the outcome1 and amounts after all to just so much carbon1 hydrogen1 oxygen1 nitrogen1 sulphur1 phosphorus1 saline matter1 and water as are contained in the proteids1 fats1 carbohydrates1 salts1 and water4 ,it matters little how food is prepared4 ,the main feature is that the supply is equal to the loss1 of good and wholesome quality4 ,whether the food is manipulated by an artistic #aj1jjj cook or by a plain1 clean housewife1 the result is the same4 ,whether the special sense of taste1 the gustatory nerve1 has or has not undergone a high course of training and education1 the fact remains that all that can be supplied is the necessary material that has been expended by the work and labor done by the muscular and nervous tissues4 ,the subjoined results1 selected from ,boussingault1 exhibit in a tabular form the relative quantity of organic and inorganic constituents in several kinds of herbage compared in several cases with the root or grain4 ,the water was previously driven off by thorough drying3 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ------ ,leaves of ,root of ,mangel- ,mangel- ,potato ,pea ,clover ,wheat ,wurzel4 ,wurzel4 ,tops4 ,potatoes4 ,straw4 ,peas4 ,hay4 ,straw4 ,wheat4 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ------ ,carbon #ch4aj #db4ge #dd4hj #dc4gb #de4hj #df4jf #dg4ec #dh4dh #df4aj ,hydrogen #e4aj #e4gg #e4aj #f4jj #e4jj #f4ji #d4fi #e4da #e4hj ,oxygen #cj4hj #dc4eh #cj4ej #dd4hh #ce4eg #dj4ec #cg4if #ch4gi #dc4dj ,nitrogen #d4ej #a4ff #b4cj #a4ej #b4ca #d4ah #b4jf #j4ce #b4bg ,ashes #ba4ej #f4bd #c4ij #c4ij #aa4cb #c4ad #g4gf #f4ig #b4dc ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- #ajj4jj #ajj4jj #ajj4jj #ajj4jj #ajj4jj #ajj4jj #ajj4jj #ajj4jj #ajj4jj ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ------ ,subjoined is a table from the same work of the percentage of mineral substances taken up from the soil by various plants3 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,substances ,acids ,oxide of ,which -------------------------------- ,iron1 ,charcoal1 ,yield ,ammonia moisture1 ,ashes4 ,carbonic4 ,sulphuric4 ,phosphoric4 ,chlorine4 ,lime4 ,magnesia4 ,potash4 ,soda4 ,silica4 etc4 and loss4 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,potatoes #ac4d #g4a #aa4c #b4g #a4h #e4d #ea4e traces #e4f #j4e #j4g ,mangel- ,wurzel #af4a #a4f #f4a #e4b #g4j #d4d #ci4j #f4j #h4j #b4e #d4b ,turnips #ad4j #aj4i #f4j #b4i #aj4i #d4c #ci4g #d4a #f4d #a4b #e4e ,potato ,tops #aa4j #b4b #aj4h #a4f #b4c #a4h #dd4e traces #ac4j #e4b #g4f ,wheat #j4j #a4j #dg4j traces #b4i #ae4i #bi4e traces #a4c #j4j #b4d ,wheat ,straw #j4j #a4j #c4a #j4e #h4e #e4j #i4b #j4c #fg4f #a4j #c4g ,oats #a4g #a4j #ad4i #j4e #c4g #g4g #ab4i #j4j #ec4c #a4c #c4j ,oat ,straw #c4b #d4a #c4j #d4g #h4c #b4h #bd4e #d4d #dj4j #b4a #b4i ,clover #be4j #b4e #f4c #b4f #bd4f #f4c #bf4f #j4e #e4c #j4c #j4j ,pease #j4e #f4g #cj4a #a4a #aj4a #aa4i #ce4c #b4e #a4e traces #b4c ,french ,beans #c4c #a4c #bf4h #j4a #e4h #aa4e #di4a #j4j #a4j traces #a4a ,horse ,beans #a4j #a4f #cd4b #j4g #e4a #h4f #de4b #j4j #j4e traces #c4a ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,,chapter ,,xix4 ,,the ,,elimination ,,of ,,waste ,,substances4 ,the expenditures of the human body1 or the waste products which arise from the activity of the master tissues1 are thrown off by the excretory tissues1 as the lungs1 the skin1 the kidneys1 and the terminal part of the intestines4 ,the lungs are hollow organs1 and we may consider them as really two bags containing air1 each of which communicates by a separate orifice with a common air tube1 through the upper part of which1 the larynx1 they freely communicate with the external atmosphere4 ,the orifice of the larynx is guarded by muscles1 and can be opened or closed at will4 ,each lung is partially subdivided into separate portions called lobes4 ,the right lung has three lobes1 and the left lung has two4 ,each of these lobes1 again1 is composed of a large number of minute parts1 called lobules4 ,each pulmonary lobule may be considered a lung in miniature1 consisting as it does of a branch of a bronchial tube1 air-cells1 blood-vessels1 nerves1 and lymphatics1 with a sparing amount of areolar tissue4 ,the terminal portion of each lobule is composed of a group of pouches or air-cells1 which communicate with the intercellular air passages4 ,these cells are of various forms1 according to the mutual pressure to which they are subject4 ,their cell walls are nearly in contact1 and they vary from #a_/ej to #a_/ij of an inch in diameter4 ,outside the cells a network of pulmonary capillaries is spread out so densely that the interspaces or meshes are even narrower than the vessels1 which are on an average #a_/cjjj of an inch in diameter4 ,between the atmospheric air in the cells and the blood in the vessels nothing intervenes but the thin membrane of the cells and the capillaries1 and the delicate epithelium lining the former4 ,and the exposure of the blood to the air is the more complete because the folds of membrane between contiguous cells1 and often the spaces between the walls of the same1 contain only a single layer of capillaries1 both sides of which are thus at once exposed to the air4 ,the enlargement of the capacity of the chest in inspiration is a muscular act2 the muscles concerned in producing the effect being chiefly the diaphragm1 the external intercostal muscles1 etc4 ,from the enlargement produced in inspiration1 the chest and lungs return in ordinary tranquil expiration by their elasticity2 the force employed by the inspiratory muscles in distending the chest and overcoming the elastic resistance of the lungs and chest wall being returned as an expiratory effort when the muscles are relaxed4 ,the acts of expansion and of contraction of the chest take up1 under ordinary circumstances1 a nearly equal time1 and can scarcely be said to be separated from each other by an intervening pause4 ,the quantity of air that is changed in the lungs in each act of ordinary tranquil breathing is variable1 but probably #cj to #ce cubic inches are a fair average in the case of healthy young and middle-aged men4 ,the total quantity of air which passes into and out of the lungs of an adult1 at rest1 in #bd hours1 has been estimated to be about #fhf1jjj cubic inches4 ,this quantity is largely increased by exertion2 and it has been computed that the average amount for a hard-working laborer in the same time is #a1efh1cij4 ,breathing air is the quantity of air which is habitually and almost uniformly changed in each act of breathing4 ,complemental air is the quantity of air over and above this which a man can draw into the lungs in the deepest inspiration4 ,after ordinary expiration1 such as that which expels the breathing air1 a certain quantity of air remains in the lungs which may be expelled by a forcible and deeper expiration2 this is termed reserve air4 ,but even after the most violent expiratory effort1 the lungs are not completely emptied2 a certain quantity of air remains in them1 over which there is no voluntary control1 which may be called residual air4 ,its amount depends1 in great measure1 on the absolute size of the chest1 and has been variously estimated at from #dj to #bjj cubic inches4 ,power of ,inspiratory ,power of ,expiratory ,muscles4 ,muscles4 #a4e inches4 weak #b4j inches4 #b4j 11 ordinary #b4e 11 #b4e 11 strong #c4e 11 #c4e 11 very strong #d4e 11 #d4e 11 remarkable #e4h 11 #e4e 11 very remarkable #g4j 11 #f4j 11 extraordinary #h4e 11 #g4j 11 very extraordinary #aj4j 11 ,the blood as it moves through the respiratory organs is exposed to the air that alternately moves into and out of the air-cells and minute bronchial tubes4 ,the blood is propelled from the right ventricle through the pulmonary capillaries in steady streams1 and slowly enough to permit every minute portion of it to be for a few seconds exposed to the air1 with only the thin walls of the capillary vessels and air-cells intervening4 ,the atmosphere we breathe has in every situation in which it has been examined in its natural state a nearly uniform composition4 ,it is a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen1 carbonic acid1 and watery vapor1 with traces of other gases1 as ammonia1 sulphuretta1 hydrogen1 etc4 ,of every #ajj volumes of pure atmospheric air1 #gi volumes consist of nitrogen and #ba of oxygen1 about4 ,the proportion of carbonic acid is extremely small3 #aj1jjj volumes of atmospheric air contains only about #d or #e of carbonic acid4 ,the average quantity of watery vapor in the atmosphere in this country is about #a4dj per cent4 ,the changes produced by respiration on the atmosphere are that3 #a4 ,it is warmed2 #b4 ,its carbonic acid is increased2 #c4 ,its oxygen is diminished2 #d4 ,its watery vapor is increased2 #e4 ,a minute amount of organic matter and of free ammonia is added to it4 #a4 ,the expired air is hotter than the inspired air4 ,the temperature varies from #ig to #ii #a_/b4 #b4 ,carbonic acid in respired air is always increased2 but the quantity exhaled in a given time is subject to change from various circumstances4 ,from every volume of air inspired about #d #a_/b per cent of oxygen is abstracted2 while rather a smaller quantity of carbonic acid is added in its place4 ,under ordinary circumstances1 the quantity of carbonic acid exhaled into the air breathed by a healthy adult man amounts to #a1cdf inches1 or about #fcf grains1 per hour4 ,it is estimated that the weight of carbon excreted from the lungs is about #agc grains per hour1 or rather more than #h ounces in #bd hours4 ,of course the influence of age1 sex1 respiratory movements1 external temperature1 season of the year1 purity of the respired air1 hygrometric state of the atmosphere1 period of day1 food and drink1 exercise and sleep1 have to be taken in consideration4 ,the oxygen of respired air is always less than in the same air before respiration1 and its diminution is generally proportionate to the increase of the carbonic acid4 ,it has been shown that for every volume of carbonic acid exhaled into the air #a4agdba volumes of oxygen are absorbed from it2 and that when the average quantity of carbonic acid1 i4e41 #a1cdf cubic inches1 or #fcf grains1 is exhaled in the hour1 the quantity of oxygen absorbed in the same time is #a1ehd cubic inches1 or #edb grains4 ,the nitrogen in the atmosphere1 in relation to the respiratory process is supposed to serve only mechanically1 by diluting the oxygen1 and moderating the action upon the system4 ,the most obvious change which the blood undergoes in its passage through the lungs is that of color1 the dark venous blood being exchanged for the bright scarlet arterial blood4 ,it gains oxygen1 loses carbonic acid1 becomes #a to #b ,f4 warmer2 it coagulates sooner and more firmly1 and contains more fibrine4 ,the venous blood as it issues from the right ventricle is loaded with carbonic acid4 ,the oxygen present is insufficient to the whole of the hmoglobin of the red corpuscles2 much reduced hmoglobin is present1 hence the purple color of venous blood4 ,as the blood-vessels pass through the capillaries of the lungs1 this reduced hmoglobin takes from the pulmonary air its complement of oxygen1 all or nearly all the hmoglobin of the red corpuscles becomes oxy-hmoglobin1 and the purple color forthwith shifts into scarlet4 ,the hmoglobin of arterial blood is saturated or nearly saturated with oxygen4 ,passing from the left ventricle to the capillaries1 some of the oxy-hmoglobin gives up its oxygen to the tissues1 becomes reduced hmoglobin1 and the blood in consequence becomes once more venous1 with a purple hue4 ,thus the red corpuscles by virtue of their hmoglobin are emphatically oxygen-carriers4 ,undergoing no intrinsic change in itself1 the hmoglobin combines in the lungs with oxygen1 which it carries to the tissues2 these1 more greedy of the oxygen than itself1 rob it of its charge1 and the reduced hmoglobin hurries back to the lung in venous blood for another portion4 ,hmoglobin combines loosely with carbonic oxide just as it does with oxygen1 but the affinity with the former is greater than with the latter4 ,while carbonic oxide readily turns out oxygen1 oxygen cannot so readily turn out carbonic acid4 ,this property of carbonic oxide explains its poisonous nature4 ,respiratory changes in the tissues4 ,arterial blood passing through the several tissues1 becomes once more venous4 ,a considerable quantity of the oxy-hmoglobin becomes reduced1 and a quantity of carbonic acid passes from the tissue into the blood4 ,the blood which comes from a contracting muscle1 is not only richer in carbonic acid1 but also1 though not to a corresponding amount1 poorer in oxygen1 than the blood which flows from a muscle at rest4 ,a muscle is always producing carbonic acid1 and when it contracts there is a sudden and extensive increase of the normal production4 ,oxygen is necessary for the life of the muscle4 ,when venous blood instead of arterial blood is sent through the blood-vessel of a muscle1 the irritability speedily disappears1 and unless fresh oxygen be administered the muscle soon dies4 ,our knowledge of the respiratory changes in muscle is more complete than in the case of any other tissue2 but we have no reason to suppose the phenomena of muscle are exceptional4 ,on the contrary1 all the available evidence goes to show that in all the tissues the oxidation takes place in the tissues and not in the adjoining blood4 ,it is a remarkable fact1 that lymph1 serous fluid1 bile1 urine1 and the other secretions contain no free or loosely combined oxygen1 while the tension of carbonic acid in peritoneal fluid is as high as six per cent1 and in bile and urine is still higher1 etc4 ,all these facts point to the conclusion1 that it is the tissues1 and not the blood1 which become primarily loaded with carbonic acid1 the latter simply receiving the gas from the former by diffusion2 and that the oxygen which passes from the blood into the tissues is at once taken up in the same combinations1 so that it is no longer removable by diminished tension4 ,the production of carbonic acid in the muscle is not directly dependent on the consumption of oxygen4 ,the muscles produce carbonic acid in an atmosphere of hydrogen4 ,what is true of muscle is true also of other tissues and of the body at large4 ,oxygen helps to wind up the vital clock2 but once wound up1 the clock will go on for a period without further winding 7,pflger74 ,to sum up1 then1 the result of respiration in its chemical aspect4 ,as the blood passes through the lungs1 the low oxygen tension of the venous blood permits the entrance of oxygen from the air of the pulmonary alveolus1 through the thin alveolar wall1 through the thin capillary sheath1 through the thin layer of blood plasma1 to the red corpuscles1 and the reduced hmoglobin of the venous blood becomes wholly1 or all but wholly1 oxy-hmoglobin4 ,hurried to the tissues1 the oxygen1 at a comparatively high tension in the arterial blood1 passes largely into the tissues1 in which the oxygen tension is always kept at an exceedingly low pitch1 by the fact that the tissues1 in some way at present unknown to us1 pack away1 at every moment1 into some stable combination each molecule of oxygen which they receive from the blood4 ,with much1 but not all1 of its oxy-hmoglobin reduced1 the blood passes on as venous blood4 ,how much hmoglobin is reduced will depend on the activity of the tissue itself4 ,the quantity of hmoglobin in the blood is the measure of limit of the oxidizing power of the body at large2 but within that limit the amount of oxidation is determined by the tissue1 and by the tissue alone4 ,the skin is an excretory tissue1 and consists principally of two layers1 an external covering of epithelium1 termed the cuticle or epidermis1 and a layer of vascular tissue1 named the corium derma or cutis vera4 ,the integument serves 7#a7 for the protection of deeper tissues1 7#b7 as a sensitive organ in the exercise of touch1 7#c7 as an excretory organ1 7#d7 as an absorbing organ1 7#e7 for regulating the temperature of the body4 ,within and beneath the corium are imbedded several organs with special functions1 namely1 sudoriferous or sweat glands1 sebaceous or fat glands1 and hair follicles2 and on its surface are sensitive papill4 ,the so-called appendages of the skin1 the hair and nails1 are modifications of the epidermis4 ,sudoriferous glands3 ,in the middle of each of the transverse furrows between the papill1 and irregularly scattered between the bases of the papill in those parts of the surface of the body in which there are no furrows between them1 are the orifices or ducts of the sudoriferous1 or sweat glands1 by which it is probable that a large portion of the aqueous and gaseous materials excreted by the skin are separated4 ,each of these glands consists of a small lobular mass1 which appears formed of a coil of tubular gland-duct surrounded by blood-vessels and imbedded in the subcutaneous adipose tissue4 ,from this mass the duct ascends1 for a short distance1 in a spiral manner through the deeper parts of the cutis1 then passing straight1 and then sometimes again becoming spiral1 it runs through the cuticle and opens by an oblique1 valve-like apparatus4 ,the sudoriferous glands are abundantly distributed over the whole surface of the body2 but are especially numerous1 as well as very large1 in the skin of the palm of the hand4 ,they are estimated from #b1gch to #c1ebh in each superficial square inch4 ,they are almost equally abundant and large in the skin of the sole4 ,the glands by which the peculiar odorous matter of the axilla is secreted form a nearly complete layer under the cutis1 and are like the ordinary sudoriferous glands1 except in being larger and having very short ducts4 ,in the neck and back1 where they are least numerous1 the glands amount to #dag on the square inch4 ,the total number is estimated1 at #b1cha1bdh2 and supposing the orifice of each gland to present a surface of #a_/ed of a line in diameter 7and regarding a line as equal to #a_/aj of an inch7 the whole of the glands would present an evaporating surface of about eight square inches4 ,sebaceous glands secrete a peculiar fatty matter4 ,like the sudoriferous glands1 they are abundantly distributed over most parts of the body4 ,the quantity of matter which leaves the human body by way of the skin is very considerable4 ,it is estimated that while #g grains pass through the lungs per minute1 as much as #aa escape through the skin4 ,the amount varies extremely4 ,it is calculated that the total amount of perspiration excreted from the whole body in #bd hours might range from #b to #bj kilos4 ,the total amount of perspiration is affected not only by the condition of the atmosphere1 but also by the nature and quantity of food taken1 the amount of fluid drunk1 and the amount of exercise taken4 ,it is also influenced by the mental condition1 by medicines and poisons1 by disease1 and by the relative activity of the other excreting organs1 more particularly the kidneys4 ,the fluid perspiration or sweat1 when collected1 is found to be a clear colorless fluid1 with a strong and distinctive odor varying according to the part of the body from which it is taken4 ,besides accidental epidermic scales1 it contains no structural elements4 ,its reaction is generally acid1 but in cases of excessive secretion may become alkaline4 ,the average amount of solids is about #a4ha per cent1 of which about two-thirds consists of organic substances4 ,the chief normal constituents are 7#a7 sodium chloride 7common salt71 with small quantities of other inorganic salts2 7#b7 various acids of the fatty series1 such as fermic1 acetic1 butyric acid1 with probably other acids--,,ch#b,o#b-;,c#b;,h#d,o#b--;,c#d; ,h#h,o#b2 7#c7 neutral fats and cholestrine2 7#d7 ammonia 7,,nh#c7 7urea71 and possibly other nitrogenous substances4 ,the average loss by cutaneous and pulmonary exhalation in a minute is from #ag to #ah grains2 the minimum1 #aa grains2 the maximum1 #cb grains2 of the average #ah grains #aa pass by the skin and #g by the lungs4 ,the maximum loss by exhalation1 cutaneous and pulmonary1 in twenty-four hours is about #c #c_/d pounds2 the minimum1 about #a #a_/b pounds4 ,valentine found the whole quantity lost by exhalation from the respiratory and cutaneous surfaces of a healthy man who consumed daily #dj1jjj grains of food and drink to be #ai1jjj grains1 or #b #a_/b pounds4 ,subtracting from this1 for the pulmonary exhalation1 #e1jjj grains1 and for the excess of the weight of the exhaled carbonic acid over that of the equal volume of the inspired oxygen1 #b1bef grains1 the remainder1 #aa1gdd grains1 or nearly #a #e_/g pounds1 may represent an average amount of cutaneous exhalation in a day4 ,the ,kidneys1 two in number1 are excretory organs4 ,they are deeply seated in the lumbar region1 one on each side of the vertebral column1 at the back of the abdominal cavity1 and behind the peritoneum4 ,the kidneys measure about #d inches in length1 #b #a_/b inches in breadth1 and #a #a_/b inches in thickness4 ,the left is usually longer and narrower than the right one4 ,the weight of the kidney is usually stated to be about #d #a_/b ounces in the male and somewhat less in the female4 ,the excretory apparatus consists of fine tubules 7the tubuli urineferi71 malpighian bodies1 blood-vessels1 nerves1 and lymphatics1 etc4 ,the kidneys are highly vascular1 and receive their blood from the renal arteries1 which are very large in proportion to the organ they supply4 ,each artery breaks up into four or five branches1 these again subdivide and break up into capillaries in the substance of the kidney4 ,the veins arise by numerous venous radicals from the capillary network of the kidney1 as seen near the surface of the gland1 and collect the blood from the capillary plexus around the convoluted tubules which mainly compose this part1 the smaller veins joining together and ultimately forming a single vein and ending in the inferior vena cava4 ,the kidneys are so arranged by their anatomical structure--that of the cortical and medullary substance1 the tubuli urineferi1 pyramids1 malpighian bodies1 etc4--that they separate from the blood the solids in a state of solution4 ,the secretion takes place by the agency of the gland cells1 and equally in all the parts of the urine tubes4 ,the protoplasmic cells which line at least a large portion of the tubuli urineferi elaborate from the blood certain substances1 and discharge them into the channels of the tubules4 ,all parts of the tubular system of the kidney take part in the secretion of urine as a whole1 but there is another provision of vessels for a more simple draining off of the water from the blood when required4 ,the large size of the renal arteries and veins permits so rapid a transit of the blood through the kidneys that the whole of the blood is purified by them4 ,the secretion of urine is rapid in comparison with other secretions1 and as each portion is secreted1 it propels that which is already in the tubes onwards into the pelvis of the kidney4 ,thence1 through the ureter1 the urine passes into the bladder1 into which its rate and mode of entrance has been watched4 ,the urine does not enter the bladder at any regular rate1 nor is there a synchronism in its movement through the two ureters4 ,in a recumbent posture the urine collects for a little time in the ureters1 then flows gently1 and if the body is raised1 runs from them in a stream till they are empty4 ,its flow is increased in deep inspiration1 or straining1 and in active exercise1 and in fifteen or twenty minutes after meals4 ,substances taken into the stomach pass very rapidly through the circulation4 ,it does not take longer than one minute for ferrocyanide of potassium to pass through4 ,vegetable substances pass in from sixteen to thirty-five4 ,neutral alkaline salts with vegetable acids1 which were generally decomposed in transitu1 made the urine alkaline in twenty-eight to forty-seven minutes4 ,but the time of passage varied much2 and the transit was always slow when the substances were taken during digestion4 ,there are really two distinct parts in the kidney--the actively secreting part1 the epithelium of the secreting tubules2 and what maybe called a filtering part1 the malpighian bodies4 ,the specific gravity of urine is #ajbj--that is1 the average human urine4 ,urine varies--in the morning before breakfast it is darker1 urina sanguinis2 urine secreted shortly after the introduction of any considerable quantity of fluid into the body1 urina potus2 and the urine evacuated immediately succeeding a solid meal of food1 urina cibi4 ,the last kind contains a larger quantity of solid matter than either of the others1 the first and second being largely diluted with water4 ,specific gravity3 ,the morning urine is best calculated for analysis4 ,the average healthy range may be stated at #ajae in the winter to #ajbe in the summer1 and variations of diet and exercise may make a great difference4 ,in disease1 the variations may be greater2 sometimes descending in albuminaria to #ajjd1 and frequently ascending in diabetes1 when the urine is loaded with sugar1 to #ajej1 or even to #ajfj4 ,the whole quantity of urine secreted in twenty-four hours is subject to variations according to the amount of fluid drunk1 and the proportion of the latter passing off from skin1 lungs1 and alimentary canal4 ,the average quantity voided in twenty-four hours by healthy male adults from twenty to forty years of age amounts to #eb #a_/b fluid ounces4 ,the chemical composition of urine4 ,the average quantity of each constituent of the urine in #a1jjj parts is3 ,water 7,o ,h#b71 #ifg ,urea 7,c ,o ,n#b ,h#d71 #ad4bci ,uric acid 7,c#e ,n#d ,h#d ,o#c71 4#dfh ,coloring matter1 mucus1 and animal extractive matter1 #aj4ajg ,sulphates 7soda1 potash71 #h4ahe ,salts4 ,bisulphates 7lime1 soda1 magnesia1 ammonia71 ,chlorides 7sodium1 potassium71 ,silica1 etc41 ,traces4 --------- #a1jjj4jjj ,urea is the principal solid constituent of the urine1 forming nearly one-half of the whole quantity of solid matter4 ,it is also the most important ingredient1 since it is the chief substance by which the nitrogen of decomposed tissue and superfluous food is excreted from the body4 ,the salts excreted by the kidneys in #bd hours are3 ,urea 7,c ,n#b ,h#d ,o71 #eab grains4 ,chloride of sodium 7,na ,cl71 #agg 11 ,phosphoric acid 7,h#c ,p ,o#d71 #dh 11 ,sulphuric acid 7,h#b ,s ,o#d71 #ca4aa 11 ,uric acid 7,c#e ,n#d ,h#d ,o#c71 #h4ec 11 ,the substances excreted consist mainly of carbonic acid gas 7,c ,o#b71 which is expired by the lungs1 and urea 7,c ,n#b ,h#d ,o71 which is expelled by the urine4 ,these excretions1 or expenditures1 or waste products of the human body1 present the carbohydrates--starch1 sugars1 and fats--and the proteids--meats and albumen--taken into the system as food4 ,the daily average loss by the expenditure or waste products of the body is estimated to be about3 ,carbon1 #d1ejj grains4 ,nitrogen1 #c to #ejj grains4 ,besides salts and water4 ,of all the elements of the income and outcome1 the nitrogen1 the carbon1 and the free oxygen of respiration1 are by far the most important4 ,since water is of use to the body for merely mechanical purposes1 and not as food in the strict sense of the word1 the hydrogen element becomes a dubious one2 the sulphur of the proteids1 and phosphorus of the fats1 are insignificant in amount2 while the saline matters stand on a wholly different footing from the other parts of the food1 inasmuch as they are not sources of energy1 and pass through the body with comparatively little change4 ,the correct income will consist of so much nitrogen1 carbon1 hydrogen1 oxygen1 sulphur1 phosphorus1 saline matters1 and water1 contained in the proteids1 fats1 carbohydrates1 salts1 and water of the food1 together with the oxygen absorbed by the lungs1 skin1 and alimentary canal4 ,the outcome will consist of3 #a4 ,the respiratory products of the lungs1 skin1 and alimentary canal1 consisting chiefly of carbonic acid and water1 with small quantities of hydrogen and carburetted hydrogen1 these two latter coming exclusively from the alimentary canal2 #b4 ,perspiration1 consisting chiefly of water and salts1 with urea by the skin1 and other organic constituents of sweat amounting to very little2 #c4 ,the urine1 which contains practically all the nitrogen really excreted by the body1 as well as a large quantity of saline matter and water4 ,,heat ,,and ,,temperature4 ,the average temperature of the human body in those internal parts which are more accessible1 as the mouth and rectum1 is from #ih4e to #ii4e ,f4 ,the chief circumstances by which the temperature of the healthy body is influenced are the following3 ,age4 ,the average temperature of the new-born babe is only about #a ,f4 above that proper to the adult4 ,in old age the temperature rises again1 and approaches that of infancy4 ,sex4 ,in the female slightly higher than in the male4 ,exercise4 ,active exercise raises the temperature of the body1 through muscular contraction1 etc4 ,climate and season4 ,in passing from a temperate to a hot climate1 the temperature of the human body rises slightly1 rarely more than #b to #c ,f4 ,in summer the temperature of the body is a little higher than in winter1 #a_/e to #a_/c ,f4 ,cold alcoholic drinks depress the temperature #a_/b to #a;,f4 ,warm alcoholic drinks1 as well as warm tea and coffee1 raise the temperature about #a_/b ,f4 ,in disease1 as in pneumonia and typhus1 it occasionally rises as high as #ajf or #ajg ,f4 ,in ,asiatic cholera a thermometer placed in the mouth sometimes rises only to #gg or #gi ,f4 ,the temperature maintained by mammalia of an active state of life averages #aja ,f4 ,in birds1 the average is as high as #ajg ,f41 the highest temperature1 #aaa4be1 being in the species of the linnets1 etc4 ,the sources and distribution of heat4 ,wherever metabolism of protoplasm is going on1 heat is being generated4 ,all over the body heat is being set free2 more abundantly in the more active tissues1 and most of all in those tissues the metabolism of which leads to little or no external work4 ,the metabolism of the tissues 7including the blood7 and of the food within the alimentary canal is the source of the heat of the body4 ,but heat1 being continually produced1 is as continually being lost1 as we have seen1 by the skin1 urine1 and feces4 ,the blood passing from one part of the body to another1 and carrying warmth from the tissues where heat is being actively generated1 to the tissues or organs where heat is being lost by conduction or evaporation1 tends to equalize the temperature of the various parts and thus maintain a constant bodily temperature4 ,taking the body as a whole1 under normal conditions1 the chief sources of the production of heat are the muscles1 and the abdominal viscera1 more especially the liver2 and of these the liver deserves attention1 inasmuch as it is always at work1 whereas the heat produced by the muscles is at least largely dependent on their contracting1 and they may remain at rest for a considerable period4 ,the brain1 too1 may be regarded as a source of heat1 since its temperature is higher than that of the arterial blood with which it is supplied4 ,heat is lost by the skin1 respiration1 feces1 etc4 ,the great regulator1 however1 is undoubtedly the skin4 ,the more blood passes through the skin the greater will be the loss of heat by conduction1 radiation1 and evaporation4 ,the working of this heat-regulating mechanism is well seen in the case of exercise4 ,since every muscular contraction gives rise to heat1 exercise must increase for the time being the production of heat2 yet the bodily temperature rarely rises as much as a degree ,c41 if at all4 ,by exercise the respiration is quickened and the loss of heat by the lungs increased4 ,the circulation of blood is also quickened1 and the cutaneous vascular areas becoming dilated1 a large amount of blood passes through the skin4 ,the expenditure of heat may be tabulated thus3 ,by the skin1 in conducting1 radiating1 and evaporating1 #gg4e per cent4 ,warming expired air1 #e4b 11 ,evaporating the water of respiration1 #ad4e 11 ,in warming urine1 etc41 #b4f 11 ,,the ,,circulation4 ,the heart is a hollow muscular organ divided by a longitudinal septum into a right and a left half1 each of which is again subdivided by a transverse constriction into two compartments communicating with each other1 and named auricle and ventricle4 ,the heart is inclosed in the pericardium and placed behind the sternum and costal cartilages on the border end or base1 by which it is attached1 being directed upwards1 backwards1 and to the right1 and extending from the level of the fourth to that of the eighth dorsal vertebra1 the apex downwards1 forwards1 and to the left4 ,in size1 it is about five inches long1 three and a half in its greatest width1 and two in its extreme thickness from the anterior to the posterior surface4 ,the weight is from nine to ten ounces4 ,the circulation of the blood4-- ,the body is divided into two chief cavities1 the chest or thorax1 and abdomen1 by a curved muscular partition called the diaphragm or midriff4 ,the chest is almost entirely filled with lungs and heart1 the latter being fitted in1 so to speak1 between the two lungs1 nearer to the front than the back of the chest1 and partly overlapped by them4 ,in the living body the heart and lungs are in constant rhythmic movement1 the result of which is an unceasing stream of air through the trachea alternately into and out of the lungs1 and an unceasing stream of blood into and out of the heart4 ,the blood is conveyed away from the heart by the arteries and returned to it by the veins2 the arteries and veins being continuous with each other1 at one end by means of the heart1 and at the other by a fine network of vessels called capillaries4 ,the blood1 therefore1 in its passage from the heart passes first into the arteries1 then into the capillaries1 and lastly into the veins1 by which it is conveyed back again to the heart--thus completing a revolution1 or circulation4 ,there are two circulations by which all the blood must pass--the one a shorter circuit from the heart to the lungs and back again1 which is called the pulmonic2 the other the larger circuit1 from the heart to all parts of the body and back again1 which is called the systemic2 and a subordinate stream of blood1 that has been collected by the blood-vessels of the intestines1 passes by means of the portal vein through the liver1 and is called the portal circulation4 ,the principal force provided for constantly moving the blood on this course1 is that of the muscular substance of the heart2 other assistant forces are 7#b7 those of the elastic walls of the arteries1 7#c7 the pressure of the muscles among which some of the veins run1 7#d7 the movements of the walls of the chest in respiration1 and 7#e7 probably to some extent the interchange of relations between the blood and the tissues which ensues in the capillary system during the nutritive processes4 ,the right direction of the blood's course is determined and maintained by the valves of the heart4 ,the heart is divided into two chief chambers or cavities--right and left4 ,each of these chambers is again divided into an upper and lower portion called respectively auricle and ventricle1 which freely communicate with each other4 ,the right auricle communicates on the one hand with the veins of the general system and on the other with the right ventricle4 ,the valvular curtain between the right auricle and the right ventricle is named the tricuspid2 by it the auricle is guarded from the ventricle4 ,the ventricle leads directly into the pulmonary artery and this in turn into the lungs4 ,the pulmonary artery is guarded by three semilunar valves4 ,the left auricle again communicates on the one hand with the pulmonary vein and on the other with the left ventricle1 which is guarded by the mitral or bicuspid valve4 ,the left ventricle leads directly into the aorta1 which is also guarded by three semilunar valves4 ,the aorta is a large artery which conveys the blood to the general system4 ,the arrangement of the heart's valves is such that the blood can pass only in one definite direction1 and this is--from the right auricle the blood passes into the right ventricle1 and thence into the pulmonary artery1 by which it is conveyed to the capillaries of the lungs4 ,from the lungs1 the blood1 which is now purified and altered in color1 is gathered by the pulmonary veins and taken to the left auricle4 ,from the left auricle it passes into the left ventricle1 and thence into the aorta1 by which it is distributed to the capillaries in every portion of the body4 ,the ,heart's action4 ,the heart's action in propelling the blood consists in the successive alternate contractions and dilatations of the muscular walls of the two auricles and ventricles4 ,the auricles contract simultaneously2 so do the ventricles2 their dilatations also are severally simultaneous2 and the contractions of the one pair of cavities are synchronous with the dilatations of the other4 ,valves--,bi and ,tricuspid4 ,during auricular contraction the force of the blood propelled into the ventricle is transmitted in all directions1 but being insufficient to raise the semilunar valves1 it is expended in distending the ventricle and in raising and gradually closing the auriculo-ventricular valves 7tricuspid and bicuspid valves74 ,these when the ventricle is full form a complete septum 7partition7 between it and the auricle4 ,the arterial or semilunar valves are brought into action by the pressure of the arterial blood forced back towards the ventricles1 when the elastic walls of the arteries recoil after being dilated by the blood propelled into them in the previous contraction of the ventricle4 ,the sounds4 ,when the ear is placed over the region of the heart two sounds may be heard at every beat of the heart1 which follow in quick succession1 and are succeeded by a pause or a period of silence4 ,the first sound is dull and prolonged2 its commencement coincides with the impulse of the heart and just precedes the pulse at the wrist4 ,the second is a shorter and sharper sound1 with a somewhat flapping character1 and follows close after the arterial pulse4 ,first sound4 ,the chief cause of the first sound of the heart appears to be the vibration of the auriculo-ventricular valve1 and also1 but to a less extent1 of the ventricular walls1 and the coats of the aorta and pulmonary artery1 all of which parts are suddenly put into a state of tension at the moment of ventricular contraction4 ,the second sound is more complete than that of the first4 ,it is probably due entirely to the sudden closure and consequent vibration of the semilunar valves when they are pressed down across the orifice of the aorta and pulmonary artery4 ,pulse4 ,the heart of a healthy adult man in the middle period of life acts from seventy to seventy-five times per minute4 ,the frequency of the heart's action gradually diminishes from the commencement to near the end of life4 ,in persons of sanguine temperament1 the heart acts somewhat more frequently than in those of the phlegmatic2 and in the female sex more frequently than in the male2 in children1 more frequently still4 ,capacity4 ,the capacity of the two ventricles is probably exactly the same4 ,from the mean of various estimates taken1 it may be inferred that each ventricle is able to contain on an average about three ounces of blood1 the whole of which is impelled into the respective arteries at each contraction4 ,every time the ventricles contract three ounces of blood are pumped out of the heart into the lungs and heart respectively4 ,calculating seventy pulses per minute1 the quantity of blood passing through the heart would be about #baa ounces1 or #ad #a_/d pints per minute2 or #hie pints per hour1 or #ba1dhj pints in #bd hours4 ,velocity4 ,the velocity of the stream of blood is greater in the arteries than in any other part of the circulatory system1 and in them it is greatest in the neighborhood of the heart and during the ventricular systole2 the rate of movement diminishes during the diastole of the ventricles1 and in the parts of the arterial system most distant from the heart4 ,the rate is calculated to be about from #aj to #ab inches per second in the large arteries near the heart4 ,,the ,,blood4 ,blood is a tissue of which the red corpuscles are the essential and active elements1 while the plasma is the liquid matrix4 ,there are two kinds of corpuscles1 the white and the red4 ,the protoplasm of the white