The Immortal Soul of My Dog. 69 



there would be still another class who were studious and 

 thoughtful, who read and thought much on scientific sub- 

 jects. If I were to ask a truly scientific man or woman, 

 what is an immortal soul, they would at once reply: "I 

 do not know." The reasons for such answers to this 

 question are easy to understand. Many devout church 

 members, having been steeped in Orthodox teachings 

 which have been accepted without question, simply 

 give out in answer what has been taught. Human 

 gramophone records are found everywhere. A good lady, 

 a devout church member, said to me when speaking of 

 the theory of evolution, "I don't believe in evolution 

 because I do not want to believe it." Such a person 

 would be very sure to answer my question concerning 

 the soul as I have stated above. Her faith would bear 

 her over any adverse truth that she did not wish to be- 

 lieve. And I should be sorry to disturb the faith of such 

 a person. It satisfies them and doubtless adds to their 

 happiness. 



But the true scientist, who had pondered and studied 

 deeply over the problems presented to his mind by the 

 phenomena of nature as he observed them all about him, 

 would wisely disclaim any knowledge of the immortal 

 soul. All the knowledge human beings can obtain must 

 be presented to consciousness through the bodily senses. 

 Again all our knowledge must be relative. None of it 

 can be final. In whatever direction we pursue our study, 

 we reach a final and impassible barrier, beyond which 

 we cannot go. All we learn must be like or unlike what 

 we have previously known. Now in speaking of the im- 

 mortal soul, what can we compare it to? We can study 

 mind in its various manifestations and learn very much 

 concerning it, because it is inseparably connected with 

 our brain. Not one of us can conceive of what we know 

 as mind disconnected with body. In all our human ex- 

 perience mental phenomena are always connected with 

 physical phenomena. The German writer Moleschott said 

 in one of his books, "No thought without phosphorus." 

 As phosphorus is an important constituent of the brain, 

 this saying is entirely in accord with our human experi- 

 ence. But do not think for a moment that because brain 

 and mind are always together that they are in any way 



