The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1894-11-24

is purely physical. It's application
is confined to the domain of physics.
1t is true only of physical forces. 1t
does not embrace either vital, mental
or will force.
1t is not true of life, mind or voli-
ton. 1t is evident, therefore, that this
doctrine will not support the hy-
pothesis it is relied upon to sustain.
Force is defined as that which does
work. AS there are many kinds of
work being done, and diverse opera
tions going on that are outside of
physics, there are evidently forces
that are not physical. This no respec-
table scientist will pretend to deny.
The unity of all phenomena as the
effect of the action of one cause is
not better sustained by facts than
the doctrine that it is all the result
of the operation of one force. Causes
are known by their effects and are
measured by their effects. This is
an axiom of science. If there are
many effects produced that are varied
diversified and unlike, there is evil
IDENTITY more than one cause at work.
A physical cause cannot produce a
mental effect.
Gravitation cannot think; electrici-
ty does not practice benevolence; the
sunlight is not conscious. 1t is nee
essary to have more than one cause
to account for the physical, vital,
mental, moral, social, and religious
phenomena of the universe. The hu-
man will is a cause, and every man is
the efficient and responsible cause OF
his own action. Of this he is personal
ly conscious, and it is true or he can
not know the truth.
Another class of writer's hold that
all forms of being and life are
grounded in one substance; that they
are at bottom one thing. But the
same substance cannot have proper
ties and attributes that contradict
cancel, and destroy each other at the
same time. 1t cannot have form and
be formless; be inert and filled with
energy; fill space and have no rela-
ton to space; be visible and invisi-
BILE, living and dead, rational and ir-
rational at the same time.
That would involve contradiction
But this must take place before all
mental, moral, material, physical and
vital properties and attributes can
inhere in, belong to, and be a part o1
the same substance. The hypothesis
of the unity of all things in one sub
stance is no more tenable than theil
unity as forms of one force, or as eff
fects of one cause. Such an hypoth
esis cannot be true unless thing car
be and not be at the same time.
There is physiological side te
mental phenomena, because mans
spiritual nature is associated in this
world and this life with physical or
ganism. This organism conditions
thought 1t is not the cause of MIND
but it's instrument. The mind uses
the brain in thought, as it uses the
eye in seeing, the ear in hearing, the
tongue in speaking, and the hands in
working. If the brain were the cause
of mind, the impulse to action would
originate in the nerve centers; if il
! were the instrument of mind, the inn
pulse would have its origin ia
thought and volition which would
take the form of rational conscious
effort before there was movement in
nerve or muscle. Now is not this the
fact in regard to the origin and pro
gress of all rational voluntary action
Are we not conscious of purpose to
act before we are sensible of muscu-
lar movement in action?
CAMDEN, o.