corpuscles is native indifferentiated protoplasm1 in no respect fitted for any special duty1 as far as we know at present4 ,the white corpuscles are in reality embryonic structures1 concerned chiefly in the production of other forms1 such as red corpuscles1 and it may be under certain conditions various elements of the other tissues4 ,the red corpuscles have a definite respiratory function4 ,but these form a part only of the blood4 ,the largest portion of the blood1 the whole mass of the plasma1 is an unorganized fluid with no proper physiological 7vital7 properties of its own4 ,its function is to serve as the great medium of exchange between all the tissues of the body4 ,just as the whole organism lives on the things around it1 its air and its food1 so the several tissues live on the complex fluid by which they are all bathed and which is to them their immediate air and food4 ,blood within the living vessel is a fluid2 but when shed1 or after the death of the vessels1 becomes solid by the process known as coagulation4 ,the average specific gravity of human blood is #ajef1 varying from #ajde to #ajge within the limits of health4 ,it has an alkaline reaction1 which in shed blood rapidly diminishes up to the onset of coagulation4 ,blood may1 in general terms1 be considered as consisting by weight of more than one-third and less than one-half of corpuscles1 the rest being plasma1 the corpuscles being supposed to retain the amount of water proper to them4 ,human blood3 corpuscles #eac1 plasma #dhg4 ,the average quantity of fibrine in the human blood is said to be two per cent4 ,composition of serum3 ,in #ajj parts there are in round numbers3 ,water1 #ij parts4 ,proteid substance1 #h to #i 11 ,fat extractives and saline matter1 #b to #a 11 ,of the proteid substances the great mass consists of the so-called serum-albumen4 ,composition of red corpuscles3 ,the red corpuscles contain less water than the serum4 ,in #ajj parts of red corpuscle there are3 ,water1 #ef4e ,solid1 #dc4e ,the solids are almost entirely organic matter1 the inorganic salts in the corpuscles amounting to less than #d per cent4 ,in #ajj parts of dried organic matter of the corpuscles of human blood there are3 ,hmoglobin1 #ij4ed ,proteid substance1 #h4fg ,lecithin1 4#ed ,cholestrin1 4#be ,the blood is distributed as follows in round numbers3 ,in the heart1 lungs1 large arteries and veins1 ,about one-fourth4 ,in the liver1 11 11 ,in the skeletal muscles1 11 11 ,in the other organs1 11 11 ,the average proportion of the principal constituents of the blood in #a1jjj parts is3 ,water1 #ghd ,red corpuscles 7solid residue71 #acj ,albumen serum1 #gj ,saline matter1 #f4jc ,extractive fatty matter1 #g4gg ,fibrine1 #b4bj ,the chemical composition of hmoglobin is3 ,carb4 ,hyd4 ,iron4 ,nit4 ,oxy4 ,sulph4 #ed4b #g4b #j4db #af4j #ba4e #f4g ,mucine1 #eb4b #g4j #ab4f #bh4b ,proteids1 #ea4e #f4i #ae4b #bj4i #j4 to #ed4e to #g4c to #ag4j to #bc4e to #b4j ,,the ,,organs ,,of ,,respiration4 ,the principal organs of respiration consist of larynx1 trachea1 bronchi1 lungs4 ,the larynx is affixed to the upper end of the windpipe1 and is not only the entrance for air into the respiratory organs from the pharynx1 but also the organ of voice4 ,the trachea measures from four inches to four inches and a half in length1 and from three-quarters of an inch to one inch in width2 but its length and width are liable to continual variations1 according to the position of the larynx and the direction of the neck4 ,the trachea divides into two branches1 called bronchi1 right and left4 ,the right bronchus1 wider and shorter than the left1 measuring about an inch in length1 passes outwards almost horizontally into the root of the right lung on a level with the fourth dorsal vertebra4 ,the left bronchus1 smaller in diameter but longer than the right1 being nearly two inches in length1 inclines downwards and outwards to reach the root of the right lung1 which it enters on a level with the fifth dorsal vertebra--that is1 about an inch lower than the right bronchus4 ,the lungs1 placed one on the right and the other on the left of the heart and large vessels1 occupy by far the larger part of the cavity of the chest1 and during life are always in accurate contact with the internal surface of its walls4 ,each lung is attached at a comparatively small part of its flattened inner or median surface by a part named the root and by a thin membranous fold1 which is continued downwards from it4 ,the pleur are serous membranes forming two shut sacs1 quite distinct from each other1 which line the right and left side of the thorax1 forming by their approximation in the middle line the mediastinal partition1 and are reflected each upon the root and over the entire free surface of the corresponding lung4 ,the lungs4 ,each lung is irregularly pyramidal or conical1 with its base downwards1 and one side 7the inner7 much flattened4 ,the broad concave base is of a semi-lunar form1 and rests upon the arch of the diaphragm4 ,the apex is blunt1 and reaches into the root of the neck1 above the first rib1 where it is separated from the first portion of the subclavian artery by the pleural membrane4 ,the lungs vary much in size and weight1 according to the quantity of blood and mucous or serous fluid they may happen to contain1 which is greatly influenced by the circumstances immediately preceding death1 as well as other causes4 ,the weight of both lungs together1 as generally stated1 ranges from #cj to #dh ounces1 the more prevalent weights being found between #cf and #db ounces4 ,the proportion borne by the right lung to the left is nearly #bb ounces to #bj1 taking the combined weight of the two at #db ounces4 ,the lungs are not only absolutely heavier in the male than in the female1 but appear to be heavier in proportion to the weight of the body4 ,the general ratio between the weight of the lungs and body in the adult fluctuates between one to thirty-five and one to fifty4 ,the average weight in twenty-nine cases1 male and female3 ,male4 ,female4 ,right lung1 #bd ounces4 #ag ounces4 ,left lung1 #ba 11 #ae 11 --------- --------- #de ounces4 #cb ounces4 ,the proportionate weight of the lungs to the body is3 ,male4 ,female4 #a to #cg #a to #cd ,the substance of the lungs is of a light porous spongy texture1 and when healthy is buoyant in water4 ,specific gravity1 #j4abf2 deprived of air1 #a4jef4 ,when pressed between the fingers1 the lungs impart a crepitant sensation1 which is accompanied by a peculiar noise1 both effects being caused by the air contained in the tissue4 ,on cutting the lung the same crepitation is heard4 ,the pulmonary tissues are endowed with great elasticity1 in consequence of which the lungs collapse to about one-third of their bulk when the thorax is opened4 ,the root of each lung consists of bronchi1 arteries1 and veins1 together with the nerves1 lymphatic vessels1 and glands1 connected by areolar tissue1 and inclosed in a sheath of the pleura4 ,respiration consists of an expiration and an inspiration4 ,the air passes in through the nose or mouth1 through the larynx1 trachea1 bronchi1 into the lungs4 ,inspiration3 ,by the contraction of certain muscles1 the cavity of the thorax is enlarged2 in consequence the pressure of the air within the lungs becomes less than that of the air outside the body1 and this difference of pressure causes a rush of air through the trachea into the lungs until an equilibrium of pressure is established between the air inside and that outside the lungs4 ,this constitutes inspiration4 ,expiration3 ,upon the relaxation of the inspiratory muscles 7the muscles whose contraction has brought about the thoracic expansion71 the elasticity of the chest walls and lungs1 aided by the contraction of certain muscles and other circumstances1 causes the chest to return to its original size1 or even become smaller4 ,in consequence of this the pressure within the lungs now becomes greater than that outside1 and thus air rushes out of the trachea1 until equilibrium is once more established4 ,this constitutes expiration4 ,the inspiratory and expiratory act together form a respiration4 ,the fresh air introduced into the upper part of the pulmonary passages by the inspiratory movement contains more oxygen and less carbonic acid than the old air previously present in the lungs4 ,by diffusion the new or tidal air1 as it is frequently called1 gives up the oxygen to1 and takes carbonic acid from1 the old or stationary air1 and thus when it leaves the chest in expiration has been the means both of introducing oxygen into and of removing carbonic acid from it4 ,by this ebb and flow of the tidal air and the diffusion between it and the stationary air1 the air in the lungs is being continually renewed1 through the alternate expansion and contraction of the chest4 ,in what may be considered normal breathing1 the respiratory act is repeated about seventeen times a minute2 and the duration of the inspiration as compared with that of the expiration and such pause as exists1 is about as ten to twelve4 ,when the ordinary respiratory movements prove insufficient to effect the necessary changes in the blood1 their rhythm and character become changed4 ,normal respiration gives place to labored respiration1 and this in turn to dyspnoea1 which unless some restorative event occurs terminates in asphyxia4 ,changes of the air in respiration3 #a4 ,the temperature of the expired air is variable1 but under ordinary circumstances is higher than that of the inspired air4 #b4 ,the expired air is loaded with aqueous vapor4 #c4 ,the expired air contains about #d to #f per cent less oxygen and about #d per cent more carbonic acid than the inspired air1 the quantity of nitrogen suffering but little change4 ,thus3 ,oxygen4 ,nitrogen4 ,carbon4 ,inspired air contains #bj4ha #gi4ae 4#jd ,expired 11 11 #af4jcc #gi4eeg #d4chj ,while the air in passing in and out of the lungs is thus robbed of a portion of its oxygen1 and loaded with a certain quantity of carbonic acid1 the blood as it streams along the pulmonary capillaries undergoes important correlative changes4 ,as it leaves the right ventricle it is venous blood of a dark purple or maroon color2 when the blood has passed through the lungs and falls into the left auricle1 it is arterial blood of a bright scarlet hue4 ,in passing through the capillaries of the body from the left to the right side of the heart1 it is again changed from the arterial to the venous condition4 ,the average composition of this gas in the two kinds of blood is as follows4 ,from #ajj volumes may be obtained3 ,oxygen4 ,carbonic ,acid4 ,nitrogen4 ,of arterial blood1 #bj 7#af7 vol4 #ci 7#cj7 vol4 #a to #b vol4 ,of venous blood1 #h-ab 7#f to #aj7 #df 7#ce7 vol4 #a to #b vol4 ,oxygen plays a most important role on this terrestrial globe4 ,life1 health1 and food depend on it4 ,this element penetrates1 pervades1 everything and everywhere1 unites and disunites with all other elements1 preserves and destroys4 ,while its absence from a living being1 whether plant or animal1 is death4 ,when a liquid such as water is exposed to an atmosphere containing a gas such as oxygen1 some of the oxygen will be dissolved in the water1 that is to say will be absorbed from the atmosphere4 ,the quantity which is so absorbed will depend on the quantity of oxygen which is in the atmosphere above2 that is to say1 on the pressure of the oxygen2 the greater the pressure of the oxygen1 the larger the amount which will be absorbed4 ,if1 on the other hand1 water containing a good deal of oxygen dissolved in it be exposed to an atmosphere containing little or no oxygen1 the oxygen will escape from the water into the atmosphere4 ,,chapter ,,xx4 ,,digestion1 ,,nutrition4 ,in plant life the permanent fabric consists of only three elements--carbon1 hydrogen1 oxygen4 ,we know that plants alone convert inorganic or mineral substances into organic matter1 and that plants as a necessary result assimilate their inorganic food1 decompose carbonic acid1 and restore its oxygen to the atmosphere4 ,vegetation is constructed of cells or vesicles1 and has a cellular tissue4 ,a cell is a living organism4 ,it is that which makes up the tissue of plants4 ,for the whole life of the plant is that of the cells which compose it2 in them and by them its products are elaborated1 and all its vital processes are carried on4 ,cell multiplication by division1 cell growth1 cell modification1 exist in plants4 ,fluids are transferred from cell to cell by a process called endosmose4 ,absorption takes place by the roots1 and the substance absorbed is carried up into the leaves1 even to the topmost bough of a tree1 passing in its course many millions of apparently water-tight partitions4 ,plants exchange gases1 taking in carbonic acid and giving off oxygen4 ,they evolve heat1 have organs of reproduction1 and elaborate the material for the final evolution of the seed4 ,this seed1 whether of grain1 of vegetables1 or of fruits1 is composed of carbon1 hydrogen1 and oxygen4 ,and these constitute the starches and sugars which we find have been evolved by the vegetable or plant1 and which form the food for animals4 ,plants1 then1 convert the elementary substances1 the crude material1 into food4 ,in doing so1 they pass through the processes known as the essentials of life2 these are1 birth1 growth1 development1 decline1 and death4 ,all organic compounds are transitory4 ,they are constantly appearing and disappearing1 composing and decomposing1 organizing and disorganizing2 and they are always dependent upon a certain degree of heat and moisture for their existence or non-existence4 ,the universal constituents of plant life2 of organic existence1 which are indispensable to vegetation1 are carbon1 hydrogen1 oxygen1 and nitrogen4 ,every vegetable substance is made up of at least eighty-eight to ninety-nine per cent of these elements4 ,the proper vegetable structure1 that is1 the tissue itself1 consists only of three of these elements1 carbon1 hydrogen1 oxygen2 while the fourth1 nitrogen1 is an essential constituent of the protoplasm1 which plays so important a part in the formation of the cell1 etc4 ,plants prepare or elaborate out of these chemical elements food-substances composed of those elements--starches and sugars--upon which animals subsist4 ,animals feeding upon these vegetable substances assimilate1 elaborate1 them into meat substances1 flesh1 or proteids4 ,these again are composed of carbon1 hydrogen1 nitrogen1 and oxygen4 ,nitrogen plays the important role in proteids1 being the distinguishing feature1 as contrasted with substances of vegetable origin1 the carbohydrates4 ,thus man is provided with two kinds of food3 derived from plants1 carbohydrates2 derived from animals1 proteids1 or albumens1 besides water and mineral salts4 ,these foods undergo certain preparations previous to being introduced into the system4 ,in the system the food undergoes farther elaboration1 to make it fit to enter into the circulation of the blood1 in order to supply suitable material for the master tissues4 ,we will now examine briefly the organs and their secretions that convert food-substances into blood1 and1 by the blood1 into tissue4 ,the solvents and diluents of food in the human animal economy are the saliva of the mouth1 the gastric juice of the stomach1 the pancreative juice of the pancreas1 the bile of the liver1 and the juices of the intestines--the succus entericus4 ,the digestive apparatus consists mainly of the alimentary canal together with various glands of which it receives the secretions4 ,the alimentary canal commences at the mouth and terminates at the anus4 ,the average length is about thirty feet1 about five or six times the length of the body4 ,the part situated in the head and thorax consists of the organs of mastication1 insalivation1 and deglutition1 and comprises the mouth with the teeth1 the salivary glands1 and the sophagus or gullet4 ,the parts contained in the abdomen and pelvis consist of the stomach and the small and large intestines4 ,the glands which are most immediately connected with digestion are very numerous small organs1 situated in the mucous membrane of the alimentary canal1 and the larger glands1 such as the salivary glands1 pancreas1 and liver1 whose ducts open on its inner surface4 ,the mouth is included between the lips and the throat1 bounded by the lips1 cheeks1 tongue1 and hard and soft palate4 ,it communicates behind with the pharynx1 and through the pharynx with the sophagus4 ,it is lined throughout with mucous membrane4 ,the mouth contains #cb teeth1 #af in the upper jaw and #af in the lower jaw4 ,the inferior maxillary bone1 or lower jaw1 is the only movable bone about the head4 ,the teeth have for their functions biting1 grinding1 chewing1 or triturating any hard food substance that may be introduced into the mouth4 ,the tongue is a muscular organ covered with mucous membrane4 ,by its muscular structure it takes part in the process of mastication and deglutition1 and in the articulation of speech1 while its mucous membrane1 with common and tactile sensibility1 is the seat of the sense of taste4 ,the tonsils are two prominent bodies which occupy the recesses formed1 one on each side of the fauces1 between the anterior and posterior palatine arches and the pillars of the fauces4 ,the saliva1 which is poured into the mouth and there mixed with the food during mastication1 is secreted by three pairs of glands named from their respective situation parotid1 submaxillary1 and sublingual4 ,the parotid is the largest of three salivary glands4 ,it lies on the side of the face1 in front of the ear1 and extends deeply into the space behind the ramus of the lower jaw4 ,its weight varies from #e to #h drachms4 ,it has a duct called the parotid or ,stenson's duct4 ,it is about #b #a_/b inches long1 and about a line and a half in thickness4 ,its orifice is opposite the crown of the second molar tooth of the upper jaw4 ,the submaxillary gland weighs about #b to #b #a_/b drachms1 and is situated on the inner surface of the inferior maxillary4 ,the duct is named ,wharton's1 and is about #b inches in length4 ,its orifice is found under the tongue4 ,the sublingual gland weighs about a drachm4 ,it is situated on the floor of the mouth4 ,the ducts are called the ducti ,rivintiani4 ,they are from #h to #bj in number4 ,they may be seen when the tip of the tongue is lifted up4 ,saliva4 ,mixed saliva1 as it appears in the mouth1 is a thick1 glairy1 generally frothy1 turbid fluid4 ,the quantity of saliva secreted in #bd hours varies4 ,the average amount is probably from two to three pints in #bd hours4 ,the composition of saliva is3 ,water1 #iid4aj ,solids1 #e4ij ,the solids are3 ,pyaline1 #a4da ,fat1 #j4jg ,epithelium and ,mucus1 #b4ac ,sulphocyanide of ,potassium1 ,phosphate of ,soda1 ,salts1 11 11 ,lime1 #b4bi 11 11 ,magnesia1 ,chloride of ,sodium1 11 11 ,potassium1 ---- #e4ij ,the specific gravity varies from #a4jjd to #a4jjh4 ,the rate at which saliva is secreted is subject to considerable variation4 ,when the tongue and muscles concerned in mastication are at rest1 and the nerves of the mouth are subject to no unusual stimulus1 the quantity secreted is not more than sufficient1 with the mucus1 to keep the mouth moist4 ,the purposes served by saliva are of several kinds3 #a4 ,acting mechanically in conjunction with mucus1 it keeps the mouth in a due condition of moisture1 and facilitates the movements of the tongue in speaking1 and the mastication of the food4 #b4 ,it serves also in dissolving sapid substances and rendering them capable of exciting the nerves of taste4 #c4 ,by mixing with the food during mastication1 it makes it a soft pulpy mass1 such as may easily be swallowed4 #d4 ,saliva performs a chemical part in the digestion of food4 ,it transforms starchy substances into dextrine and grape sugar4 ,starch is a carbohydrate--carbon #ah1 hydrogen #cj1 oxygen #ae4 ,c#ah;,h#cj,o#ae #c;,h#b,o ,c#f;,h#ab,o#f #b7;,c#f;,h#aj,o#e7 #b;,h#b,o 7,grape sugar47 7,dextrine47 ,ptyaline is the salient feature of saliva4 ,it is known as a ferment--acting upon starch and converting it into dextrine and grape sugar4 ,the action of saliva varies in intensity in different animals4 ,the food after having been acted upon and prepared is propelled1 by the act of deglutition1 through the sophagus into the stomach1 by way of the pharynx4 ,the pharynx is that part of the alimentary canal which unites the cavities of the mouth and nose to the sophagus4 ,it extends from the base of the skull to the lower border of the cricoid cartilage1 and forms a sac open at the lower end1 and imperfect in front1 where it presents apertures leading into the nose1 mouth1 and larynx4 ,the pharynx is about four and a half inches in length1 and is considerably wider across than it is deep from before backwards4 ,the sophagus or gullet1 the passage leading from the pharynx into the stomach1 commences at the cricoid cartilage opposite the lower border of the fifth cervical vertebra1 descends in front of the spine1 passes through the diaphragm opposite the ninth dorsal vertebra1 and ends by an opening at the cardiac orifice of the stomach4 ,it is from nine to ten inches in length4 ,the stomach is situated in the abdominal cavity4 ,it lies in part against the anterior wall of the abdomen1 and in part beneath the liver and diaphragm1 and above the transverse colon4 ,it is somewhat conical or pyriform in shape4 ,the left part is the larger1 and is named the cardiac1 or splenic1 the right is named the pyloric1 extremity4 ,the upper border is about three or four inches in length1 is concave1 and is named the lesser curvature1 while the lower border is much longer1 is convex1 and forms the greater curvature4 ,the dimensions vary greatly in different subjects1 and also according to the state of distension of the organ4 ,when moderately filled1 its length is about ten to twelve inches1 and its diameter at its widest part from four to five inches4 ,it weighs when freed from other parts about four and a half ounces in the male and somewhat less in the female4 ,the structure of the stomach consists of four coats--a serous1 a muscular1 an areolar1 and a mucous coat4 ,the external or serous coat is derived from the peritoneum4 ,there are three kinds of muscular fibers--longitudinal1 circular1 and oblique1 and the internal mucous lining is a rather thicker1 soft1 smooth1 pulpy membrane1 lying in ridges or rug1 and containing a large number of glands--tubular or gastric glands1 and another variety of gland called peptic1 besides others4 ,while the stomach contains no food1 and is inactive1 no gastric fluid is secreted2 and mucus1 which is either neutral or slightly alkaline1 covers its surface4 ,but immediately on the introduction of food into the stomach1 the mucous membrane1 previously quite pale1 becomes slightly turgid and reddened with the influx of a large quantity of blood2 the gastric glands commence secreting actively1 and an acid fluid is poured out in minute drops1 which gradually run together and flow down the walls of the stomach1 or soak into the substance introduced4 ,the quantity of this fluid secreted daily has been variously estimated2 but the average for a healthy adult has been assumed to range from ten to twenty pints in twenty-four hours4 ,the specific gravity of gastric juice has been found to differ little from that of water1 varying from #a4jja to #a4jaj1 and the amounts of solid present to be very small1 viz41 about #ef per cent4 ,the chemical composition of gastric juice is3 ,water1 #iid4dj ,solids1 #e4ei ,ferment1 pepsin1 and a trace of ammonia1 #c4ai ,hydrochloric acid1 #j4bj ,solids1 ,chloride of calcium1 #j4jf 11 11 sodium #a4df 11 11 potassium1 #j4ee ,phosphate of lime1 magnesia1 and iron1 #j4ab ,on starch gastric juice per se has no effect whatever1 nor has healthy gastric juice any effect on grape sugar or cane sugar4 ,on fats gastric juice is powerless4 ,the essential property of gastric juice is the power of dissolving proteid matters 7meats1 albumens1 nitrogenous substances71 and converting them into a substance called peptones4 ,gastric juice thus readily dissolves coagulated proteids which otherwise are insoluble1 or soluble only with difficulty in very strong acids4 ,certain conditions are required for the perfection of the process1 which are all found in the stomach4 ,the first is a temperature of #ajj ,f4 ,second1 minute division and constant movement favor digestion4 ,third1 the greater the surface presented to the action of the juice1 the more rapid the solution4 ,neutralization of the juice wholly arrests digestion4 ,the digestive action of gastric juice on proteids1 like that of saliva on starch1 is a ferment action2 in other words1 the solvent action of gastric juice is essentially due to the presence in it of a ferment body called pepsin4 ,the general effect of digestion of the stomach is the conversion of food into chyme1 a substance of various compositions according to the nature of the food1 yet always presenting a characteristic thick pultaceous grumous consistence4 ,the small intestines commence at the pylorus and after many convolutions terminate in the large intestines4 ,they measure on an average about twenty feet in length in the adult4 ,for convenience they have been divided into three parts--the duodenum1 which extends from eight to ten inches beyond the pylorus2 the jejunum1 which occupies two-fifths1 and the ilium1 which occupies three-fifths1 of the rest of the canal4 ,the mucous membrane1 the interior coat1 is the most important to the function of digestion4 ,there are permanent folds1 shelf-like processes1 of the mucous membrane1 called valvular conniventes4 ,there are also villi and glands1 as the glands of ,lieberkhn1 of ,peyer1 and of ,bruner4 ,the glands of ,lieberkhn are thickly distributed over the whole surface of the large and small intestines4 ,the glands of ,peyer are exclusively in the small intestine4 ,they are found in greatest abundance in the lower part of the ileum near to the ileo-ccal valve4 ,they are met with in two conditions1 viz41 either scattered singly1 in which case they are termed glandul solitair1 or aggregated in groups varying from one to three inches in length and about half an inch in width1 chiefly of an oval form1 their long axes parallel with that of the intestines4 ,in this state they are named glandul agminat4 ,the latter are almost always placed opposite the attachment of the mesentery4 ,in structure they are analogous to lymphatics or absorbent glands1 and their office is to take up certain materials from the chyle1 elaborate them1 and subsequently discharge them into the lacteals1 with which vessels they appear to be closely connected4 ,bruner's glands are confined to the duodenum2 they are most abundant and thickly set at the commencement of this portion of the intestines1 and are provided with permanent gland ducts4 ,the villi are confined exclusively to the mucous membrane of the small intestines4 ,they are minute vascular processes1 from a quarter of a line to a line and two-thirds in length4 ,there are about fifty to ninety in number to a square line4 ,each villus consists of a small projection of mucous membrane1 and its interior is supported throughout by fine retiform or adenoid tissue4 ,two or more arteries are distributed to each villus1 and from their capillaries1 which form a dense network1 proceed one or two small veins1 which pass out at the base of the villus4 ,the lacteal vessels enter the base of each villus1 and passing up in the middle extend nearly to the top1 where it ends commonly by a closed and somewhat dilated extremity4 ,the office of the villi is the absorption of chyle from the completely digested food of the intestines4 ,the large intestine extends from the termination of the ileum to the anus4 ,it is usually about five to six feet in length1 being about one-fifth of the whole length of the intestinal canal4 ,the large intestine is constructed of four coats like those of the stomach and small intestines1 namely1 the serous1 the muscular1 the areolar or submucous1 and the mucous4 ,it is divided into the ascending colon1 transverse and descending colon1 and rectum and anus4 ,the ccum is a short wide pouch1 communicating with the lower end of the small intestines through an opening guarded by the ileo-ccal valve4 ,the appendix vermiformis is attached to the ccum4 ,the colon commences at the right groin1 ascends to the liver1 forms the hepatic flexure1 then crosses transversely from right to left to the spleen1 forms the splenic flexure1 descends to the left groin1 forms the sigmoid flexure1 passes through the pelvis as the rectum1 and terminates at the anus4 ,the mucous membrane of the large intestines1 like that of the small intestines1 is lined throughout by columnar epithelium1 but unlike it1 is quite destitute of villi and is not projected in the form of valvular conniventes4 ,the peritoneum1 or serous membrane of the abdominal cavity1 is by far the most extensive and complicated of serous membranes4 ,like the others1 it may be considered to form a shut sac1 on the outside of which are placed the viscera1 which it covers4 ,the peritoneum forms the mesenteries and omenta for the stomach1 small and large intestines1 and ligaments for the liver1 spleen1 uterus1 and bladder4 ,the liver is a very important glandular organ1 very constant in the animal series1 being found in all the vertebrates1 and1 in a more or less developed condition1 in most invertebrate tribes4 ,it secretes bile1 and appears to act upon the blood which is transmitted through it4 ,the liver is the largest gland in the body1 and by far the most bulky of the abdominal viscera4 ,it measures from ten to twelve inches transversely from right to left1 between six and seven inches from its posterior to its anterior border1 and about three and a half inches from above downwards where thickest1 which is towards the right and posterior part4 ,the average bulk is about eighty-eight cubic inches4 ,the ordinary weight in the adult is between #ej to #fj ounces1 about one-thirtieth of the weight of the whole body4 ,the liver is solid to the feel1 and of a dull reddish-brown color1 with frequently a dark-purplish tinge along the margin4 ,it has an upper surface smooth and convex1 and an under surface which is uneven and concave4 ,the liver is divided into two unequal lobes1 a right and a left1 and on the under surface of the right lobe are three secondary lobes or lobules1 named the lobe of ,spigolius1 the caudate or tailed lobe1 and the square lobe4 ,it has five fissures or foss1 described as the transverse or portal2 the umbilical fissure and the fissure of the ductus venosus1 together forming the longitudinal fissure2 the fossa of the vena cava1 and the fossa of the gall bladder4 ,it is held in position by five ligaments formed by layers of peritoneum4 ,the liver is situated on the right side of the body under the diaphragm4 ,the convex surface is protected1 on the right by the six or seven lower ribs1 and in front by the cartilages of the same1 and by the ensiform cartilage1 the diaphragm of course being interposed4 ,to the left of the longitudinal fissure the liver is in contact with the pyloric extremity and anterior surface of the stomach1 on which it moves freely4 ,when the stomach is quite empty1 the left part of this surface of the liver may overlap the cardiac end of that organ4 ,to the right of the longitudinal fissure the liver rests upon the first part of the duodenum and the hepatic flexure of the colon4 ,farther back it is in contact with the upper part of the right kidney and suprarenal capsule4 ,the two blood-vessels which supply the liver are the hepatic artery and the vena porta4 ,the hepatic vein conveys the blood away from the liver4 ,the lymphatics of the liver are large and numerous1 forming a deep and a superficial set4 ,the nerves are derived partly from the coeliac plexus and partly from the pneumogastric nerve1 especially from the left pneumogastric4 ,the excretory apparatus of the liver consists of the hepatic duct1 the cystic duct1 gall bladder1 and common bile duct4 ,the hepatic duct is formed by the union of a right and left branch1 which issue from the bottom of the transverse fissure and unite at a very obtuse angle2 it descends to the right1 within the gastro-hepatic omentum4 ,its diameter is nearly two lines1 and its length nearly two inches4 ,at its lower end it meets the cystic descending from the gall bladder1 and the ducts uniting together at an angle form the common bile duct4 ,the cystic duct is about one and a half inches in length4 ,the gall bladder is a pear-shaped membranous sac1 three or four inches long1 about an inch and a half across its widest part1 and capable of containing from #h to #ab fluid drachms4 ,the gall bladder is attached to the liver4 ,the neck1 gradually narrowing1 becoming constricted1 bends downward1 and terminates in the cystic duct4 ,the common bile duct 7ductus communis choledicus71 the largest of the ducts1 being from two to three lines in width1 and nearly three inches long1 conveys the bile from the liver and the gall bladder into the duodenum by a common orifice1 with the pancreatic duct on its inner surface1 about three to four inches below the pylorus4 ,the liver is an extremely vascular organ1 and receives its blood supply from two distinct vessels1 the portal vein and the hepatic artery1 while the blood is returned from it into the inferior vena cava by the hepatic vein4 ,its secretion1 the bile1 is conveyed from it by the hepatic duct1 either directly into the intestines1 or1 when digestion is not going on1 into the cystic duct1 and thence into the gall bladder1 where it accumulates until required4 ,the portal vein1 hepatic artery1 and hepatic duct branch together throughout the liver1 while the hepatic vein and its tributaries run by themselves4 ,at the transverse fissure it is merged into the areolar investment called ,glisson's capsule1 which surrounds the portal vein1 hepatic artery1 and hepatic duct1 as they enter at this part1 and accompanies them in their branches through the substance of the liver4 ,the liver is made up of small roundish or oval portions called lobules1 each of which is about #a_/bj of an inch in diameter1 and composed of minute branches of the portal vein1 hepatic artery1 hepatic duct1 and hepatic vein2 while the interstices of these vessels are filled by liver cells4 ,these cells1 which make up a great portion of the substance of the organ1 are of rounded or polygonal form2 about #a_/hjj to #a_/ajjj of an inch in diameter4 ,the function of the liver is the secretion of bile4 ,the bile is a somewhat viscid fluid of a yellow1 or greenish-yellow1 color1 a strongly bitter taste1 and when fresh a scarcely perceptible odor4 ,it has a neutral or slightly alkaline reaction1 and its specific gravity is #a4jbj4 ,the composition of human bile is3 ,water1 #hei4b ,solids1 #adj4h ------- #a1jjj ,the solids are3 ,biliary acids combined with alkalies 7bilin71 #ia4e ,fat1 #i4b ,cholestrin1 #b4f ,mucus and coloring matter1 #bi4h ,salts1 #g4g ----- #adj4h ,bile is distinguished from the other alimentary secretions by the entire absence of proteids4 ,the chemical composition of bilin1 as compared with the organic parts of blood1 is3 ,carb4 ,hyd4 ,nitr4 ,oxy4 ,sul4 ,bilin atoms1 #gf #ff #b #bb ,blood1 #dh #cf #f #ad ,biliverdin1 #af #bj #b #e ,coloring matter1 ,glycocholic acid1 #bf #dc #a #f ,taurocholic acid1 #bf #de #a #g #a ,there seems to be some relationship between the coloring matters of the blood and bile2 and it may be added1 between these and that of the urine also2 so that it is possible they may be1 all of them1 varieties of the same pigment1 or derived from the same source4 ,the quantity of bile discharged into the intestines is estimated to be about thirty to forty ounces secreted by an adult man in twenty-four hours4 ,the purposes served by the secretion of bile may be considered to be of two principal kinds1 viz41 excrementitious and digestive4 ,as an excrementitious substance1 the bile serves especially as a medium for the separation of excess of carbon and hydrogen from the blood4 ,though one of the chief purposes of the secretion of bile may appear to be the purification of the blood by ultimate excretion1 yet there are many reasons for believing that while it is in the intestines it performs an important part in the process of digestion4 ,bile has a slight solvent action on fats1 and only a slight emulsifying power4 ,its functions generally may be considered thus3 #a4 ,it assists in emulsifying fatty portions of food1 thus rendering them capable of being absorbed by the lacteals4 #b4 ,bile facilitates the absorption of fatty matter4 #c4 ,bile1 like the gastric fluid1 has a strongly antiseptic power1 and may serve to prevent the decomposition of food during the time of its sojourn in the intestines4 #d4 ,bile has been considered to act as a natural purgative1 by prompting an increased secretion of the intestinal glands4 #e4 ,another very important function appears to be that of so acting upon certain constituents of the blood passing through it1 as to render some of them capable of assimilation with blood generally1 and to prepare others for being duly eliminated in the process of respiration4 #f4 ,an important influence seems also to be exerted by the liver upon the saccharine matters derived from the alimentary canal4 ,the chief purpose of the saccharine and amylaceous principles of food is1 in relation to respiration and the production of animal heat4 ,the pancreas is a long1 narrow1 flattened gland of a reddish-cream color1 larger at one end than at the other1 and lying behind the stomach opposite the first lumbar vertebra4 ,it is usually from #f to #h inches long1 about #a #a_/b inch in average width1 and #a_/b to #a inch in thickness4 ,it weighs about #b #a_/d to #c #a_/b ounces4 ,its principal excretory duct is called the pancreatic duct1 and runs through the entire length of the gland from left to right4 ,the duct opens in a common orifice with the ductus communis choledicus on the inner surface of the duodenum about #d inches below the pylorus4 ,healthy pancreatic juice is a clear1 viscid fluid1 frothing when shaken4 ,it has a very decided alkaline reaction4 ,the pancreas in its minute anatomy closely resembles the salivary glands2 and the fluid elaborated by it appears almost identical with saliva4 ,the composition of pancreatic juice is3 ,water1 #ihj4de ,solids1 #ai4ee ,the solids are3 ,pancreatic1 #ab4ga ,inorganic bases and salts1 #f4hd ----- #ai4ee ,action of pancreatic juice4 7#a7 ,it acts on starch raw and boiled with great energy1 rapidly converting it into grape sugar4 7#b7 ,on proteids 7meats7 it also exercises a solvent action1 so far similar to that of gastric juice that by it the proteids are converted into peptones4 7#c7 ,on fats pancreatic juice has a twofold action3 it emulsifies them1 and it splits up neutral fats into their respective acids and glycerine4 ,thus pancreatic juice is remarkable for the power it possesses of acting on all food-stuffs--on starch1 fats1 and proteids4 ,succus entericus 7intestinal juice74 ,the precise action of this is not known4 ,it has been said to act upon starch1 to convert proteids into peptones1 and to emulsify fats4 ,on the other hand1 each of these actions has been denied4 ,the portal system of veins4 ,the portal vein1 or vena porta1 collects the blood from the stomach1 intestines1 pancreas1 and spleen2 and carries it to the liver1 from which the bile is secreted2 ramifying after the manner of an artery in the substance of the liver and conveying to the capillaries of that organ the blood collected in the main trunk4 ,this blood1 together with that of the hepatic artery1 after having served for the secretion of the bile and the nourishment of the liver1 is withdrawn from that organ by the hepatic veins1 and carried by them into the vena cava inferior4 ,digestion begins at the mouth4 ,food is masticated by the movement of the lower jaw1 broken into small pieces1 moistened by the saliva1 and starchy substances are converted into sugar4 ,no change takes place during the rapid transit through the sophagus4 ,in the stomach the proteids are acted upon by the gastric juice and converted into peptones4 ,fats remain unchanged1 and sugars are not acted upon4 ,while these changes are proceeding1 the thick grayish liquid1 or chyme1 formed by the imperfectly dissolved food1 is from time to time ejected through the pylorus1 accompanied even by large morsels of solid less digested matter4 ,this may occur within a few minutes of food having been token1 