My Library

The fact is that in this particular case our despised forefathers’ analysis went several steps deeper than our own. They understood and were able to observe the ether, which modern science can only postulate as a necessity for its oy
theories; they were aware that it consists of physical matter in four entirely distinct states above the gaseous—a fact which has not yet been re-discovered. They knew that all physical objects consist of matter in one or other of these seven states, and that into the composition of every organic body all seven enter in a greater or lesser degree ; hence all their talk of fiery and watery humours, or"elements,” which seems so grotesque to us. It is obvious that they used the latter word simply as a synonym fof" constituent parts;\Vlthout ip the least degree intending it t<j connote the idea of substances which could not be further reduced. They knew also that each of these orders of matter serves as a basis of manifestation for a great class of evolving monadic essence, and so they christened the essence "elemental.” ,
What we have to try to realize, then, is that in every particle of solid matter, so long as it remains in that condition, there