by all the laws of activity in nature. Without an acting or moving force there can be no action and no movement, and without resistance to action or motion there can be no effect and no result. A motion of the hand moves nothing and produces no effect unless it meets something. Death is a great and important change. It ends the earthly career of man, leaves the body a useless, worthless, decomposing mass of matter, and the knowing-life to pass away without any visible tangible provision for the future. This should, however, be no cause for worry, for in an immaterial or spiritual state man wants no material provisions. Even in this world it is not all of life to eat, drink and exist. There are mental operations which are of the highest importance in making life worth living for. Take away the powers and operations of the mind, and what is left that is worthy of a human being's effort or desire to live? There is no difficulty in perceiving that a spiritual life needs no material substances for its support. work with which that paper has not lately had any sympathy, and shows the writer to be ignorant of the fundamental teachings and principles of the Substantial Philosophy as well as of the wave-theory as we will clearly show further on, and it also evinces a complete absence of the slightest philosophical ability in carrying out accepted results to their legitimate and unavoidable conclusions. Under such circumstances as these we could hardly expect any different rejoinder from that expressed by the following extract from the Standard: "DOUBTS EXPRESSED." "A brother-an able minister-for whose judgment on tention to an article in the MICROCOSM, by the associate religious subjects we have much respect, calls our ateditor, Robert Rogers. The aim of the article is to show the importance of the so-called Substantial Philthat the modern founder of this philosophy is Dr. A. osophy to Christian ministers. It will be remembered Wilford Hall, of New York, and that his philosophy finds authoritative utterance in his book called The Problem of Human Life, which is a remarkable book-a very remarkable book indeed. There is nothing in the English language that can approach it in some respects. The Substantial Philosophy claims that sound is a substance, and that, therefore, when you speak, or ring The conditions of human life in this world a bell, or make a noise of any sort, an attenuated substance proceeds from the sounding instrument and fills have been amply provided for. Every vital the air as far as the sound is heard, if not farther. It is necessity of life, and every mental requirement claimed that this philosophy-which teaches that heat and light are also substances-meets the atheistic and of mind, from the first appearance of man materialistic teaching of the times as nothing else can upon the earth to the present time, have been do. But we will give a liberal extract from the article fully provided for in nature. Man had nothing in the MICROCOSM that its high claims may be seen. to do with his own coming upon the earth, claim that mind, life, soul and spirit are but the vibraAfter stating that the scientist Hæckel, and others, nothing with his own capabilities of physical tory motions of the material molecules constituting the growth and intellectual development, nothing brain and nerve system, Mr. Rogers says: with the conditions and environments neces- character as well as alarming religious aspect of this That, however, which constitutes the invulnerable sary for his existence, for his physical growth assumption of the materialist is logically based upon and comfort, and for the exercise and develop- the scientific teachings of all the Christian colleges in ment of his mental faculties. These are mat-in which the various forces of Nature, or at least many the world as set forth theoretically in their text-books, ters beyond man's power to produce or control. of them, are defined as but modes of molecular motion, If we see that such ample provision has been which signifies the mere vibration of material particles, made for all the conditions of life and mind such as those of air, ether, or solid bodies. for the brief existence of this earthly life, gressive argument, 'if sound, light and heat-forces of "Why,' exclaims Prof. Hæckel, in stating this ag should we not trust with the fullest reliance Nature whose phenomena are so sensibly observed-are that the same ample provisions are made for but the varied motions of material air and ether particles, as physical science inculcates, why have I not a all the conditions of the knowing-life in a right to assume and teach that mind-force, life-force, future state after its separation from the ma- and psychic-force are also but modes of motion of the terial body. material particles of the vibrating brain and throbbing nerves?' If these facts of the past can be any guide for the future, and if the immutability of the laws of nature can be relied on, then we have the comforting assurance that the same abundant provision is made for the continuance of the knowing-life of man after death, as there has been for its earthly existence. "THE CHRISTIAN STANDARD.” BY THE ASSOCIATE EDITOR. 