but the larger escape from the stomach probably does not begin till from one to two and lasts from four to five hours after the meal1 becoming more rapid towards the end1 such pieces as most resist the gastric juice being the last to leave the stomach4 ,substances can be absorbed from the cavity of the stomach into the circulation4 ,the presumption is1 that the diffusible sugars and peptones pass by osmosis direct into the capillaries1 and so into the gastric veins4 ,in the small intestines the semi-digested food1 or chyme1 as it passes the biliary orifice causes a gush of bile1 and at the same time the pancreatic juice which flows freely into the intestine at the taking of the meal1 is secreted again with renewed vigor1 when the gastric digestion is completed4 ,the conversion of starch into sugar1 which may have languished in the stomach1 is resumed with great activity by the pancreatic juice4 ,the pancreatic juice emulsifies fats1 and also splits them into their respective fatty acids and glycerine1 and the bile is able to a certain extent to saponify the free fatty acids4 ,it also appears that the slight emulsifying power of the bile is much increased by the presence of soap2 and as a matter of fact1 the bile and pancreatic juice do largely emulsify the contents of the small intestines1 so that the grayish turbid chyme is changed into a creamy-looking fluid1 which has been called chyle4 ,these products as they are formed pass into the lacteals or the portal blood-vessels4 ,through the large intestine pass off indigestible or undigested constituents of the meal1 and the gases generated4 ,absorption takes place from the stomach1 and occurs along the course of the small and large intestines1 especially of water4 ,the largest and most important part of the digested material passes away from the canal during the transit of food along the small intestines1 partly into the lacteals1 partly into the portal vein4 ,digestion being1 broadly speaking1 the conversion of non-diffusible proteids and starch into highly diffusible peptones and sugar1 and the emulsifying1 or division into minute particles1 of various fats1 it is natural to suppose that the diffusible peptones and sugars pass by osmosis into the blood-vessels1 and that the emulsified fats pass into the lacteals4 ,that the great mass of the fat which enters the body from the intestines passes through the lacteals1 there can be no doubt2 and there is but little doubt that a considerable quantity of peptone and sugar does pass into the portal blood4 ,chyle is a white milky-looking fluid1 which after its escape coagulates1 forming a not very firm clot4 ,the nature of the coagulation seems to be exactly the same as that of blood4 ,lymph seems to be blood minus red corpuscles1 and chyle is lymph plus a very large quantity of minutely divided fats4 ,it has been calculated that a quantity equal to that of the whole blood may pass through the thoracic duct in twenty-four hours1 and of this it is supposed that about half comes from food through the lacteals1 the remainder from the body at large2 but these calculations are based on uncertain data4 ,entrance of chyle into the lacteals4 ,the lacteals begin at a club-shaped lymphatic space lying in the center of the villus1 and connected with the smaller lymphatic spaces of the adenoid tissue around it2 it opens below into the submucous lymphatic plexus from which the lacteals spring4 ,the thoracic duct is the common trunk which receives the absorbents from both the lower limbs1 from the abdominal viscera1 from the walls of the abdomen1 from the left side of the thorax1 left lung1 left side of the heart1 and left upper limbs1 and from the left side of the head and neck4 ,it is from fifteen to eighteen inches long in the adult1 and extends from the second lumbar vertebra to the root of the neck4 ,at the last dorsal vertebra there is usually a dilation of the duct1 of variable size1 which is called the receptaculum chyli1 and is the common place of junction of the lymphatics of the lower limbs and the trunks of the lacteal vessels4 ,there are two sets of absorbent vessels--the lacteals1 which convey the chyle from the alimentary canal to the thoracic duct2 and the lymphatics1 which take up the lymph from all the other parts of the body and return it into the venous system4 ,there is a right lymphatic duct1 about a quarter to a half inch in length1 which receives the lymph from the absorbents of the right upper limb1 the right side of the head and neck1 the right side of the chest1 the right lung and the right half of the heart1 and the upper surface of the liver4 ,the thoracic duct terminates on the outer side of the internal jugular vein1 in the angle formed by the union of that vein with the subclavian1 and the subclavian empties itself in the superior vena cava4 ,lymphatics and lacteals are furnished with valves serving the same office as those of the veins1 and for the most part constructed after the same fashion4 ,lymph and chyle1 unlike the blood1 pass only in one direction1 namely1 from the fine branches to the trunk and so to the large veins1 on entering which they are mingled with the stream of blood and form part of its constituents4 ,in some part of their course all lymphatic vessels pass through certain bodies called lymphatic glands4 ,analysis of lymph and chyle3 ,lymph4 ,lymph from ,chyle from ,thoracic ,duct4 the ,lacteals4 ,water1 #icg4cb #ici4gj #ijb4cg ,fibrine1 #j4eie #aj4fj #c4gj ,albumen1 #db4gge #ch4hc #ce4af ,fat1 #f4ea a little #cf4ja ,extractive ,matter1 #e4je ,salts1 #g4ge #aj4hg #bb4gf ------ ------- ------- #ajjj4 #ajjj4 #ajjj4 ,chyle having reached the lymphatic channels1 its onward progress is determined by a variety of circumstances4 ,putting aside the pumping action of the villi1 the same events which cause the movement of the lymph generally1 also further the flow of the chyle1 and these are briefly as follows3 #a4 ,the wide-spread presence of valves in the lymphatic vessels causes every pressure exercised on the tissues in which they lie1 to assist in the propulsion forward of the lymph4 #b4 ,considering the whole lymphatic system as a set of branching tubes passing from the extravascular regions just outside the small arteries and veins and capillaries1 to the large venous trunks1 it is obvious that the mean pressure of the blood in the subclavian at the junction with the jugular is the cause of the movement1 etc41 assisted perhaps by the respiratory movements1 and other causes1 as osmosis1 etc4 ,the average quantity of solid fecal matter evacuated by the human adult in twenty-four hours is about five ounces2 an uncertain proportion of which consists simply of the undigested or chemically modified residue of the food1 and the remainder of certain matters which are excreted in the intestinal canal4 ,gases contained in the stomach and intestines4 ,the sources of the gases contained in the stomach and bowels may be enumerated3 #a4 ,air introduced in the act of swallowing either food or saliva4 #b4 ,gas developed by the decomposition of alimentary matter1 or of the secretions and excretions mingled with it in the stomach and intestines4 #c4 ,it is probable that a certain mutual interchange occurs between the gases contained in the alimentary canal1 and those present in the blood of the gastric and intestinal blood-vessels4 ,the movement of the intestines is peristaltic or vermicular1 and is effected by the alternate contractions and dilatations of successive portions of the intestinal coats4 ,the contractions1 which may commence at any point of the intestine1 extend in a wavelike manner along the tube4 ,this is due to the involuntary longitudinal and circular muscular fibers contracting successively from above downwards and from behind forwards1 etc4 ,the movements take place slowly1 and in health are commonly unperceived by the mind1 but they are perceptible when they are accelerated under the influence of any irritation4 ,,chapter ,,xxi4 ,,the ,,elementary ,,substances4 ,we have thus far discovered that this terrestrial globe is composed of sixty-four elementary substances2 that fifty belong to a class called metals1 and the remaining fourteen are non-metallic and are called metalloids4 ,we know with absolute certainty the elementary chemical composition of all the substances known to man2 everything within the reach of man has been analyzed1 whether of inorganic or of organic origin4 ,we also know the principal elements that enter into the composition of organic substances1 animal or vegetable4 ,but a thing that is not generally known is the wonderful role certain elements play in nature1 especially in the life of plants and animals4 ,if we examine the extraordinary display of combination or composition of some of the elements--especially those that enter into the composition of organic substances--we shall find how few of these elements are essential for the production of life1 and its maintenance2 and we shall be surprised to find what force or power1 and phenomena1 they are capable of producing4 ,we shall be surprised to see how nicely and delicately these elementary compositions are adjusted--with what precision the elements enter into combination with each other--and with what astonishing result4 ,the union of the elements that enter into the composition of living matter1 must always be very accurately balanced1 to insure a healthy or normal condition of either plant or animal4 ,a very slight deviation or change may prove either injurious or destructive to the living organism4 ,in order to obviate writing the names of the elements1 we propose to use symbols4 ,the elementary substances that enter into the composition of living matter being few1 it will not be difficult to recognize the meaning of the symbols4 ,the four vital elements mentioned in a previous chapter are ,carbon4 ,hydrogen4 ,nitrogen4 ,oxygen4 ,symbols3 ,c ,h ,n ,o ,the atmosphere we breathe1 for example1 is what is called a chemical mixture1 and is composed of ,o#bb,n#gg1 with traces of ammonia1 etc4 ,the water we drink is a chemical composition1 and is constituted by ,o ,h#b4 ,the number placed against each element indicates the quantity of each one requisite1 or found1 in the composition1 or chemical combination1 of the substance indicated4 ,take water for example4 ,o#a 7one7 and ,h#b 7two71 that represents a chemical compound4 ,it is most abundant1 and is by far the most essential1 in the formation of organic life4 ,air1 water1 fire1 are represented by the four elements ,c ,h ,n ,o4 ,every power1 every force known to man is dependent upon these4 ,every kind of life is made up of these4 ,of every phenomenon manifested by nature1 whatever the display may be or where it may occur1 these elements are the fundamental basis4 ,protoplasm1 which is acknowledged to be the base of physical life1 is nothing more than a homogeneous mass of albuminous matter which is composed of ,c ,h ,n ,o--with a greater or less quantity of each of these elements4 ,these elements enter into the formation of all gases1 fluids1 and solids4 ,they are invisible at one time and visible at another4 ,without taste or color or odor in a free state1 or even in combination1 they assume taste1 color1 and odor when the elements combine in certain proportions4 ,they become either harmless or poisonous2 create1 maintain1 or destroy life4 ,oxygen is a tasteless1 colorless1 and inodorous gas4 ,hydrogen is a colorless1 tasteless1 and inodorous gas4 ,nitrogen is destitute of color1 taste1 or odor4 ,carbon is a solid but becomes gaseous in combination with either ,oxygen or ,hydrogen4 ,the diamond is one of the most remarkable substances known4 ,it is always distinctly crystallized1 often quite transparent and colorless1 now and then having a shade of yellow1 pink1 or blue4 ,carbon is also found as graphite or plumbago4 ,it constitutes a large proportion of all organic structures1 animal and vegetable4 ,pure carbon1 diamond1 is the hardest substance known4 ,in combination with ,oxygen and ,hydrogen it forms the softest of living matter1 protoplasm4 ,in combination with ,oxygen it is poisonous to all animal life1 and beneficial to vegetable life4 ,combined with ,hydrogen1 it forms the gas we burn1 and is destructive to animal life4 ,it is the food-maker in the plant1 and it is the food-provider for the animal4 ,it is the combustive agent in nature1 in vegetables and in animals4 ,from a thunderstorm to a flickering flame of a candle1 carbon displays its power4 ,from the smallest and lowliest aquatic vegetable cell to the highest animal cell tissue1 it is the important solidifying1 heat-giving element4 ,these elements when free have neither color1 odor1 nor taste4 ,combined1 however1 they acquire odor1 taste1 and color4 ,o and ,n1 the atmosphere1 has no color1 taste1 or odor4 ,o and ,h1 water1 has no color1 taste1 or odor4 ,n and ,h1 ammonia1 has color1 taste1 and odor4 ,o and ,c is given off by animals1 taken in by vegetables--carbonic acid4 ,c and ,h1 the gas1 has taste1 odor1 and color4 ,n and ,o produce a gas--laughing gas4 ,any two of these elements may combine in the form of a gas1 a liquid1 or a solid4 ,and any one may combine with any other element known and form a substance1 a molecule4 ,o combines with all the elements known4 ,h 11 11 many4 ,n 11 11 some4 ,c 11 11 many4 ,two elements form a substance4 ,three elements form vegetable life4 ,four elements form animal life4 ,common salt is used daily with our food2 is harmless and useful2 it is known as the chloride of sodium4 ,by analysis this compound is separated1 analyzed1 into chlorine and sodium4 ,na stands for sodium1 and ,cl for chlorine4 ,combine ,cl with ,h4 ,that forms hydrochloric acid1 a strong poison1 strong enough to dissolve marble4 ,cl has little attraction for ,o4 ,its chemical energies are principally exerted toward hydrogen and the metals4 ,cl is one of the best disinfectants1 and makes excellent bleaching material4 ,na 7sodium7 combines with ,o1 and ,h1 and ,c4 ,these are some of the combinations3 ,na ,cl common salt4 ,cl ,h hydrochloric acid1 a poison4 ,o ,na ,h caustic soda4 ,na#b ,n ,o#c ,chili saltpetre4 ,na#b ,c ,o#c sodium1 carbonate1 etc4 ,phosphorus and sulphur and other elements enter into combination with ,oxygen and ,hydrogen4 ,both phosphorus 7,p7 and sulphur 7,s7 enter into organic life1 but play a subordinate role4 ,the vegetable cell contains liquid1 solid1 and air4 ,the growing1 vitally active cells are filled with liquid1 namely ,o and ,h1 charged with more or less nutritive assimilated matters1 ,c1 etc4 ,sap--the liquid which is imbibed by the roots and carried upwards by the stem--this is the water impregnated with certain gaseous matter derived from the air1 and minute portions of earthy matter dissolved from the soil under the influence of light4 ,sap elaborated--from this we obtain the ternary substances composed of three elements1 ,o ,c ,h2 also substances composed of four elements1 ,o ,c ,h ,n4 ,the latter represents protoplasm or protein4 ,vegetable chemical compounds1 organic substances1 can be produced only under certain vitalizing conditions and influences4 ,wherever upon the surface of this earth1 the sun's rays produce a certain degree of heat1 temperature1 ,c ,h ,o may combine and evolve vegetable life4 ,in tropical climates1 for example1 notwithstanding the sun's heat1 no vegetation grows on high mountain peaks that are covered with snow and ice year in and year out2 nor will vegetation grow in the cold climate of the north4 ,c ,h and ,o will produce vegetable life only in the presence of heat4 ,heat is essential4 ,and there is one source only whence it can be obtained1 that is the sun4 ,the climate1 as the temperature1 etc42 the quantity of elements1 and the quality of soil1 vary the products of vegetation4 ,that accounts for the immense variety1 the differences existing4 ,the organic chemical combinations in vegetable life are infinite4 ,and all these varieties depend on the numerical quantities of each of the elements ,c ,h ,o that enter any composition4 ,the products of vegetation4 ,c ,h ,o ,n ,starch food substances1 #ah #ac #ae ,sugar1 grape1 #f #ab #f 11 cane1 ,h#b,o #ab #bb #aa ,oils1 aniseed1 etc41 #aj #ab #a ,acids1 tartaric1 #d #f #f 11 1 citric1 etc41 #f #h #g ,hydrocyanic1 or prussic1 acid1 one of the strongest poisons1 #a #a #a ,tannin or tannic acid1 #bg #bb #ag ,turpentine oil 7composed of carbon and hydrogen only7 #aj #af ,we have other vegetable products called alkaloids1 that are principally found in the bark and the leaves4 ,a few examples will suffice3 ,c ,h ,n ,o ,morphia1 #ag #ai #a #c ,strychnine1 #ba #bb #b #b ,quinine 7sulphate ,h#b,,so#d71 #bj #bd #b #b ,the essence of coffee and tea1 caffein or thein1 #h #aj #d #b ,the alcohols1 acids1 ethers1 and so on1 are all composed of these elements3 ,c ,h ,o ,alcohol1 #b #f #a ,acetic acid1 #b #d #b ,the combinations are infinite4 ,volumes are filled with organic chemistry4 ,mere mention only can be made1 to show the wonderful power these elements display when variously combined4 ,the products of destructive distillation of coal yield a remarkable series of combinations3 ,carb4 ,hyd4 ,light carburetted hydrogen1 marsh gas1 or fire-damp1 is composed of #a #d 7,c#a;,h#d7 ,aceteline1 another product1 #b #b 7,c#b;,h#b7 ,heavy carburetted hydrogen1 olefiant gas1 the gas we burn1 ethelene1 #b #d 7,c#b;,h#d7 ,these may undergo a vast variety of changes and combinations4 ,chloroform1 alcohol1 ethers1 acids1 oils and fats1 resins1 balsams1 etc41 etc41 all have these elements in combination4 ,does it not seem strange that the different numerical combinations of the same elements should have such different effects upon the animal system8 ,why should starch and sugar compounds be good for the sustenance of animal life while other compounds of the same elements prove destructive to life8 ,or1 why should morphia have such a peculiar effect upon the animal tissues--especially the nervous8 ,and why should alcohol have such a peculiar effect upon the master tissues of the body8 ,the difference in the chemical composition of quinine and strychnine is not so very great1 yet the action upon the system is by no means the same4 ,the effect upon the tissues is not the same4 ,those who believe in a ,god easily dispose of these questions by simply exclaiming1 ,they are the wonderful works of ,god6 ,that one drop of hydrocyanic acid upon the tongue of an animal should kill is very astonishing2 that acid being composed only of one of ,carbon1 one of ,hydrogen1 and one of ,nitrogen 7,c ,n ,h74 ,why should it paralyze the brain first1 before it affects the heart1 since it has to be carried by the blood through the circulation to the brain8 ,the derangement of the functions of that center causes death4 ,the revelations of these important combinations and actions man had to make for himself4 ,they were not brought down to us on tablets of stone by some supernatural agent1 nor did spirits or angels communicate the mysteries and the powers of these elements4 ,it is owing to the development of man's intellectual faculties1 that the combinations of these elements has been made possible4 ,it was quite a discovery when it was found that nitre1 sulphur1 and charcoal made gunpowder4 ,there are only five elements in that compound1 viz41 ,nitrogen1 potassium1 ,oxygen1 ,carbon1 and sulphur4 ,chili saltpeter is used for domestic purposes4 ,harmless to animal life1 so is each one of these elements when they enter into combinations that are not destructive to life4 ,the forces and powers exercised by any compound depend on the number and kind of elements that enter into the composition4 ,and the influence that bears directly upon their mutual activity again depends1 when in a state of nature1 upon the presence of heat4 ,when a seed1 as of wheat or of any starchy vegetable1 is thrown into the ground1 it will not germinate except in the presence of a certain amount of moisture1 and heat1 the heat varying from #ej to #hj ,fahrenheit1 in addition to free communication with the air4 ,temperature1 moisture1 air1 electricity1 kind and quantity of the various elements in the soil present1 cause the immense variations in plant life and plant compositions4 ,yet the same elementary compositions will be found in the same species1 and the same conditions generally will be required to reproduce them4 ,each group of elements that enters into the composition of any substance1 carries with it qualities and capabilities peculiar to itself1 throughout the vegetable kingdom4 ,its influence upon the animal economy will depend on the various atomic elements1 and the quantities of each1 that enter its combinations4 ,for example1 the atmosphere1 the balance of power between ,o and ,n1 is essential to both plant and animal4 ,so with water1 ,o ,h#b4 ,and so with those foods1 starch and sugars1 ,c#ah;,h#cj,o#ae or ,c#f ,h#ab,o#f2 in each of these substances ,carbon has its complement of ,hydrogen and ,oxygen4 ,that is1 the ,carbon is1 as it were1 diluted in a sufficient quantity of water to make it suitable for food4 ,rob it of its ,oxygen and it becomes a poison1 an active poison4 ,the less the quantity of ,oxygen in any substance of organic origin the more unfit it becomes as a food4 ,and it becomes poisonous to the animal system in proportion as the ,oxygen is absent or removed from the composition4 ,we have representatives of poisonous substances in alcohol1 ,c#b;,h#f,o1 a mild poison2 and in hydrocyanic acid1 ,c ,n ,h1 the strongest poison known4 ,moreover1 we see already peculiar manifestations in vegetable life1 humble in character1 low in degree4 ,plants not only rest from activity1 but have their sleep and exhibit sensible movement from irritation4 ,the foliage of the locust1 and of most leguminous plants1 and that of oxalis and wood-sorrel1 seem to have their sleep1 as seen by the position of their leaves and blossoms4 ,irritate the mimosa plant1 as by roughly touching it1 and the leaflets will suddenly change position4 ,in the ,diona muscipula1 or ,venus's flytrap1 the touch of an insect1 alighting upon the upper surface of the outspread lamin1 causes its sides to close suddenly1 the strong bristles of the marginal fringe crossing each other like the teeth of a steel trap1 and the two surfaces pressing together with considerable force1 so as to retain1 if not destroy1 the intruder1 whose struggles only increase the pressure which this animated trap exerts4 ,it is evident that the elementary combinations under certain conditions and the influence of heat1 will exhibit vital action1 in an organic form--manifest phenomena of life1 that are only in degree1 and not in kind1 inferior to the lowest plant life4 ,the process is the same4 ,the mode of living differs in degree1 though the results are different4 ,the combination and exchange of elements takes place in the simple plant life as in the higher animal life4 ,the watery portion of plant life is composed of ,o and ,h#b1 the same as water in a free state or water in animal life1 and the combination of ,oxygen and ,hydrogen with ,carbon4 ,the food substances are found in the vital machinery of vegetation4 ,the characteristics of life exhibited in the lower grade of vegetation1 are seen in a more perfect degree in animal life--respiration1 exchange of gases1 imbibition1 absorption1 assimilation1 evolution of heat and motion1 the power of incorporating material in its own substance1 endosmosis1 subjectibility to irritation1 exhaustion1 spontaneous movement1 rest and sleep1 capability of being influenced by various stimuli1 etc41 etc4 ,the combination of ,o1 ,c1 and ,h1 organized and vitalized1 in conjunction with a few other less important elements1 manifests in conformity with the laws of nature all functions and activities that plant lie is capable of realizing4 ,it would neither be extravagant1 nor an exaggeration1 considering the important role these elements play in vegetation1 if they were rightfully termed the soul-life of plants4 ,,chapter ,,xxii4 ,,alcohol ,,and ,,its ,,effects ,,on ,,the ,,system4 ,all substances taken into the stomach as food are of three kinds1 carbohydrates1 proteids1 and fats4 ,this means1 starch1 sugars1 meats1 and fats1 besides water and some salts4 ,food substances carry their own complement of water1 serve nutritive purposes when taken into the system1 and are easily dissolved by the various fluids in the body4 ,food may be taken into the system for three purposes3 #a4 ,simply for the maintenance of health2 #b4 ,for fattening purposes2 #c4 ,for the sake of muscular energy4 ,the body1 the human body1 consists1 speaking in general terms1 of carbohydrates1 fats1 and proteids1 and water and saline matters4 ,we have seen that the work done by the master tissues causes a loss1 or produces a certain amount of waste material1 consisting of ,carbon1 ,hydrogen1 ,oxygen1 and ,nitrogen1 and some mineral matter--salts4 ,this loss or waste has to be replaced in quantity and quality sufficient in order to maintain a healthy condition of the body4 ,and1 since we know the precise1 or almost the precise1 quantity of material excreted1 which consists of ,carbon1 ,nitrogen1 ,oxygen1 and ,hydrogen1 etc41 we can also estimate1 with considerable precision1 the quantity needed to replace it4 ,more than #da per cent of the entire weight of the body is made up of muscular tissue4 ,the nervous tissue constitutes not quite two per cent4 ,the chemical composition of muscular and nervous tissue--of the solid part only--is ,carbon4 ,hydrogen4 ,nitrogen4 ,oxygen4 ,sul4 #ea4e #f4i #ae4b #bj4i #j4c to to to to to #ed4e #g4c #ag4j #bc4e #b4j ,the watery portion of the muscle is not mentioned4 ,please notice the large quantity of ,carbon and the small quantity of ,hydrogen in the composition of the solid part of the muscle4 ,we are aware that the muscles are always producing ,carbonic ,acid--that is1 ,c and ,o#b--;and when a muscle contracts1 there is a sudden and extensive increase of the normal production4 ,the blood that comes from a contracting muscle is richer in ,carbonic acid--that is1 it contains one atom more of ,carbon and two atoms of ,oxygen more4 ,the blood that has passed through the lungs changes from venous to arterial blood4 ,the venous discharges about #e vols4 of ,carbonic acid 7,c ,o#b72 the arterial carries away about #e vols4 of ,oxygen 7,o7 to the tissues4 ,the carbohydrates taken into the system3 ,oz4 ,starch and sugars1 about #bj ,meats1 proteids1 11 #ae ,fats1 11 #c #a_/b ,water1 11 #eb ,about #cb ounces of saliva converts the starch into sugar4 ,that is1 the saliva changes starch 7,c#ah ,h#cj ,o#ae7 into sugar 7,c#f ,h#aa ,o#e74 ,meats are acted upon by the gastric juice1 it requiring about ten to twenty pints to dissolve three-quarters to one pound of meat-stuff2 and the substances in the stomach are changed into chyme4 ,the fats are emulsified by the gall from the liver--about #cj to #dj ounces for #c to #d ounces of fat4 ,and the pancreatic juice completes the work and still farther dissolves all three kinds of substances1 so that1 with the aid of the succus entericus1 the whole mass is changed into a substance called chyle4 ,all the carbohydrates and proteids in solution1 together with the fluids taken into the system1 are taken up by the veins of the abdominal organs and conveyed by the portal vein to the liver4 ,passing through the liver1 the blood is collected by the hepatic vein and emptied into the inferior vena cava4 ,the fatty substances are taken up by the lacteals to the receptaculum chyli1 passed up the thoracic duct1 and poured into the left subclavian vein1 which empties its contents into the superior vena cava4 ,both streams of blood--venous blood--from the superior and inferior vena cava1 pass into the right auricle1 thence to the right ventricle1 through the pulmonary artery into the lungs1 there exchange the ,carbonic acid for ,oxygen1 and return by means of the pulmonary veins into the left auricle1 thence to the left ventricle1 through the aorta into the general system--and to the master tissues4 ,in the tissues the ,oxygen is taken up4 ,that is1 the ,oxygen passes from the blood to the tissues and the tissues throw off the ,carbonic acid1 which the veins again carry to the right side of the heart4 ,alcohol is composed of ,carbon two 7#b71 ,hydrogen six 7#f71 and ,oxygen one 7#a7 7,c#b ,h#f ,o#a74 ,alcohol1 like all poisonous substances1 carries a small amount of ,oxygen4 ,in composition it resembles very much1 and probably is1 a union of ,c#b ,h#d ,h#b ,o1 ,c#b ,h#d ethane1 olefiant gas1 or heavy carburetted hydrogen4 ,it is1 in fact1 a constituent of the gas we burn1 procured from the destructive distillation of coal--in other words1 coal gas4 ,to make it plainer1 ethane contains two of ,carbon1 four of ,hydrogen one molecule of water4 ,when alcohol is taken into the system1 it is almost immediately absorbed by the veins of the stomach1 is carried at once by the portal vein to the liver1 and returns from the liver by way of the hepatic vein to the inferior vena cava1 to the right auricle1 and to the lungs through the right ventricle4 ,but the lungs cannot supply ,oxygen enough to satisfy the ,carbon of the alcohol4 ,there is only one atom of ,oxygen in the composition of alcohol1 and three more atoms of ,oxygen are needed to form ,carbonic acid 7,c ,o#b74 ,under ordinary1 normal conditions1 ,oxygen enough is inspired to satisfy the wants of the tissues for combustion purposes1 but in the case of alcohol an extra demand for ,oxygen is made1 and the lungs are not prepared to supply the demand4 ,since oxidation takes place in the tissues and not in the blood1 the blood1 being overcharged with heavy carburetted ,hydrogen 7,c#b ,h#d71 unloads it into the tissue4 ,the extra amount of ,carbon arriving at the tissue1 robs it of its ,oxygen4 ,the ,oxygen arriving from the lungs being insufficient1 the tissue loses ,oxygen4 ,the presence of ,oxygen is necessary for the maintenance of irritability4 ,from the fact that no free ,oxygen is present in the muscular tissue the tension is nil or even less than nothing4 ,when the ,carbon of the alcohol robs the tissues of its ,oxygen1 the ,hydrogen is set free4 ,what becomes of it8 ,the muscular and nervous tissues contain from #ea to #ed per cent of ,carbon in their composition1 and #f to #g per cent of ,hydrogen4 ,the free ,hydrogen combines with the ,carbon of the tissues and forms carburetted ,hydrogen1 with which the blood gets overloaded1 and carries it to the other tissues4 ,the nervous system1 the brain1 not receiving the ,oxygen necessary1 in consequence of the blood being overcharged with both ,carbonic acid and carburetted ,hydrogen1 the nervous substance is first impaired1 next exhausted1 and lastly its normal activity extinguished4 ,the muscles meantime through having been robbed of both ,oxygen and ,carbon--receiving no free ,oxygen or very little--and through the presence in the circulating fluid of ,carbonic acid and carburetted ,hydrogen1 lose the power to act4 ,the cerebrum1 cerebellum1 medulla oblongata1 with all the other subordinate nervous centers1 being impaired by the poison and the absence of ,oxygen1 the nerves of volition lose control1 the cerebrum has its will power impaired or entirely subdued1 and the cerebellum loses the power of muscular cordination4 ,thus1 then1 the master tissues become crippled4 ,at first alcohol may have a stimulating effect on the nervous system2 next1 if the indulgence be continued1 the nervous forces become exalted2 finally1 however1 depression sets in1 and proves at last a complete extinguisher of the intellectual faculties4 ,the muscles first lose the power of cordination1 the irritability and tension gradually cease1 at length they refuse to act4 ,the brain and muscles being helpless1 the body lies in a state of stupor1 motionless4 ,the individual is temporarily deprived of his mental faculties1 incapacitated1 and completely oblivious to all his surroundings4 ,the involuntary organs1 however1 may act4 ,the stomach may eject its contents1 having lost consciousness and will power4 ,the urine and feces may pass off involuntarily4 ,all organs have to suffer1 but two more than all the rest--the liver and kidneys4 ,the function of the liver1 as we have already seen1 is the secretion of the bile4 ,that organ has still another important duty to perform1 and that is in converting the starchy substances1 or its already converted sugars1 in to glycogen ,c#f ,h#aj ,o#e4 ,the metabolic activity of the hepatic cells lies in the formation of glycogene4 ,glycogene is a source of heat in the body4 ,it is constantly present in the muscle1 as a functional material no doubt4 ,the chief purposes this substance serves are probably for respiration and production of animal heat4 ,we must bear in mind that fats are composed of ,c1 ,h1 and ,o1 and that both fats and carbohydrates serve nutritive purposes4 ,whether any difference exists between the two we do not know at present1 beyond the fact that in the final combination of the two1 while carbohydrates require sufficient ,oxygen only to combine with their ,carbon1 there being already sufficient ,oxygen in the carbohydrate itself to form water with the ,hydrogen1 fats require in addition ,oxygen to burn off some of their ,hydrogen4 ,alcohol is not convertible into glycogene4 ,the six atoms of ,carbon are complemented by five molecules of water3 ,c#f #e ,o ,h#b ,c#f ,h#aj ,o#e4 ,as already stated1 alcohol 7,c#f ,h#b ,o7 contains only one molecule of water 7,h#b ,o ,c#b ,h#d ethane74 ,to convert the four of ,hydrogen into water1 two of ,oxygen are needed--and to form ,carbonic acid three of ,oxygen are wanting4 ,in this connection we may ask1 ,is alcohol a food8 ,no6 ,alcohol is in no sense a food6 ,as a stimulant it is very useful1 in a certain class of exhausting diseases1 but taken in large quantities alcohol acts as a slow poison4 ,the action of the alcohol1 which must pass through the liver1 is certainly not beneficial4 ,on the contrary1 the function of the organ is interfered with and the tissues of which the liver is composed slowly but surely undergo a degenerative process4 ,the alcoholic beverages differ4 ,as for example1 whisky1 wine1 and beer--of the three beer is probably the least injurious4 ,by reason of the hops it contains it helps to allay nervous irritability4 ,when taken continuously in large quantities1 it leads to congestion of the liver and the accumulation of fat4 ,beer contains only four to five per cent of alcohol1 or thereabout4 ,the effect of beer on some individuals is somewhat similar1 in the increase of size1 to the remarkable growth of some aquatic plants1 as the gourd1 in which the vegetable tissue cells are very large and increase very rapidly4 ,the use of the stronger spirits leads to a degeneration of another kind--contraction of the liver1 cirrhosis4 ,the kidneys are the next to suffer severely by the alcoholic fluids4 ,the whole blood is purified by the kidneys4 ,the transit is very rapid2 the elimination of impurities must necessarily be rapid4 ,the body under the normal condition eliminates ,nitrogen chiefly2 this is the urea and uric acid found in the diurnal excretion of urine of fifty-two ounces in the twenty-four hours4 ,but if instead of a man drinking the ordinary allowance of fifty-two ounces of water1 a man takes in several hundred ounces1 as in the case of some beer-drinkers1 it is evident that the kidneys have a great deal more work to perform than usual1 in addition to the constant irritability the kidneys1 like the liver and other organs1 are subject to4 ,the sobering up of a man after a drunk1 consists in receiving ,oxygen sufficient in quantity into the tissues1 to supply the amount he has lost4 ,it takes several hours before sufficient ,oxygen has been introduced into the tissues to establish the normal equilibrium4 ,the theories on alcohol are various4 ,i quote some of the more important ones1 briefly stated3 ,liebig thought that alcohol disappeared by complete and rapid combustion4 ,lallemand and ,perrin entertained the theory that alcohol was eliminated by the excretory organs4 7,that means1 perhaps1 that alcohol simply promenaded through the system47 ,parks was of opinion that alcohol is directly absorbed by the blood-vessels without undergoing any change or decomposition4 ,another theory was that alcohol is converted into acetic acid 7,c#b ,h#d ,o#b72 and that acetic acid is split up into carbonic acid 7,c ,o#b7 and water--which is impossible1 as there is not ,oxygen enough for both ,c ,o#b and ,h#b ,o4 ,it appears1 then1 that alcohol does not disappear by rapid combustion1 except when taken in very small quantities and during a state of exhaustion1 and then not by combustion4 ,that alcohol is excreted there is no doubt1 but when taken in large quantities it is not excreted without leaving its permanent mark behind it4 ,nor is it absorbed by the blood-vessels without undergoing any change or decomposition1 otherwise it would be excreted by the kidneys and skin4 ,that the function of the brain is entirely suspended1 for a time at least1 needs no argument1 because all will power is arrested1 the nerves of special sense cease to act1 all nerve-centers suspend operation1 and the nerve-fibers no longer act as conductors of either motion or sensation4 ,and the muscular tissues are no longer capable of irritation1 stimulation1 or cordination2 contraction1 flexion1 and extension have been temporarily annihilated2 the force1 the power1 and the action have succumbed to the harmful influence of alcohol4 ,and the cause of it all is--too much carburetted ,hydrogen and the absence of ,oxygen4 ,this has unbalanced the elements that normally enter into the composition of the tissue both of muscle and nerve4 ,the master tissues1 the nervous and muscular1 that get drunk1 they are the first to feel the stimulation1 become excited1 depressed1 and exhausted4 ,and finally let us sum up some of the effects of alcohol on the system3 #a4 ,it is a source neither of heat nor of energy1 nor can it be stored up for future use1 nor can it be assimilated in the tissues4 #b4 ,alcohol retards the motion of the blood4 #c4 ,it induces specific action after the manner of cumulative poisons4 #d4 ,by the veins and absorbents alcohol mixes with the blood1 and immediately acts as a stimulant on all the tissues with which it is brought in contact4 #e4 ,it causes the retention of substances which ought to be eliminated4 #f4 ,it is shown by abundant testimony that the blood becomes surcharged with unchanged and unused material1 and contains more ,carbon than normally1 at times as much as #bj to #cj per cent4 #g4 ,alcoholic blood coagulates slowly and extravasates easily4 #h4 ,the susceptibility to disease is greater1 the resisting force is diminished1 and the healing process seriously interfered with4 #i4 ,oxygen is diverted from its proper functions1 the exhalation of carbonic acid at the lungs is diminished1 both absolutely and relatively1 but the pulmonary aqueous vapor is not lessened4 #aj4 ,the functions of the brain are at once stimulated1 and all other organs are excited1 and a train of phenomena is induced partly of a chemical nature and partly of a physical or vital4 #aa4 ,alcohol produces a temporary increase of the heart's action1 and a congestion of the whole of the pulmonary capillaries4 #ab4 ,it irritates the parts1 stimulating the glandular secretions1 leads to congestion of the blood-vessels1 in time forms spurious melanotic deposits and a gradual thickening of the gastric substance4 #ac4 ,fat gradually is increased in the blood1 and a milky character is imparted to the serum of the blood1 and the red corpuscles in time assume a wrinkled and contracted appearance4 #ad4 ,the water of the urine is diminished2 the chlorides are greatly lessened1 as well as the acids and bases4 ,most people are concerned about themselves only to the extent of securing the immediate satisfaction of their senses4 ,the superficial surroundings they utilize to cater to the enjoyment of such indulgences of acquired taste1 habit1 passion1 feelings or emotions1 as prove most gratifying to them1 never thinking that their constitution is nothing more than a vitalized chemical machine1 temporarily passing through its terrestrial cycle of physiological activity1 beginning as a mass of protoplasm1 and terminating1 when it has gone through all the phases of animal existence1 in the distribution of its chemical elements4 ,the deranging effect of alcohol on the nervous and muscular tissues may be compared to the working of an ordinary battery4 ,we know that the action and the force depend on the elements that enter