MIND AND SOUL 207 



creation of the same life, and the seed only remains dormant 

 awaiting suitable conditions to enable it to live again in 

 another plant or tree. 



So in like manner it appears to me that our souls are only 

 dormant at death, and live on in those who come after us. 

 Just as the strength and vigour of the parent plant is that 

 upon which depends the strength and vigour of the succeed- 

 ing generation of plants, so we find that the cultivated plant, 

 or the well-bred animal is superior to the weeds or mongrels. 

 So I take it, the lives we lead decide the physical and psychical 

 strength and abilities of our children, and that our souls live 

 on, in the minds and bodies of those who come after us. So, 

 " He is not the God of the dead but of the living/' as Christ 

 tells us. 



It therefore appears to me that it is only in accordance 

 with the rest of the wonderful harmony of creation, that the 

 same course has been adopted in the growth of the mind and 

 soul, as we find to hold good in the uniform plan of the evolu- 

 tion of the rest of creation (see Book II., Chapter IV., which 

 is devoted to the evolution of mind). This must be my excuse 

 for presenting to my reader for his consideration this new idea 

 or conception of the most logical form of immortality which 

 appears to me to coincide more closely than any other that 1 

 can conceive with the general plan of evolution. 



Now both in animal and plant life we find there is one long 

 creation and re-creation of one and the same life. So 

 also it appears to me that the immortality of the soul must 

 follow the same rules, and is not an individual immortality, 

 but one long continuous chain of ever-existent soul or souls, 

 and that birth and death are but as minutes on the face of the 

 clock of evolution, and our bodies are but as suits of clothes 

 changed with each tick of the pendulum of Eternity as each 

 minute gives place to the one that preceded it, yet one and all 

 contributing to make up the total of the hour of creation, slowly 

 repeating their evolution, tick by tick, till evolution and 

 redemption shall cause government, science, and religion to 

 combine their influences, when we can get these three ruling 

 forces of mankind to unite to bring about perfect wisdom and 

 self-control of man, thereby enabling us to travel gradually 

 along the road to perfection and immortality. But do not 

 expect the journey to be an easy or rapid one. Look, dear 