666 "By every system of analogy, and according to every principle of scientific ratiocination, insists Prof. Hæckel, if the forces of heat, light and sound, are but the vibratory motions of matter in various degrees of density and tenuity, then mind-force, life-force and soul-force, are justly and rationally explicable only on the same scientific basis of reasoning, as but the vibratory motion of brain and nerve molecules. On this impregnable foundation of natural analogy and intrenched behind these formidable walls of logic, the German and English materialists have finally taken their stand, and now boldly defy religious philosophers to jostle them a hair's breath by any argument they may bring, so long as the science of the schools stands unimpeached. In the February number the readers of the "If sound, heat and light, says Prof. Hæckel, are only MICROCOSM were notified that the attention of modes of motion and in no sense substantial forces of objective entities, then away with your religious nonthe editor of The Christian Standard had been sense that my life or soul or mind or spirit, which excalled by Eld. Thomas Munnell, our old and hibits analogous material phenomena, can be anything valued contributor, to the claims of Substan- more than a corresponding mode of molecular vibration! And if sound, heat and light, as the mere motions tialism in meeting the atheistical reasoning of of matter, absolutely cease to exist the instant the vimaterialists of the Hæckelian school, request- brating particles come to rest, then (continues this ining the Standard to show the fallacy of such vincible German materialist) the soul, life, mind and claims if possible or make such other com-wise cease to exist at death, when the brain and nerve spirit, as analogous motions of brain-matter, must likements as might be deemed justice toward the molecul s cease to move, and therefore that death, logicsystem of philosophy making such claims. ally and unavoidably ends all! losophy when the editor of this paper hurled The Prob"Such was the aspect of scientific and religious philem of Human Life like a thunderbolt from the sling of Jove into the defiant ranks of German and English mate who had come seriously to face this triumphant argurialists. The religious philosophers of both hemispheres, ment of the materialists, stood absolutely appalled at its overwhelming conclusiveness against all scientific evidence favoring a future life.' Attention was particularly directed to an article published in the first number of Vol. VI. of the MICROCOSM as setting forth these claims in a definite and forcible manner, to which the editor of the Standard pays his respects as requested, but we are led to believe in a very different manner from what was expected. The article is an insinuating attack upon our "Touching these words a few remarks will be in order. It will be noticed that Mr. Rogers, in one paragraph, F 1. Is it true that Prof. Hæckel ever wrote the language attributed to him in the foregoing extract? 2. Is it true that he ever used the arguments that the extract credits him with using? to? 3. Is it true that the religious philosophers of either hemisphere stood appalled at the arguments referred If Mr. Rogers will kindly name the book and the pages on which Prof. Hæckel writes and reasons as quoted he will oblige us. Neither the style of the writing nor the character of the arguments becomes Hæckel well. The thing is in great doubt. Then some reliable history reporting the consternation caused by said arguments will be in order. That Hæckel's real arguments are not easily answered from a scientific standpoint is well known, but the arguments attributed to him in the extract are not of any force whatever. Let it be granted that the sound made by striking a bell, for instance, dies out of existence in a minute, it does not follow that the human spirit that guides the stroke does not live on forever. A epirit that thinks, loves, hates, fears and worships is more than a sound, more than the result of the motion of material things. We do not need to prove that sound is an everlasting substance in order to sustain the revelation of the future life given in the Scriptures. If we could prove that when a bell is tolled the sound spreads as a substance through the air as far as it is heard and endures forever, this would settle nothing as to the future conscious existence of any living thing. It is well known that sound is not "a mode of motion," but an impression made upon the mind, through the ear, by vibrations or motions of the air, or other conducting medium. When the impression ceases the sound ceases; for the impression is the sound, according to current philosophy. If any one thinks that because a given sound, or impression on the mind, ceases to be, "therefore that death logically and unavoidably ends all," he ought to cultivate his reasoning faculties, if he has any to cultivate. To attribute such reasoning to "the invincible German materialist" is not wise or right. What analogy between a thinking spirit and a sound or impression that comes upon it through one of the organs of sense? In the first place we will show that this doubting critic has never yet studied the Substantial Philosophy sufficiently to understand even its primary law of distinction between material and immaterial substance. He quotes Dr. Hall's philosophy as claiming that " an attenuated substance proceeds from the sounding instrument and fills the air