into the composition of the battery1 fluids and solids1 zinc and copper1 and sulphuric acid--representing zinc1 copper1 sulphur1 ,oxygen1 and ,hydrogen4 ,the action of the zinc and copper depends upon the fluids4 ,other fluids1 though composed of three elements1 would produce either not the same effect1 or no effect at all4 ,it stands to reason that1 since we know the kind of fluid that will set the elements in action1 we certainly should be very unwise to use another fluid that will either derange or destroy the battery's working capacity4 ,the forces or force are in this instance produced by the combination of certain elements1 and in order to continue the activity or action of these elements one upon the other1 a constant supply must be kept up4 ,the mechanism of muscular action1 or nervous action1 depends upon the supply of certain elements2 they are continually replacing elements that are used up in the work they have to perform--that is1 the function of brain or muscle4 ,the moment elements are introduced that do not or cannot make up the loss of the working expenditure1 that tend rather to disorganize or decompose the tissues1 the functions and the natural forces are interfered with1 weakened1 or may be brought to a standstill4 ,the effect of alcohol is much the same on all animals4 ,i mean1 that the master tissues of the lower animals will succumb to the influence of alcohol as readily as those of a human being4 ,we know with certainty what gets drunk--where is the spiritual part of man8 where is the soul8 ,when the brain is intoxicated1 its functions are more or less suspended1 its controlling or governing action is lost over the muscular tissue1 in addition to the muscles themselves being disabled4 ,both tissues1 having been robbed of their elementary equilibrium1 consequently cease working4 ,the moment the equilibrium is restablished1 the tissues assume their functions the same as before4 ,if a given number of specific parts enter into the construction of any mechanism in order to produce a certain amount of force and effect1 the number of specific parts must always be present if the same force and effect is to be realized4 ,brain and muscle are made up of a specific number of elements2 these must be always present if we would have them produce the normal force and effect4 ,when too much ,carbon and ,hydrogen and too little ,oxygen are introduced into the system1 as in the case of alcohol1 the derangement of these elements is felt in the poisonous effect1 because enough ,oxygen cannot be supplied to keep up with the demand4 ,,chapter ,,xxiii4 ,,the ,,soul--,,what ,,is ,,it8 ,dry truth1 real knowledge1 hard facts1 are less interesting1 less entertaining1 than a plausible fable or a fanciful story4 ,while the latter is listened to1 with eagerness and pleasure1 the former barely receives ordinary civility and attention4 ,the effort requisite to understand and to think1 requires resolution1 determination1 and fixed attention4 ,the senses are not stimulated1 the emotions and feelings not aroused1 by mathematical problems or astronomical calculations4 ,the muscular tissues are much more easily trained1 disciplined1 and educated than the nervous tissues4 ,in the former we see immediate results4 ,there is a pleasure in the pursuit1 a palpable satisfaction in watching the muscular action and physical development4 ,the most agreeable part about that kind of exercise1 training--or education if you choose--is that it is easily acquired and soon put in practice1 and much admired4 ,it has other advantages in addition4 ,the fatigue and exhaustion in consequence of muscular exercise1 add no small amount of enjoyment to that already experienced1 by having to replenish the spent energies1 to fill the demand for new material called for4 ,the gustatory and olfactory nerves are stimulated by odor of the viands provided1 and what is still more important1 the glandular activity that is set in motion produces an amount of exhilaration1 so satisfactory that it is recognized as one of the principal features for every and on all occasions4 ,a feast is made for laughter and wine maketh merry 7,eccles4 x1 #ai74 ,muscular action1 however1 cannot take place without nervous action4 ,these two tissues are dependent one on the other4 ,yet the muscular tissue may be considered as subordinate to the nervous tissue4 ,while the muscular tissue may become totally inactive or incapacitated1 or even removed1 the brain tissue may retain its activity and continue to perform its functions4 ,the very reverse takes place when the brain is either injured or removed4 ,we know by experience1 experiments1 that injuries or other pathological changes will cause impairment to muscular tissue4 ,it is hard to conceive1 and harder still to understand1 that an animal--man included--is nothing more than a vitalized machine1 composed in the first place of two distinct working parts--muscular and nervous--while all the other portions have to perform duty in order to sustain them4 ,the word function is a term applied to all tissues in general1 as kidneys1 liver1 stomach1 etc42 each has its function4 ,so have muscles and nerves4 ,the former has for its function contraction1 while the latter has for its function to control and regulate that contraction4 ,the first part of the machinery is governed and checked by the domination of the other4 ,that dominion1 that control1 is termed ,volition1 in other words1 will power6 #a4 ,will power6 ,what is it8 ,it is a power which every animal possesses1 and every animal exercises1 in accordance with its particular organization and degree of organic development4 #b4 ,every animal has the power1 with the aid of its senses--five senses of sight1 hearing1 smelling1 tasting1 feeling--to select substances from the vegetable and mineral kingdom1 for its immediate want1 for the sustenance of life4 #c4 ,it has the power of locomotion to go in search for those substances1 and to carry them to a place of safety1 for present or future use4 ,it has the power to select the kind of food1 to choose that which is beneficial and reject that which is injurious4 ,the five senses direct in that selection4 #d4 ,the animal has will power to protect and defend his possessions--through his senses the brain directs and the muscles act4 #e4 ,the animal has will power1 when the organs of procreation are developed1 to choose a partner for the production of young4 ,the senses serve in making the selection1 as regards beauty1 form1 size1 etc4 #f4 ,it has the will power to nourish and protect its young or to destroy it4 #g4 ,animals have the will power to build their habitation1 their home1 and furnish it in a manner best suited for their comfort4 #h4 ,animals have the power to articulate sound1 and have the will to communicate with each other if they so desire1 to antagonize or to quarrel4 #i4 ,they have the will power to select from the surrounding elements4 ,they choose water1 air1 sunshine1 high or low altitudes2 they migrate from warm to cold1 and from cold to warm1 climates4 #aj4 ,they have social intercourse among themselves2 have a will power to organize as a band or body to protect themselves against the attacks of other organized bodies1 to fight and to battle4 #aa4 ,animals instruct their young--guide them and protect them1 as well as feed them4 ,they have their code of morals4 ,they have all such functions as serenading1 love-making1 music1 jealousy1 pleasure1 and anger4 ,animals have judgment2 they can compare and reflect on cold and heat1 danger and tranquillity1 comfort and discomfort4 ,they can reject or accept4 #ab4 ,they have memory1 perception1 and understanding4 ,domestic and wild animals exhibit these peculiarities4 ,they will manifest their likes and dislikes1 hate and love1 courage and cowardice4 ,the will power depends on the nervous system--the cerebral hemispheres1 the cerebrum or small brain1 the thalamus opticus1 corpus striata1 corpora quadrigemina1 the peduncles1 medulla oblongata1 spinal cord1 etc4 ,that is1 all the organs that constitute the nervous machinery1 that control the muscular tissues in all their acts1 and keep a watchful outlook over all other organs of the body4 ,the will power1 then1 is the power to act in accordance and in harmony with the things recognized1 or the selection made by any of the five senses1 discriminating between that which is good for them and that which is injurious1 or good and evil4 ,animals in selecting grass for food will avoid that which is injurious to them4 ,the olfactory and gustatory nerves guide them4 ,they will seek shelter1 and evidently know what to do when a thunderstorm approaches1 etc41 etc4 ,will power is a property1 quality1 or function belonging to all living creatures in common4 ,the degree of will power depends upon the quality1 quantity1 and perfection of the nervous organization4 ,man has will power in a measure greater as the nervous system is developed1 educated1 and perfected4 ,morality--a quality that does not exclusively belong to man4 ,what is morality8 ,it is nothing more than a restraint1 or check1 on our actions and our feelings4 ,it is the regulating of the actions of life towards ourselves and towards others4 ,it is the obedience to recognized and established laws in a community1 socially and politically4 ,it means not to trespass against the laws of nature1 against ourselves1 or against our neighbors4 ,animals restrain themselves and obey4 ,morality differs according to the social customs and practices1 and the civil laws regulating the same1 which were made and adopted for mutual benefit and protection4 ,these are either crude or refined1 depending on the condition of society4 ,to a limited degree animals have morality4 ,man has it in a higher and more refined degree1 according to the progress and culture attained4 ,intelligence--,animals possess intelligence1 if the meaning of it is1 to recognize sounds and figures1 be obedient to the voice1 understand what is said1 perform certain acts1 execute the will of a master1 know the difference between right and wrong1 express gratitude1 exercise watchfulness1 protect life and property1 remember places and objects in general1 be capable of some degree of improvement1 susceptible of training and modification of conduct1 etc41 within the limits of the nervous power the animal has4 ,what is the soul8 ,is the soul something quite independent of matter8 ,is it a something entire and complete in itself8 ,a perfect part of a perfect whole8 ,does the soul possess all the excellences and qualities theologians claim for it8 ,whence does it come8 ,what does it consist of8 ,has it an existence separate and apart from the body8 ,if so1 where8 ,in what state does it exist previous to entering the body8 ,does every human being receive a like quality and quantity8 ,has it consistency8 density8 elasticity8 ,is there any connection between the soul principle and matter8 ,spirit and soul1 are they one and the same thing1 or do they differ8 ,if so1 in what8 ,what is substance soul and substance spirit8 ,is it self-acting and self-existing8 ,is the soul susceptible to training and education1 and the reception of knowledge8 ,or is the soul already trained1 educated1 and possessed of all the knowledge that is now known or likely to be known8 ,does the will power reside in the soul8 ,and is the nervous system subservient to the soul8 ,is the soul endowed with passions and emotions8 ,can the soul deteriorate1 be injured or be afflicted8 ,in what degree does the soul differ in the civilized and in uncivilized man8 ,the theological soul has its origin in the ,bible1 no doubt 7from the word nephesh1 breathing2 the ,greek psyche3 ,latin animas1 chayu1 breath of life74 ,this word gave the impulse to a vast amount of thought and reflection1 both theological and psychological4 ,discussion and literature followed as extensive as there has ever been on any metaphysical topic4 ,it may be interesting to learn some of the attributes of the soul4 ,here is a partial list3 ,will1 passion1 love1 joy1 grief1 anger1 mirth1 sorrow1 revenge1 contempt1 hatred1 honor1 pride1 humility1 jealousy1 despair1 pity1 compassion1 love of fame1 of music1 of the marvelous1 of notoriety1 avarice1 guilt1 curiosity1 astonishment1 respect1 desire1 cheerfulness1 melancholy1 sense of beauty1 sense of the sublime1 sense of friendship1 feeling of delight1 selfishness1 generosity1 etc4 ,the author of this concoction had not a very clear notion of what he was writing about1 otherwise he would have known that animals have in common with man most of the emotions above recited4 ,the soul is a display of nervous phenomena1 exhibited under certain circumstances1 differing only in intensity of expression1 depending upon the kind and character of animal and man4 ,it is one of the common tricks of trade--when theologians argue upon the immortality of the soul1 they bring and ring in any amount of biblical evidence to sustain them4 ,they prove nothing4 ,they cannot prove anything4 ,it is the standing puzzle4 ,they try to unravel a mysterious something that is not mysterious4 ,nor is there any need of mystery4 ,what is essential for us to know is the truth1 plain natural facts4 ,there is nothing that we need be either ashamed or afraid of4 ,if we have been deluded by errors made several thousand years ago1 regarding the dual composition of man1 or have been imposed upon and intentionally retarded in the onward progress1 it is time to correct the error and remove the imposition4 ,let us have a clear1 intelligent view of things and look at them as they are4 ,this mystery1 like other mysteries1 can be cleared up by the light of science and modern investigation4 ,what is the difference between man and animal8 ,articulate speech and the susceptibility of the brain matter to a high degree of culture4 ,mind is a term employed to designate the collective acquirements of a man's brain4 ,in proportion as the acquirements are greater or less1 the mind is greater or smaller4 ,these acquirements may be simple1 complex1 or profound4 ,they may be biased1 general1 or scientific2 they may be deep1 learned1 or superficial4 ,they may be only a slight advance above the general animal instinct2 or may have assumed a superior intelligence and may have arisen to a higher plane of intellectual qualities4 ,the acquirement or evolution of mental power and intellectual capacity depends3 #a4 ,on the constitutionally inherited capacity and capability4 #b4 ,on the size and general conformation of the brain4 #c4 ,on the perfect condition of the organs of special sense4 #d4 ,on the quality of the nervous structure4 #e4 ,on the general physical constitution of the body4 #f4 ,on the evenly balanced equilibrium between the vital organs4 #g4 ,on the chemical elementary constituents that enter into the composition of the various tissues1 especially the nervous tissue4 #h4 ,and lastly on the education1 training1 or culture4 #i4 ,i may add1 suggestively1 on the relative quantity and quality of the gray and white substance of the brain1 etc41 and perhaps on the depth of the sulci and the size of the convolutions and the general symmetry of the different lobes of the cerebrum1 etc4 ,the brain of an idiot is not susceptible to culture or education4 ,he has all the senses1 but of an inferior and imperfect order2 a brain insufficient in quantity and quality to be capable of acquiring anything4 ,no mind can be formed4 ,the idiot has not any intellect4 ,has he a soul8 ,or supposing any portion of the brain is diseased and any one of the special senses ceases to act1 as sight1 hearing1 or any part of the muscular tissue1 and the intellect is impaired1 either partially or wholly incapacitated1 then has the soul suffered any damage1 or does the soul remain intact8 ,or supposing that a child is born blind1 or that some one of the nerve centers controlling certain faculties of the brain is absent1 and the education is necessarily limited to the remaining nerve centers1 is the soul still complete and perfect8 ,or in case of change of structure of the brain substance1 as in softening of the brain2 or in case of tumors1 blood clots 7thrombosis71 or syphilitic disease1 and paralysis either local or general resulting--depending on the seat of the disease--what has the soul to do with it8 ,or in disease of the meninges 7coverings72 or in case of insanity1 whatever morbid cause might have produced that condition1 where is the soul8 ,or when1 in consequence of morbid changes1 the mental and physical expressions1 the actions1 change1 often extravagantly1 is the soul affected thereby8 ,when the body is afflicted with disease1 does the soul suffer8 ,at what period of fetal development is it that the soul enters the body8 ,or does it enter at birth8 ,the breath of life is ,oxygen4 ,without that element one could not live4 ,without it the newly born babe is more helpless than a lower animal4 ,not a single special sense is fully developed4 ,the brain substance is not fully developed4 ,the babe has no power to will anything4 ,it has no volition--except the act of nursing1 and that is not a voluntary act4 ,the organs over which will has no control are the first to act--an infant soils its linen involuntarily4 ,it imbibes nourishment1 as a mass of protoplasm imbibes moisture4 ,it has neither will power nor desire4 ,it cannot select4 ,it has neither knowledge nor conscience4 ,since none of the special senses is able to act1 it has no perception of any kind whatsoever4 ,it experiences only two sensations1 pain and hunger4 ,young birds and other young animals do the same4 ,is there anything in this newly born babe of a supernatural character1 such as a soul1 spirit2 the knowledge of ,god1 or of good and evil8 ,does there exist in this mass of organized protoplasm anything that may be called divine8 ,is there aught innate8 ,no6 ,certainly not6 ,there are what may be termed latent powers--not unlike latent heat--capable of being evolved4 ,you may fashion anything out of it--in the religious line1 brutal or uncivilized1 etc4 ,it will acquire any kind of speech1 from the howling of a dog to the most refined language4 ,it will contract any habit1 from that of the lowest animal type to that of the most refined lady or gentleman4 ,you may make either a cannibal out of it or the most fantastic gustatorian4 ,it will either crawl1 climb1 or walk4 ,it will live anywhere and anyhow4 ,it will either parade nude1 be painted1 or wear a breechcloth1 or wear a swell dress coat1 or1 if it be a female1 a long trailing skirt with all sorts of gewgaws4 ,in religion you may make anything out of this babe4 ,you may make it believe the greatest nonsense4 ,it will believe three gods in one or twenty-five gods in one4 ,it will be a ,jew1 a ,christian1 a ,mohammedan1 or the lowest brute on the face of the earth4 ,this mass of vitalized matter is susceptible to training4 ,the physical part1 the muscular part1 always develops and is readily trained4 ,in a primitive state it requires but little discipline to acquire muscular strength4 ,the muscular powers are the first to assert themselves4 ,this master tissue1 whenever and wherever it excels1 receives honor and homage1 and prevails among its companions4 ,in barbaric ages this was the controlling force1 the ruling spirit1 the governing power4 ,the nervous tissues require teaching4 ,the senses must be trained1 educated1 cultured1 refined4 ,the impressions received through the nerve-centers by the senses are stored up in the cerebrum4 ,though they are at first simple1 crude1 and incomprehensible1 habit1 use1 or repetition enables them to familiarize us with the surrounding objects4 ,if the brain is fully formed1 the infantile education begins4 ,by constant repetition of the same acts1 the sense of satisfaction from feeding1 and the sense of comfort from cleanliness1 are slowly established in the experience of the child4 ,hunger1 cold1 heat1 and moisture will cause it to manifest its dissatisfaction by crying4 ,it sleeps twenty out of the twenty-four hours1 and wakes only to indicate its wants of either hunger or discomfort4 ,the more regularly it is fed1 and the more cleanly it is kept1 the more peacefully will it rest and the more soundly will it sleep4 ,when1 however1 an infant is born1 though physically fully developed1 with face fully formed1 but acephalous1 without brain--that is1 when an arrest of development has taken place--the babe cannot live1 it cannot breathe1 because the principal part of the nervous system is wanting--the medulla oblongata1 cerebrum and cerebellum1 etc4--though the lungs1 heart1 and all other organs are perfectly developed4 ,this arrest of development may take place at any time4 ,it is thus that congenital malformations are produced4 ,idiots are thus formed1 or any other inferior formation of brain may take place4 ,in proportion as the parts are present or wanting--the brain1 or rather the nervous system--latent 7better1 inherent7 qualities for future capabilities exist or do not exist4 ,supposing the optic nerve is arrested in its development1 or any organ with which it is immediately connected1 the special sense of sight is wanting4 ,though the eye itself1 the organ of sight1 may be perfect1 all the training and education will never give it capability or skill in arts and sciences4 ,this can never be acquired by that organ4 ,you cannot educate that organ which you have not4 ,whatever perfect brain formation exists may be trained1 fashioned1 educated1 in any one of the thousands of directions one pleases4 ,it may be given any bent or bias1 good1 bad1 or indifferent--depending upon the influences that are brought to bear on the young brain while it is in the process of developing4 ,an infant has no mind1 intellect1 thought1 idea1 memory1 or any other nerve quality that nerve structure is capable of developing4 ,talk of soul or spirit is absurd4 ,it does not exist either in infant or in man any more than it exists in a plant or an animal--unless the term is applied to the collective functions of the great central organs1 and in that case it would certainly not be supernatural4 ,at the time when the books of ,moses were written--we need not even go so far back as when the fable of creation was first related--they knew nothing of circulation or of respiration1 or of the nervous system4 ,it was not even thought of4 ,i believe you may search the ,bible from end to beginning and from beginning to end without finding such a thing4 ,no such word as brain is mentioned4 ,what is known of the nervous system is1 comparatively speaking1 of recent date4 ,what seems most marvelous is1 that we1 in the nineteenth century1 boasting of a high grade of civilization1 and1 ,i may say1 with all the modern improvements1 should accept and still hold fast to an idea that originated in the brain of some barbarian four thousand or more years ago1 away down in ,mesopotamia 7now ,turkey7 where they are still considered uncivilized4 ,this is certainly very strange4 ,but ah6 that priestcraft6 ,,the ,,mind4 ,all the organs in the body are capable of performing their functions the moment the child is born4 ,most organs have performed their functions prior to the child's birth4 ,circulation1 respiration1 digestion1 secretion1 and excretion--these functions are performed at once4 ,these are involuntary1 and require no educational training4 ,they are performed while the organism is otherwise entirely helpless4 #a4 ,the first few weeks4-- ,the nervous system is not developed4 ,the special senses are not responsive--neither sight1 hearing1 taste1 nor smell4 ,there are no voluntary muscular movements1 no cordinations of muscles4 ,nervous and muscular tissues undeveloped4 ,special senses undeveloped1 no recognition4 ,it has no mind--no faculties1 morality1 intellect1 memory1 reason1 judgment4 ,in short1 it has nothing innate--no principle of either ,god1 soul1 or religion4 ,no will power4 ,the muscular and nervous tissues are not yet able to perform their functions1 except such as are reflex and of an involuntary character4 ,no expression4 #b4 ,a few weeks after birth4-- ,impressions of light perceptible4 ,sensations slightly improved4 ,expression still blank4 ,no volition4 ,no recognition4 ,cry the only sound4 #c4 ,three months4-- ,special senses improved4 ,the eye steadier4 ,the child begins to recognize its mother1 etc4 ,utters sounds of satisfaction4 ,perceives sounds indistinctly4 ,no cordinate movement4 ,upper extremities more active4 ,expression of face improved--smiles4 #d4 ,six months4-- ,muscular tissues more developed--crawls4 ,no cordination of muscular action4 ,sight improved--recognizes mother1 father1 etc4 ,excretions involuntary4 ,expressions of pain and satisfaction more palpable4 ,hearing improved--listens to sounds4 ,playfulness4 ,makes sounds of satisfaction and dissatisfaction more distinctly4 ,no articulation4 #e4 ,one year4-- ,special senses more developed4 ,cordination still imperfect4 ,excretion involuntary4 ,upper extremities more active4 ,fear manifested4 ,the dawn of want4 ,recognizes a few objects4 ,pleasure expressed as well as anger4 ,likes and dislikes exhibited in some degree4 ,beginning of articulation4 ,sounds more distinctly recognized4 ,sight more perfect4 ,taste slightly developed4 ,smell--no discrimination4 ,a child one year old--7a7 ,recognizes its parents imperfectly4 ,has slight cordinate movement of the upper extremities1 and beginning of cordination of the lower extremities4 ,manifests its wants by making noises1 but has no articulation4 ,sensations of pleasure1 pain1 and anger are more plainly expressed4 ,playfulness is greater4 ,fear is exhibited4 7b7 ,it has no mind1 no intellect1 no will power4 ,no ,god1 no religion1 no soul4 ,no thought1 no idea1 no conscience4 ,no faculties1 no memory1 no judgment4 ,no knowledge of objects1 or numbers4 ,it knows nothing of comparison1 relation1 liberty1 morality1 love1 hate1 shame1 joy1 sorrow1 despair1 envy1 ambition1 pride1 etc41 etc4 #f4 ,second year4-- ,the master tissues begin to perform their functions--the muscular and nervous tissues4 ,digestive apparatus more completely developed by the appearance of teeth4 ,all the special senses more susceptible4 ,voluntary muscles begin to act1 though imperfectly4 ,cordination still uncertain4 ,muscles of articulation attempt to produce articulate sound--beginning to imitate4 ,recognizes some objects2 cannot discriminate4 ,the sense of taste shows signs of development4 ,the sense of smell--no discrimination4 ,the sense of hearing recognizes simple sounds--voice4 ,the sense of sight more distinct4 ,the sense of feeling slightly improved4 ,attracted by bright-colored objects4 ,selfishness exhibited--seizes objects indiscriminately4 ,shows fear2 knows nothing of danger4 ,manifestation of affection toward those who care and provide for its comfort4 ,excretions still pass involuntarily4 ,responds feebly to calls4 ,playful4 ,cognizant of light and darkness1 indoors and out of doors4 ,shows signs of preference4 ,training begins2 involuntary acts checked to a slight extent only4 ,at the end of the second year the child 7a7 recognizes its parents and others about it4 ,has cordinate movements comparatively correct of both lower and upper extremities4 ,may manifest its wants by imperfect articulation4 ,the sensations of pleasure1 pain1 and anger are more emphatic4 7b7 ,the will power is slight4 ,the memory is very feeble4 ,discrimination begins in simple matters4 #g4 ,third year4-- ,training progresses4 ,cordination complete4 ,nerve centers formed4 ,will power attempted4 ,it depends at this age upon the surroundings--the guidance1 attention1 direction given to the child4 ,it is more susceptible to impression4 ,memory improving4 ,perception manifested1 but little discrimination4 ,articulates more perfectly4 ,imitates to some extent4 ,excretion controlled4 ,playful1 active4 ,all the senses work4 ,more subject to discipline--obeys more readily4 ,teachable in right and wrong of a simple character4 ,likes and dislikes more prominent4 ,recognizes objects4 ,begins to pronounce4 ,at the end of this period there is no manifestation of anything innate4 ,the child knows nothing4 ,only the muscular tissues are more active1 and the nervous tissues more susceptible to teaching4 ,it has no faculty of any kind4 ,the functions of the brain are more distinctly manifest through the organs of special sense4 ,the child will become just what you make it2 though the latent inherited qualities will give impulse to some directions more than others4 ,thus inclinations and susceptibilities are awakened that may lead to greater or less distinction4 ,all that the child thus far has developed is instinctive1 checked and modified by those in whose care it is4 ,the animal nature predominates1 and the child at this stage will become a brute if left to itself4 ,if the proper training1 teaching1 discipline1 or education is from this time forth properly applied and the latent power judiciously brought out1 mind and intellectual qualities may be developed--differing in degree and intensity--by the bias or bent given to the functions of the great nervous center4 ,on the culture of this organ depends the kind of creature we may have when full grown in the shape of either man or woman4 ,any kind of sentiment1 belief1 or superstition1 prejudice1 hate1 brutality1 humanity or inhumanity1 good or bad habits1 vicious or benign--with no end to the variety1 such as we witness among ourselves and among the various nations upon earth--may be inculcated4 ,it is brain function1 brain culture1 brain education1 that produces greater or lesser minds1 that evolves from mere intelligence the highest intellectual powers1 that marks the difference between man and man from the meanest savage to the greatest philosopher and scientist4 ,brain may exercise will power without training1 culture1 or education4 ,the muscles may exercise strength without training1 culture1 or education4 ,it is the systematic attention of the one as of the other1 the frequent repetition1 steady practice1 that produces skill in the one1 as in the other2 it is the patient application and perseverance in the one as in the other1 sustained by constitutional endurance1 that makes the expert in the one as well as in the other4 ,it is the united forces of the master tissues that have produced all that is and was1 and will continue to produce all that ever will be4 ,soul is the product of the imagination4 ,it has no immortality1 because it has no existence4 ,there are a class of men that are interested in sustaining the delusion2 these are the priesthood4 ,what we want is not the salvation of souls1 but the salvation of man4 ,if soul is the collective name of brain product1 or combined result of brain function and education1 we need not disagree about the word4 ,but if it is insisted upon that the word soul means something distinct and apart from the animal body1 a supernatural manifestation1 a supernatural gift or endowment1 given to man at birth and to man only1 and that this piece of supposed ,god enters the body at some period during birth and quits the body at death1 it is not true6 ,on the contrary1 it is false4 ,man has no soul1 nor has any other animal1 except that power that is produced by the nervous material4 ,the brain has a function to perform1 like every other tissue in the body4 ,the muscular tissue1 the liver tissue1 etc41 each perform their function4 ,the great nervous centers and the special senses1 being intimately connected1 carry all impressions direct to the brain2 the retention of impressions1 the memorizing1 the recollection1 the formation of ideas1 of thought1 imagination1 are the immediate functions of the nervous substance4 ,these are secreted in a similar manner as the pancreas secretes pancreatin2 with this distinction1 that pancreatin is a fluid1 while the quality of nerve function is a force1 a power1 a manifestation1 or phenomenon if you choose4 ,electricity is a product of a similar nature4 ,there are other forces of a nature similar in character1 the result of chemical combinations4 ,let the blood be overcharged with carbonic acid and circulate in the brain1 the nerve tissue will at first act irregularly1 next very erratically1 and finally stop its function altogether4 ,the function of the brain is partially suspended in certain diseases1 as in hysteria1 epilepsy1 and chorea or convulsions4 ,and where there is no brain1 or little brain1 there is no function or very little function4 ,the variety of brain1 with its inequality of size1 quantity1 quality1 the hereditary failings1 opportunity1 training1 education1 all1 and much more1 make up the sum total of mind4 ,as you educate the brain1 so the mind will be4 ,it will exhibit energy and endurance1 and perform its functions1 in proportion as the nervous structure is healthy1 the chemical constituents evenly balanced1 and the equilibrium of all the organs and tissues of the body evenly and smoothly maintained1 so that the molecular and chemical or vital and nervous elements of the brain perform each and every one its proper office4 ,there is no immortality of the soul1 nor is there such a thing as death of instinct4 ,there is nothing immortal except the elementary substances1 proper2 they cannot be destroyed4 ,all live bodies function1 no matter how small or how simple2 complex bodies also function1 and each and every organ that enters into the composition performs its function4 ,every phase1 every phenomenon1 is a manifestation of matter4 ,thunderstorm1 lightning1 electricity1 or thought--whatsoever it may be1 call it by any other name1 designate it or describe it how you will1 we cannot separate any object from this terrestrial globe of matter4 ,the elements composing this world gave birth to life1 life manifests its energies in many forms1 then returns again to the great ocean of elements whence it came4 ,no soul you will ever find1 ,trust not in its life or death2 ,education makes the mind2 ,oxygen is the life's breath4 ,,chapter ,,xxiv4 ,,sin ,,and ,,salvation4 ,what is sin8 ,if we are able to ascertain what sin is1 we shall probably understand why salvation should be extended to the one that sins1 or to a community of sinners4 ,everything has a beginning4 ,we draw our deductions by comparison4 ,men judge in part by their own experience1 and in part by the experience of others4 ,we see what is going on in our daily active life1 how every work or enterprise1 society or society reform1 is started and set in active operation4 ,every beginning is crude and awkward4 ,rules adopted to govern a family circle1 jar and chafe when introduced to govern larger bodies of individuals4 ,what may seem good for a household government would hardly be suitable for a community1 and the rules regulating the general community would hardly be available for a people or a nation4 ,modifications in the rule of conduct are inevitable as families or communities increase numerically4 ,they may be slow1 imperceptible1 and cause little disturbance4 ,but sudden and radical changes produce quite another effect4 ,they may cause simple irritation or friction among the elements composing the family or community1 may cause temporary embarrassment1 or may cause an eruption with considerable commotion1 and accompanied with more or less serious effects4 ,change in the methods of conducting and regulating the affairs of mankind1 individually or collectively1 in small family groups or in large communities1 has ever been a matter1 not only of great interest and deep concern to mankind1 but also of bitter dispute1 conflict1 and hostility4 ,it has ever been thus1 from the time intelligence superseded instinct1 with attempts to introduce innovations1 new or improved methods regulating the conduct of either individuals or communities1 or the general affairs of man4 ,individual must yield to family1 family to community1 community to people1 and people to nation4 ,rules once established1 no matter how rude1 vulgar1 or barbarous1 or how enlightened and beneficial1 were adopted to secure a general uniformity of conduct or line of action for each individual or family belonging to the community or people1 for what was considered the best interest of the whole1 and their mutual benefit and safety4 ,the most primitive rules were instinctively adopted in the lower order of animal life1 the laws of self-preservation and mutual protection4 ,the individual conduct1 in either family or community life1 is governed accordingly4 ,that is very evident1 and requires but little observation to find the secret spring that explains the necessity for its existence4 ,if a community1 whether animals or men1 are favorably located1 have ample provision and comfort1 they will live in peace and contentment1 thrive1 develop1 without friction or trouble4 ,let a lack of food arise1 or let the numbers increase and produce a scarcity1 strife is inevitable4 ,new1 other than peaceful1 methods are adopted4 ,either they quarrel and battle among themselves1 or they go in search of food elsewhere--emigrate1 in part or as a whole4 ,if they meet with opposition1 they will fight--the strongest takes possession1 might asserts its right1 and the conquerer becomes the ruling power4 ,in the early stages of human civilization1 thousands of years ago1 the simplest primitive rules were established for the conduct and guidance of the individual living in the community--for1 of course1 mutual protection and self-preservation4 ,humanity in a barbarous state adopted these rules1 and handed them down from generation to generation until at length they were codified into laws4 ,what are they8 ,honor thy parents4 ,do not commit murder4 ,do not take another man's wife4 ,do not bear false witness4 ,do not take anything belonging to another4 ,these are laws for self-preservation and mutual protection6 ,if such simple rules were not recognized and established1 neither life nor property would be safe4 ,destruction of life and forcible possession of property would naturally lead to extermination4 ,the family union is instinctive4 ,the father1 like the leader of a flock1 is in authority4 ,he is feared1 therefore honored4 ,a community soon learns from experience that in union is strength4 ,herds of cattle seem to know this1 and are ever ready to protect and defend themselves collectively4 ,the lowest savages1 barbarians1 observe among themselves the first1 yes1 primitive rules to govern them in community1 in family4 ,these rules arose from necessity4 ,it was for each individual's interest1 for family interest1 and for the interest of the community at large1 to adopt these rules1 obey them and have them obeyed4 ,these rules were for individual welfare1 and for the common welfare of the community at large1 the preservation of their lives and the protection of their life and property4 ,so long as any community of human beings1 whatever be their condition1 have ample provision to satisfy their wants1 and are secure from depredations from without1 there will be no trouble4 ,happiness and contentment1 as well as peace and prosperity1 will characterize their state4 ,as to the relation between males and females1 that regulates itself4 ,all communities1 barbarians and savages1 have always some general recognized rule to guide them4 ,female chastity is secure among all nations1 high and low1 civilized and uncivilized1 whether they are decorated in a complete suit of nudity1 a gauze covering1 or a ball-room dress4 ,there is no necessity of going back four or five thousand years4 ,csar relates 7,lib4 vi1 #ba7 that the ,germans were in complete undress costume when bathing promiscuously2 yet they had their customs of marriage and marriage ceremonies4 ,in this country we have had the same customs and may have again4 ,when ,columbus arrived at one of the islands of the ,caribs1 #adid1 a cacique and his family paid him a visit4 ,this family consisted of two daughters1 five sons1 and five brothers4 ,one of the daughters was eighteen years of age1 beautiful in form and countenance2 her sister somewhat younger2 both were naked1 according to the custom of these islands1 but were of modest demeanor 7,irving74 ,as a further illustration ,i quote from ,irving's description of the people that ,peter ,martyr met with4 ,he relates3 ,it is certain that the land among the people is as common as the sun and water2 and that 'mine and thine1' the seed of all mischief1 have no place with them4 ,they are content with so little1 that in so large a country they have rather superfluity than scarceness2 so they seem to live in the golden world1 without toil1 living in open gardens2 not intrenched with dykes1 divided with hedges1 or defended with walls4 ,they