i88i.] 
Life and its Basis. 
81 
modes and degrees of motion by the same Power ; that some 
of these activities in the sether are identical with what are 
known as 44 the physical and cosmical forces ' 1 of nature, which 
as respedts their origin are not to be distinguished from the 
vital activities in the molecules of living things : — that this 
kind of life is simply the continuance of that aCtion in 
organised matter, and the death of such molecules is the 
cessation at any point of that aCtion. But in the animal 
kingdom there is an additional created entity (here desig- 
nated the 4 anima ’) situated in two terrestrial classes, 
and united to the corporeal organism as a whole, by a special 
form of sether in the nerves ; that this union while it sub- 
sists, constitutes animal life in the usual sense of the term, 
and that the termination of that union is the death of the 
whole organism ; that the two classes of 4 anima’ are dis- 
tinguished from each other by various qualities and capaci- 
ties, but chiefly by the faCf, that the lower class is formed 
only for a transient existence, which ends with their bodily 
life, while the human soul is destined for an eternal duration 
in a future state ; and that its natural death is only the 
separation of the psychical and aethereal parts from the 
corruptible materials which constituted the soul’s embodi- 
ment in the first stage of its existence. 
I may add, in conclusion, that even if the foregoing theory 
be discarded and 4 life’ be regarded as a separate entity, we 
should still be compelled, with the authors of 44 The Unseen 
Universe,” to recognise the existence and omnipresence of 
a great 4 Lord and Giver of Life’ — the Third Person of the 
Christian Trinity. 
[Errata (Part I.). — At page 3, line 10, for 44 only” read 
44 chiefly.” Page 6, line 14, for 44 speciea’ read 44 species.” 
Page 8, line 10, for 44 arcuna ” read 44 arcana line 30, for 
44 had ” read 44 to.”] 