as far as the sound is heard, if not farther." If ever any one point has been made plain in the writings in this journal for the past eight years, both by the editors and contributors, it has been that the forces of nature are not in any sense material in their composition; not even to the finest shade of attenuation, but that being of the immaterial realm they are of an entirely different order of substantiality, being analogous to the immateriality but none the less substantiality of the mind, soul and spirit. The great endeavor of Substantialism has been to prove that by any system of logical and consistent scientific reasoning, all these varying incorporeal phenomena must be placed within the same realm, and that any difference which may exist between them is one of degree or complexity and not of natural constitution; while on the other hand, matter stands absolutely apart, forming another realm which is as different from force as the soul and mind are from inorganic substances. There is no excuse after so much has been written on this subject for the culpable ignorance shown by this critic; we do not believe that this statement will be thought by our readers unnecessarily severe. In a consideration of the nature of matter and force as the constituent elements of the universe, we logical and consistent, to realize that there is are compelled, in order to be between all the various manifestations of either element an underlying alliance or connection. We mean by this, that in the material realm there is a continued and direct connection between all its various phases, and that all its conditions, whether in the fluid form of simple hydrogen gas, or in the liquid form of water, or in the solid form of the diamond, any or all of these forms can be referred back to the primary condition of crude matter, which is the elemental basis running throughout the whole of the material realm. And likewise in the immaterial or forcial realm all the different manifestations of force in whatever phase presented, are analogous in their primary immaterial nature, and whatever difference exists, which is productive of the various phases, is not in the inherent constitution of such immaterial substances, but simply signifies a degree of complexity or modification of the elementary immaterial basis. Granting this, the conclusion is evident that if the primary condition or underlying basis of force or of the immaterial realm is shown to be evanescent in its existence or dependent upon the precarious and vacillatory motions of matter, then all the various phases or manifestations of this realm must be included in the same condition of dependency and uncertainty from the physical forces of sound, light, heat and magnetism, to the meutal and spiritual forces of life, mind and soul. All systems of scientific investigation recognize the necessity of this logical continuity in their philosophies concerning the physical forces of nature as well as the more refined organic forces, such as life, mind, soul and spirit; and with the result that the modern theories of scientific teaching being founded upon a materialistic and dynamical basis, the chief exponents of such theories together with those who exercise the consistency, which should characterize such investigators, to its ultimate conclusions, are forced to admit themselves to be in the same condition of infidelity concerning supernatural conditions of any kind. And all who teach these materialistic and motiontheories of science can be compelled by the necessities of consistency with their scientific foundations, to apply their doctrines to all the conditions which make immortality at all a reasonable probability, and so far as we are able to see such teachers can not possibly steer themselves clear of the atheistical mælstrom. The Standard doubts the correctness of our quotation from Hæckel, but this doubt is simply a quibble upon words. As the readers of the MICROCOSM know this language has been used in this journal since its commencement and frequently in different forms, simply to give in gross the teachings of the German materialist, and these quotations can easily be upheld by even a casual study of Hæckel. Our object was to give the spirit of the German scientist's position without particular respect to the phraseology employed, a method which is adopted universally by literateurs, and which is never called in question when the spirit of the quotation is correct. The same plan is adopted daily in our conversations. In quoting a person we are not particular to mention exact words, but meet all the requirements of intelligence and honesty if we do no violence to the meaning of the person quoted. But the Standard editor being forced by the circum stances to say something, and not having the manliness and honesty to confess his inability to find any flaw in the argumentative part of the article in question, with that meanness which can only find its root in his own heart confines his attention to a point which is of no import whatever, as he should have known, and attributes dishonesty to the writer of this article and to Dr. Hall, when he might easily have seen by the quotations which we took the trouble to send to his assistant, that our language was not half strong enough to represent the positive current of infidelity and