deal truly one with another1 without laws1 without books1 without judges4 ,they take him for an evil and mischievous man who taketh pleasure in doing hurt to another2 and albeit they delight not in superfluities1 yet they make provision for the increase of such roots whereof they make their bread1 content with such simple diet1 whereby health is preserved and disease avoided4 ,possibly somewhere on the ,african continent there may still exist a people that live a life as simple and as happy as those in the time of ,columbus4 ,but everything must yield before northern energy and ,christian greed2 besides1 the new-comers need the land for their surplus population4 ,may we not ask1 ,is not our present high state of civilization the natural outcome of our necessities in the struggle to exist8 ,is not our high state of nervous development largely due to that struggle8 ,indolence and inactivity produce nothing4 ,activity and diligence produce and invent all things4 ,all wrongful acts committed are either injuries done to ourselves1 or injuries inflicted upon others4 ,injuries done to ourselves are not necessarily sins4 ,onanism1 for example1 is unquestionably injurious1 yet is not recognized as a sin4 ,it leads to the insane asylum1 and in many instances underlies religious insanity4 ,there are other disgusting practices that are neither injurious nor recognized as sins4 ,the stomach commits no sin1 but leads nevertheless to many wrongs1 to one's self4 ,all crimes are sins1 but all sins are not crimes4 ,and all injuries done to others are accounted both sins and crimes4 ,what seems very strange yet is wonderfully true is that all sins and crimes against others find their origin in the indulgence of either stomach or sexual organs4 ,starvation may lead to crime4 ,hunger often drives to theft4 ,extravagance1 lust1 and luxury lead to any variety of crime1 from forgery to appropriating another man's wife4 ,in the gratification of those two organs1 passions1 we find the cradle of all crime4 ,and what we call morality means the proper regulation of these passions1 of these organs4 ,the church occasionally takes cognizance of sins1 when discovered1 that do not come within the category of crime1 as was seen recently in the case of a ,major ,theobald who seduced his niece while nursing his invalid wife2 he was suspended for one year1 but saved his soul6 ,all our civil justices in the city of ,new ,york are kept busy to regulate and to punish overindulgences of the stomach and some other petty wrongs4 ,our criminal courts are kept busy in punishing those who have wrongfully appropriated other people's property1 or injured or killed another4 ,the superior civil courts attend to the disputes about property4 ,why do those who adopt for their mode of livelihood the profession of theology want to exercise salvation8 ,what have they to save8 ,let us examine for what sins the ,deluge was brought1 ,sodom and ,gomorrah were destroyed1 and ,christ was crucified4 ,the principal scriptural sins3 ,cain commits murder1 from jealousy1 because ,god preferred meat to vegetables 7,gen4 iv1 #h74 ,gen4 vi1 #e3 ,and ,god saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth1 and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually4 ,the contents of this sentence is absurd4 ,the heart cannot imagine1 or think4 ,the function of the heart is the circulation of the blood4 ,what this wickedness consisted of1 we do not know4 ,history has no record exactly where this ,flood or ,deluge took place4 ,that it was localized is certain4 ,it was in all probability nothing more than an overflow of the river ,euphrates--that is joined by the river ,tigris1 and terminates in the ,gulf of ,persia--in consequence of a series of consecutive rainstorms1 etc41 and ,god had as much to do with this supposed deluge as he has to do with any deluge in the ,mississippi valley when that river overflows4 ,gen4 vi1 #f3 ,and it repented the ,lord that he had made man on the earth and it grieved him at his heart4 ,now we are getting at ,god's anatomy6 ,man may labor under delusions--hear voices1 etc4 ,all those extravagant statements are perfectly excusable from our modern standpoint4 ,all this wickedness is supposed to have taken place #bcdh before the ,christian era1 and we have still the same sort of wickedness on earth as there was then4 ,barbarians inhabited that region--rude1 crude1 half-civilized herdsmen1 not much superior to our ,indians4 ,minding their flocks and increasing their families was their main occupation4 ,abraham made no scruples in cohabiting with ,miss ,hagar1 ,sarah's maid2 nor had ,jacob any objections to ,miss ,bilhah1 ,rachel's maid1 nor did he scruple to accommodate ,miss ,zilpha1 ,leah's maid1 and later we read how ,reuben lay with ,bilhah1 ,jacob's mistress4 ,shechem seduced ,dina1 ,jacob's daughter4 ,her brothers ,simon and ,levi killed all the males1 etc4 ,at this time1 we learn1 harlots were in fashion4 ,we have it recited1 crime after crime--according to our modern notions--yet these barbarians were ,god's own people6 ,after killing ,shechem1 and ,hamor his father1 and all the rest of the males1 they took possession of their property4 ,lot and his daughters is another instance of biblical ethics4 ,this barbarian family1 these shepherds1 had their first experience in civilization when they reached ,egypt1 and whatever they practiced later was adopted from that nation4 ,they had received some training under ,egyptian rule for nearly four hundred and thirty years4 ,during this period we hear nothing of sin or transgression4 ,no sooner were they organized as a community than the sins1 transgressions1 and wickedness broke out anew1 and continued right along in a greater or lesser degree through the patriarchal period1 theocratic period1 and monarchial period4 ,during the entire national existence of nearly one thousand years to their captivity1 we have recited sins1 transgressions1 and crime1 crime1 transgressions1 and sin2 and all are perfectly human1 perfectly natural among barbarians1 savages1 half-civilized1 and even civilized people4 ,whether ,david lusts after a nude woman1 or ,amnon forces his own sister1 it reveals the weakness of animal human nature1 and is a breach of the recognized laws1 and a lack of discipline4 ,all through the ,old ,testament the same story is repeated--sensuality1 cruelty1 and crime2 and rebellion against the established laws4 ,it is the burden of song and of prophecy--greed and scramble for power1 the cause of continual dissension4 ,the only time the ,jews were reasonably quiet was when they were exterminating other nations1 plundering and taking forcible possession of their women and female children as well as their property4 ,the great burden of sin throughout the ,old ,testament consists in the infringement of the law established by ,moses1 to worship no other god except the one he manufactured--that is1 a ,god endowed with all brutality and sensuality1 without a representative form1 a ,god that had all the senses and could utilize them4 ,the wooden idol had these organs but could not use them1 while the ,mosaic ,god had them not but could exercise all the functions of animal life4 ,in the light of history1 all ages display the same process in the human mind--the same passions and the same tendencies1 held more or less under restraint1 according to the laws1 customs1 and habits of the people4 ,the ,jews during their whole career were more or less idolators1 and were continually relapsing into the idolatry1 of some one kind or another1 of dead men1 which was practiced under different celestial or animal emblems in the neighboring countries4 ,and it was not ended until after the ,babylonish captivity1 #ehh ,b4,c41 and when ,ezra returned to ,jerusalem1 #eeg ,b4,c41 who collected the various manuscripts and put them into some sort of shape and started to rebuild the ,temple4 ,this event took place during the reign of ,xerxes son of ,darius4 ,ezra and his companions had been educated meanwhile4 ,they had enjoyed the privilege of a ,babylonian education4 ,they had the advantage of their learning1 their philosophy4 ,now they returned better equipped mentally than ever they were before their captivity4 ,and for the first time they began to call themselves holy seed 7chapter ix74 ,they had intermarried with the ,canaanites1 ,hittites1 ,perizzites1 ,jebusites1 ,ammonites1 ,moabites1 ,egyptians1 ,amorites1 etc41 7verse #b7 so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands4 ,verse #f1 this priest goes into hysterics3 ,o my ,god1 ,i am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee1 etc4 ,chapter x3 ,he prays1 confesses1 and weeps and casts himself down before the house of ,god1 etc4 ,verse #aa3 ,and separate yourself from the people of the land1 and from the strange wives4 ,of course their wives were sent adrift4 ,that was the first time in their history that marriages were restricted to their own nation4 ,this also is the first wholesale divorce on record4 ,intermarriages they had been guilty of for many centuries1 and they were never accounted a sin until the time of ,ezra4 ,after this reformation the same sins continue1 intermarriages perhaps excepted4 ,the animal predominated1 as it naturally would4 ,selfishness was more prominent than ever4 ,they knew the value of gold1 and onyx stone1 and bdellium4 ,god had told them all about it in ,gen4 ii1 #aa1 #ab4 ,the commercial enterprise started with creation1 and has continued4 ,jehova had not half the romance and the poesy of ,zeus or ,jupiter4 ,the latter had all the ,grecian refinement1 while the former had all the barbarity of ,chaldea4 ,thus1 the identical sins continued through the remaining centuries until ,christ made his entry on this world's stage4 ,he came opportunely4 ,it was at a time of great agitation4 ,judea was a ,roman province4 ,pontius ,pilate was governor4 ,corruption1 fraud1 and crimes of all descriptions were practiced and flourished4 ,the ,temple served as a place for barter and business4 ,sedition1 parricide1 greed1 and seduction were the ruling crimes and passions4 ,fanatics1 heretics1 and blasphemers were abundant4 ,there were any number of religious factions1 quarreling and fighting among themselves1 hating one another heartily1 and doing one another as much mischief as in their power lay4 ,the frequent contact with foreign invading nations brought new notions1 new customs and usages4 ,new ideas consequently developed--sins and salvation of souls4 ,and humility and meekness were put forth against arrogance of wealth1 domineering1 and priestly oppression4 ,communistic and socialistic ideas are always a prolific field for the hungry1 poor1 and starving4 ,give us this day our daily bread1 and forgive us our debts1 etc4 7,matt4 vi1 #aa1 #ab74 ,christ's camel and needle story confirms it4 ,the result was he had a following1 preached reformation1 and accusation and persecution put an end to his life4 ,it had taken root1 and a new sect was formed4 ,was his life sacrificed for the sins of humanity8 ,nonsense6 ,this young man's death has not relieved any one1 much more all future generations1 of their sins4 ,what8 ,sacrifice a man to ,god in place of sheep and cattle8 ,so long as men have senses and passions1 so long as we have extremes of poverty and wealth1 sin remains4 ,the prevention of sin has never been the function of the church4 ,the trespasses of the natural laws were not properly understood1 and the masses are not educated up to that standard even now4 ,each man and woman pays the penalty if he or she trespass against her or himself2 and if they trespass or sin against another1 our civil laws take care of that part4 ,has humanity improved since the coming of ,christ8 ,where do you find it8 ,in the history of the ,catholic church8 ,they have two kinds of sin1 mortal and venial sin4 ,mortal sin entails spiritual death4 ,venial sin does not4 ,mountains of literature have been written upon that one subject4 ,hundreds of thousands of men have assumed the task of salvation for nearly two thousand years4 ,what have they accomplished8 ,what have the popes1 bishops1 and priests done8 ,and what are they doing now8 ,of what use are they8 ,they have been more of a curse to the world than a benefit4 ,we are too busy to look back at popish history1 the power1 the ignorance1 the superstition1 the darkness1 and the persecution that overshadowed the world during the popes' tyrannical and bloodthirsty rule4 ,greed1 the chief characteristic of the churchmen1 readily finds means to raise money for their use and benefit4 ,in #aeag they sold indulgences for past and future sins4 ,every crime was pardoned4 ,luther and reformation came4 ,did this change or eradicate the evil8 ,no6 ,god1 ,christ1 ,holy ,ghost1 ,virgin ,mary1 etc41 assumed only a milder role1 only a slight transformation4 ,the ,catholic church has been the greatest curse of any church that ever existed4 ,they started their anathemas 7curses7 at ,nice #cbe ,a4,d41 and have continued cursing1 through the twentieth council at ,trent1 #aedf ,a4,d41 and still continue4 ,their power has to some extent been modified1 but the spirit of intolerance only slumbers4 ,they readily accommodate themselves to circumstances4 ,if they cannot rule the nation1 they will seize the schools and train the young1 inculcating obedience to the church--that the youth shall be subservient to the priest and yield up their earnings to the pope's treasure4 ,these are supported by the masses1 assisted by the state1 to teach stuff like the following sample3 ,,the ,,litany ,,of ,,the ,,blessed ,,virgin4 ,we fly to thy patronage1 ,o holy mother of ,god6 ,despise not our petitions1 but deliver us from all dangers1 ,o ever glorious and blessed ,virgin6 ,lord have mercy on us4 ,christ have mercy on us4 ,lord have mercy on us4 ,christ hear us4 ,christ graciously hear us4 ,god the father of heaven have mercy on us4 ,god the son1 redeemer of the world1 have mercy on us4 ,holy ,trinity1 one ,god1 have mercy on us4 ,holy ,mary1 ,holy mother of ,god1 ,holy ,virgin of ,virgins1 ,mother of ,christ1 ,mother of divine grace1 ,mother most pure1 ,mother most chaste1 ,mother undefiled1 ,mother unviolated1 ,mother most amiable1 ,mirror of justice1 ,seat of wisdom1 ,cause of our joy1 ,spiritual vessel1 ,pray for us4 ,mother most adorable1 ,mother of our creator1 ,mother of our redeemer1 ,virgin most prudent1 ,virgin most venerable1 ,virgin most renowned1 ,virgin most powerful1 ,virgin most merciful1 ,virgin most faithful1 ,vessel of power1 ,vessel of singular devotion1 ,mystical rose1 ,tower of ,david1 ,tower of ivory1 ,house of gold1 ,ark of the covenant1 ,gate of heaven1 ,morning star1 ,health of the weak1 ,refuge of sinners1 ,comforter of the afflicted1 ,queen of angels1 ,let us pray4 ,queen of patriarchs1 ,queen of prophets1 ,queen of apostles1 ,queen of martyrs1 ,queen of confessors1 ,queen of virgins1 ,queen of all saints1 ,etc41 etc41 etc4 ,from the time of ,luther up to the present1 ,god1 ,christ1 ,holy ,ghost1 ,virgin1 etc41 have been toned down considerably1 until there is indeed very little left except a shade of ,god4 ,our creeds now that have dismissed ,christ1 ,holy ,ghost1 and ,virgin1 yet retain a hazy something which they still call ,god4 ,the most erratic of these denominations yell themselves hoarse with shouting ,sin and ,salvation6 ,the modern kindergarten of ,protestant fashionable church organizations1 the society churches1 the scholarly preachers1 entertain their congregations with a novel sort of oratory and classic music4 ,these represent a ,god at ease1 a gentlemanly and mild sort of a ,god1 with a constant aristocratic smile round his lips1 as irresistibly attractive as money can make him4 ,strong drastic terms1 as purgatory1 hell1 and brimstone1 are seldom heard4 ,that sort of doctrine is usually reserved and dished up in furnace-like fashion to the poor1 half-starved1 ignorant sinners4 ,,chapter ,,xxv4 ,,the ,,ecclesiastical ,,kindergarten4 ,what shall we do to be saved8 is a question asked by every religious fanatic4 ,saved from what8 ,ignorance8 ,superstition8 ,bigotry8 ,or stupidity8 ,from idiocy or imbecility8 ,or1 are we to be saved from poverty1 hunger1 starvation1 misery and wretchedness1 distress and degradation8 ,barbarism1 savagery1 or uncivilization does not enter into consideration of these unfortunate conditions4 ,they exist right in the midst of us1 in the highest centers of human civilization4 ,of what good is the talking of spiritual welfare1 salvation1 and heaven to a hungry stomach8 ,of what good is it to grow eloquent over celestial conditions when the poor wretch has sunk into the mire of sloth and apathy1 when darkness1 misery1 and disappointment hang over him like a pall at a funeral8 ,is this the man that is sinning--when tempted to steal some trifle to satisfy hunger8 ,self-preservation is the first law throughout organic nature4 ,this poverty-stricken individual occupies the lowest strata of civilized life4 ,he must be civilized--for the law makes him so4 ,the starving must not eat1 unless charity extends a helping hand4 ,in the state of want and helplessness1 all the inherent failings loom up into prominence1 and aid to weaken the little resisting force remaining to withstand the temptation of wrongfully supplying his wants4 ,the higher indulgences1 either gustatory or sexual1 are not within reach of the hungry and depressed2 and salvation contemplated in the pleasures derived from overindulgence or excesses certainly does not apply to them4 ,the class of persons in a position to satisfy both digestive and sexual pleasures we find in quite another catalogue of sinners4 ,for some of these there is no salvation1 for others there is what may be termed a reparatory saving power1 viz41 confession and atonement1 for which the spiritual part of the body is not held responsible1 but only the flesh4 ,it is precisely the men who practice these flesh-begotten sins which the church from the time of ,st4 ,paul to the present period has been trying to save1 with little or no success4 ,st4 ,paul is the man who contributed more towards laying the foundation for the entire ,christian system than any other man in the ,bible4 ,of course he claims to be an ,israelite of the seed of ,abraham and of the tribe of ,benjamin4 ,jesus was of the same tribe--and probably the other apostles that figure in the ,new ,testament belonged to the same tribe4 ,that tribe is of mixed blood on the mother side4 ,whosoever desires to be fully informed upon that subject1 let him read ,judges1 xix1 xx1 and xxi chapters--a story of licentiousness1 barbarism1 and butchery the like of which cannot be found in any history4 ,a ,levite with his concubine or wife came to ,gibeah to lodge overnight4 ,some ,benjamites used and abused the woman till she died4 ,the ,levite cut the woman up into twelve parts and sent one part to each tribe4 ,israel came together in battle with the ,benjamites and slaughtered man1 woman1 and child4 ,six hundred men escaped to the wilderness1 unto the rock of ,rimmon4 ,israel had sworn not to give them their daughters to wife1 so they helped them to get wives elsewhere1 by means that are very interesting1 very savage1 and very godly4 ,i simply mention this incident to show that the tribe of ,benjamin was of mixed blood4 ,it was not what would be called a natural divine selection1 but a forced4 ,paul with his half-,grecian ideas1 whose mind was permeated with ,grecian philosophy1 used it largely in his argumentations1 theologico-philosophic1 and in his epistolary correspondence to enlighten and instruct his disciples4 ,the ,israelites or ,jews up to the time of ,christ were not by any means a spiritual nation4 ,they had a god of the flesh2 a sort of cannibal god2 a politico-religious god1 in whose name every kind of horror and brutality was committed4 ,this was not ,paul's ,god4 ,the garb of ,socratic and ,platonic philosophy adorns the spiritual phase of ,paul's idea4 ,the dual existence is distinctly set forth 7,cor4 xv1 #dd73 ,there is a natural body and there is a spiritual body4 ,for the spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit1 that we are the children of ,god 7,rom4 viii1 #af74 ,likewise the spirit helpeth our infirmities 7#bf74 ,for if ye live after the flesh ye shall die 7#ac74 ,for as many as are led by the spirit of ,god1 they are the sons of ,god 7#ad74 ,the notion of ,paul throughout his epistles of what he terms flesh and spirit1 separating them as two distinct parts of the body1 and as having a dual existence1 on one side the spiritual1 the godly1 on the other the fleshy1 the sinful1 the earthly--is due to the educational doctrines that then were in vogue4 ,the anatomical knowledge was limited1 and the physiological workings of the nervous system1 the functions of the brain1 were entirely unknown4 ,the flesh and spirit were the representatives of the muscular and nervous tissue1 flesh of the muscular1 spirit of the nervous4 ,one of the most mysterious or hidden secrets was this function of the brain4 ,the absence of any positive knowledge of the nervous system until recent times1 caused many errors to creep in1 and many false impressions were received by mistake2 and these blunders through ignorance have remained to a very considerable extent fixed and unaltered4 ,grecian philosophers who were attempting to give a reason1 or account1 for the various mental phenomena1 came to conclusions which are to-day seen to be contrary to scientific truth4 ,he1 ,paul1 embodied in his writings all the speculative philosophy known at his time4 ,this dual existence had been taught among the ,greeks for several centuries4 ,when ,paul wrote to the ,romans he was in ,corinth1 and when he wrote to the ,corinthians he was at ,philippi1 ,macedonia4 ,the rest of his epistles were written partly from ,greece1 but mostly from ,rome or ,italy4 ,nowhere in the ,old ,testament is mention made of spirit and flesh after the manner of ,paul4 ,they had no knowledge of ,grecian philosophy4 ,of course the mental condition had undergone some changes from the time of ,ezra to ,christ4 ,numerous sects had paved the way1 and the ideas of various nations had been exchanged4 ,a wonderful metamorphosis had taken place in the ,god during the one thousand five hundred years that passed between ,moses and ,paul4 ,the ideal of ,moses was a barbarous1 cruel ,god--a determined1 imperative1 imperious ,god1 that had a purpose in view1 a nation to form1 a country to conquer4 ,the prince of ,egypt1 the successful general of a victorious army1 talks2 every word is a peremptory command4 ,the strong1 powerful will of an energetic man stands behind ,jehova4 ,there is no philosophy1 but all action4 ,no ideality1 but muscular force4 ,no humbleness1 meekness1 or mildness1 but the stern exercise of a power that never flinches in any undertaking2 regardless of consequences2 pitiless in battle2 fearless in the struggle1 once determined must reach success4 ,there is no display of imagination1 no spiritual reflection1 no refinement1 but there is only the coarse1 vulgar1 savage ,god of ,chaldean-,egyptian modification4 ,the ,god had undergone changes in the mental agitation of the times1 and ,paul had accepted the ,god as he conceived him1 through teachings then prevalent4 ,an orator for a reformation1 the cause of ,christ he had embraced1 coupled with the learning of the ,grecian literature1 his imagination led him to portray his ,god in the abstract--a refined ethereal being--in truth1 a gentleman of a ,god4 ,paul was the real founder of the past and modern church system1 the giver of ideas1 the furnisher of numerous themes that gave impulse to any number of shades of the various sects now in existence1 the promulgator of modification1 the pleader of a cause1 the moralizer1 the humble adviser and counselor of the lowly1 ignorant1 and poor4 ,he was very earnest and sincere in the cause he had espoused1 and1 if anything1 proud of it--,for ,i am not ashamed of the gospel of ,christ3 for it is the power of ,god unto salvation to every one that believeth2 to the ,jew first1 and also to the ,greek 7,rom4 i1 #af74 ,next to ,jew he was ,greek4 ,no wonder that his mind was tainted with ,grecianism4 ,his ,god was an alloy of ,greek and ,jew ,gods4 ,the ,greek philosophy helped to refine and eliminate the barbarism and brutality out of the ,mosaic ,god4 ,our modern mountebank preachers have nothing new to agitate and talk about in their fashionable decorated kindergartens of ,christianity4 ,they are ever spinning round the same circle4 ,they are sensational1 mouthing and gesticulating before a crowd they wish to entertain1 and for this they are very handsomely housed1 fed1 and otherwise recompensed4 ,they are the greedy theological leeches of humanity4 ,they suck the blood1 but give nothing in return4 ,have they advanced the cause of humanity8 ,is humanity any wiser to-day than these poor ignorant creatures were at the time ,paul was trying to get a new idea into their untutored brain8 ,here is a partial list of ,paul's complaints 7,rom4 i1 #bi1 #cj1 #ca73 ,being filled with all unrighteousness1 fornication1 wickedness1 covetousness1 maliciousness2 full of envy1 murder1 debate1 deceit1 malignity1 whisperers1 backbiters1 haters of ,god1 despiteful1 proud1 boasters1 inventors of evil things1 disobedient to parents1 without understanding1 covenant-breakers1 without natural affection1 implacable1 unmerciful4 ,for nineteen hundred years these ,christian saints have been trying to convert the world--,jews included1 for indeed they needed it--and what has been accomplished8 ,does your kindergarten church teach aught that corrects the above evils8 ,have you made them all into saints8 ,paul's argument about circumcision is very ingenious4 ,he proposes an inward circumcision for the outward--heart and spirit 7,rom4 ii1 #bi71 circumcision through faith4 ,his doctrine1 the wages of sin is death but the gift of ,god is eternal life 7,rom4 vi1 #bc71 is very mischievous4 ,it leads men to give their flesh a full swing and leads them to a satiety of pleasure and satisfaction of earthly bliss--lust or licentiousness1 and they let the godly or spiritual part take care of itself4 ,this is not education1 but stupefaction4 ,yet our civilized spiritual purveyors of the soul are still chewing the same theological cud of nineteen hundred years ago4 ,every transgression against ourselves1 against our own body1 is a transgression against the law of nature1 and the body must pay the penalty4 ,paul 7,rom4 xiii1 #ac7 says1 ,let us walk honestly1 as in the day2 not in rioting and drunkenness1 not in chambering and wantonness1 not in strife and annoying4 ,paul was a great believer in spiritual gifts4 ,cor4 xii--this chapter has given rise to more crazes1 frauds1 and cheats than ,paul ever dreamed of4 ,verse #d3 ,now these are diversities of gifts1 but the same spirit4 ,verse #g3 ,but the manifestation of spirit is given to every man1 etc4 ,then he enumerates the gifts--faith-healing1 miracles1 prophecy1 discerning spirits1 speaking divers kinds of tongues1 interpretation of tongues1 etc4 7,cor4 xii1 #i1 #aj74 ,this of course opens a wide field for imposition and charlatanism4 ,paul being an authority1 cranks and fakes are not slow in taking advantage of it4 ,a very large percentage of the masses are ignorant1 easily made superstitious and bigoted4 ,any nonsensical idea is swiftly impressed4 ,they are satisfied with anything they are told--content with a filled stomach and salvation hereafter4 ,this heavenly promise is an immense thing1 an ecclesiastical bonanza4 ,for thousands of years1 it has been an extraordinary source of income4 ,hundreds of thousands have lived in ease and luxury1 have enjoyed heaven on earth1 and let their poor ignorant dupes enjoy the hereafter4 ,paul also gives the ,catholic church a right to use the anathema4 ,cor4 xvi1 #bb3 ,if any man love not the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 let him be ,anathema1 maranatha--,let him be accursed4 ,the ,roman ,catholic church has made good use of it4 ,from the time the ,nicean ,council was held every one of their canons--as their rules are termed--is accompanied by an anathema for every man that does not think1 say1 or believe as the church or its priests dictate4 ,the church institution is so well organized and the system so well regulated1 that they possess the means of squeezing the last cent out of poor ignorant parishioners4 ,they have so many trapdoors to catch the weary simpleton1 that if the money does not come through mass1 it will come through indulgence1 or unction1 or sacrament1 or anything and everything4 ,they dispose of their spiritual wares at all prices--anywhere1 everywhere1 and at all times4 ,here is an instructive example of teaching3 ,what is the blessed ,eucharist8 ,ans4 ,the body and blood1 soul and divinity of ,jesus ,christ1 under the appearance of bread and wine1 etc4 ,the immense amount of evil done by this church is something enormous to contemplate4 ,if a papal medal in honor of the massacre of ,st4 ,bartholomew's could be found and put up at auction1 it would fetch a small fortune4 ,literature was almost completely suppressed by this church1 by laws published under the seal of the supreme pontiff4 ,how few at the present day know anything of the history of the ,catholic church4 ,their past1 their terrible black past1 with their ,god1 their ,jesus ,christ1 their ,holy ,ghost1 their ,holy ,virgin1 and their saints--what arrogance1 ambition1 pride1 selfishness1 greed1 tyranny1 licentiousness1 terror and torture of the ,inquisition1 bloody crimes and massacres1 they were guilty of6 ,reflection on these many diabolical outrages makes one's flesh creep1 and one wonders why such an institution has not been swept from the face of the earth centuries ago4 ,have they done any good upon earth8 ,from the time of ,moses until after the time of ,luther1 yes1 up to the present time even1 they have been continuously thrusting their idea of ,god into the minds of man with the sword1 through blood and slaughter1 with what result8 ,has humanity improved8 ,paul has much to say about the frailties of human nature 7#b ,tim4 iv1 #b1 #c1 #d73 ,for men shall be lovers of their own self1 covetous1 boasters1 proud1 blasphemers1 disobedient to parents1 unthankful1 unholy1 without natural affection1 truce-breakers1 false accusers1 incontinent1 fierce1 despisers1 traitors1 heady1 high-minded1 lovers of pleasure1 etc4 ,the quarrels1 dissensions1 and protestations of the present day among the teachers and preachers of ,christianity are a topic of entertainment in our daily press4 ,heresy1 blasphemy1 money disputes1 ,briggs1 ,smith1 ,corrigan1 ,wigger1 etc4--what is it all about that will benefit humanity8 ,priest and preacher1 the modern teachers of the theological kindergarten1 have not advanced any in their methods4 ,the civil law holds them in check and keeps them within the bounds of their vocation4 ,women1 the decorations and attractions1 the most numerous supporters of all church enterprises1 are not held in very high estimation by ,paul4 #a ,tim4 ii1 #i3 ,in like manner also1 that women adorn themselves in modest apparel1 with shame-facedness and sobriety2 not with braided hair1 or gold1 or pearls1 or costly array4 ,verse #aa3 ,let the woman learn in silence with all subjection4 ,verse #ab3 ,but ,i suffer not a woman to teach nor to usurp authority over the man1 but to be in silence4 ,the church kindergarten instructions are based upon the writings and teachings of both the ,old and the ,new ,testament4 ,who wrote them1 or who compiled them1 matters little4 ,they are the accepted doctrines of the church or churches4 ,whether orthodoxy or heterodoxy1 whether monotheism or polytheism1 whether the idolatry of calf or idolatry of the figure of ,jesus or the ,virgin1 it amounts to one and the same thing4 ,it is of no serious consequence whether ,paul actually wrote the ,epistles or some one wrote them in his name several hundred years later2 or whether ,john wrote his ,revelations2 or ,moses the ,pentateuch2 or whether the whole ,bible was compiled a thousand years after ,moses4 ,the whole fabric is based upon error1 partly due to the times when it was written1 partly due to the state of civilization1 to the educational status1 to the ignorance and superstition of the times1 the limited knowledge of nature1 and the undeveloped mental faculties1 the misinterpretation and misconstruction of every phase and phenomenon their perceptive faculties were unable to explain1 the impressions received from the outward world or the feelings and emotions that agitated them within4 ,it is no easy task to overcome the prejudices of the times in which we live4 ,we are instinctively opposed to any innovation1 whether the new ideas are an improvement on the old or not4 ,for many generations1 and for centuries1 the various church organizations have been teaching the old1 antiquated idea that the ,bible was a supernatural production1 that either ,god had written it or had inspired man to do the work4 ,what does it signify who wrote sop's fables1 ,homer's ,iliad1 the five books of ,moses1 ,isaiah1 or the ,new ,testament1 or even ,shakespeare8 ,they are written4 ,the question really is1 whether the contents are true1 are fabulous or historically correct4 ,for many years it has been a recognized fact that the ,bible is a composition of fable1 fiction1 facts1 misunderstanding1 and misstatement4 ,we only need glance at the absurd trials that are now going on at this present time4 ,these gentlemen1 ,briggs and ,smith1 are not the first to doubt the truth of the book4 ,hundreds have doubted before them4 ,it is skepticism that produces evolution and revolution in the accepted form of worship and faith and belief4 ,abraham1 ,socrates1 ,christ1 ,luther1 and hundreds have doubted4 ,they were skeptics in consequence of a superior insight into the propaganda of certain accepted beliefs4 ,every speculative theory has been doubted4 ,great sciences are never doubted4 ,theology1 the offspring of idolatry and mythology1 is a purely speculative science--if indeed it can be classed as a science4 ,therefore1 it has always been laboring under a cloud of doubt4 ,what wonder1 then1 that modern scholars1 even clergymen1 of superior ability1 become skeptics when they compare modern science1 modern truth1 with ancient fable and falsehood8 ,the debates on progressive sanctification1 a middle state1 whether sanctification is complete or incomplete at death--where is the heresy8 where is the blasphemy8 ,what are these overgrown1 lopsided educated men thinking about--these self-constituted righteous bigots1 what are they squabbling about8 ,was not ,abraham a heretic and a blasphemer to the ,chaldeans1 ,jesus ,christ a heretic and a blasphemer to the ,jews1 ,socrates a heretic and a blasphemer to the ,greeks1 ,luther a heretic and a blasphemer to the ,most ,holy ,apostolic ,roman ,catholic ,church8 ,why1 the entire theological doctrine1 the whole spiritual code of morals1 all the articles of faith and creeds and canons of the church1 all the figures and carvings of ,christ1 all the paintings1 all the steeples1 all the belfries on this earth's surface--what are they for8 ,what are all the mountebank church costumes for8 ,what is the use for a man to disguise himself in a stage costume of the ,egyptian period1 to scare a lot of ignorant boobies8 ,of what use are your incense1 your prayer1 and your blessing1 your self-conceited holiness1 your pretended sanctity1 and your priestly hypocrisy8 ,what is it all for8 ,to save sinners8 ,what shall we do to be saved8 ,all this ecclesiastical humbug1 preaching and pulpit noise and theological humbug1 is about crushing out sin1 saving the sinner1 and all the supernatural thunder is brought to bear upon the great sinning organs--to wit1 the stomach and the sexual organs1 to regulate these4 ,god and gods1 angels1 prophets1 and spirits labored--and what is more monstrous and more extravagantly ridiculous1 the young man ,jesus ,christ had to be sacrificed--to save you from overloading your stomach--or rather abusing your stomach--and from overindulging in sexual exercises4 ,remember1 every crime1 known or unknown1 recognized or not recognized1 every evil and every wickedness1 every abomination or pollution or defilement1 springs from these two sources4 ,i am not taking diseases into consideration1 such as ,david describes in ,psalm xxxviii1 for example4 ,to satisfy the wants of these organs1 leads to greed1 selfishness1 fraud1 forgery1 deception1 falsehood1 corruption1 etc4 ,the pleasures resulting therefrom are accompanied by vanity1 pride1 pamperedness1 envy1 jealousy1 hate1 discontent1 etc4 ,the indulgences are known as drunkenness1 lust1 lasciviousness1 fornication1 adultery1 obscenity1 debauchery1 whoredom1 luxury1 revelry1 and by many other terms4 ,these form the theme of the prophets and the burden of the apostles4 ,these are the sins1 the vices1 they have been trying to crush and wipe out with their theological absurdities for several thousand years4 ,they have created all sorts of bugaboos to frighten fools1 idiots1 and stupid ignoramuses into discipline4 ,they have created hell1 purgatory1 dark and deep pits1 brimstone and fire4 ,the gentleman devil1 or ,mr4 ,satan1 presides over the lower regions1 conducts their affairs1 only to accommodate the spiritual fraternity1 from the pope to the ,rev4 ,sam ,patch4 ,but in order to be saved1 to go to heaven--an imaginary abode in the atmosphere1 a sort of ethereal paradise in the upper strata of the air that surrounds this globe1 either with or without sunlight--in order to get one up there some clown of a priest will mumble off masses1 a sort of ribald fustian composition that will raise your spirit or your soul right up into the pure upper strata of this terrestrial atmospheric crust4 ,of course if there are seven heavens you must pay accordingly4 ,in case1 however1 you miss the aerial place1 the heaven1 and accidentally become one of the devil's subjects1 it stands to reason that ,satan requires an extra fee to release you from eternal punishment--which the good1 pious priest puts into his pocket4 ,it is a pertinent question to ask our spiritual advisers1 whether or not the ,christian kindergarten makes a specialty of guarding and regulating1 by the celestial medium of the ,son of ,god1 the ,holy ,ghost1 the digestive apparatus and the organs of procreation4 ,because all the sins and vices originate with these4 ,the devil1 or ,satan1 holds his jubilee in the pleasures and extravagant indulgences of man and woman4 ,the church has long since been deprived of its political power and importance4 ,the civil law regulates minor and major crimes1 and provides punishment therefor4 ,the only function left for the ,christian church1 the ecclesiastical kindergarten1 is advisory1 admonitory1 accompanied with frivolous promises--,be good1 you well-dressed ladies and gentlemen2 pray to our shadows1 kneel before yon figure on the cross1 sprinkle yourselves with holy water1 and contribute liberally toward our support and sustain our kindergarten1 then we bless you and give you a pass to the heavenly regions4 ,basta6 ,only believe1 have faith1 never mind about understanding1 common sense1 and reason1 then you surely will be saved1 and have a white and clean gown fresh from the laundry1 a pair of wings1 a golden crown1 and you can have your choice of either a trumpet or a harp1 which you may either blow or touch1 and may sit at the feet of an old man with a long white beard1 on a golden chair1 his feet resting on the clouds1 surrounded by an innumerable host of angels and cherubim that will make music everlasting1 where spiritual fountains will keep you cool1 oh1 and a vast deal more which can not be here recited4 ,anyone who desires a full and complete description of this celestial paradise1 this heaven1 including ,abraham's bosom1 the right hand of ,jesus1 his beloved ,father1 and the ,holy ,ghost in the bargain1 may obtain it by making proper application4 ,ah6 what a blessing it would be for the whole human family if the churches were utilized for educational purposes wherein truths1 scientific truths1 could be taught2 where young people could meet to amuse themselves1 or be instructed in something useful2 where young men and women could entertain themselves by feeding off the tree of knowledge1 instead of loafing round saloons1 round the street corners1 gambling-houses1 dives or pool rooms4 ,young and old must have a pastime1 and a place to pass this time2 if the state or community does not provide such places in densely populated