Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-11-09


call sight, hearing, etc, are different
forms of vibration, and consequently
what we see, hear, feel, taste, or smell
/ is a mental impression. In every case
it is not matter or an object which
cognizes or is cognized but mental
phenomenon experienced in conscious
ness. Thus we see that we are con-
scious of existence mentally and the
things we are conscious of are men
tai impressions objectifed-sense phe-
nomena. 1t is evident, therefore, even
from the point Of view of modern ply
sicists, although perhaps not yet admit
/ ted by them, that existence is con-
ciousness and that our present uni
verse is our Individual impression or
concept of the universe, the way it ap-
pears to US through the five physical
senses. Thus existence is wholly men
/ tai. All its activities, appearance and
phenomena are mental and must be
dealt with mentally. Christ Jesus
proved the mental nature of matter
and existence when he walked on the
water, stilled the tempest, healed the
sick, raised the dead and overcame
other material conditions.
Matter Not Substance.
The chief difficulty in realizing the
mental nature of matter is the belief
that matter is substance
One of the fundamental properties
of substance is substantially, which
is defined as being that which is last
ing, that which has real existence, that
which is actual and not illusory. This
means that substance is indestructa-
bic and permanent, and matter can
not therefore be real substance, since
it is both destructible and transitory,
it is relative, not absolute; a mental
concept, and not a substantive actual
ity outside of consciousness.
Substance is that of which anything
is constituted, its body, its structure.
Hence whatever exists must have sub
stance and this must be indestructi-
bic. To illustrate, a mathematical i
dea, if true, has substance This sub
stance is not material, it is not the Wis
IDLE figures nor the chalk or ink with
which they have been made, since these
can be destroyed. It's substance is
its truth, a right idea which can never
be destroyed. 1t is unchanging,
permanent, it has the power to remain
itself. The substance of all real things
is right thought, which we do not see
physically but mentally. Matter,
therefore, is not substance since it is
not substantive. 1t is but an appear
ance of substance to physical sense.
In the analysis of being it is extreme
ly important to perceive that there is
substance apart from what is COM
monty called matter. This exists sole
ly in the realm Of mind or metaphy-
sizes and is conceived of purely meta
physically, for thus only can the sub
stantiality of truth or spirit be seen,
and that which St. Paul refers to as
"The substance of things hoped for"
be realized.
Another difficulty in getting away
from the material sense of things is
the dimensional concept of existence.
Physicalsense can perceive only finite
physical things. For example, the di-
mensional concept which the senses
have as mathematical ideas is projected
as finite, concrete figures or quantities.
But it is not the MATHEMATICAL truth
which they see, for this truth is not
in the figures. 1t is in mind and is
cognized mentally through mathema-
teal understanding.
Physical things are but the symbols
Of reality. The ideas which they may
express are not limited to the physi-
cal expression but exist everywhere.
Every truth is unlimited and thus in
finite for it is everywhere and indies
tructible. There is but one idea six and
that six is everywhere, can be known
and usedby everyone, it can never be
altered, exhausted or destroyed, and
consequently it is infinite.
Life Apart From Matter
All this leads to the perception that
there is no life in matter since one of
the fundamental characteristics of life
IS continuity of existence which, as we
have seen, cannot be predicated of
matter.
We cannot affect mathematical truth
] by anything which may be done to the
figures, nor can we affect the real life
Iof anything by what we may do to its
material appearing or symbol. When
figures are written down at random
without regard to law, they have ne
meaning, no power. 1t is only when
they are correctly used that they ex-
press truth or life. So too when hu-
man thought conceives of ideas as
fragmentary, discordant, temporary,
without Principle or law, this concept
is without substance, truth, life or
power.
1t Is thus seen that there is neither
| substance nor life in m ttpr or M q for