The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-07-20
AS AN AFTERMATH
REV. JOSIAH ADAMS BELIEVES AMI
MAILS HAVE SOUL LIFE.
He Has Founded q School Of Biophilism.
John Burroughs and Eugene Field In
terested-The Objects and Work of the
Society.

chology, The founder of the new cult is
the Rev. Charles Josiah Adams, rector
of the Church Of the Holy Spirit at
RondOut, and he has associated with him
an executive committee, consisting of
Eugene Field, the poet; John Bur
roughs, the naturalist and essayist; Eu-
e II Glass, editor of The Dog Fancier,
and Henry Abbey of Kingston, the wri-
ter.
According to Mr.. Adams definition,
his word biophilism from the
Greek word bios, life, and philein, TO
love, and it means the love of life-life
in all Of its forms-from the highest to
the lowest. The biophilist is the one
who gives every creature full credit for
what there is in it-who would save the
meanest creature pain and make it hap
py-who would mete out to all crea-
lures Immortality if he could-who, con
sequently, hopes for the Immortality Of
the sentient universe.
The objects Of the bureau Of biophi-
lism are set forth thus III its circular:
First.-To collect evidences that the lower
animals may possess at least a showing Of the
same faculties that man POSSESSES.
Second.-To circulate as widely as possible
such evidences.
Third.-To awaken in the minds of as many
people rs can be reached the questions:
May not the lower animals be immortal?
May not the entire ~senticnt universe be i'm.
mortal?
What argument goes to prove mans immor-
tally which does not go to prove the immor-
tality Of other s~entirnt beings?
Fourth.-ln the hop" that the higher animal
through such considerations may become some
what more kindly in his treatment Of the
lower animal.
The bureau will attempt the attainment of
these objects:
First.-Throuch observation and research.
Second.-Through the correspondence Of its
members and patrons.
Third.-ThrCuEh publications..
Fourth.-Through lectures and symposiums:
In the matter Of belief in the mental
and moral attributes il the lower ami
mails the other members Of the executive
committee do not 90 as far rs Mr..
Adams. They are, however. III synlpa-
thy with him in his idea Of studying ami
mails and his belief that, as understand
ing of household beasts becomes more
general, cruelty, whether intentional or
thoughtless, toward them will decrease.
1t is on this broad basis that the bureau
will proceed with its work. Primarily
the effort will be to collect from various
sources evidence of reasoning power in
animals, and from time to time this
evidence will be published and circulat-
ed. Mr.. Adams has published one book
ON the subject which has had a large
circulation. 1t is called Where Is My
Dog" and discusses broadly the ques-
ton of the immortality of other ami
mails than man. 1t was this book that
attracted Eugene Fields attention, and
he wrote to Mr.. Adams as follows:
To the Rev. c.. J. Adams:
SIR-I have read with tender interest your
book entitled, Where Is My Dog?' and l want
to ask you whether you ever found the fox
terrier you lost just before You wrote that
book? / have a fox terrier, Jessie, and / have
spent a great deal of money in rewards" for
her, for she has been ''lost" a good many
times. She has a soul. / am sending you here
with a little tale l recently printed in The
News Record. 1t may please you. / hope SO.
! really feel under deep obligations to you for
your true, ~forciful words in behalf of mans
best friend-the dog. Sincerely yours,
EUGENE FIELD.
Later, when the bureau of biOphilism
was formed, Mr.. Field gladly consent
ed to act on the executive committee.
Although Mr.. Adams is a firm believer
in the theory that animals have souls,
he does not hold that belief to be a part
of biophilism.
What we want to do" he said to a
reporter who called On him, "is to es-
tablish a general cult having for its OBJ
ject interest i'll animals. | am III hearty
sympathy with the work Of the Society
For the Prevention Of Cruelty t Ami
mails. They do a great and beneicent
work. There are many men whom you
must reach by the policcman's club.
This is the work Of that society. 1t is
our intent to supplement that work by
reaching by the advancement Of knowl-
edge many people who are susceptible
to that kind Of influence. The great
mass Of people are unkind toward ami
Nmals because they have no realization
that they are dealing with sentient be-
ings.
II myself believe that the lower ami
mails possess to some degree every facul-
ty that man possesses, and that the
germs Of these faculties are coexistent
with the life germ. The higher we get
the greater is the development until
we finally come to man, the highest ami
NAL To bring the highest animal into
sympathy with the lower animals is the
work before US
Since Mr.. Adams first owned a dog
and he has since owned many-he has
been interested in animal psychology
and has made a particular study Of dogs.
He has been very unfortunate in his
dogs, having lost a number through
stealing and poisoning. The dog attracts
MIR. Adams not because he believes
that dogs are the most intelligent ami
mails, but because they are the mos,
faithful and affectionate.
"a monkey is probably as intelligent
as any other animal, if not more So,
said MI. Adams, but the trouble with
a monkey as a pet is that he is too mon