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lowest forms of organic life, and is due to the convergence of 
the magnetic poles of the constituents of some protoplasmic 
entity, an adlion due to the working of the Spirit in the Matter 
concerned. For all Matter, it must be remembered, has and is 
Spirit. The focussing of these poles gives rise to a circular 
magnetic current, of which the result is an eledtric combustion, 
which is the vital spark, organic life, Soul.” 
Again, “ The process of its (the soul’s) generation is gradual. 
The magnetic forces of innumerable elements are directed and 
focussed to one centre; and streams of eledlric power pass along 
all their convergent poles to that centre until they create there a 
fire, a kind of crystallisation of magnetic force.” 
As a further specimen of the physics of this book we take the 
following (p. 48) : — “ Earth is the result of the water and the 
air, fused and crystallised by the adtion of the fire.” Crystal- 
lisation of force ; a crystal which is a fire ; water and air fused 
are notions so strange that comment is needless. 
On p. 20 we are told that between the organic and the inor- 
ganic there is no boundary line. The dodlrine of Evolution is 
admitted, but with the qualification that it was “ anticipated 
thousands of years ago.” In seeking to controvert those who 
would explain the universe by the adtion of energy upon matter, 
the authors point to “ the strong set of the current of life in the 
direction of beauty and goodness.” Alas ! to the unprejudiced 
observer the “ set ” runs exadlly the other way. It is not, we 
think, foul weeds and noxious animals that are decimated by 
phylloxera and anthrax ; it is not the rose, the vine, or the wheat- 
plant that spring up everywhere and choke out less noble plants ; 
it is not the lovely and harmless bird or insedt which is able to 
establish itself in strange climates. 
To proceed : it is asserted that the lower animals are rudi- 
mentary men, and after a sufficient number of incarnations reach 
humanity. “ Animals appeared first on earth, not, as is vainly 
supposed, to minister to man’s physical wants, but as an essen- 
tial preliminary to humanity itself.” We may here remark that 
Modern Science fully rejedts the notion that the lower animals 
exist to minister to man. But on p. 47 we find it stated — “ And 
there were none of these ( i.e ., creeping things) in the Age of 
Gold, neither shall there be any when the earth is fully purged. 
Man’s own wickedness is the creator of his evil beasts. Again, 
on p. 75 we find the same idea substantially repeated : — “Where- 
fore it is an error to hold Nature responsible for fierce and hor- 
rible creatures. The mark set upon Cain has its counterpart in 
the stripe of the tiger ; and the Crustacea denote selfish spirits 
who are hard exteriorly to all the world, and soft only interiorly 
to themselves.” Now the authors apparently understand under 
“ evil beasts ” the Carnivora ( see p. 165), and they put forward, 
as a problem in teleology, only to be solved on their principles, 
(p. 24)5 the existence of beasts in the long ages prior to the 
VOL. IV. (third series). r 
