THE CONCEPTION OF THE GREAT REALITY. 227 



vibration and we call that colour ; our eyes also tell us that 

 it intercepts certain rays reflected from other objects in the 

 room, and we know that it is not transparent to light ; and those 

 are our perceptions of a wooden chair. We know, however, 

 with great precision the relative weights and the forces exerted 

 in the combinations of the atoms composing matter ; we know 

 that they vibrate ever quicker and quicker as their tempera- 

 ture rises, and, as the quicker they vibrate the less cohesion 

 they have, so matter passes from the solid into the liquid 

 and thence into the gaseous state as the temperature is raised. 

 Our greatest Physicists are ever working on this subject, and 

 the theory wliich explains the most and seems to fulfil the 

 conditions under whicli these atoms act, points to each of 

 these being a vortex in the ether, that subtle medium which, 

 having the properties of a solid of almost infinite elasticity, 

 we know to be universally present, as it is by means of that 

 wonderful elasticity that we are able to receive the light 

 from stars sunk far away in the depths of space. I cannot 

 show you a vortex in the ether, but I can start one 

 of these through the still air of this room, and at a 

 distance of 50 feet you will be able to appreciate it as a 

 considerable force. One of the most interesting and suggestive 

 thoughts follows from the conception of an atom as a vortex 

 in the ether. It can be shown that in a perfect fluid where 

 there is no vortex motion no mechanical action can possibly 

 start it, but where vortex motion once exists no mechanical 

 action can possibly stop it. Under these conditions matter is 

 proved to be a manufactured article, not made by natural 

 physical forces but by some great supernatural power outside 

 the visible universe, and once having been made it can only be 

 destroyed by the action of that same creative force. I shall 

 touch upon this subject later on, when I suggest a new 

 conception of the meaning of Creation ; meanwhile, I will only 

 ask you to consider how, owing to our senses being limited by 

 the considerations of time and space, we are surrounded by 

 inconceivables ; and yet it is those very inadequate conceptions 

 which force us to acquire knowledge, the greatest incentive we 

 have to pursue our investigation, as we have seen, is the fact 

 that perception without sufficient knowledge leads us into 

 difficulties. Let me give you two instances of these inconceiv- 

 ables : — Infinite space is inconceivable by us, but it is also quite 

 as inconceivable to think of space being limited, and yet one of 

 these two must be true. Again, matter is either composed of 

 atoms of a certain size which cannot be divided, or is infinitely 