districts1 where are these poor1 ignorant creatures to go to8 ,talk about charity6 ,a large bulk of our charities are advertising schemes4 ,i do not call what ,i here advocate a charity1 but a right4 ,if we want to improve the public morals1 if we desire to educate the young men and women1 provide district temples for amusement and instruction1 open from #aj ,a4,m4 to #aj ,p4,m41 where they may assemble after working hours1 sit1 talk1 read1 or play--may educate the brain1 the nervous and muscular tissues1 so that both these master tissues may perform their functions skillfully1 naturally1 and judiciously4 ,our scientific scholars throughout the world have long since dispensed with the supernatural4 ,know the natural1 is the modern shibboleth4 ,if you want to take care of the machine1 understand the machinery1 and if you want the coming generation to understand something about it1 it is certain that the saloon is not the proper place for it4 ,we ought to guard our public institutions with jealous care4 ,our public non-sectarian schools are the places for our children4 ,the public schools ought to be numerous enough to accommodate every citizen's children in the land4 ,i think it bad grace for any foreigner to come here to give us advice upon that subject4 ,archbishop ,satolli1 papal ablegate1 said at the recent meeting of the ,american archbishops in ,new ,york1 on ,the settling of the school question and the giving of religious education3 ,to the ,catholic church belong the duty and divine right of teaching all nations to believe the truth of the gospel1 and to observe whatsoever ,christ commanded4 ,for the rest the provisions of the ,council of ,baltimore are yet in force1 and in a general way will remain so1 to wit3 ,not only out of our paternal love do we exhort ,catholic parents1 but we command them1 by all the authority we possess1 to procure a truly ,christian and ,catholic education for the beloved offspring given them of ,god1 born again in baptism unto ,christ1 and destined for heaven1 to shield and secure them throughout childhood and youth from the dangers of a mere worldly education1 and therefore to send them to parochial or other truly ,catholic schools4 ,the beloved offspring given them of ,god8 ,nonsense6 ,about as much born of ,god as a calf1 or a flower4 ,offspring are the natural result of a natural cause4 ,born again in baptism unto ,christ1 and destined for heaven--would it not be well to ascertain what the ,catholic church has ever done to elevate and educate the masses8 ,does not the educational system of ,peter ,dens1 ,satolli1 and ,co4 consist merely of3 #a4 ,to hear mass on ,sundays and all holy days of obligation2 #b4 ,to fast and abstain on the days commanded2 #c4 ,to receive worthily the blessed ,eucharist at ,easter1 or within the time appointed2 #d4 ,to confess our sins at least once a year2 #e4 ,to contribute to the support of our pastor2 #f4 ,not to solemnize marriage at the forbidden times1 nor to marry persons within the forbidden degrees of kindom or otherwise prohibited by the church nor clandestinely8 ,the dirt and filth1 the nauseating nastiness1 of the cesspool of the ,moral ,theology of ,peter ,dens cannot be printed in the ,english language4 ,or perhaps ,mr4 ,satolli will educate the children to mumble over and over the litany of the blessed ,virgin1 quoted in another chapter1 and all the rest of the instructions in mortal sin1 venial sin1 precepts of the church1 infidels and heretics1 decalogue1 grace1 justification1 merit1 virtue of faith1 articles of faith1 apostolic creed1 church visibility1 marks1 holiness1 authority1 infallibility1 concerning ecclesiastical councils1 supreme pontiff1 signs of the cross1 magic1 miracles1 sacrament1 worship of relics1 worship of images1 resurrection1 heaven1 hell1 perdition1 purgatory1 etc41 etc4 ,satolli and his confrres would rather have parish schools1 to educate the young in their ecclesiastical stupidities1 and draw the funds from the state treasury in order to sustain them4 ,the ,roman ,catholic church1 in its career as an educational medium1 has not contributed one iota towards the progress and advancement of civilization4 ,the opposition of its clergy has always been the severest and most bloody4 ,humanity owes them no thanks for the culture and privileges it now enjoys4 ,the church interferes and checks every step forward4 ,the clergy are determined to keep the masses ignorant as long as it is possible4 ,greed1 selfishness1 rapacity1 dominion1 self-righteousness1 and self-sanctification have ever been their chief characteristics4 ,every act and every transaction is justifiable so long as their ends and objects are gained4 ,satolli represents the pope's big toe1 that is ready to be firmly planted on the neck of our public school system1 whenever the power of state or nation is secured4 ,the wily priests with their ,jesuitic craftiness never lose an opportunity4 ,in a republic they are republicans1 in a monarchy they are monarchists4 ,they are anything and everything--but the church with all its abominations first4 ,all else must be subservient to their will1 to their power1 to their use4 ,they are intolerant1 bigoted1 and tyrannical all the time4 ,whether it be to prevent the ,methodists from establishing a church in ,austria1 or to intrude their priestly interference in the public school methods in ,waterford1 ,saratoga1 it is the same impudent aggression that has characterized them for ages4 ,they are bound to keep the people ignorant1 superstitious1 and slaves to their system1 in spite of all the existing civilizing influences4 ,what we want1 and what we must have1 is a public school system of education free from all sectarian bias1 with neither catechism nor ,bible-reading1 neither prayers nor psalm-singing1 but a thorough instruction in all matters of a nature directly beneficial in the conduct of this life4 ,the state of transition is rapidly forcing itself upon the minds of men4 ,they can no longer be held in submission4 ,they believe no more in the antiquated notions of four thousand years ago--though modified and decorated to suit modern times4 ,notwithstanding the ecclesiastical hedges1 fences1 walls1 and draw-bridges that have been erected by priests' sagacity and cunning in order to prevent encroachments on their theological fortifications1 it is plain that there is a natural wearing and tearing of effete notions of the past4 ,that the structure1 erected on a false and fictitious foundation1 has already given way1 ,protestants can testify4 ,and as the ,protestants have yielded to dissenters1 etc41 so must they all gradually crumble--before the battering-ram of scientific truth first1 next before the advancing intelligence of the masses1 and lastly before the press1 which indiscriminately lays bare before the public every wrangle1 every squabble1 and every dissension occurring among the followers of ,christ4 ,neither faith1 grace1 nor brotherly love1 the holy kiss of ,paul included1 prevents these saintly gentlemen from exercising their greed1 selfishness1 and covetousness1 as well as throwing dirt at one another4 ,father ,corrigan vs4 ,cahenslyism and ,wigger--they keep the pecuniary pot boiling4 ,there is neither malice nor jealousy1 but all is for the love of ,christ4 ,dollars and cents8 ,these pious brethren would scorn the idea4 ,at ,professor ,smith's trial for heresy the ladies of ,mount ,auburn church presented the heretic with a basket of flowers4 ,when in old times we find heretics tried by the ,roman ,catholic church1 ,are heretics rightly punished with death8 asks the priest4 ,st4 ,thomas answers in the affirmative4 ,latimer and ,ridley were treated to an excellent bonfire at ,oxford1 #aeee1 for being heretics4 ,nor did ,cranmer receive white and pink roses in a bed of fern leaves and smilax4 ,what a change6 ,professors ,smith and ,briggs are proud to be heretics4 ,they are praised and complimented for being heretics1 and no doubt will be well taken care of when these frivolous proceedings have terminated4 ,guilty or not guilty1 they have gained notoriety enough to place them in an excellent position for the rest of their lives4 ,i call that a high1 very sensible1 and very respectable sort of martyrdom4 ,both these gentlemen ought to be very grateful to science for having brought about such a change1 that gives them the privilege of differing from their spiritual brethren and becoming respectable heretics with baskets of roses4 ,o ,civilization1 how much have we to thank you for all this6 ,it is so lovely to be a heretic1 a blasphemer1 and a martyr in this present generation6 ,what a pity that ,daniel's ,mene1 mene1 ,tekel upharsin is not quite applicable to the present condition of ,christianity4 ,the great ecclesiastical bugbear of ,christianity1 backed by their ,god1 their ,son1 ,holy ,ghost1 ,virgin ,mary1 saints1 popes1 ,heaven and ,hell1 and their infinite methods of salvation1 is nothing near so terrible as he used to be4 ,that bugbear has been tamed1 and is1 comparatively speaking1 gentle4 ,his appetites and his passions have been subdued4 ,indeed ,paul deserves no small credit for polishing the ,mosaic ,god4 ,it is only occasionally that ,paul mentions his ,god's wrath or severity1 and very mildly too4 ,paul's ,god comes near being esthetic4 ,the ,mosaic ,god is muscular and energetic4 ,paul's ,god is mild and persuasive4 ,the ,mosaic ,god was a fighting god1 conquering territory and molding a political nation4 ,paul's ,god has quite another line of business1 sin-forgiving and soul-saving4 ,the ,mosaic ,god was all alone engaged in business4 ,paul's ,god is a firm--,father1 ,son1 and ,holy ,ghost4 ,the occupation of sin-forgiving and soul-saving is carried on with great ceremonials in our ,christian kindergartens1 accompanied with music1 prayer1 and psalm-singing4 ,the sins are derived1 directly or indirectly1 from two organs in the main--to wit1 digestive and sexual4 ,any man or woman that cannot perceive the truth of the above must be exceedingly obtuse4 ,does anyone believe that the teachings and preachings1 with all the complementary paraphernalia and other numerous accessories1 are necessary to save us or guard us against transgressions or sin8 ,supposing all the churches and buildings assigned to the worship of ,god or gods1 and all the priests and preachers1 disappeared from the surface of this terrestrial globe1 would this planet come to a standstill1 or the sun cease to shine8 ,would the elements entering into the composition of the numerous substances found on or within this earth change their relative proportion1 construction1 or chemical relation8 ,we need not have the slightest apprehension4 ,new systems of ideas have always displaced and replaced the old systems4 ,as we advance from cycle to cycle1 this is continuously taking place4 ,the hand gave way to the stick1 the stick to the spade1 the spade to the hand-plow1 the hand-plow to oxen1 oxen to horses1 horses to steam1 etc4 ,it is the natural progress from one step to another1 in every branch of thought1 learning1 and industry4 ,it is a higher education and a better comprehension of the human machinery1 a knowledge of the proper functions of the nervous and muscular tissues1 a keener insight into the necessities of life1 a regulation and control of the organs of organic life1 a riper judgment1 and a more evenly balanced brain power4 ,the churches with their ethics and refined methods of the present day1 with their eloquent admonitions constantly repeated1 cannot be regarded in any other light than as a theological kindergarten for a fashionable musical ,sunday entertainment4 ,,chapter ,,xxvi4 ,,rational ,,review4 ,reason and ,reflection4 ,if any person with a1 reasonable amount of intelligence will seriously reflect1 he may gain sufficient information to satisfy himself as regards the true nature of the conditions that surround him4 ,first try to the best of your ability to present in your mind the outlines of this terrestrial globe1 this planet on which we live1 with its mountains and its valleys2 oceans1 seas1 and rivers2 the two extreme poles1 north and south2 the center of the earth's surface and the equator1 etc4 ,next try to satisfy your mind that this planet has no immediate connection with any other planet--that it belongs to a system of planets that revolve round the sun1 with a space or distance between them of many millions of miles4 ,and ,that this planet is entire and complete in itself4 ,whatever substances are about1 upon1 or within the earth1 belong to this planet and no other4 ,that not a particle of any substance can leave this earth1 whether visible or invisible4 ,that all formations1 no matter of what character or nature1 are made from substances belonging to this earth4 ,that the size and weight of this globe has never changed4 ,it is the same now as it was millions of years ago1 or will be at any time in the future4 ,that the quantity of water upon the surface of this earth1 whether ocean1 sea1 lake1 or river1 has neither increased nor diminished4 ,that the solid mineral portion of the earth has neither increased nor diminished either in size or weight4 ,that the fluid1 the watery portion1 is susceptible to change of position and conditions on the surface of this earth1 whether above the earth's surface or upon it4 ,that all clouds1 rain1 vapor1 mist1 moisture1 dew1 snow1 hail1 must be and is taken from the waters on the surface of the earth1 and when clouds1 that have been taken from the waters of the earth1 fall to the surface of the earth in the form of rain1 vapor1 mist1 moisture1 dew1 snow1 or hail1 they simply return what has been temporarily taken or loaned from the waters of the earth4 ,that in the case of all deluges1 freshets1 overflows1 that have ever taken place1 the waters that enter into their formation have been taken from the waters of the earth4 ,the waters have simply changed position from one locality to another4 ,that all ice formations are nothing more than solidified water4 ,water crystallizes by the absence of sunlight1 and melts in the presence of the sun's heat4 ,that snow is nothing more than congealed water1 and returns to water when heated4 ,that the quantity of water remains the same4 ,whether it rains forty days and nights1 or a whole year1 it is neither increased nor diminished4 ,that the deepest portion of the earth's surface is filled with water4 ,being fluid1 it naturally fills up the hollows until it has found its level4 ,if there is more water than it can hold1 it will find its way into the next hollow4 ,and the higher portions of the earth's surface will not and cannot be covered by water4 ,such is the condition of the earth's surface that the deepest places on this terrestrial globe are filled with water2 thus oceans1 lakes1 pools1 and rivers are formed4 ,that all living substances1 whether vegetable or animal1 are composed more than two-thirds of water4 ,that more than two-thirds of the entire quantity of food taken daily into the animal economy consists of water4 ,that is to say1 we feed on more than two-thirds of water4 ,nothing living can maintain its existence without two-thirds of water4 ,second4 ,all the material taken from the earth's surface1 or from the interior of the earth's crust1 for any purpose whatsoever1 no matter how great the weight or volume may be1 does not increase the weight of this earth1 or diminish it4 ,the material has simply been moved from one place and deposited in another4 ,the building of one city1 or ten thousand cities or more1 would not add one pound more or less to the entire weight of this earth4 ,all the stone1 coal1 iron1 copper1 silver1 gold1 lead1 and all other mineral substances1 used either in building1 machinery1 or anything human ingenuity can make or invent--all belong to this earth4 ,no matter how great the bulk or quantity1 it does not influence this earth one particle4 ,moreover1 this earth would not be in the slightest inconvenienced in its motion or evolution whether there were sixteen billion of persons on its surface1 or ten million times as many4 ,nor would it make the slightest difference to this terrestrial globe whether the entire animal creation was destroyed1 or increased indefinitely4 ,it would neither slacken its pace1 increase its weight1 diminish its size1 change its poles1 alter its seasons1 nor in any other way be affected4 ,the fluids1 the solids1 and the gases would relatively remain the same4 ,let it be distinctly understood1 that whatever change may take place in some remote future1 say one billion million of years1 more or less1 this earth as a whole will be but little affected4 ,vegetable and animal life may disappear1 but the component parts of the earth cannot be destroyed or changed4 ,furthermore1 whatever is produced upon this earth by the inventive power of man's faculties1 in the arts and sciences mechanical1 the natural1 and what is thought to be supernatural1 whatsoever shape or character it may take1 whether phase or phenomenon1 an idea1 thought1 or imagination--in fact1 every thing1 every essence1 from an angel to the devil1 from a saint to a sinner1 from a brass button to a god or gods1 holy ghosts or divinities1 all1 all1 are part and parcel of this earth4 ,all there are recorded in any book1 called sacred or profane1 inspired or uninspired1 visionary or materialistic1 are the creations of the brain of man1 inventions of the brain of man1 concoctions and fabrications of the brain of man4 ,whether devil1 saint1 angel1 or god1 they are of earth1 earthly1 chained to this terrestrial globe so long as there is a brain in human form that can exercise its faculties4 ,third4 ,no things can leave this earth1 whether they are things visible1 or things that are not visible4 ,nothing can come to us from any distant planet1 whether it is visible or not visible4 ,all things or beings1 whether visible or not visible1 tangible or not tangible1 perceptible or imperceptible1 belong to this earth1 are the products of the earth4 ,all things1 beings1 forms1 or shapes1 whatever be their nature or consistence1 however they have appeared or been produced1 on any portion of the surface of this globe1 are the products of this earth4 ,all things1 beings1 forms1 shapes1 material1 or what appears to be material1 are produced upon the surface of this earth4 ,all things1 beings1 forms1 shapes1 phases1 or phenomena1 and all manifestations1 whether spiritual or supernatural1 are the products of this earth1 produced through the material composing the nervous matter1 by the ordinary physiological mechanism of the animal economy4 ,no psychological condition1 as it is termed1 can be produced without nervous matter4 ,it is a function of nerve or brain material4 ,it has no existence of itself4 ,it is not a product foreign to matter4 ,the soul is a term employed to represent in the abstract an intellectual product of1 or the result of functional activity of1 brain substance4 ,where there is no brain there can be no soul4 ,and souls differ in proportion to size1 quality1 quantity1 educational or brutal development4 ,the mind is the collective term for the entire product of nervous activity1 from non-intellectual to intellectual activity4 ,thus we have all kinds of minds--vulgar1 brutal1 licentious1 pious1 enlightened1 educated1 intellectual1 refined1 ideal1 imaginary1 etc41 etc4 ,a mind may be simple1 mixed1 complex1 complicated1 perverted1 disordered1 rational or irrational1 etc41 etc4 ,the mind is of ages--infantile1 childish1 youthful1 young1 mature1 deliberate1 strong1 weak1 and senile1 feminine or masculine1 etc41 etc4 ,nervous effects not understood are interpreted to be supernatural1 not the product of the matter composing brain2 this is false4 ,the so-called spiritual manifestations are1 in plain terms1 delusions for susceptible nervous conditions1 and generally largely adulterated with fraud4 ,nervous conditions bordering on hallucinations may easily be influenced by a strong nervous force and utilized for swindling purposes4 ,there is as little truth in spirit manifestations as there was in the casting out of evil spirits or devils1 as related in the ,bible4 ,fourth4 ,material prosperity consists in the accumulation of wealth1 gained either by industry or inheritance4 ,wealth is used3 #a4 ,to supply food sufficient in quantity to sustain bodily health4 #b4 ,to obtain clothing to protect the body from extreme heat1 and also for decorative purposes4 #c4 ,to furnish domicile or housing to shelter the body against the inclemency of the weather1 in luxury as our acquired taste may desire4 #d4 ,to give us the opportunities of an education and training that we could not otherwise obtain4 #e4 ,to provide for those that are dependent upon us for support1 as children and old persons4 #f4 ,to exercise charitable acts1 in aiding all those that are either disabled or unable to procure the necessities of life--clothing and shelter4 ,remember that ,god has not created anything--either plant1 animal1 or man4 ,while we resemble each other1 we are not precisely constructed all alike4 ,dogs are dogs1 for example1 yet a ,skye terrier is not so big as a ,newfoundland dog1 nor is either fashioned the same as a bulldog4 ,the same may be said of plants and trees4 ,the structural tissue of all trees is wood1 yet are the trees not all alike4 ,nor can the wood tissue of the various trees be used for the same purpose4 ,each one is useful in its own particular line or sphere4 ,the same may be said of minerals as to their appearance1 qualities1 uses1 etc41 etc4 ,each individual is simply the offspring of his parents4 ,god has had nothing whatever to do in shaping or fashioning him4 ,he has not endowed him with anything4 ,he has given him neither a soul nor a body4 ,he is a creature that has been placed upon this earth by his parents1 with all the qualities1 form1 general construction1 composition1 and constitution of his parents4 ,this hardly requires an explanation4 ,every farmer and cattle-breeder understands it4 ,we have every day illustrations with our race-horses1 cattle1 etc4 ,two black persons cannot breed white children4 ,they can mix them1 yes4 ,god had nothing at all to do with the selection of either the black man or white woman1 or the white man or black woman4 ,whatever seed is planted1 that will grow1 and no other4 ,cabbage seed will yield cabbages1 and nothing else4 ,that law holds good in nature--like will produce like2 subject1 however1 to modification of soil1 temperature1 moisture1 of the immediate surroundings4 ,but it will not change the cabbage4 ,it may be finer1 of improved quality1 larger--that's all4 ,the prevailing notion that we are all created free and equal1 is nonsense4 #a4 ,we are not created4 ,we are simply the offspring of our parents and inherit all the characteristics and qualities of our parents1 which are subject to betterment1 improvement1 and a higher degree of culture1 or deterioration1 depending on circumstances and surroundings4 #b4 ,we are not born equal by any means1 either in muscular strength1 brain power1 size1 constitution1 or wealth4 ,therein lies the difference in the condition and surroundings of man1 while we are spending this short-lived existence on this earth4 #c4 ,whether we are born free1 depends upon what form of government we live under4 ,we are free to comply with the laws of the government under which we are born1 comply with the recognized moral and social laws in the midst of which our parents reside1 where we first saw daylight4 ,dismiss the silly notion from your mind that anything can help you1 either priest or any supernatural agency4 ,the priest may help as one man may help another4 ,prayers can avail you nothing1 nor blessings4 ,every man1 to be a man1 must act the man6 ,training1 education1 culture1 makes him one4 ,free yourself from priestly influence and church dominion1 if you would be free4 ,think and reason4 ,throw off the shackles of ecclesiastical slavery4 ,let your own brain work out your own salvation4 ,never mind the ,jehova1 the ,god of barbarism1 the ,christ of delusion1 or the ,holy ,ghost of the imagination4 ,shake off the dust of superstition and ignorance if you would be free4 ,it is the noblest work of man to make himself free--to make himself equal1 not muscular--free from prejudice1 free from superstitions1 free from bigotry1 free from ignorance1 free from vice1 free from passions1 free from wrong-doing either to yourself or to your fellow-man4 ,equal you can be in brain power1 brain culture1 in brain force1 by brain culture1 education1 in the improvement and perfection of the intellectual faculties1 so that we may exercise our understanding and judgment1 free and untrammeled1 to the benefit of ourselves and to the benefit of our neighbors4 ,the perfection you imagine your ,god ought to be1 exalt yourself to that perfection1 and be an intelligent free man4 ,,chapter ,,xxvii4 ,,visions--,,bible ,,dreams--,,revelations4 ,these are the fireworks of the imagination4 ,isaiah's vision1 chapter vi1 #a1 #b3 ,i saw the ,lord sitting upon a throne1 high and lifted up1 and his train filled the temple4 ,around it stood the seraphim2 each one had six wings2 with twain he covered his face1 and with twain he covered his feet1 and with twain he did fly1 etc4 ,ezekiel1 chapter iii3 ,son of man eats the roll4 ,vision of chapter viii3 ,a fire below the loins1 and the appearance of brightness1 as the color of amber upwards1 etc4 ,chapter ix3 ,six men with slaughter weapons1 clothed in white linen with a writer's inkhorn by the side4 ,chapter x3 ,above the head of the cherubim there appeared over them as it were a sapphire-stone1 as the appearance of the likeness of a throne4 ,verse #b3 ,go in between the wheels even under the cherub1 and fill thine hands with coals of fire1 etc4 ,verse #d3 ,and the house was filled with a cloud1 etc4 ,verse #h3 ,and there appeared in the cherubim the form of a man's hand under their wings4 ,verse #i3 ,four wheels1 etc4 ,verse #ab3 ,and their whole body1 and their backs1 and their hands1 and their wings1 and their wheels were full of eyes round about1 even the wheels that they four had4 ,verse #ad3 ,and every one had four faces1 the first face was the face of a cherub1 the second the face of a man1 the third that of a lion1 the fourth the face of an eagle1 etc4 ,chapter xxii3 ,sin4 ,chapter xxiii3 ,whoredoms4 ,chapter xxxviii3 ,boneyard4 ,chapter xlvii3 ,visions of holy waters4 ,daniel's visions1 dreams3 ,verse #c3 ,four great beasts came up from the sea4 ,the first was a lion and had eagle's wings4 ,the second was like a bear1 it had three ribs in the mouth between the teeth1 etc4 ,the third was like a leopard1 and had four wings of a fowl1 and had four heads4 ,the fourth a beast dreadful and terrible1 strong exceedingly--had great iron teeth--and it had ten horns4 ,a little horn came up2 in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man1 a mouth speaking great things4 ,throne whereon an ancient sat1 the hair of his head like pure wool1 garments snow-white1 etc42 throne of fiery flame1 wheels as burning fire4 ,verse #ai3 ,then ,i would know the truth of the fourth beast1 etc4 ,his teeth were iron1 nails of brass1 etc41 etc4 ,chapter viii3 ,a ram had two horns2 one was higher than the other4 ,he saw the ram pushing westward1 northward1 southward1 etc4 ,verse #e3 ,a he-goat with a horn between the eyes2 the goat smote the ram1 broke the two horns1 etc4 ,zechariah iv3 ,a candlestick all of gold1 a hood upon the top of it4 ,seven lamps thereon1 seven pipes to the seven lamps2 two olive trees4 ,chapter v3 ,flying roll twenty cubits long1 ten cubits broad4 ,verse #i3 ,two women1 and the wind was in their wings2 they had wings like a stork4 ,chapter vi3 ,four chariots between two mountains of brass4 ,the first chariot had red horses1 the second chariot had black horses1 the third chariot had white horses1 the fourth chariot had grizzled bay horses1 etc4 ,the most prominent men in the ,old ,testament that were endowed with high imaginative powers1 were not many4 ,the most noted among them were ,isaiah1 #fha ,b4,c42 ,ezekiel1 #eia ,b4,c42 ,daniel1 #eei ,b4,c42 ,zechariah1 #ece ,b4,c4 ,these four visionary gentlemen lived during a very exciting1 troublesome period4 ,it was the ending of national life4 ,there were continuous wars1 constant changes1 invasions1 robberies1 plunder1 and all other barbaric crimes that ordinarily accompany these revolutionary events4 ,israel was made captive #gba ,b4,c4--the lost ten tribes1 as they are called4 ,the conquest of ,jerusalem was #fjf ,b4,c42 the captivity of ,judah and destruction of ,jerusalem1 #ehh ,b4,c4 ,it must be remembered that all the prophets1 so termed1 lived during a time of approaching national dissolution1 and date from the death of ,jonah1 #gfa ,b4,c41 to the death of ,nehemiah1 #dcj4 ,these political preachers1 agitators1 and fault-finders were altogether some twenty in number4 ,and when national life ceased1 these prophets ceased4 ,men of this particular type and character were no longer needed4 ,they had outlived their usefulness4 ,their national greatness was rapidly disintegrating--short-lived it was4 ,luxury1 licentiousness1 and crime2 rapacity1 internal disorder1 factional strife1 lack of order and discipline1 made them the prey of neighboring nations1 that finally proved their destruction4 ,it was not a question of ,god or ,jehovah or idols2 it was a question of organization1 discipline1 and a higher civilization1 that wiped the ,jews out as a nation4 ,they struggled as long as they could maintain their existence as a nation4 ,they were overpowered and subdued4 ,it is not1 therefore1 surprising that these men appealed to their patriotism--their moral sense1 of which they had but little--and made every endeavor to reform them4 ,the national pride1 love of country and patriotism1 fired their imagination4 ,they talked1 wrote1 and scolded in the name of the visionary ,god in fashion among them1 employing the phraseology then in use1 giving vent to their feelings1 their passions1 their lamentations1 their dreams1 their visions1 the product of an over-excited nervous system1 mixing poesy1 philosophy1 and facts indiscriminately2 producing a heterogeneous1 fantastic creation of the brain1 part true1 but false as a whole1 dovetailed together as the fancy of the moment suggested4 ,these rambling fireworks of the imagination have little meaning and less sense1 except that they portray their feelings1 emotions1 and practical impressions for the time being4 ,eliminate the facts out of their writings1 and you obtain a residue of wild1 incoherent ravings of an over-excited1 over-heated brain4 ,we hear nothing of any great mental disturbance or loss of equilibrium1 until we reach a new crisis4 ,for nearly four hundred years not a vision1 not an angel1 not a prophet1 is heard of4 ,the religious disputes1 the ecclesiastical quarrels1 the heated discussions1 the hatred1 hostility1 and opposition that the differences of opinion engendered1 caused considerable nervous irritation1 mental excitement1 and a display of the imagination4 ,this new religion1 this reformation1 this new organization1 produced no small amount of fermentation4 ,it was all nervous1 stimulated to a degree of exaltation1 rising in intensity to enthusiasm and religious ecstacy1 wherein many varieties of nervous phases were exhibited4 ,st4 ,john was on the isle of ,patmos when he wrote his ,revelations4 ,he could not have chosen a more suitable spot for his visionary work4 ,an isolated little island situated in the ,archipelago near ,asia ,minor1 it is one of the smallest islands in that region4 ,it could certainly not contain many inhabitants4 ,it is surrounded by sea and exceedingly lonely4 ,a man with a highly nervous temperament could almost see anything in that dreamland of melancholy and seclusion4 ,john's visions resembled those of his predecessors several hundred years previous4 ,but ,john came four hundred years later1 and had the advantage of more culture4 ,ideas had multiplied1 experience had increased1 the imagination was amplified4 ,education had advanced1 and the mental faculties were better developed4 ,he had therefore the brain1 the opportunity1 and a very favorable locality1 to dream1 to have visions1 and to imagine to his heart's content4 ,he had the material1 the impressions1 and the state of mind to aid him4 ,of course we take it for granted that ,john wrote these ,revelations--or some one imagined these things for him4 ,john wrote to the seven churches1 ,ephesus1 ,smyrna1 ,pergamos1 ,thyatera1 ,sardis1 ,philadelphia1 and ,laodicea4 ,none of these places was any considerable distance from ,patmos4 ,what he sees3 ,chapter i3 ,seven candlesticks4 ,one was like 7verse #ac7 the ,son of ,man1 clothed in garments down to the feet1 girt about the paps with a golden girdle4 ,verse #ad3 ,his head and his hair were white like wool1 as white as snow4 ,verse #ae3 ,his feet like unto fine brass1 as if they burned in a furnace2 and his voice as the sound of many waters4 ,verse #af3 ,he had in his right hand seven stars1 and out of his mouth a sharp two-edged sword3 and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength4 ,the second and third chapters are advisory to the seven churches4 ,in the fourth his imagination takes a great flight4 ,a more romantic spot to have visions could not be found--about #ch north of the equator1 a beautiful sky1 mild climate1 calm waters1 and a solemnity of surroundings that would impress a less imaginative mind4 ,it would have a marvelous effect on an excitable fanatic zealot1 brimful with fantastic religious notions4 ,no wonder he beheld the doors of heaven open1 and heard a sound of a trumpet--and he was immediately in the spirit2 that is1 he was either dreaming or in an ecstatic state1 and could see all the things he did see with his eyes either closed or open4 ,he saw a throne4 ,one sat in it4 ,it looked like jasper and sardonyx4 ,and he saw a rainbow like emerald4 ,round about there were twenty-four seats1 wherein twenty-four elders were sitting clad in white raiment1 with crowns of gold on their heads4 ,thunder and lightning came out of the throne4 ,there were seven lamps before the throne1 and seven spirits of ,god1 and before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal2 and in the midst of the throne and round about were four beasts1 full of eyes before and behind4 ,the first beast was like a lion1 the second beast was like a calf1 the third beast had the face of a man1 the fourth beast was a flying eagle4 ,and the four beasts had each six wings about him1 and they were full of eyes within4 ,chapter v1 #f3 ,there stood a lamb with seven horns1 seven eyes1 seven spirits1 etc4 ,chapter vi3 ,he saw a white horse1 a red horse1 a black horse1 and a pale horse4 ,the first had a crown1 the second a sword1 the third a pair of balances1 on the fourth sat ,death and ,hell4 ,there were seals opened1 etc41 etc4 ,the fifth seal was the souls slain by the sword of ,god4 ,the sixth seal1 earthquake1 the sun became black and the moon red1 and the heavens departed as a scroll1 etc4 ,chapter vii3 ,he sees four angels standing on the four corners of the earth1 holding the four winds of the earth1 that the wind should not blow1 etc4 ,he saw another angel with a seal--for various tribes1 etc4--very fanciful1 very fantastic1 very imaginative4 ,chapter viii3 ,the seventh seal opened4 ,seven angels with seven trumpets standing before ,god4 ,one angel stood with a golden censer4 ,five filled the censer with fire4 ,voices4 ,thunderings1 lightnings1 and an earthquake4 ,verse #g3 ,the first angel sounded4 ,there followed hail and fire1 mingled with blood2 trees and green grass were burnt up4 ,verse #h3 ,the second angel sounded4 ,a mountain of burning fire was cast into the sea1 and the third part of the sea became blood4 ,verse #i3 ,a third part of the creatures and a third part of the ships were destroyed4 ,verse #aj3 ,the third angel sounded4 ,a great star fell from heaven1 burning4 ,verse #aa3 ,the fourth angel sounded4 ,a third part of the sun and moon were smitten1 a third part of the stars1 etc4 ,chapter ix3 ,the fifth angel sounded4 ,a star falls into the bottomless pit4 ,he mixes smoke1 locusts1 scorpions1 torments1 horns1 battles1 crowns of gold4 ,verse #g3 ,faces of men with hair of women and teeth of lions4 ,he sees breastplates of iron4 ,there is sound in the wings1 sound in the chariots running to battle1 etc41 etc4 ,verse #ag3 ,he sees the horses in the vision1 and them that sat on them having breastplates of fire1 and of jacinth and brimstone2 and the heads of the horses were the heads of lions2 and out of their mouths issued fire1 and smoke1 and brimstone4 ,verse #ai3 ,for their power is in their mouths and their tails2 and their tails were like unto serpents1 etc4 ,chapter x1 #d3 ,seven thunders utter voices4 ,john takes the little book out of the angel's hands1 eats it up1 and it is as sweet as honey but bitter in his belly4 ,we pass on through the extravagances of the succeeding chapter to xvi4 ,seven angels and seven plagues and seven vials of wrath4 ,the first vial of wrath was poured upon earth2 the second vial of wrath was poured upon the sea2 the third vial of wrath was poured upon rivers and fountains of water2 the fourth angel poured his vial upon the sun2 the fifth angel poured his vial upon the seat of heat2 the sixth angel poured his vial into the river ,euphrates1 and the waters were dried up1 unclean spirits like frogs came out of the mouth of the dragon1 etc4 ,the seventh angel poured his vial into air--voices--thunder--lightning4 ,a more jumbled mass of hysterical nonsense was never concocted by the brain of man4 ,with this silly twaddle of an over-excited nervous system1 he continues to give vent to absurd impulses and perverted impressions of a theoleptic nature4 ,in chapter xx he sees an angel from heaven having the keys of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand4 ,and he laid hold of the dragon1 that old serpent1 which is the devil1 and ,satan1 and bound him a thousand years4 ,verse #c3 ,and cast him into the bottomless pit1 and shut him up1 etc41 etc4 ,verse #i3 ,and they went up on the breadth of the earth1 and compassed the camp of the saints about1 and the beloved city3 and fire came down from ,god out of heaven and devoured them4 ,verse #aj3 ,and the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone1 where the beasts and the false prophets are1 and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever1 etc4 ,that this so-called revelation is not the product of a healthy brain is self-evident4 ,that ,john was reveling in the realms of fantasie1 while he was laboring under a theological nightmare1 is so palpable1 that he might almost be accused of being a monomaniac4 ,and that this abominable concoction of absurdities should form the basis of a system of moral education1 and be tolerated as a supernatural production1 is an outrage on common sense4 ,the whole construction is the fabric of a man bordering on a state of hallucination1 where fancy1 fact1 and fiction are indiscriminately mixed and compounded with the theoleptical effervescence of an almost demented enthusiast4 ,there is not a particle of sense in the entire twenty-two chapters1 except such as refer to earthly particulars4 ,the combination is false in conception1 and pernicious in its tendencies4 ,he sees and hears things so glaringly ridiculous that it is really surprising that any sensible preacher can regard the writings in the light of seriousness4 ,it is perhaps as unique an erratic compilation of material substances as was ever produced1 based on ignorance1 superstition1 and a diseased mind4 ,that man1 ,st4 ,john the ,divine1 had no more conception of the size of this earth or its configuration than he had of electricity1 or a steam-engine4 ,of course ,i understand that theologians do not--or pretend not to--look upon the statements literally4 ,they may interpret the contents of ,revelation from a spiritual point of view1 nothing will or can relieve it of its defects4 ,whatever he meant by his ravings1 in those days1 they do not contain a particle of practical sense4 ,when he beheld the doors of heaven open and heard a sound of a trumpet1 he was immediately in the spirit4 ,then his mind spliced together thrones of jasper1 emerald1 seats1 elders1 white raiment1 crowns of gold1 seven lamps1 seven spirits1 a sea of glass1 and four beasts full of eyes1 a lion1 calf1 man1 eagle1 six wings1 four horses1 death and hell1 seven angels1 seven vials of wrath1 hail1 fire1 blood1 thunder1 lightning1 brimstone1 a bottomless pit1 etc41 etc4 ,thoughts were