The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-05-02

7
the board which reduces its value His
estimate f its worth is not in terms of
botany or beauty but in board feet
5 Furthermore, the so-called characters
{ tics of the objective universe such size.
shape, distance and color, do not seem the
same to any two persons, for since the
4 lenses Of the eye vary, the image made on
the retina also varies. and the resulting
mental impressions are necessarily differ
ception IS not absolute but variable
/ Mental Nature of Matter.
Physical science does not explain nor
account for anything beyond sense testI-
/ mony therefore, in order to analyze causa-
/ ton. we must go beyond the realm of
/ the senses. and interpret and correct our
Rn s5sie Of fsf the facts When We ooE al
a plant. for example. we experience an i'm
4 precision said TO be due TO vibration called
effect which we obiectffy as a plant 1t IS
not necessary for the plant actually to
exist outside of our consciousness If We
can but get mental impression which we
identify as a plant In fact, all that NOR
tails experience is the impinging of differ
ent forms of vibration which are variousIy
Interpreted and obiectified- To illustrate,
the markings on the record of the phono-
graph are mercy way unes- men the
needle Of the photograph follows these
lines, the listener is impressed by a multi
tude Of intricate air waves in which he
detects the tone qualities of the orchestral
instruments and of the human voice which
were thus recorded In a similar way, it
+ is not necessary to have anything more
3
press upon consciousness any sense expert
ence and possibly we can thus see that the
mental conceptions which comprise what
seems 10 be our individual universe. and
that matter is mental phenomenon
Matter Not Substance.
One OF the difficulties in accepting the
statement Of the mental nature Of matter,
I is the belief that matter is substance
The fundamental property of substance
! Is substantially, which is defined an being
I that which is lasting, that which has rear
perpetual existence, that which IS actual
and not llusOry. This means that sub
and matter therefore cannot be real sub
stance, since it is both destructtble and
not a substantive actually outside OF con-
seriousness.
constituted. Its body, its structure Hence
whatever really exists must have sub
stance and this must be indestructibIe-
To illustrate, a mathematical idea, because
true has substance. This substance is
not material, il is not the visible figures
nor the chalk nor 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 IN
changing, permanent, it has the power to
remain itself. The substance OF all real
/ things IS not seen physically but mentally.
Matter. therefore. is not substance since
it IS not substan tfve. II has only been
named substance by physical sense. In the
analysis of being it is extremely important
TO perceive that there is substance apart
from what is commonly called matter.
This substance exists solely in the realm
Of Mind and is conceived Of purely meta
TALLY Of Truth and Spirit be seen, and
that which st. Paul refers to as "the sub
stance Of things hoped for be realized
Another difficulty in getting away from
the material sense OF things is the dtmen-
sional concept Of existence. Physical
things. For example. the dimensionai con-
cept which the senses have Of mathematical
ideas is projected as finite concrete fig
. fnrTN to- 81
NAUTICAL truth which these senses see. for
this truth is not in the figures. 1t is in
mind and is eognized mentally through
mathematical understanding Physical
things are but misconceptions OF realities
The ideas which they tmperfectIy express
are not limited to the physical expression
limited. that is. infinite, for il IS every
where and indsstructible- There IS but one
known and used by everyone, has its own
indlvidqality, can never be altered, eI-
IN that sense is infinite
Matter Not Life
All this leads to the perception that
there is life in matter, since one Of the
fundamental characteristics of life is con-
tfnutty of existence. which. as we have
seen, cannot be predicated Of matter. We
cannot affect matbema teal truth by any
thing which may be done to the figures.
nor can we affect the real life of anything
: by what we may do to its material appear
ing or symbol When figures are written
w
( they have no meaning, no power 1t IS
{ only when they are correctly used that
+ they express truth or life So too, when
human thought cOnceives Of ideas fraS
4 mentary, discordant, temporary. without
Principle or law, this concept is without
! substance. truth, life power.
II is thus seen that there is neither sub
/ stance nor life in matter or material
. phenomena; that existence is not material
/ that truth and life can be conceived of
! only metaphysically. On this plane alone
Z can We analyze existence logically and
( inteI1GeRtly, and solve its problems
Body Is Mental.
Having seen that all the phenomena Of
nature are mental, the projection Of imper-
feet human sense, We see that disease Is
/ mental and must be healed mentally. and
therefore it is essential for US 70 see clearly
I that body is mental
Matter being recognized as a mental
phenomenon. a state OF mortal conscious
ness. We logically conclude that the So
called material body IS mental, 1t Is
since he is not Iessened though he lose a
limb. mortaTs seifhOed or individuality
Is in consciousness. and this is obviously
mental Therefore. his body Is the EN-
bodiment and GENERALIZATION Of his men
taitty. conscious and unconscious OF 4
mortal the Scriptures say LAS he thinketn
we'll as the actions Of a man express his
individuality and partake OF the nature
thoughts Of sin and disease, together with
fear. anger. and grief, will externalize dis
eased conditions This Is admitted VeTy
generally by physicians and can readily
be proved.
4 man does not live in a body nor can
he be controlled by it any more than
. mathematical truth lives IN figures or is
controlled by them The body OF man
is bur an outward sign or means OF human
Identification. and TO encourage US to Trims
Of existence as apart from the material
body. st Paul tells us that II Is better to
, be absent from the body. aud to be present
! with the Lord
Let Us remember. therefore, that dis
; eordsnt conditions Of the body are in fact
due to discordant conditions Of human
, sense. q sense which is not always express
! ed conscious thought, but which Is
; nevertheless a part ~ the mentality thai
: constructs and governs things Of which We
are not conscious. For example. we are
, not conscious Of the circulation of tbs
; blood nor Of the assimilation of food, Fol
! OF the growth OF tissues. yet these processes
, are all the manifestations Of mentality ane
I would instantly cease were mentality
removed.