unbelief running through Hæckel's writings as the result of his belief in the materialistic theories of science. We here quote a few out of dozens of passages which might be cited, in order that our readers may see the smallness and meanness of the Standard's quibble: "The life of every organic individual is nothing but a connected chain of very complicated material phenomena of motion. These motions must be considered as changes in the position and combination of the molecules, that is, of the smallest particles of animated matter (of atoms placed together in the most varied manner). The specific definite tendency of these orderly, continuous, and inherent motions of life depends, in every organism, upon the chemical mingling of the albuminous generative matter to which it owes its origin." P. 199. "The origin and development of the egg-cell in the mother's body, the transmission of the bodily and mental peculiarities of the father to it by his seed, touch upon all the questions which the human mind has ever raised about man's existence. And, we add, these most important questions are solved, by means of the Theory of Descent, in a purely mechanical and purely monistic sense!" Pp. 200-201. "All these phenomena, considered in connection, clearly prove that the transmission of bodily and mental peculiarities is a purely material and mechanical process. By propagation a greater or lesser quantity of albuminous particles, and together with them the individual form of motion inherent in these molecules of protoplasm are transmitted from the parental organism to the offspring. As this form of motion remains continuous, the more delicate peculiarities inherent in the parental organism must sooner or later reappear in the filial organism." P. 202. As the result of such materialistic ideas concerning the existence of life and the forces of nature the ultimate conclusion must, in the nature of things, be as expressed in the following quotation : "As soon, in fact, as, according to this theory, we acknowledge the exclusive activity of physico-chemical causes in living (organic) bodies, as well as in so-called ion to that view of the universe, which we may designate inanimate (inorganic) nature, we concede exclusive dominas the mechanical, and which is opposed to the teleological conception." P. 17. Hence, by our theory the mystic veil of the miraculous and supernatural, which has hitherto been allowed to hide the complicated phenomena of this branch of natural knowledge, is removed. All the departments of Botany and Zoology, and especially the most important portion of the latter, Anthropology, becomes reasonable. The dimming mirage of mythological fiction can no longer exist in the clear sunlight of scientific knowledge." P. 11. After these quotations there certainly can be no “doubt" as to the position of the "invincible German materialist," nor can there be any "doubt" even with the Thomas of the Standard, as to our fair representation of his argument, as he includes life and mentality within the scope of his materialistic deductions and logically and consistently says, as soon, in fact, as according to this theory, we acknowledge the exclusive activity of physico-chemical causes (simply mechanical motions of matter) in living bodies, as well as in so-called inanimate nature, we concede exclusive dominion to that view of the universe, that 66 *All these quotations are from Hæckel's History of Creation, Vol. Î. which we may designate as the mechanical and which is opposed to the teleological conception." We thus refute the contemptible "doubts" of this carping critic, who can see no honesty of purpose nor understand any system of science which has not its origin in his own circumscribed cranium. We now come to the real question at issue. Is a belief in the Biblical doctrine of the immortality of the soul at all affected by scientific and philosophical teachings? We believe that it is. We believe further, that the day is fast passing when faith, pure and simple, will be sufficient to uphold any system either of scientific or theological belief. Faith was an absolute necessity in the primeval conditions of human existence, in much the same sense as faith or acceptance upon simple authority is an essential element in the life of every child, but proportionately as knowledge is attained by the child, the acceptance by faith diminishes, and so it is with mankind in general. Many of the superstitions of antiquity which were accepted by our forefathers without the slightest reason therefor, have been rejected and are being rejected each day as new light is being thrown upon the phenomena of nature. This is true in the theological as well as in the scientific departments of thought, and this experience will continue on until the end of time, and the phenomena of either science or theoly which place their dependence and their defence upon the pure and simple faith of humanity, unassisted by philosophical reasoning, will sooner or later take their places among the mythical delusions which are continually being relegated into obscurity. This fact, which is conclusively proven by the history of the times, indicates the necessity ical research, as upon this is largely dependent of a correct system of scientific and philosophthe future position of humanity to the truths of religion, which we now hold sacred, and this is the reason why so much space in this journal is devoted to the discussion of the nature of the physical forces. We feel that if the materialistic systems of philosophy are adhered to, the to that already produced upon the leading exresult upon mankind in general will be similar ponents of these systems, nearly all of whom are materialists; witness Hæckel, Huxley, Tyndall, Spencer, Darwin, etc., etc. These men are logical and honest reasoners who are simply carrying their scientific philosophy to its ultimate and unavoidable conclusions concerning the creation, the existence and the end of man. (To be concluded next month.) The Annular Theory, No. 16. (I. N. Vail).102 An Overwhelming Argument. (Editor)....104 "The Invisible World."