70 The Laws of Nature as Applied to the Affairs of Life. 
It is the study of the laws of nature and the conflict with the elements, of 
which we have only a partial knowledge, that makes intellect. It is the use 
of her forces, which are free to all, without tariffs, or restrictions, that enables 
us to live with comfort and to prolong our lives. 
So far, science has gone but over the threshhold. Scientists know that 
where they have discovered and made sure of a thousand facts, and arranged 
them under the domain of law, there are millions yet to be learned. They 
feel confident, however, in announcing to the world that the fundamental 
‘truth upon which all investigation must be based, is what I have feebly been 
trying to show you to-night. That law, or orderly sequence prevails every- 
where. It may be charged that this is materialism; that it is a cold and cruel 
way of spreading nature’s feast; that it is unlovely, unfeeling, and heartless to 
the last degree. It may be so, but if it be true, it cannot be helped. We may 
have to look farther to get our highest enjoyment. Science only treats of 
phenomena; behind them there may be other truths and other laws, the 
knowledge of which will fill the highest aspirations, satisfy the intellect, and 
soothe the deepest sorrows. Surely no one has any authority to deny this, 
and all the inferences from phenomena would seem to indicate that behind the 
veil there is an eternal force, persistent energy, or God as you may choose to 
call it, which is behind all, over all, in all, and ‘‘ maketh for righteousness.” 
Do not forget, however, that every fact must agree with every other fact; if 
all that we see is harmonious and orderly, it must be equally true of things 
beyond the point of vision; and if any one has reported differently, he must 
have either misunderstood the words spoken, or what is more probable, has 
been incorrectly reported by his biographers. 
In conclusion, do not understand me to say that if we obey all the laws of 
nature now known, we can get rich, be free from disease, mistakes and errors. 
If we could know them all, it might be so, but then we should no longer need 
to live; we should have eaten of the tree of life and become Gods. If life 
could be prolonged for a thousand years, we might possibly learn one in a 
million of nature’s laws, but I think not. AsIsee it, the pursuit of knowl- 
edge and the classifying of it under the domain of law together with the kicks 
and cuffs we get for disobedience, is life itself, and if life is eternal, the pur- 
suit will continue with ever increasing pleasure. Were it not so, individual- 
ism would be lost, Nirvana would be reached and we should be absorbed into 
the infinite. Wecan, however, by lovingly obeying the laws we do know, 
and can find out, greatly lessen our sufferings by decreasing our mistakes, 
errors and sins, even to the extent that we shall no longer ask the question, 
“Ts life worth living?” 
It may happen after generations of obedience, that life may be extended to 
a time when all the senses shall be fully gratified, and death will come like 
sleep to a tired child, who, having had all of the day he wanted, has peace- 
fully and lovingly gone to rest upon the bosom of his mother, 
