Fe 
Views on the Nature of Organic Structure. 55 
unscientific to make a clear and positive use in natural research, 
of the intellectual character stamped on all organisms, it is simply 
self-inflicted blindness and deliberate paralysis to ignore those 
God-thoughts, actually embodied in each vital structure. The 
meaning and design of these structures are not less real than the 
matter composing them; just as the design and mental signifi- 
e of a house are equally real with its materials. 
A distinct conception of the intellectual arrangement of organic 
parts, in themselves, in their connections, and in their external 
relations, gives a clue to the physical nature of organic structures, 
such as no other view can give. . 
Inorganic masses of matter have an unlimited capacity to give 
expression to ideas, either without motion, as in the fine arts, or 
with motion, as in machinery of all kinds. In a locomotive, for 
instance, thousands of ideas, first existing only in the human 
mind, are materially embodied and formalized through this com- 
plex arrangement of parts, all of which act in designed relations. 
Functions of various kinds are performed. in harmovious coneur- 
rence, exhibiting a partial semblance to vitality. Man’s history 
proves, that were his intellect a hundred fold. greater than it is, 
machines might be devised which would perform unimagined. 
wonders, Every increase of intellect would give in ca- 
pacity to work ideas into material forms. A comparative ma-_ 
chinist might, from a machine, infer the mental character and 
proficiency of its designer, just as a comparative anatomist makes 
out from the bones of an animal, all its habits. Any designed 
material structure reflects the intellect of its designer, and be- 
comes higher in character with each exaltation of the designing 
mind. Were man’s intellect to grow towards an infinite stature, 
where could we draw a limit to his capacity for giving material 
embodiment to his most advanced ideas? Would not his ever 
enlarging mind still clothe itself in material forms of proportion- 
ate sulstlety in structure, function and design ? 
ut man, in erecting material structures, deals only with 
asses. He has no power to build up his forms, by using at 
hat and in succession, single molecules of each chemical ele- 
ent. 