flying through his brain that embraced pretty much all he knew1 that he had either heard1 read about1 or had had some personal experience of1 bringing all the things1 objects1 substances1 and phenomena to bear upon his imagination1 forming ideas to illustrate his heaven or hell1 his saints and sinners1 his salvation and his perdition4 ,the mind was in a state of delirious confusion4 ,john's mind had had a larger experience1 his imagination was more amplified and expanded1 than the mind and imagination of his predecessors ,isaiah1 ,ezekiel1 ,daniel1 and ,zechariah4 ,the time and locality were not the same4 ,the burden of ,john's thoughts was of a quite different nature4 ,the nervous phenomena of theological excitement and irritation was purely visionary1 while those of the ,old ,testament were largely tainted with the politics of their time4 ,the former writers were loaded down with the expected ruin of their nationality2 were filled with patriotism2 were hoping and wishing for some one to come and help them out of their dire distress4 ,their ideas and thoughts led them to flights of imagination within the limits of their knowledge4 ,john was fully charged with the philosophy and teachings of his times1 and he mustered all his knowledge to open the gulf between the two extremes of bliss and punishment1 the saved and lost4 ,thus he invented the appearance of heaven1 with all the material substances1 to exhibit its fearful glory1 and showed the interior of his bottomless pit with its darkness1 fire and brimstone4 ,all these things might have appeared very terrible to the ignorant fishermen he had to deal with4 ,it may still leave a strongly unpleasant impression on a great many of our ignorant population4 ,very few sensible people take any stock in ,john's incoherent1 erratic flight of imagination4 ,it may be regarded as a very curious composition of antiquity--senseless1 useless1 meaningless2 admirable in its way1 but nothing more than a production of an overwrought1 unbalanced1 over-stimulated1 and over-exalted imagination4 ,we may distinctly perceive the progress that had been made in the evolution of the imagination1 in the multiplication of ideas1 in the amplification of thought1 from ,abraham to ,moses1 from ,moses to ,david1 from ,david to ,isaiah1 from ,isaiah to ,john4 ,the nervous system1 the brain1 had undergone some modifications among these people1 but not of a nature that was likely to be a lasting benefit to humanity4 ,on the contrary1 these speculative ideas caused a great deal of friction of thought1 bitter quarrels1 hatred1 crime1 and bloodshed4 ,neighboring nations1 who had neither ,jehova nor ,christ1 revealed to us the light of science that never produced a friction nor a quarrel--being based on eternal truth4 ,from the very beginning of their conception to the present day this remains unchanged1 unaltered and untouched1 a monument of ,truths1 an inheritance for all future generations4 ,the ,god-,christ-,holy-,ghost idea has ever been a source of greed1 selfishness1 intolerance1 bigotry1 quarrel1 hatred1 licentiousness1 cruelty1 and crime4 ,bickering and quarreling are still going on4 ,and the grasping hand of greed holds the ignorant bigot by the throat to squeeze the last cent out of him1 to enrich and aggrandize the most pernicious organization humanity was ever plagued with4 ,heresy1 blasphemy1 is as fashionable to-day as it was in the rankest days of popery4 ,fortunately the civil law reigns supreme1 otherwise these ecclesiastical monomaniacs would be at each other's throats4 ,at this stage of scientific civilization1 we can afford to look on at the theological quarrels and antics as a result of a nervous craze that is perfectly harmless4 ,after all it is but the physiological effect of an educational training1 the development of the faculties and the evolution of the imagination2 the brain functions in proportion to the progress made in the culture in general1 harmonizing with the times1 circumstances1 and conditions of the period in which we live4 ,every age has its turn in the evolution of the mental faculties1 and it must go through its stage4 ,the visionary period1 the result of a theological hallucination of an over-exalted imagination1 can occur only under certain favorable conditions1 viz41 on the one hand a highly susceptible nervous temperament1 a strongly biased educational training1 and an enthusiastic excitability1 and on the other1 an ignorant1 bigoted1 poor1 and helpless population4 ,,shades ,,of ,,intellectual ,,development4 ,,from ,,barbarism ,,to ,,civilization1 ,,multiplicity ,,of ,,gods ,,to ,,nature1 ,,darkness ,,to ,,light4 ,barbarism1 savagery1 ignorance1 ,chaldaism4 ,women ,barbarians4 #bjj ,b4,c4 idolatry4 ,astronomy4 degraded ,a4,d4 #ahic4 ,,many ,,gods4 7,paganism #gff1cab1jjj slaves4 ,,physical ,,god4 remaining74 #aiba-dej ,b4,c4 ,very little light4 ,hebrewism1 #f1jjj1jjj4 ,physiology1 science1 mathematics1 mythology1 women honored science breaking4 #aiba-ejj-j ,b4,c4 ,greece a nation4 ,ignorance1 superstition4 ,buddhism1 #cbj1jjj1jjj4 #aajj ,b4,c4 ,uncivilization 7to our notion74 ,confucianism4 ,caste rule4 ,brahmanism1 #abj1jjj1jjj4 ,philosophy1 #cbj1jjj1jjj gods4 ,,one ,,god4 ,mohammedanism1 #aff1jjj1jjj4 ,tyrants4 ,a4,d4 #fjj4 ,polygamy4 ,,five ,,gods4 ,roman ,catholic ,still ,a4,d4 #cbe4 ,father1 ,son1 and ,ghost1 ,virgin1 ,christianity1 #bjj1jjj1jjj4 degraded4 ,a4,d4 #hjj4 saints1 relics1 etc4 ,idolatry1 ,greek ,christianity1 figure-painting1 ignorance1 #hj1jjj1jjj4 intolerance1 non-progression1 superstition1 bigotry4 ,dark ,ages4 ,a4,d4 #cbe to #aeag4 ,,three ,,gods4 ,protestantism--,luther1 ,women #bjj to ,a4,d4 #aeag4 ,class ,rule4 ,calvin--#ajj1jjj1jjj4 sub- #cjj ,a4,d4 #afic4 ,progression1 toleration1 ,episcopalianism4 ordinate4 sects4 ,a4,d4 #aegb4 superstition1 bigotry1 ,presbyterianism4 ,a4,d4 #agcj4 civilization1 selfishness1 ,baptists4 greed4 ,methodism4 ,wesley4 ,,one ,,god4 ,universalism4 ,a4,d4 #afia4 ,enlightened1 advancing4 ,unitarianism4 ,ethical ,culture4 ,,doubtful ,,god4 ,a4,d4 #aeej4 ,latest theological ,a4,d4 #ahgj4 metamorphosis4 ,,no ,,god4 ,science1 nature1 fact1 truth4 ,manhood1 womanhood4 ,intellectual development4 ,in modern times1 if a man should attempt to rave after the style of ,john1 he would certainly be declared a fit candidate for an insane asylum4 ,what was possible on the ,isle of ,patmos by ,john would be an utter impossibility to-day4 ,it is not because we have not religious fanatics enough1 but education1 reason1 and science have advanced1 so that such extravagant fire-works of the imagination would be declared evidence of an insane condition of the mind4 ,on the following page a diagram of various shading shows the growth of intelligence and enlightenment of the various religious denominations1 indicating the beginning of actual progress with the ,reformation1 and how little there is left of the entire religious fabric that has been handed down these many centuries4 ,the darkness of ignorance is still hiding the truth4 ,the church is doing its utmost to train the young in the pernicious doctrine of superstition and falsehood of antiquity4 ,the clergy would stop our public school system1 if they could drag humanity back into the mire of brutality4 ,the sooner the ,bible1 with its ,god1 ,jehova1 ,jesus ,christ1 the ,holy ,ghost1 the prophets and the apostles1 with all the angels1 heaven1 and hell1 are placed under a glass case to be viewed and admired as a matter of antique curiosity the better4 ,,chapter ,,xxviii4 ,,the ,,planetary ,,gods4 ,the ,terrestrial ,god4 ,why man should claim that the terrestrial ,god1 the ,god that was created on this earth1 extends his sway beyond the limits of this globe1 is not easily accounted for4 ,it is an assumption that is not at all warranted4 ,we know that the composition of the planets that belong to the family of the solar system are the same as that of our own1 this earth4 ,all those worlds seem to be constructed of the same chemical elementary substances as this globe of ours1 and working on the same general universal plan4 ,that all the planets of the solar system1 and the sun itself1 possess the same common characteristics as this earth1 is evident4 ,the planets all move in the same direction round the sun4 ,they all revolve upon their own axes1 and round the sun4 ,they have day and night1 seasons and periods of revolution4 ,they have their atmospheres1 snows1 rings1 and all the necessary equipments of a planet proper4 ,they seem to have seas1 mountains1 valleys1 poles1 equators1 etc4 ,some of the planets seem to be in a much higher state of organization than our own4 ,take ,saturn1 for example1 with its series of rings and satellites1 its immense distance from the sun1 #hhf1jjj1jjj miles1 moving at the rate of #bb1jjj miles per hour1 and having a year equal to about #cj years of our globe4 ,he flourishes at a distance from us of about #cjj1jjj1jjj miles4 ,he has a diameter of #gc1jjj miles4 ,his volume is #gjj times that of the earth1 and he receives his light from the sun1 just the same as we do4 ,it is admitted by astronomers that the ,saturnal scenery is most magnificent1 and surpasses anything we are familiar with4 ,the rings form immense arches1 which span the sky and shed a soft radiance around2 while in the strange beauty of the night eight moons in all their different phases1 full1 new crescent1 or gibbous1 light up the starry vault4 ,we know that the planets are composed of the same elementary substances as this world whereon we live1 that they are also surrounded with an atmosphere1 have water upon them1 receive the sun's heat1 exhibit all the peculiar characteristics of this globe of ours1 and all the planets seem to be obeying the same general universal laws4 ,can anyone give us a plausible reason why there is no organized vital matter on our neighboring planets--plants1 living creatures1 similar to those found on this terrestrial globe8 ,if the elementary substances are the same as those that are found on this earth1 and they have a similar sunshine1 heat1 moisture1 and temperature1 all the forces may be presumed to be the same or similar4 ,there is no reason that the elements should not enter into organic life of a similar1 perhaps either inferior or superior1 organization to that existing on this world8 ,what is to hinder them8 ,it is certainly possible1 therefore probable4 ,may we not assume that it is both possible and probable8 ,those on earth who believe that this globe of ours was especially fitted up for us1 made for man only1 are very presumptuous4 ,there was no special forethought for the adaptation or convenience of creatures like ourselves4 ,as to the forethought1 adaptation1 or convenience1 the hog1 the elephant1 the ass1 and the fly enjoy their life just as much as men do4 ,it is very convenient for them4 ,but not more so than it is for man1 and it is no more convenient for man than it is for the animals4 ,we are certainly nearer the truth to say that the other planets are inhabited by beings1 races1 that may exhibit as much intelligence as1 if not more than1 we do on this globe4 ,the conditions of light and heat may not be the same4 ,the other planets may vary in form and structure1 and have shapes not at all familiar to us4 ,that1 however1 does not in any way interfere with the reasonable probability1 nay1 certainty1 that they are inhabited4 ,whether they are inhabited or not1 matters little4 ,yet we may safely make the inference that these planets are not simply placed in space for our convenience4 ,may not the inhabitants of ,venus1 ,mercury1 ,mars1 ,flora1 ,mnemosene1 ,jupiter1 ,saturn1 ,uranus1 ,neptune1 etc41 think that this earth has been created by their respective gods for their convenience8 ,have they not as much right to have each of them a god as this earth is supposed to have8 ,has not the god of ,jupiter as much right to be proclaimed by a portion of its inhabitants to be the creator of all the planets1 sun1 moon1 and stars1 as this sectarian1 terrestrial ,god has8 ,the right to this power1 to this prerogative1 is as much vested in the god of ,neptune or ,saturn1 as in this earthly ,god4 ,imagine the god of ,saturn complacently smiling at the arrogance of this pigmy of a terrestrial god4 ,may not the god of ,venus have a premptory claim to the godship of this planetary system8 ,or the god of ,uranus1 or of any other of the planets8 ,or possibly every planet has its god that acts as superintendent over his own territory1 the laws of gravitation preventing his divinity from leaving his place of abode4 ,or1 perhaps there are no planetary gods--every solar system may have1 perhaps1 only one god1 residing on the great sun himself1 communicating directly with all his subject planets by the rays he sends forth4 ,it is not at all unlikely that perhaps every solar system has its god4 ,and over these many solar system gods1 somewhere in the immensity of space1 a god of immense magnitude may preside4 ,so you may go on multiplying gods1 sub-gods and superior gods1 without end4 ,where do we find that a man1 or a set of men1 have a right to arrogate to themselves the power or privilege to assume that this terrestrial ,god has anything at all to say or to dictate on any other planet8 ,this earthly ,god has no more right to interfere with the business of ,mars or ,mercury than the god of ,saturn has a right to interfere with our earthly affairs4 ,should it1 however1 transpire that any planetary god1 whether he comes from ,uranus1 or ,neptune1 or any other planet1 should interfere1 we who were made in his image will assemble in the houses we have built for his sake1 for the terrestrial ,god's sake1 and pass resolutions advising our terrestrial ,god to say to the other planetary gods3 ,hands off1 ye gods1 if you please6 ,for the sake of peace and harmony among the gods of this planetary system1 we1 representing this terrestrial ,god by proxy--since it really makes no great difference in the end of the great gathering-in of the elementary substances all organic beings are composed of--we1 the organized elements of this earth1 men1 animals1 plants1 etc41 more especially the highest organized beings1 men1 having a more perfected nervous system1 being the elect of all terrestrial productions1 claim the right to speak for our ,god1 and proclaim to all planetary gods1 potentates1 majesties1 holies of holies1 or their representatives1 that they have no right whatsoever to interfere with our terrestrial management4 ,we can have our little local pet ,god or ,gods if we desire1 so long as our methods do not in any way inconvenience them4 ,let it be taken for granted that the same1 elementary substances are found 7of which we have evidence7 in the sun and all the planets1 and probably in the stars we see2 that their gaseous fluids and solid substances are of similar nature to the elements known to us2 and that they also receive the same sun's heat 7or the distant stars may receive light and heat from some other suns71 is it not more than likely that the conditions produced by the contact of these elements with the sun's heat1 may resemble those we are familiar with8 ,if there is heat there must be motion1 there must be friction1 there must be consumption and expenditure of heat1 also expansion and contraction4 ,if these forces exist1 other forces necessarily must also exist1 as cold from absence of heat1 dynamic force1 electric and magnetic forces4 ,we may readily suppose that there are currents of air4 ,water may be agitated by the wind4 ,if atmospheres surround these planets there is only one source of heat that can keep them in a gaseous state1 and that is the sun4 ,heat from the same source keeps the ,oxygen and the ,hydrogen fluid4 ,if evaporation and consolidation exist why should there not be aqueous vapor1 rain1 etc48 ,we must concede that the elements known as ,oxygen1 ,hydrogen1 ,nitrogen1 and ,carbon are found in these distant planets4 ,we cannot be far wrong in supposing that there are carbonic acid1 ammonia1 and maybe other combinations4 ,atoms certainly must exist1 and molecules 7a drop of water is a molecule74 ,there may also be conductions of heat1 of molecular motion4 ,what then is to hinder the evolution of phenomena on these distant planets being regulated by laws very similar to the laws of this earth--radiation and absorption of heat1 combustion and explosion1 tension and velocity of the various elements1 under peculiar circumstances favoring all these conditions8 ,that elements wherever found possess the same physical properties when brought under the same influence of heat and moisture1 there can be no doubt1 whether they are farther removed1 or nearer to the contact of the sun's rays4 ,it is a fact1 a well-established fact1 that different substances require varying degrees of temperature to reduce them to a liquid1 gaseous1 or solid condition1 and no matter where the temperature is produced the result will be the same4 ,if1 for example1 a temperature can be procured on the surface of ,uranus1 or ,saturn1 sufficient to melt iron1 lead1 or silver1 these metallic substances will melt at ,uranus or ,saturn as quickly as on the earth's surface4 ,the laws regulating radiation1 absorption1 dispersion1 or contraction1 or any other phase the elementary substances may assume1 under heat or pressure1 etc4--these laws will hold good on any of the planets just as well as on this terrestrial planet4 ,it is therefore far from unreasonable to presume that the organizable elements may have assumed a vitality on the distant planets1 evolved and developed creatures in accordance with known laws1 or laws that are still unknown to us4 ,because it is perfectly natural for these substances to organize themselves into life1 under a certain degree of temperature1 moisture1 and electricity1 when these necessary elements are present--as natural as that oxygen and hydrogen make water1 or that the sun's heat sets all the elementary substances into a state of activity4 ,we have no reason to doubt that these planets1 or even the sun1 have not their own vital products just as well as this earth4 ,these vital products may be of low grade1 or of a very highly organized nature4 ,we may assume1 without fear of any great error1 that wherever there are air and water there is life4 ,because if there is heat it is a sun's heat1 otherwise there could not be air and water4 ,if there is a sun's heat1 atmosphere1 and water1 there is certainly life1 lowly or highly developed4 ,the degree of organic development depends on the age of the planet--whether it has been in existence a few millions of years more or a few millions of years loss4 ,these organic forms may have advanced to any degree of perfection and possess qualities like or unlike our own1 or they may still exist in a very primitive state of evolution4 ,let it be distinctly understood that on the degree of organic development depends whether they have reached our height of perfection of nervous development1 or the development of a substance capable of performing functions similar to the brain substance animals are endowed with on this earth1 with physiological action the same or similar--whether undergoing gradual changes1 and accumulating experience1 they may have arrived at that degree of perfection to be capable of thinking and reflecting1 may have acquired understanding of a nature possessing all the fear1 wonder1 and ignorance of certain states of nervous development1 where the ideas are just forming and imagination barely assuming form4 ,they may1 ,i say1 have begun evolving their gods1 or images representing the same1 or may have reached that state of perfection that every creature is endowed with such powers1 understanding1 and reasoning1 acquired by millions of years of training and education1 that they constitute gods in themselves4 ,or the creatures inhabiting these planets may be in a condition like that of creatures many1 many ages past upon earth--may have no knowledge of gods or ,god1 but are undergoing the necessary evolutionary changes that will ultimately bring them to that happy elysium1 when they will be capable to produce their ,god or gods1 as we have done on this earth4 ,why is it not possible that a higher order of beings inhabiting ,saturn are at this moment employing instruments in order to ascertain the constitution and condition of this terrestrial globe1 speculating on the probability whether this earth is inhabited or not8 ,they may have positive knowledge that this planet has an atmosphere several hundred miles in depth4 ,they may know its size1 diameter1 its distance from the sun1 and that this planet revolves in an ellipse as the planet ,saturn does4 ,they may also know that the elements are of the same nature2 and that there are mountains1 seas1 an equator1 a north and a south pole1 but only one moon4 ,looking at this planet as a star of this solar system1 of perhaps the third or the fourth magnitude1 nothing compared with their own1 either in size1 moons1 belts1 or other important features1 these higher organized beings on ,saturn may be able to behold worlds beyond themselves far more vast than their own1 and regard this planet1 ,venus1 ,mercury1 etc41 as very insignificant affairs4 ,why may they not have appliances1 modes of travel or communication1 as far removed in intelligence from our highest order of beings1 as the difference between a frog and the pope8 ,we have no reason to exclude any supposition1 however wild and extravagant1 as to the conditions of other planets4 ,it is not entirely imaginary4 ,inferences may be drawn from what we know1 and deductions made from our practical experience4 ,this problem is safer to speculate on1 having a solid basis to start with4 ,those who believe in the actuality of an existing ,god have not a thing to base his existence on1 except the natural functions of the brain4 ,but if we concede that this earth has a ,god1 what right have we to assume that each other planet has not a god of its own8 ,we have no evidence to the contrary4 ,who dares to state positively that they have not a god8 ,why should this insignificant terrestrial planet ,god presume1 or persons for him1 that he controls and governs planetary bodies hundreds of times larger1 and perhaps far more important1 than this small solar system8 ,how do we know that the inhabitants of other planets have not had angels1 saints1 and saviors8 ,how do we know that they have not had beings who pretended to know all about their god1 and were as brutal1 as savage1 and as demented as some of the persons figuring in scripture1 or the tyrannical1 bloody papists of the ,dark ,ages8 ,the imagination of man supplied us with ,gods or a ,god on earth2 the imagination is justified in supplying other planets with a god or gods4 ,the god of ,jupiter1 ,mars1 or ,saturn1 etc41 may with as much force and propriety say1 ,i am that ,i am2 ,i am the great ,i am1 the creator of all things4 ,you1 ,planet ,earth1 may be a little older1 riper1 more solidified1 have a solid crust1 yet remember our god is just as good as yours1 and better4 ,you have only one moon--a fossil world1 a mere cinder4 ,and1 moreover1 our god is fourteen hundred times larger than yours1 because our globe is that much larger4 ,our globe has a diameter of ninety thousand miles4 ,and we have four satellites1 or moons4 ,our largest is as big as your whole earth4 ,therefore1 it is ridiculous for you to claim superiority4 ,as to my neighbor ,saturn1 with his eight moons and belts1 his god smiles at your presumption4 ,i1 the god of ,jupiter1 agree with the great god of ,saturn and others1 that your terrestrial affected greatness is too ridiculous to be worthy of our serious consideration4 ,in fact1 it is absurd for your earthly godship to claim to have made the sun that great luminary that gives us all heat1 light1 and life4 ,let us go but one step farther into space to show the fallacy of the assumption that this terrestrial ,god created all planets1 stars1 etc4 ,at the present time it is considered that the star ,alpha 7a7 ,centauri in the southern hemisphere is the nearest to the earth4 ,its distance is more than #bjj1jjj times that of the earth from the sun1 or twenty trillions of miles4 ,light would require about four and a half years to travel this enormous distance4 ,the stars which we see at such immense distances are suns4 ,the vast distance at which the stars are known to be1 precludes the thought of their shining1 like the planets or the moon1 by reflecting back the light of our sun4 ,they must be self-luminous1 and are doubtless each a center of a system of planets and satellites4 ,our sun is but a star4 ,as we see only the suns of these distant systems1 so their inhabitants see only the sun of our system1 and that as a small star4 ,arrogant1 conceited humanity1 with an unbounded assurance and self-confidence1 mixed with profound ignorance1 have the impudence to claim that their terrestrial ,god created all the stars1 suns1 and planetary systems that are so far away in space that the eye of man cannot behold them--no1 not even with the strongest instrument yet made4 ,we may be compared to maggots on a big cheese1 crawling over its surface2 they may with equal propriety claim that their cheese is the only cheese ever created1 and that it was made for their own special use1 and that all other cheeses were made only for their benefit4 ,some of the maggots might equally claim that there was only one ,god--the man who made the cheese4 ,that is1 that man1 the maggot's god1 made the cow that gave the milk that produced the cheese whereon the maggot dwelt4 ,let every planet have its ,god1 ,and every ,god its planet4 ,much mystery lies in the word1 ,you simply have to scan it4 ,let every man his own ,god make1 ,god in man1 pure and elect1 ,let common sense and reason wake6 ,knowledge1 truth1 makes man perfect4 ,go search your ,god through depths of space ,on suns and stars infinite4 ,the mind expands to every place4 ,to distance without limit4 ,if you don't find the ,god you seek ,search within yourselves4 ,perchance1 ,you'll find your ,god1 quite good and meek1 ,but not in your ignorance4 ,,chapter ,,xxix4 ,,every ,,man ,,his ,,own ,,god4 ,writers and thinkers with a strong theological bias1 seem to fear that the world would go to pieces if the scriptural ,god or ,gods were deposed4 ,they seem to apprehend that the moral and political economy would seriously suffer1 and the moral idea especially be destroyed4 ,when these gentlemen find it impossible to reconcile the difficulties that overshadow the personal and triple-headed deities--that somehow they cannot make them harmonize with the recent discoveries and the development in natural sciences--they attempt to mold them so as to fit the requirements of the occasion4 ,thus1 it was discovered that the prime essence of the world is ,god1 or something that pervades all nature2 that he is the first great cause1 and that this implies some huge mountain of will power1 and an immense ocean of intelligence2 that he is the creator of all things--that out of him this world emerged and out of the world all the various activities and objects were developed by the life inherent in the substances1 etc4 ,then again they represent him as a great designer--declare that ,god designed all things and beings1 and put everything in shipshape order2 and after the design was finished he set the machinery in motion4 ,these1 and interminable similar pet theories and excuses1 are made for ,god to retain a foothold in the mind of man4 ,clever brains and prolific imaginations have succeeded in clothing ,god1 or ,gods1 with all the attributes thus far discovered either in man1 beast1 planet1 or space--extension1 contraction1 elasticity1 etc4--modes1 limitation1 finite1 infinite1 absolute--everything1 in fact1 that has ever been printed in the largest encyclopedia known4 ,these gentlemen should have had memories that the original doubts in ,abraham's mind were the result of common sense and reason2 that he still retained the sensual qualities of the ,chaldean gods4 ,the modifications and transitions of that first idea are very marked1 as well as very numerous4 ,by the time we reach ,christ1 he is not the same4 ,it is to be regretted that we have no compliments to waste on this ,god--alias ,jehova--because a more bloody1 selfish1 monstrous idea cannot be well portrayed1 if the story in the ,bible be true4 ,and certainly he1 and his triple alliance1 does not exhibit one redeeming quality during the centuries of ,christianity1 because a more hideous1 outrageous1 criminal monster cannot be constructed1 except by human ingenuity and by human devices4 ,in another chapter we call the attention of the reader to some of the most barbarous abominations of the ,roman ,catholic church1 and such a polluted set of butchering popes as words fail to give any adequate idea of4 ,all this goes to show that this imaginary idea of ,god may be made to fit any person or any purpose4 ,it is but reasonable to inquire1 ,does ,god create the ,brain1 or does the ,brain create ,god8 ,that is really the entire question in a nutshell4 ,we know1 with absolute certainty1 that ,god does not make brain1 otherwise we should have it perhaps a little more uniform1 and of a better quality4 ,besides1 all other animals possessing brain would1 of course1 be entitled to the knowledge of this ,god in proportion to the size1 quantity1 and quality of the brain4 ,this1 then1 being impossible1 we have no other means of arriving at the truth than by concluding that ,brain created ,god4 ,every brain cannot create ,god2 the great nervous centers may be insufficient1 either in quantity or quality1 to enable the brain to acquire qualifications that will give expression to more than the instinctive number of sensations and emotions4 ,creatures generally are limited to the instinctive number of sensations and emotions2 and act1 move1 and have their being in harmony with these4 ,animals of all classes belong to this category1 and not infrequently man1 too4 ,by that is meant1 man in an uncultured state1 and even among them the degree of experience and the power of observation make the difference between one set of savages and another4 ,intelligence1 understanding1 and reasoning power depend on some kind of experience4 ,the repetition of experience constitutes1 in some measure1 the training of the senses1 and through the senses and the cerebral hemispheres the intellect is thus formed and mind developed4 ,the intellectual acquirements may be limited by the ascendency of some predominating ideas or opinions that check progress4 ,as for example1 the absence of schools in communities1 the forcible prevention of education1 the prohibition of education by priestly authority of the church1 and the suppression by ecclesiastics of all ideas except their own4 ,this we may term limitation of brain culture by undue interference of the ascendent idea or ideas that limits the range of intelligence and subjects the will power to the control and direction of what the people presumed to be a greater right than their own4 ,prescribed limits of education check or stunt the natural progress1 and if any progress is made1 the people must break through the prescribed limits1 as was the case with ,luther1 ,spinoza1 ,voltaire1 ,renan1 etc4 ,the ascendency of man over animals checks their further progress in the way of intelligence4 ,the superior hostile intelligence holds possession and will not permit further development4 ,as regards animals1 we have taken possession of the earth1 and have put a stop to all further advancement4 ,supposing a man develops an idea1 it is not an easy matter to persuade his next-door neighbor1 who is his equal perhaps in intelligence2 but1 it is not difficult to inculcate his pet idea into his child4 ,it is1 as it were1 virgin ground1 and he plows it to his liking4 ,he has complete control4 ,he is master4 ,he directs it as he wishes1 and prevents others from planting strange ideas or ideas hostile or antagonistic to his own4 ,in this manner we commence breeding ideas1 and we continue breeding the same ideas1 on the same principle as breeding pigeons or chickens2 they are all of the same kind1 if you don't cross them2 and the more eggs you lay the more chickens you get1 and if they multiply rapidly1 especially if you have many hens to one rooster 7as the ,jews had71 what a multitude to spoil a garden-patch6 ,that is precisely what happens1 and that is what actually took place with ,abraham4 ,we have also a natural limitation to brain culture4 ,we may instance the orang-outang1 the ,bushman1 the negro1 the idiot1 etc4--brains that are not susceptible to much culture or education4 ,the understanding1 the development of the intellectual faculties1 is limited of necessity4 ,there is no possibility of going beyond their capacity2 it will hold a given measure and no more4 ,even among these1 the range of intelligence may vary some degrees4 ,impairment1 effectiveness1 or entire absence of any one of the senses1 limits intellectual acquirements4 ,the uniform activity of all the senses is thereby hindered4 ,we have in addition innumerable varieties of brain in size1 quality1 quantity1 form2 as also inherited failings or diseased conditions4 ,the qualities of ,god depend upon the qualities of the man4 ,there has not yet been a god conceived by the human mind but greediness was the chief element4 ,men made gods for others1 whose inferior intellect was easily swayed to believe in great benefits they were to expect1 but never got1 yet were continually paying for4 ,every man or woman is responsible for his or her acts1 and no ,god--supposing there to be any--can save him or her4 ,there can be no intercession between man1 and nature or nature's laws4 ,every living being is held to strict accountability to the prevailing forces and the controlling elements that compose it4 ,it is always a question of unchangeable equilibrium between the elements and the surrounding medium1 as to the kind of a ,god we may acquire4 ,a man can see no farther than his sight will permit him4 ,the organ of sight1 the eye1 may be so constituted that we can barely recognize the nearest object1 or we may without difficulty distinguish the smallest object at a great distance4 ,this condition1 of seeing objects near1 at a moderate distance1 or far off1 or not seeing at all1 depends on the natural construction of the organ itself4 ,the difference between the various qualities of sight is due to the proper qualities and shape of the various structures that enter into the composition of the organ of vision4 ,every part must be perfect--the lens1 the iris1 the cornea1 the vitreous humor1 etc4 ,not only must the parts be perfect1 but they must also be in a healthy condition1 to produce accurate vision4 ,all this answers well for ordinary purposes in life1 taking in such impressions as the apparatus of vision may from time to time receive4 ,these are retained1 stored up2 thus memory of objects1 the impressions of which have been recorded1 may be recalled to mind either in actuality or in imagination4 ,the education of that organ consists in the number1 variety1 and kind of impressions received4 ,this constitutes the degree of educational experience1 being regulated by the amount of knowledge of the greater or lesser number of objects that have been recorded through the retina on the great central nervous system4 ,experience1 long practice1 matures and perfects the knowledge of all things that meet the eye2 understanding becomes more thorough1 intellect clearer1 and judgment more accurate1 enabling us by that means to recognize the smallest imperfection1 the slightest deviation1 and the most delicate shade of harmony1 in color and form4 ,we all know how hard it is for a child to recognize shapes1 objects1 colors1 etc4 ,we know its long and tedious repetitions of looking at one and the same thing an infinite number of times before it will recognize it4 ,we know that a child will repeat things1 or the names of things1 without knowing anything about them2 or1 it may know the names of things yet not recognize the things when presented to its sight4 ,the decision or judgment whether the thing is right and proper1 is left to the person who has already had experience and acquired knowledge and understanding concerning these matters4 ,thus the child may be directed rightly or wrongly1 and its education must depend on the accuracy of the instruction received4 ,however1 the impressions received in the early part of life remain firm1 and are not easily removed or eradicated1 no matter how faulty1 wrong1 how perverse and false1 they may be4 ,the stronger and deeper the impressions and the longer they have become habituated to them1 the harder it is to correct them1 the more difficult to explain the errors4 ,it is in such cases almost impossible to convince1 and a tedious task to eradicate4 ,by these early educational processes durable habits are acquired1 that become persistent and remain during life2 especially when no contrary influences have been brought to bear upon them to modify or correct them4 ,it is almost an impossibility to train or educate the organ1 whether sense of sight or ear1 or the organ of voice1 after a certain ago has been reached4 ,an artist must start young in his artistic education if he has any desire to excel in that art--that is1 if the organs of sight and touch are to be evenly balanced4 ,so that whenever any person inherits the necessary qualities of sight and touch1 and these become educated1 ,i mean accurately trained1 skill must result in excellence1 and from that reach to a degree of perfection4 ,the high art of painting becomes this man's ideal1 and this ideal his god1 if the education of the other senses has not materially interfered in shading his ideal1 or the moral and social qualities1 giving his productions a tone or tint that may cloud or brighten his efforts1 not forgetting the inherent or acquired bias of other surroundings that may influence his mind4 ,in the culture of music or of the ear1 there is a wonderful difference in the kind of sounds a person has received as his earliest impressions1 the number of sounds his scale of the notes consists of4 ,what we term the monotonous sounds of ,chinese music delight the ,chinaman's ear1 and he cannot conceive how it is possible for ,europeans to tolerate the immense amount of confusion that is usually displayed in an orchestra4 ,yet the ,european is delighted with our music and finds the ,chinese music very dull4 ,the same difference1 but not to that degree1 exists among the various ,european nationalities4 ,sprightly ,france thinks ,british music very dull1 etc4 ,painting is an art1 but everybody cannot paint1 though everybody has sight and touch4 ,that art requires a great deal of training4 ,the vast majority of mankind are not able even to draw an accurate outline of any object4 ,sight1 the organ of vision1 is a difficult organ to educate4 ,the same difficulties confront us with other organs4 ,a degree of perfection is requisite in the construction of the organ in order to confer the necessary qualification for a higher training4 ,and here too the education consists of receiving impressions through the organ of hearing to the brain1 and these1 like the impressions of sight1 are recorded1 that is to say1 they are retained1 in memory1 so that we may recall them1 or recognize them1 when familiar sounds strike the ear4 ,any kind of simple sound is easily retained4 ,a child will much more easily recognize the voice of a cat or a dog than a painting or a picture1 and will remember the one but not recognize the other4 ,there is certainly a difference in the educational capabilities of these organs4 ,simple sounds are easily retained and easily reproduced4 ,a simple combination of sounds are also retained without difficulty4 ,thus it comes that we are all more or less imitators of sounds or simple melodies4 ,these seem to contribute to our amusement more readily1 either for our own satisfaction1 or for the satisfaction of others1 or both4 ,these reproductions of sounds or melodies do not require any mental effort or physical effort4 ,the organ of voice may be used--that is1 we attempt to sing4 ,we may hum1 or we can pucker our lips together and whistle4 ,each individual whistles in his own peculiar fashion1 seldom two alike4 ,they may be similar1 but never alike4 ,the fault may lie in the lips1 the tongue1 in the form of the opening made1 the manner of blowing through the opening formed by the lips1 the duration and strength of the expiration1 dryness or moisture of the mouth1 the thickness or flabbiness of cheeks1 etc41 etc4 ,hence it comes that every man has his whistle4 ,you may take a class and train them to whistle a melody1 say ,yankee ,doodle4 ,each one will produce similar successive sounds or notes1 so that that particular melody is recognized1 but each one will have his own ,yankee ,doodle1 with peculiarities1 characteristics peculiarly his own4 ,if1 for example1 he is musically inclined1 or has had any training in music1 he or she may put a quaver or two in1 as a variation1 more or less4 ,yet each one will still own his own whistle and pipe his own ,yankee ,doodle4 ,that is just what happens with ,god4 ,we have no ,god1 we never had one1 but we have been educated up to one4 ,in childhood we already hear the first indistinct sound1 and we don't know whether it is the bark of a dog or the mew of a cat4 ,by and by1 as we grow older and are ready to attend ,sunday-school1 or some other institution where these instructions are imparted1 you learn the melody of ,yankee ,doodle--rather puzzling at first1 but it comes4 ,variations are put in to suit special cases and special occasions1 and each individual member of any one class whistles his ,yankee ,doodle to the best of his ability--entirely his own2 he is perfectly happy with it2 it does not in any way interfere in the ordinary pursuits in life1 his pleasures1 his stomach1 his diversion nor his business2 and really it makes no difference where he is1 in the street1 in the factory1 in the store1 on the exchange1 in the hovel or in the palace1 he carries his ,yankee ,doodle with him4 ,whistle it over a birth1 over a wedding1 or over a funeral1 whistle it wherever you will1 it is the same ,yankee ,doodle4 ,it is used on all occasions--in wars on the battlefield1 or at peace on parade1 etc4 ,thus it happens that everyone1 male or female1 has his or her own peculiar ,doodle4 ,if the man or woman or child had never heard this melody they would certainly not have known anything about it1 and therefore could not have enjoyed that particular melody4 ,he or she might have heard another melody just as simple1 perhaps just as stupid1 but differently constructed4 ,the culture of these theological ideas forms the fundamental groundwork of our educational church system1 and each sect has its own method of planting its seed according to its peculiar notions4 ,we must always bear in mind that before nerve tissue was developed1 nerve force or thought could not exist2 that the phenomena of imagination1 or the product of a combination of ideas1 the result of the impressions received by the senses1 retained1 and passing1 connectedly or disconnectedly1 through the brain1 could not be effected except by experience and training4 ,the idea of a ,god or ,gods impressed early in life1 while the brain is being developed--the brain tissue of course--remains firmly rooted1 and is very difficult to change or eradicate later in life4 ,in case a change is ever produced1 it takes place by a process of reasoning1 when understanding has been acquired4 ,the acceptance of an idea or an opinion requires little sense and no reasoning1 and1 indeed1 no education4 ,children believe anything they are told1 until they grow older and learn to know better4 ,men and women believe because they don't know better4 ,accidentally they were placed in a particular groove of thinking1 wherein they can glide forward1 backward1 round in a circle1 perpetually1 with ease and without interruption1 without effort and without understanding4 ,this perpetual gliding motion1 within circumscribed limits1 is over the same ,god1 ,holy ,ghost1 ,christ1 sin and salvation1 or the reverse2 no advancement or progress4 ,whatever has been accomplished in the affairs of men1 has been done without the prescribed limits1 and to that we owe our present civilization and material prosperity4 ,whoever the first individual was that proposed worship1 no matter how it originated1 or what it was1 or how crude1 the thought was the product of some man's brain4 ,whether he ever stood face to face with his own idea like ,moses1 or ,mohammed1 or anyone else1 makes not the slightest difference4 ,it was a man's individual notion1 prompted by fear1 ignorance1 or astonishment4 ,it is the work of the brain just the same4 ,it was their idols1 images1 god1 gods1 and men that were endowed with divinity1 were held sacred1 worshiped1 and honored4 ,these human inventions were supplemented by other human inventions1 rites and rituals1 up to this present time4 ,we discard ideas that have been tried and found wanting for modified or new ones--as ,abraham1 ,moses1 ,christ1 ,mohammed1 ,luther1 ,wesley1 etc4 ,the notions of these men in turn have undergone the civilizing filtering process1 until there is little left but the mere sound4 ,the ,unitarians1 for example1 have stripped the ,christian trinity down to a skeleton4 ,they seem to say3 ,this was once the great bugaboo3 you need not be scared1 it's perfectly harmless4 ,it has been civilized1 you know4 ,science did it4 ,hell is out of fashion4 ,heaven we have on earth1 if we have the means to do it with4 ,we can be angels if we wish to1 saints if necessary1 and holy if desirable4 ,every man makes his own heaven1 his own hell1 his own angels1 his own bliss1 and his own god4 ,yes1 he has his own saints and his own divinities4 ,a woman does precisely the same thing4 ,the imagination supplies all the necessary material for their production1 selected from natural objects and put together in a manner most pleasing1 acceptable1 and satisfactory to each one4 ,we make them as good as we know how1 as pretty and as delightful as our taste and fancy can create them4 ,yet the kind of whimsical representations of the mind depends largely upon the condition of the nervous system1 time of life1 and our daily occupation4 ,a young girl at puberty1 whose mind is entering into that beautiful paradise of dreamland1 blooming with buds of hopes and rosy wishes1 experiences the delights of new sensations1 creates her ,god1 her ,jesus1 or her ,holy ,ghost1 to fill the nooks of her aspirations1 with all the abounding exaltation and luxuries of her creative power4 ,every cloud has wings1 every star bright eyes that wink and beckon her to future bliss1 to desires unknown yet longed for4 ,she listens with eager ears for every sound4 ,the zephyrs of the spring of life are wafting music to her ear4 ,as she gazes with gushing eyes into ethereal space1 she is searching the heavens for coming enchantment4 ,her doll1 the god or the plaything of childhood1 has lost its interest1 and all the pretty things that formerly were so pleasing have lost their charm1 as the bell and smaller infantile toy had lost theirs before the doll had nestled into her affections4 ,now a more realistic feeling permeates her senses1 and beauties of a new and more attractive form occupy her agitated heart and brain4 ,what is the awakening of these new emotions1 the unfolding of these new sentiments1 that seem to linger on the borderland of restrained passion8 ,is it not the dawn of love1 the transitory period1 that bridge of nervous exaltation that leads from puberty to maternity8 ,she has her own god1 a figure to her notion as pure1 refined1 and beautiful as she can picture in the visions of her waking or sleeping dreamland mind4 ,her sighs1 her prayers1 her devotions1 are directed to him4 ,this is her coming ,messiah1 her angel1 her everything1 that is to realize all her hopes and expectations4 ,it is her ,god4 ,can a jockey or a prizefighter have feelings like these8 ,the former has a horsey god1 the latter a muscular4 ,the fisherman1 the sailor1 the soldier1 each in his sphere has his or her god4 ,underlying all the busy activities of daily life1 whatever feelings of care or pleasure each may experience1 it is but upon rare occasions he puckers his lips to give vent to his devotional feelings and whistles his ,yankee ,doodle--his ,god6 ,our gods are as we make them4 ,if we are good our god is good1 if we are pure our god is pure1 and if our senses are subordinate to our reason and understanding our god will be one of reason and understanding1 but if we are impure1 bad1 and evil-minded1 our senses and passions ruling supreme1 reason and understanding are subordinate in our god1 and the evils of animal sense predominate4 ,every man is his own god4 ,as he is1 so is his god4 ,as he makes himself1 so will his god be4 ,as he protects himself1 so ,god will protect him4 ,as he guides himself1 so will ,god guide him4 ,whatsoever a man accomplishes for himself1 that will ,god accomplish for him4 ,whatsoever a man does for himself1 that ,god will do for him4 ,if a man supports himself1 ,god will support him4 ,if he neglects himself1 ,god will neglect him4 ,the more he depends on himself1 the surer is his dependence on ,god4 ,as he saves himself1 so ,god will surely save him4 ,as he injures himself1 so will he be injured by ,god4 ,as a man punishes himself1 so will he be punished by ,god4 ,god will help him who can help himself4 ,if a man is true to himself1 ,god will be true to him4 ,by industry1 economy1 and sobriety you will confer blessings on yourself2 you have no need of ,god to bless you4 ,make yourself a good man or woman1 and you will surely have a good ,god4 ,a brutal man never has a meek god1 a stingy man a generous god1 nor a vicious man a merciful god4 ,every man brings himself to the level of a brute or lower1 or to the highest type of nobility of man4 ,god never made man1 but every man makes his god4 ,,the ,,gateways ,,through ,,which ,,knowledge ,,enters ,,the ,,senses4 ,the functions of the brain4 ,perception--,receiving impressions--,retaining impressions--,reproducing impressions--,knowing--,forming simple ideas--,compound ideas--,complex ideas--,mixed ideas and complicated ideas--,conducting1 transferring1 and reflexation-- ,cordination4 ,sight4 ,hearing4 ,touch-feeling4 ,smell4 ,taste4 ,recognition ,comparing ,discernment ,attention ,in ,retention common4 ,succession ,identity ,diversity ,continuity ,contemplation ,distance ,distance ,distance ,color ,solidity ,solidity ,solidity ,figure ,figure ,shape ,shape ,shape long ,size thick ,size thin ,dimensions ,dimensions ,softness ,softness ,softness ,hardness ,hardness ,hardness ,rough ,roughness ,roughness ,roughness ,smooth ,smoothness ,smoothness ,smoothness ,motion ,motion ,motion ,motion ,action ,action ,action ,action ,dryness ,dryness ,dry ,dryness ,moisture ,moisture ,moist ,moisture ,fluidity ,fluid ,fluidity ,fluidity ,vibration ,vibration ,vibration ,vibration ,heat ,heat ,heat ,heat ,cold ,cold ,cold ,cold ,pain ,pleasure ,odor ,odor ,expansion ,expansion ,expansion ,expansion ,contraction ,contraction ,contraction ,contraction ,resistance ,resistance ,relation ,relation ,relation ,rest ,rest ,rest ,unrest ,unrest ,sound ,appearance ,proportion ,proportion ,proportion ,proportion ----------------------------------v----- -----------------------------_/ ,,produce ,sensations ,emotions--,feelings-- ,ideation--,thought--,understanding-- ,reflection--,recollection--,deliberatio n--,induction-- ,memory--,imagination--,judgment--,intel lect--,will ,power--,mind3 ,the normal products of a healthy nervous system4 7,the abnormal result from a deranged condition of the cerebro-spinal system47 ,,morals3 ,,whence ,,they ,,spring4 ,to be moral means that the organs be properly and legitimately used1 in accordance with the law of nature3 ,,stomach4 ,,sexual ,,organs4 ,for nutrition of the body4 ,for the propagation of the species4 ,wants ,normally ,supplied4 ,satisfaction ,satisfaction ,contentment ,,lead ,,to ,health and ,happiness1 ,contentment ,comfort ,purity1 ,chastity1 ,love1 ,comfort ,pleasure ,affection1 ,joy4 ,pleasure ,peace ,peace ,abnormal ,use of the ,organs4 ,starvation ,passion ,hunger ,,lead ,,to ,vanity1 ,negligence1 ,indolence1 ,lust ,poverty ,deception1 ,discontent1 ,selfishness1 ,overindulgence ,luxury ,disease4 ,lasciviousness ,extravagance ,vice ,drunkenness ,whoredoms ,crime4 ,sin4 -------- ,will ,power ,intellectually ,used4 ,industry1 ,integrity1 ,activity1 ,honor1 ,courage1 ,goodness1 ,charity1 ,benevolence1 ,sympathy1 ,pity1 ,humanity4 -------- ,be wise1 let the gods and church alone2 ,they're false1 contrary to nature's plan4 ,trespass not1 there's nothing to atone4 ,be human1 an upright man4 ,all their rites and creeds are full of flaws4 ,as nature's products1 we thrive and grow4 ,but we must be ruled by nature's laws ,if we'd happy be--ourselves must know4 ,morals6 are the laws we must obey4 ,infringe them not1 prayers cannot save4 ,though blessed1 we the penalty must pay4 ,not to ,god1 or church1 or priest be slave6 ,,chapter ,,xxx4 ,,the ,,non ,,credo4 ,religion1 supernaturalism1 ecclesiastical control of human affairs1 have done more harm than the good they have ever effected4 ,for several thousand years they have been doing the worst of mischief--in spite of their conceited belief to the contrary--to actual enlightenment1 to the advancement and prosperity of the masses1 to the progress of nations generally4 ,they have been a persistent barrier to every step forward1 and have persecuted every idea that threatened in any way to interfere with their organized system4 ,the sacred or ,hebraic nationality1 steeped in barbarism1 washed in cruelty1 and bathed in the blood of humanity1 was succeeded by another organized system1 the ,roman ,catholic church1 which was by no means an improvement upon the ,bible methods4 ,they added savagery and cruelty of a more refined character4 ,they associated with it a tyranny and a persecution that fairly blackens the pages of history4 ,all was done1 however1 for the sacred cause1 with the cant1 sanctimoniousness1 greed1 and selfishness that only the church and its saintly priests could be capable of4 ,these self-styled divine organizations ever have been1 and are even now1 inimical to the best social interests of humanity4 ,their own aggrandizement was of greater importance to them than the welfare of the oppressed4 ,they are the real promoters of class distinction4 ,they are the promulgators of sectarian hate4 ,they lessen the dignity of woman4 ,they are the fomentors of prejudice and superstition4 ,they are the supporters and sustainers of the opulent1 the powerful1 the wealthy and influential1 to the detriment and debasement of the poor and more unfortunate classes4 ,they are the actual enemies of virtue and simplicity of life--by their expensive church trappings1 their gorgeous adornments1 their costly decorations1 their glaring exhibition1 their glittering finery1 their pompous display of church dress1 their gilded magnificence1 their showy grandeur1 their ostentation and boastful ceremonies1 overawing the senses1 and subduing the humble1 the ignorant1 making them mentally more stupid1 the slaves to a pernicious system of doctrine4 ,in ancient times1 in the days of antiquity1 the males were the chief worshipers4 ,they were the privileged portion of the community1 who assumed the duties to come in direct contact with all that was considered sacred1 holy1 or divine4 ,woman was considered as a defiled or polluted creature1 unworthy or unfit to come within the sacred precincts of their temples or participate in any church affairs1 or to minister in any of their ecclesiastical rites or ceremonies4 ,women had nothing to say4 ,they have nothing to say to this day1 in the ,roman ,catholic church especially1 and in the orthodox ,protestant denominations very little1 because ,paul lays down the law in ,cor4 xiv1 #cd3 ,let your women keep silence in your churches3 for it is not permitted unto them to speak2 but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law4 ,the sacred ,christian view of woman is that she is an inferior creature4 ,she is the slave1 the plaything1 the toy of pleasurable gratification4 ,god himself so ordained it1 when he created ,adam out of the dust and ,eve out of one of ,adam's ribs4 ,that was the ,chaldean mode of explaining her inferiority and of subjecting woman to man4 ,these barbarians1 first the ,hebrews1 and ,christians later1 did not think fit to place woman on a level with man4 ,therefore they placed her in the lower scale of creation as a servant and handmaid to man4 ,the heathens1 the ,greeks especially1 were more considerate1 politer1 and more refined towards women4 ,women were honored by them1 which is evident from the composition of the council of ,jupiter1 the supreme divinity4 ,this was composed of six gods1 namely1 ,jupiter1 ,neptune1 ,mercury1 ,apollo1 ,mars1 and ,vulcan2 and six goddesses1 namely1 ,juno1 ,ceres1 ,vesta1 ,minerva1 ,diana1 and ,venus4 ,to this assembly no other deities were admitted4 ,there is some sense1 reason1 and humanity in this arrangement4 ,it is very unlike the great masculine bully of a ,god1 what ,christians call sacred and scriptural ,jehova1 an intermeddling1 sensual1 beef-eating affair1 who has sons and never tells any one where they came from1 who the mother was 7,gen4 vi1 #b73 ,and the sons of ,god1 etc4 ,vestal virgins were admitted by the ,romans to their temples1 thus showing that woman was honored4 ,she was equally privileged with man to minister to the sacred offices of the gods4 ,civilization has advanced1 progress has been made in the arts and sciences1 the intellectual faculties are more developed1 and to woman has been conceded her proper place among the learned and the more liberal portion of humanity4 ,intellectually no line of demarcation is drawn4 ,cultured brain is cultured brain1 whether found in man or in woman4 ,both sexes stand on the same platform1 on an equal footing1 and they receive equal honor and recognition if the mental capacity is equal4 ,what is the relation of woman to-day to the respective churches to which she may belong8 ,has the ,roman ,catholic church receded one step from her antiquated ecclesiastical position8 ,or have the orthodox ,protestants8 ,not one step6 ,woman still holds the same degraded position in the ,christian church as she did a thousand years ago4 ,circumstances have somewhat ameliorated the relative position of church and worshipers4 ,formerly the males were the principal church attenders and worshipers4 ,in modern times it is the women who make the congregations4 ,the male1 if he attends1 does so to please the female more than himself4 ,besides1 the sexual attractions contribute very largely towards these ,sunday entertainments4 ,women 7says ,maudsley1 in his ,pathology of ,mind1 ch4 iv1 page #adc7 are naturally more prone to religious worship than man1 and more apt to fall into a morbidly subjective habit1 first1 because of the preponderance of the affective life in them1 and secondly1 because they have not the distracting and correcting and intellectually hardening influences of outside interests and pursuits which men have4 ,if unmarried women chance to come1 as by reason of those conditions they are apt to do1 under the ignorant and misapplied zeal of unwise priests who mistake for deep religious feeling what is really morbid self-feeling springing at bottom from unsatisfied instinct or other uterine action upon the mind1 the mischief is greatly aggravated4 ,it were well if those who make it their business to guide the consciousness of mankind through the manifold changes and chances of life were to be at the pains to inquire how much supposed religious feeling may be due to physiological causes1 before they sanction or enjoin a repeated introspection of the feelings4 ,he whose every organ is in perfect health knows not he has a body1 and only becomes conscious that he has organs when something wrong is going on2 in like manner a healthy mind in the sound exercise of the functions is little conscious that he has feeling1 and only gets very self-conscious when there is something morbid in the processes of its activity4 ,the ecstatic trances of such saintly women as ,catherine de ,sienne and ,st4 ,theresa1 in which they believed themselves to be visited by their ,savior and to be received as veritable spouses into his bosom1 were1 though they knew it not1 little else than vicarious sexual orgasm2 a condition of things which the intense contemplation of the naked male figure1 carved or sculptured in all its proportions on the cross1 is more fitted to produce in women of susceptible nervous temperament than people are apt to consider4 ,every experienced physician must have met with instances of single and childless women who have devoted themselves with extraordinary zeal to habitual religious exercises1 and who having gone insane as a culmination of their emotional fervor1 have straightway exhibited the saddest mixture of religious and erotic symptoms--a boiling over with lust1 in voice1 face1 gesture1 under the pitiful degradation of disease4 ,on such persons the confessional has had sometimes the most injurious effect1 more especially in those churches which spring ,romanism in their ritual1 have not placed confession under the stringent regulations and safeguards with which the ,roman ,catholic church surrounds it4 ,the fanatical religious sects1 such as the ,shakers and the like1 which spring up from time to time in communities and disgust them by the offensive way in which they mingle love and religion1 are inspired in great measure by sexual feelings4 ,on the one hand1 there is probably the cunning of a hypocritical knave or the self-deceiving duplicity of a half-insane one1 using the weaknesses of weak woman to minister to his vanity or to his lust1 under a religious guise2 on the other hand1 there is an exaggerated self-feeling1 rooted often in sexual passions1 which is unwittingly fostered under the cloak of religious emotion1 and which is apt to conduct to madness or to sin4 ,in such case the holy kiss of love owes its warmth to the sexual impulse which inspires it1 consciously or unconsciously1 and the mystical religious union of the sexes is fitted to issue in a less spiritual union4 ,without doubt1 an excessive development of the emotional life in any other direction would be equally pernicious4 ,all that the unwise religious teacher can be blamed for is his disposition to foster the egotistic development of emotion1 without considering its real origin1 by the overwhelming importance which he teaches the individual to attach to himself and his destiny4 ,instead of urging him to lessen the gap between himself and nature until he loses self in a sympathetic oneness with nature1 he stimulates him to widen it more and more until he rises to the insane conceit of himself as something entirely distinct from nature--an unrelated1 spiritual essence1 for whose benefit the universe and all that there is has been specially created4 ,assuredly were not man now1 as he always has been1 instinctively wiser than his creeds1 were he not moved by a deeper impulse than consciousness can give account of1 he would make no progress in civilization4 ,the church has lost its grip on the male portion of society4 ,they have considerably outgrown the ecclesiastical swaddling of scriptural doctrine of the ancient and modern theology4 ,the woman is the stronghold as worshiper1 and sustainer of the sacred masculine prerogative whom they can easily influence4 ,by reason1 as the holy book claims1 of their intellectual feebleness1 women are the submissive tools of cunning priests1 sentimental and emotional appeals1 and yield readily to their extravagant dictum4 ,the priests exhort them1 with their conventional religious phraseology1 to be partakers of some mysterious glory to be found somewhere in infinite space4 ,keeping ever in sight the same stupefying refrain of the orthodox prayer and blessing3 ,blessed and glorious trinity1 trinity in unity1 three--one1 three persons in one ,god1 tri-personal1 triune1 coeternal1 coequal1 ,god-man1 ,o ,lord ,god6 who art one ,god1 one ,lord6 not one only person1 but three persons in one substance6 ,o ,lord ,god6 ,lamb of ,god6 ,son of the father6 ,o ,god the son1 ,redeemer of the world6 ,o ,god the ,holy ,ghost1 proceeding from the father and the son6 ,the blessing of ,god ,almighty1 the ,father1 ,son1 and ,holy ,ghost1 be among you4 ,god the ,father1 ,god the ,son1 ,god the ,holy ,ghost1 bless1 preserve1 and keep you4 ,glory be to the father1 and to the son1 and to the ,holy ,ghost4 ,now to ,god the ,father1 ,god the ,son1 and ,god the ,holy ,ghost1 be all honor and glory4 ,jesus ,christ1 who with thee and the ,holy ,ghost1 liveth and reigneth ever1 one ,god1 world without end1 etc4 ,these are the terms and doxologies1 forms of prayer and blessings4 ,can anyone conceive a more meaningless set of phrases8 ,these are automatically repeated year in and year out1 with the same intonation1 gesture1 whirling and buzzing in a circle4 ,do not the brains become blunted1 the senses dulled8 ,or is it a mere mechanical effort1 accompanied by an extraordinary amount of insincerity and actual duplicity of character8 ,the conceit of these theological gentlemen1 claiming divine superiority1 is in consequence of the frequent repetition of the above vapid nonsense1 that they are the truly chosen and elect1 separate and apart from other people4 ,though they accept and place trust in the above creed1 ,god1 ,son1 and ,holy ,ghost1 and delude themselves with prayers1 blessings1 psalm-singing1 and the rest of supernatural subterfuge1 do they believe that it will save them--save their bodies from dissolution1 when the vital organs have ceased to perform their functions8 ,these fixed delusions are not wholesome4 ,encouraging them is misleading and deceiving those who are ignorant of the actual state of nature4 ,it is playing upon the weak and simple-minded4 ,it means corrupting their morals and their understanding4 ,it is paralyzing to every human effort4 ,it is degrading manhood and womanhood4 ,analyze the meaning of the belief1 the language employed1 the associations of ideas1 and seriously consider the amount of sense you can discover4 ,does not this rigid system of changeless belief prevent intellectual development8 ,does it not bar proper inquiry into the phenomena of nature8 ,does it not encourage a cowardly dependence on priestcraft and hypocritical cunning8 ,does it not extinguish every impulse towards the evolution of thought8 ,does it not stamp out the energies and aspirations of man and woman8 ,is not the kneeling and praying before some daub of a picture or the figure of some supposed ,god or saint debasing and degrading to the individual8 ,is not the act of prayer a humiliating acknowledgement either of an enfeebled mind or of a contemptible slave8 ,is not the will power subdued and deteriorated and the natural energy destroyed8 ,are not the functions of the brain seriously interfered with1 the mental faculties checked in the normal process of development1 and the powers of reason stifled by the asphyxiating influences of prayer8 ,does it not blunt the sense of responsibility1 breed insincerity1 foster falsehood1 promote lying1 and offer a premium for wrong-doing and a shelter for crime8 ,imagine the stupefying effect of counting beads4 ,the ,rosary is a series of prayers1 and consists of fifteen decades4 ,each decade contains ten ,ave ,marias1 marked by small beads1 preceded by a pater noster1 marked by a larger bead1 and concluded by a gloria patri4 ,five decades make a chaplet1 which is a third of a rosary4 ,what a sluggardizing effect on the intellect1 what a suppression of intelligence1 and how near it brings them to the borderland of monomaniacs1 by the constant mumbling of those insipid compositions4 ,the sooner we get rid of the belief in this supernatural intervention in human affairs the better for our physical1 moral1 and mental welfare4 ,every time the priest induces his pupil to repeat a prayer1 he stupefies and degrades his pupil4 ,he knocks the pins of self-restraint and self-reliance right from under him4 ,the blessing the pupil receives1 and the forgiveness at the confessional1 shift the responsibility for his acts off his shoulders1 thus leading him to believe himself irresponsible for any wrong he may commit4 ,the absurd doctrine inculcated1 that ,god made him necessarily makes him irresponsible4 ,if ,god was a fool big enough to make him bad1 or silly1 why should he be responsible8 ,the priest who helps to maintain and sustain this belief1 helps to weaken the pupil's mind and rather gives him license to indulge than restrains him4 ,you are taught to deceive yourselves and deceive others by prayer1 but you cannot bribe nature2 you cannot deceive nature4 ,the penalty must be paid for every transgression4 ,and prayers are absolutely useless1 nay1 every prayer is an admission of an act of cowardice1 just as every blessing pronounced is a humiliation to those receiving it4 ,what necessity is there for a man who is supposed to teach morality to be dressed like a clown in scarlet1 purple1 or other-colored coat and decorated with an antiquated headgear like a mountebank going through a series of peculiar gesticulations and ceremonials of buffoonery1 in order to sustain this ecclesiastical humbug8 ,would it not be better to train the intellect by teaching the young how to observe accurately1 to reason soundly from facts1 to think honestly and act sincerely1 have the truth revealed and nature and nature's laws soundly and practically interpreted8 ,an insight into the secret workings of nature would lead to a more precise adjustment on the part of man to his complex surroundings1 guard cautiously against the infringement of nature's laws1 and correspondingly produce gain in intellectual power4 ,how can a man be otherwise than reckless1 or willfully disobedient1 to laws he is entirely ignorant of1 though he brings certain punishment upon himself8 ,can there be any better discipline than to learn the cause and know the root of all evils1 in order to avoid them1 thus improving the morals and inducing one to take earnest pains to do well in the future8 ,there is more satisfaction in doing right than many may think1 if people were instructed how4 ,unfortunately1 the ecclesiastical mills of forgiveness are too busy teaching supernatural follies1 which actually mislead the ignorant and the foolish4 ,as a foolish woman spoils her own child by her own silly conduct1 so the supernatural creeds have spoilt humanity by perverting the moral responsibility in teaching their pernicious beliefs4 ,wonder why the world has not become better8 ,teach men the moral and physical laws of nature1 by lessons of experience1 that may guide them in their conduct through life4 ,teach them to learn prudence1 and observe them faithfully and sincerely4 ,good1 natural1 healthy thoughts produce good actions2 by their frequent repetition1 generate good habits of doing well1 of doing right4 ,the nervous structures that are brought into play1 the mental activities1 function these excellences1 developing these faculties1 generating higher moral feelings4 ,we finally come to regard as doing wrong acting contrary to our acquired habit4 ,good impulses to act right and do well come out of good feelings4 ,to act otherwise becomes repugnant to our acquired habits1 our second nature1 and is judged unwise by our reason and understanding4 ,let nature teach you to be wise1 and when you understand the natural you will cease to believe in aught supernatural4 ,do not believe in a ,god--there is no such thing4 ,do not believe in the divinity of any man1 whether he be called ,moses1 ,jesus ,christ1 or ,martin ,luther4 ,do not believe that the book called the ,bible1 sacred scripture1 and ,testaments1 new or old1 is sacred1 holy1 or inspired by any supernatural being4 ,do not believe the story of the creation as recited in the five books of ,moses--they are not true4 ,it is a fiction1 a sort of fairy tale4 ,it is the work of the imagination of man4 ,do not believe in any miracle4 ,no man can perform a miracle1 except to the ignorant and stupid4 ,no man in the ,bible ever performed a miracle4 ,those said to have been performed were deceptions1 tricks1 and delusions4 ,do not believe in the ,holy ,ghost4 ,there are no ghosts1 either holy or unholy4 ,and above all1 do not give credence to that very silly piece of nonsense1 that the ,holy ,ghost committed adultery with ,mrs4 ,mary ,joseph1 the reputed mother of ,jesus ,christ4 ,nor believe that the young man ,jesus was the son of ,god1 nor that he came upon earth to save the world from sinning4 ,do not believe that there are three ,gods in one1 ,father1 ,son1 and ,holy ,ghost2 nor ,god the ,father1 ,god the ,son1 or ,god the ,holy ,ghost4 ,this fallacy1 compounded of ,hebraic theology and ,grecian mythology1 is an absurd fabrication--this trinity in unity1 and unity in trinity4 ,do not believe in a heaven1 nor in a hell4 ,you make your own heaven1 and your own hell4 ,nor place any reliance on future rewards1 or future punishments4 ,your good conduct will bring your rewards and your bad conduct your punishments4 ,do not believe in angels1 spirits1 or any supernatural existences4 ,have no faith in anything you do not understand4 ,place no reliance on divine interference4 ,do not follow blindly any ecclesiastical teachings4 ,rely upon yourself4 ,let reason and common sense be your guide4 ,do not pray--praying makes a coward of you4 ,nor place confidence in the blessing of any man1 be he the pope or some fanatical preacher4 ,never kneel before any image1 whether it be the nude figure of ,christ1 or a daub painting of the ,virgin ,mary4 ,do not be the dupe of priestly cunning4 ,do not be afraid of anything except your own bad deeds1 your vicious habits1 and your own transgressions4 ,,some ,,rules ,,and ,,duties ,,in ,,life4 ,health is essential for physical and mental labor4 ,the maintenance of health consists in having proper food1 proper clothing1 and proper shelter4 ,work is a duty1 nature demands it4 ,exercise that duty4 ,earn so much as will provide the necessary comforts in life4 ,indolence is a vice1 and laziness a crime4 ,they are of no good to their practicers1 and a curse to others4 ,economy is a law of nature4 ,save your surplus produce of industry4 ,it comes useful in time of need4 ,avoid excesses of all kinds4 ,do not overtax or over-stimulate the organs of the body4 ,luxuries are injurious to health4 ,remember the stomach is only a receptacle for food and not a cesspool for all kinds of refuse4 ,cleanliness of stomach and body is necessary for the healthy action both of mind and body4 ,a rigid adherence to the natural rules is the surest safeguard against disease4 ,make judicious use of everything4 ,abuse neither yourself nor others4 ,each individual is his own guardian over his own acts4 ,he himself is responsible for his own misdeeds1 whether through ignorance1 want of proper education or understanding1 or weakness4 ,our guide through life should be3 ,speak the truth always4 ,let yes and no be the form of speech4 ,every promise fulfill4 ,never deceive yourself1 or deceive others4 ,promise nothing you cannot perform4 ,honesty is ennobling1 dishonesty debasing4 ,let every word and act be strictly reliable1 never waver or fail in your integrity4 ,be punctilious in your duties towards others4 ,do not cheat yourself or your neighbors4 ,misrepresentation is wrong4 ,have confidence in yourself1 others will have confidence in you4 ,do not slander others1 lest you do an injury1 doing evil without benefit to yourself4 ,a slanderer is despised4 ,let your motives be pure1 your purpose upright4 ,be mild in speech1 even in temper4 ,kind words are inexpensive4 ,anger and passion are brutal qualities1 be human4 ,do not get excited over trifles1 it does not prolong life4 ,if your habits are bad1 mend them4 ,good impulses come from good feelings1 as bad impulses from bad feelings4 ,our character is molded by our habits1 as our habits are by our instruction4 ,by your conduct gain the esteem of your fellow-men4 ,it is better to be loved than hated4 ,injure no one4 ,despise no one4 ,be neither prejudiced nor bigoted4 ,gain the respect of every man1 and respect those that deserve to be respected4 ,obey the existing laws4 ,learn to depend on yourself4 ,trust in your own judgment1 none will be so true to you as yourself4 ,hope is delusive1 action is certain4 ,reveal not your own thoughts to others lest they betray you4 ,confidence1 self-possession1 and presence of mind guard against surprises4 ,do not mind other people's business1 you may not find time to mind your own4 ,negligence is a fault1 diligence is a virtue4 ,frivolity is the froth of life4 ,it has neither strength nor substance4 ,there is more satisfaction in an ounce of peace than in a ton of wrangling4 ,control your appetites1 subdue your passions1 if you would be human4 ,remember there is no heaven beyond this life1 therefore make your home and your life as beautiful as you can4 ,few wants well supplied1 is better than many wants unsatisfied4 ,desire nothing you cannot obtain1 it will save you annoyance4 ,do not assume to be what you are not4 ,nature has marked you4 ,do not be tempted by trifles1 life is too short and time too precious4 ,pleasures are enjoyable where the senses are not overstrained4 ,be not too proud1 nor too vain1 no matter how great you are2 man1 like the animal1 is composed only of eighteen elements4 ,ambition is laudable1 when others are not made to suffer4 ,do not try to be greater than you are2 a gill will never fill a pint4 ,gain understanding1 and let reason and common sense guide you in all your acts4 ,look out4 ,save your honor1 your integrity1 and your character4 ,our duty on earth is to be good1 to do right1 and contribute to the betterment of our fellow-men4 ,the higher we rise in intelligence1 the farther we are removed from the brute4 ,free yourself from all supernatural notions1 all antiquated beliefs1 and all superstitions4 ,the humanization of mankind marks the progress of civilization4 ,the excitement of pleasure is not lasting2 exhaustion stops all enjoyment2 too much sunshine is fatiguing2 too much laughter is trying4 ,empty stomachs make a bad audience1 hunger breeds discontent4 ,poverty is degrading2 it ruins health1 breeds disease1 and lowers the morals4 ,neglect yourself and everybody will neglect you4 ,lost opportunities are seldom recovered4 ,the higher you climb the farther you are removed from the lower levels4 ,one wrong act loses the balance of integrity1 our esteem suffers4 ,one grain of intelligence is worth a pound of brute force4 ,be prudent1 discreet1 and deliberate in all transactions in life1 but quick in decision4 ,distrust persuasive1 bland1 smooth1 suave talkers4 ,a pious hypocrite is the worst of frauds4 ,your own faults are the greatest misfortune4 ,a brave man is never discouraged1 and simpletons are the prey for sharpers4 ,don't be a coward in danger1 or pray when disaster overtakes you4 ,self-abuse is the worst abuse4 ,your expenditure should never exceed your income4 ,aspire to be better1 not worse4 ,you cannot get wealthy on nothing4 ,millionaire and beggar belong to this earth1 whether living or dead4 ,our success in life depends on the quality of ,brain4 ,polished steel is of greater value than common iron ore1 so are intellectual faculties of greater worth than uncultured brains4 ,the weaker must yield to the stronger4 ,the friction of life is great2 the less the resisting force1 the sooner it yields4 ,in the struggle the strongest survive4 ,tenacity to life and tenacity to our possessions lead to success4 ,let those who accumulate great wealth unjustly1 yield it readily to those who are most in need4 ,a man can accumulate vast riches only by the industry of many1 never by his own4 ,remember dead men enjoy nothing1 therefore be wise1 be reasonable1 make your heaven on earth1 your paradise of your home4 ,be your own ,god1 your own ,savior1 your own priest4 ,,notes #a ,explanation4--,the ,roman numerals placed opposite the above list of elementary substances present the difference or equivalent or saturating power of each element4 ,hydrogen1 for example1 is a monad1 a simple particle1 or atom1 or unit4 ,oxygen is a dyad1 represented by ,,ii1 two4 ,it requires two atoms of hydrogen to saturate one of oxygen1 or its equivalent1 to form water4 ,a triad1 ,,iii1 requires three monads2 a tetrad1 ,,iv1 four2 a pentad1 ,v1 five2 a sexad1 ,,vi1 six units or monads1 their respective equivalents or saturating power4 ,a monad or monogenic element replaces another one by one4 ,an atom of a polygenic element1 that is1 a dyad1 etc41 on the other hand1 always takes the place of1 or is equivalent to1 two or more atoms of a monogenic element4 #b ,important4 #c ,exception4 #d ,aristotle1 #cdc ,b4,c41 logician and philosopher1 founder of the ,peripatetics4 #e ,weights and measures were invented about this period4