262 ORGANIC EVOLUTION CONSIDERED 



studies the forces of nature, and understands the 

 great multitude of its own conscious conditions. To 

 attempt to resolve all mental phenomena in£o mole- 

 cular motion, or into the properties of molecules, is 

 entirely beyond all analogy. To say that a train of 

 reasoning or a pang of conscience is due to the mo- 

 tion of small pieces of matter which compose the 

 brain, is to affirm that which is beyond the power of 

 thought and beyond belief. 



That mind is in some way related to matter and 

 force is beyond question, but it does not follow that 

 it is identical with them. 



The physical organism, with its mechanical powers, 

 is but the servant of the mind. The dominion of 

 mind is one of the. most apparent facts in nature. 

 That the ruling power is the offspring of that which it 

 rules would seem to be impossible. That the soul is 

 only "dust and ashes" it persistently shrinks from 

 believing. There is a deep-set and ineffaceable repug- 

 nance — a rebellion of the soul against every attempt to 

 identify it with matter, or to bring it under the con- 

 trol of matter. Consciousness of its supremacy is 

 ever present and persistent. Our consciousness is 

 that mind is different from all else, and that mind 

 is supreme over all else, by reason of its ability to 

 plan and to execute. This conscious dominion of 

 mind over matter and the forces of nature and over 

 all organic beings places it in a class distinct from 

 the rest of the world. It realizes that it is the right- 

 ful and sole heir to the throne which it occupies. 



Material phenomena are made known to the soul 

 through the avenue of the senses, but we are con- 

 scious of mental phenomena that are not due to sen- 

 sation. An apple fell on Newton's head, producing a 

 sensation, and this was followed by a course of reason- 

 ing which resulted in the discovery of the universal 



