“The world of spirit, as the world of matter, is governed by law. That law is as fixed and undeviating in its course as the law which regulates any system of material power. Whatsoever science has discovered or learned is no encroachment upon, nor does it satisfy, whatever spirit may learn. The laws that govern the material universe have not been created by science, only discovered. Science changes her opinion with each new or added discovery; therefore the laws of science are not permanent, but changing; the laws that govern spirit have not been discovered by science. These laws are unchanging, and for every ultimate spiritual truth which the world has ever known, there has never been the slightest deviation or change.
Upon this basis and founding solely the argument of the spirit upon all that which lies beyond the grasp of science, and beyond the claim of scientific scrutiny or investigation, we make our broad propositions, that the spiritual kingdom is all that kingdom that permeates matter, governs it by laws either discovered or undiscovered by man, and that whether there be a human mind to comprehend, or a human formula to state, the laws that govern the spiritual and the material universe alike move on forever in their harmonious courses. The mind therefore, which governs, regulates, directs controls and has caused every arrangement of the material universe, alike governs, regulates, directs, controls and has caused the arrangement of the spiritual universe.
The centre of material systems, the centre of the solar system, the centre of the earth, implies a spiritual centre – the centre of souls, the centre of spiritual spheres of life, the centre of the great cosmic whole of spiritual existences; and this centre may be clearly known and defined without knowing the circumference. We may arrive at the exact elements of the spirit and of the God-head, without ever knowing the magnitude or infinitude of the extent of their power. Therefore, to claim a central spirit for the individual soul, to claim a central source for each individual class of souls and to claim an Infinite centre, whose Infinite circumference is beyond the grasp of the finite mind, yet equally possible, is the proposition of the spiritual cosmos. That this spiritual light and centre does not require to be demonstrated by matter, does not require to be proven by any propositions of material science, is not mindful and does not in any way regard the changeful forms of human thought, is evidenced by all that is known in the world of spirit or mind as connected with man. The minutest insect that spends its life in the sunshine, basking there for its brief period of existence, fluttering perhaps for even a moment, is as typical of the divine consciousness and power as the loftiest sun or world may be. This insect, undiscovered by man and unknown in his science, moves on to its appointed task and purpose, fills its little moment of life and passes away, though no body of scientific men ever dreamed of its existence. The mind of man sees beyond science, and whatever science has established on earth the spirit of man knew it before, and science is the tardy messenger that spreads it abroad over the whole world.”
I feel the whole of this address will need careful examination, so propose to publish it in short instalments to aid the absorption of its in some ways challenging ideas. This then is the first instalment. Lionel
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