-Rutherford Col lege, N. C.-Our Article on the TuningFork.-Exit Koch's Lymph. (Editor)...105 The Wave Theory of Acoustics. (George Ashdown Audsley). .106 .108 Death. (Isaac Hoffer). Don't fail to send for our "Extra" MICROCOSM. Copies sent FREE. Press of H. B. ELKINS, 13 and 15 Vandewater Street, New York. A MONTHLY JOURNAL OF SUBSTANTIALISM AND COLLATERAL DISCUSSIONS. A. WILFORD HALL, Ph. D., LL. D., Editor and Proprietor. Address all communications to A. WILFORD HALL, 23 Park Row, New York. Vol. VIII.-No. 8. JULY, 1891. 50 Cents a Year. Entered as second class matter at the New York Post Office. support a steam engine for propulsion, as a vast number of impracticable cranks have proposed to do at various times ever since the brothers Montgolfier constructed their first balloon more than 100 years ago! CAN MAN EVER IMITATE THE BIRD IN BY THE EDITOR. At no time in the history of the world has there been so much discussion and excitement among inventors and mechanical investigators as at present, concerning the possibility or impossibility of man navigating the air by mechanical means alone. Not a week now passes but some announcement appears in the papers of a new flying-machine that has been invented and which is soon to astonish the world by starting on its aerial flight. True, most of these devices are based on the principle of supporting the weight of the apparatus and the navigator by some form of balloon charged with gas; while one inventor recently conceived the original idea of employing a vacuum-balloon in order to get something still lighter than gas, not dreaming of the fact that such a shell, to avoid the danger of collapse, would have to be so thick and strong as to make the machine itself many times heavier than the air. Recently, however, the flying-machine mania has taken another and very remarkable turn. Quite a number of scientific investigators of considerable eminence, as by concert of inspiration, seem to have been struck by the sudden impulse of the possibility of flying by means of suitable soaring or kite-shaped sailing devices propelled by steam or other motive power, and without any support from gas or hot air whatever. The first prominent advocate of this scheme was Prof. Langley, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution of Washington, who boldly announced such a project in an address delivered before the National Academy of Sciences at its | recent sitting in that city. As proof that men will yet be able to fly by means of suitable sail-like planes, the professor urges the fact that eagles and turkey-buzzards when once at a considerable altitude can actually soar in circles and remain mechanically motionless, or without any flapping of the wings, even for an hour at a time. The first practical device for navigating the still air by means of a balloon was the one invented by Prof. Charles F. Ritchell, of Bridge- The professor even intimates the novel theory port, Connecticut. It was a cigar-shaped silk that the higher the bird gets the more easily bag, which, when filled with hydrogen gas, is it supported by the air without any mechaniwould exactly support the weight of the pro- cal motion of its own, a fact which seems flatly pelling and steering apparatus with a man of to contradict the physical laws in regard to the eighty or ninety pounds to work the machin-known density of the air and its consequent ery. Being, as thus combined, exactly of the supporting power. weight of the air, a very slight effort by a suitable system of screw-propellers would suffice to raise, lower, rotate or move the machine forward or backward in any direction in still air. But to navigate the outdoor air, subject to the contingency of varying and sudden changes of current, was a very different thing even with this the smallest practicable device of the balloon kind possible to be employed. How much more impracticable must be the control of a balloon of sufficient size and buoyancy to carry passengers from city to city, and The truth is, Prof. Langley, like thousands of other superficial observers, has formed an entire misconception as to the mechanical method on which birds soar without seeming effort or apparent motion of the wings. Such birds, on the contrary, do more real and effective flapping than does the partridge with its audible whir; but instead of flapping with the entire wing, each individual wing feather does its work of beating the air, though so rapidly and through so short a space as to be practically beyond the observation of a person even in a few feet