PEOF. BEALE, ON WATER ESSENTIAL TO ALL LIFE. 217 



there is one which is destitute of moisture in all tlie active 

 parts of its body. Only so long as moisture remains will a 

 living particle continue to live ; indeed before all moisture i& 

 completely removed, death mnst take place. So that it may 

 be said, I think, that water is absolute I y necessary to all life. 

 Not an instance can be found of matter which is absolutely 

 dry, free from water — and which is ahve. 



Everyone is probably aware that of kite years " science " 

 has been tending in the " physical " direction. During the 

 last fifty years or more, the behef that every living thing 

 depends upon physics and chemistry, rather than upon life 

 as distinct therefrom, has been very popular. But the position 

 that I have ventured to take, is very different. It seems to 

 me, that Life is absolutely distinct from Physics — that there 

 is no general gradation from the physical world to the life- 

 world — that life is absolutely different from nondife — and 

 that in no way can it be proved, that at any time or in any 

 place or under any circumstances, non-life shades into the 

 life state. Life is exceptional ; matter and force the rule — 

 in the infinite non-living cosmos. 



A point of great interest is, that all the life we know of, 

 comes from life only. As for spontaneous generation, it is 

 useless to discuss the question at this time. It was long ago 

 established that the idea AA-as mythical — contrary to know- 

 ledge and the results of observation and experiment. Never- 

 theless, very different views with regard to the formation of 

 living things, are now held to be possible. Certain elements 

 it is suggested, or certain substances, might come together, 

 under certain circumstances, and a living particle might 

 result. But this, I thhik, must be denied as being against 

 facts we know. Of course I am ready to be convinced if it 

 can be shown that I am wrong ; but I express my opinion 

 distinctly, that there may be no doubt or ambiguity con- 

 cerning the conclusion arrived at from my point of view. 

 My contention is this — that as far as we have yet proceeded, 

 we cannot in any way obtain a living particle, however 

 small and simple its components may be, from any matter 

 wdiich is not living. Every particle that lives, as far as is 

 known, has been derived from a particle Avhich was living 

 before it, and if we ask, "whence came the first life?" we 

 plainly reply, that from the science side — " we do not know." 

 Life has nothing to do with Force, it has nothing to do with 

 matter, it has nothing to do with Energy, it has nothing to 

 do even with Ether. So that in reason, we must make an. 



