98 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CALIFORNIA 
therefore implies ability to attain it. This glorious truth is instinctively felt 
and recognized by every branch of the human race. 
The origin of man has been gradually, yet hastily, traced as the result of 
a constantly progressive life-principle, awakening development in matter, suc- 
cessively evolving from cosmic conditions, minerals, plants, and all the lower 
forms of animal life, up to its climax, intelligent humanity. In man is to be 
found the highest physical ultimate of matter, endowed with that further re- 
finement, a moral and progressive spirit, capable of ultimately unfolding his 
full physical and mental capacities. In human evolution, we can but outline 
the origin of existing physical forms, which periodically change with con- 
stantly modifying conditions. The immortal quickening principle which we 
inherit, can only be traced to the Infinite. 
The animating principle of all existences, appears like a purer and more 
highly refined essence or form of electric force; equally manifest in mental 
and physical development, and exactly adjusted in all its different degrees to 
successive stages of progressive refinement. Natural law is universal. In 
the material process of electrotyping, man follows Nature’s own method of 
building up metallic forms. The progressive life-principle of the human 
mind, in common with endless varieties of electric phenomena, manifests 
universal consistency in the positive and negative phases of a subtle activity. 
Some correlation with a Central Intelligence seems reasonably indicated, 
whence these mutually radiate as developing powers; alike in kind, varying 
only in degree, of force, purity and refinement. 
It appears probable that the ancestors of the earlier types of mankind, were 
evolved, by gradual development, near the oldest parts of continents, along 
their central summits, upon such portions as first acquired a soil after emerg- 
ing froma hot primeval sea. Primitive man, at first a speechless animal, 
may have appeared as a distinct variety of the animal kingdom, in the case 
of asingle pair, from which all human races have multiplied, and differ- 
entiated according to the surrounding conditions of their local abode. If so, 
the physical conditions of certain localities have been far more favorable to 
the advancement of certain races than others, and early human history must 
be by race and not by nations, as communities of individuals come but with 
the first steps to culture. 
Within the limits of races best known, languages and families of languages 
are found, which preclude any common linguistic origin. It therefore fol- 
lows, that if man constitutes but a single family in the order of Primates, 
represented by a single genus, the formation of language must have com- 
menced after the still speechless primordial man had diverged into races, and 
differentiation had set in. With the development of ideas in the mind, how- 
ever rude at first, and organs capable of articulation in the body, language 
was a consequent result, under the operation of universal law. The Great 
Intelligent Principle of the Universe pervades the entire world, as our mind 
fills our whole physical frame. The manifestation of this principle we call 
Life, which all things possess in greater or less degree. 
Development is ever progressive, although mutability appears to mark 
every advance, yet no breach of continuity has occurred. Every order has 
proceeded by natural process from another antecedent. The superimposed 
