to the cardinal points, attracts and repels; — in fact, does anything 

 that a magnet can do. Thus, in the coil of wire charged with 

 an electric current, we have artificially produced the molecular 

 arrangement which is believed to exist in the magnet, in proof 

 of which we obtain the same results. The one essential diflier- 

 ence in conditions is that the solenoid is active only so long as 

 the electric current passes through it ; whereas, the magnet, once 

 its molecular status is established say in a piece of steel, remains 

 permanently active until its molecular arrangement is changed, 

 thus so to speak, furnishing its own current. It is this normal 

 electrical flow through a mass of matter to which I desire to give 

 particular attention. 



Modern science has been compelled to accept the idea of a 

 universal ether, pervading all space. This ether not only fills the 

 vast reaches between the sun and its system of planets and 

 satellites, but also pervades all concrete matter, furnishing the 

 medium in which the atom and the molecule vibrate as it does 

 that in which worlds rotate and revolve. Not only this, but it 

 pervades all outer space between star systems and constellations 

 and galaxies or "island universes," as they have been called. This 

 universal medium is believed tO' be perfectly homogeneous, con- 

 tinuous, and infinitely elastic. It is not inert, but in a constant 

 state of agitation, transmitting the vibrations of light and heat, 

 the vibrations of electricity and magnetism, and the stresses and 

 strains of gravitation, whether by vibrations or by some other 

 form of mechanical actions not yet determined. Hence we have 

 the concept of a universal plenum which is the embodiment of 

 energy — a medium through which all natural forces act, — some- 

 thing through which vibrations or other forms of mechanical 

 action are transmitted without loss of power ; something capable 

 of transmitting an infinite number of actions in all directions 

 without interference ; something that not only applies power to 

 a mass, but which acts with equal facility through the mass 

 upon another object; — something which is a means of actuating 

 the electron, the atom, the molecule, as well as a solar system 

 and a galaxy. Now in this universal, palpitating, quivering, 

 surging plenum we all live and move and have our being. 

 Various phenomena which we obtain through it we have 

 segregated and call by different names : e. g., light, heat, elec- 

 tricity, magnetism, gravitation. Essentially they are pll one 

 action, simultaneously propagated, through the same medium, 

 but sheared off into varying effects, which we are able to dis- 

 tinguish one from the other, hence call by different names. 

 Without this energy transmitted through the interstitial ether, 

 matter could not exist, for there would be no renewal of its 

 electric, atomic and molecular activities and no field in which it 

 could vibrate while maintaining the integrity of the mass. Hence 

 we say that energy, — a manifestation of force — is lan essential 



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