of the bird, unless by aid of a nearly completed, 145 feet long by forty to powerful glass. It is passing strange, to say the least, that an able scientist should reach such an unmechanical and absurd conclusion as that a condor weighing fifty or sixty pounds can soar in the upper and lighter air, performing circles in all relations to the air-currents, without any flapping or supporting motion ! Prof. Langley said in his lecture: "The air possesses elements of buoyancy which have not been recognized hitherto. There is no truth in the popular conception that a body heavier than the atmosphere can not be suspended in that medium without motion. A kite of sticks and paper is much heavier than the fluid which it displaces, but it is sustained aloft." He then refers to the eagle and other birds which "remain poised in the sky upon extended pinions motionless for hours together," etc., etc. It is simply amazing that a professor who is capable of teaching physical science should not know that a "kite of sticks and paper can not be supported in the air without motion, or in other words, without mechanical force. But this mechanical force is that of the wind, which by glancing past the lower side of the kite, held in a suitable angle by a string connected with the earth, is thus "sustained aloft" or even forced upward, alone by the mechanical action of such moving air-current. Let such wind instantly cease and how quick will the kite of paper and sticks come tumbling to the ground, unless the small boy at the other end of the string substitutes his own motion in a rapid run for that of the subsiding air! fifty wide. Its two engines weigh 300 pounds each, and the entire apparatus, with fuel and water ready to "soar," will weigh about "6,000 pounds," and is intended to carry through the air at "100 miles an hour" an additional load of "8,000 pounds" of freight and passengers. Reader, there is not the least doubt but that all this is seriously contemplated, and the farthest possible from a hoax or a jest on the part of Mr. Maxim, who gives his word of honor that he has already worked on the project for years, and has paid out in hard cash for the construction of this machine (now housed in a private park in England), the round sum of $45,000. We know Mr. Maxim well, and have had the pleasure of examining in years past several of his useful and practical inventions. But we would not be frank nor friendly with an old acquaintance did we not here record the honest conviction that his $45,000 have been absolutely worse than thrown away. We say worse, because so much valuable time has also been wasted that might have developed many important inventions from such an active and energetic brain. We do not mean to intimate that man can not yet contrive means to fly through the air by the application of mechanical force alone, or without the aid of gas for buoyancy. On the contrary we believe most firmly, and have for many years, that the time is not far distant when man will be able, by mechanical wings alone, and by his physical strength alone, to mount the atmosphere somewhat as does the sixty pound condor which is known to carry a thirty pound sheep in his talons. Since Prof. Langley's lecture was delivered the New York Sun reporter has held a long in- There is not, we are satisfied, a bird or quadterview with Mr. Maxim, a well-known inventor ruped on earth as strong physically as a trained of electric light devices, etc., on this question athlete in proportion to his weight,-that is to of navigating the air. Mr. Maxim is another say, when his physical power is exerted in the flying machine enthusiast, and has already direction of his greatest strength. It is only about completed a powerful apparatus also on a question at the present time of the discovery the kite or soaring principle, and without any of a simple mechanical principle by which this supporting or buoyant aid from gas or heated most advantageous line of greatest strength air. According to the Sun report of the inter- can be utilized in combination with the best view, Mr. Maxim's machine consists of a very and lightest form of apparatus, proportioned nearly flat plane of silk, and metal ribs with to its stiffness, for taking hold of the air. which to stiffen it, with a suspended platform For fifty years, almost incessantly, we have attached and so arranged as to keep this kite-studied this question from every angle of conframe at an angle inclining slightly upward-sideration; and have investigated birds, bats, that is to say, the front end of the plane in-flying fishes and squirrels, besides studying clines above the rear about as one to fourteen. the paleontological remains of pterodactyls The screw propelling device is attached to and other species of flying saurian reptiles, this platform and is intended to be driven by some of them as heavy as athletic men, all in a steam engine of great power and of minimum the view of reaching a probable correct conweight. The fuel is to be petroleum to be first clusion as to the possibility of man ultimately converted into gas and then to be directed mastering the air by his own physical strength. against the boiler surface in 45,000 tiny jets. The plane or kite portion proper is, as now From this long investigation we can only look with a smile of sadness at the puerile |