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stop。〃
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Before entering upon and answering these vital questions； we must
digress a little； and make ourselves perfectly familiar with the ideas and
revelations of advanced physical science upon the subject； and for this
purpose no more trustworthy guide can be consulted than the new edition
of 〃The Chemistry of Common Life；〃 by the late James F。 W。 Johnson； M。
A。； England； and revised by Arthur Herbert Church； M。 A。 In chapter IV
on page 56 of this work； upon the anatomy of plant life； we read：
〃How interesting it is to reflect on the minuteness of the organs by
which the largest plants are fed and sustained。 Microscopic apertures in
the leaf suck in gaseous food from the air； the surfaces of microscopic
hairs suck a liquid food from the soil。 We are accustomed to admire； with
natural and just astonishment； how huge； rocky reefs； hundreds of miles in
length； can be built up by the conjoined labors of myriads of minute
zoophytes； laboring together on the surface of a coral rock； but it is not
less wonderful that； by the ceaseless working of similar microscopic
agencies in leaf and root； the substance of vast forests should be built up
and made to grow before our eyes。 It is more wonderful； in fact； for
whereas； in the one case； the chief result is that； dead matter extracted
from the sea is transformed into a dead rock； in the other； the lifeless
matter of the earth and air are converted by these minute plant…builders
into living forms； lifting their heads aloft to the sky； waving with every
wind that blows； and beautifying whole continents with the varying
verdure of their ever…changing leaves。〃
Further on in the same chapter； on pages 62…3； the same eloquent
writer continues：
〃But the special chemical changes that go on within the plant； could
we follow them； would appear not less wonderful than the rapid
production of entire microscopic vegetables from the raw food contained
in the juice of the grape。 It is as yet altogether incomprehensible； even to
the most refined physiological chemistry； how； from the same food taken
in from the air； and from generally similar food drawn up from the soil；
different plants； and different parts of plants； should be able to extract or
produce substances so very different from each other in composition and
in all of their properties。 From the seed…vessels of one （the poppy） we
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collect a juice which dries up into our commercial opium； from the bark of
another （cinchona） we extract the quinine with which we assuage the
raging fever； from the leaves of others； like those of hemlock and tobacco；
we distil deadly poisons； often of rare value for their medicinal uses。 The
flowers and leaves of some yield volatile oils； which we delight in for their
odors and their aromatic qualities； the seeds of others give fixed oils；
which are prized for the table or use in the arts * * * These； and a thousand
other similar facts； tell us how wonderfully varied are the changes which
the same original forms of matter undergo in the interior of living plants。
Indeed； whether we regard the vegetable as a whole； or examine its
minutest part； we find equal evidence of the same diversity of changes and
of the same production； in comparatively minute quantities； of very
different； yet often characteristic forms of matter。〃
From the whole of the foregoing； we observe the exact position to be
the one we have previously stated。 If such wondrous things can be
revealed to us through the physical science of chemistry； what think you
must be hidden from our physical sight and knowledge by the veil which
hangs between matter and spirit？ Think you not； it is worth the effort to
penetrate beyond that point where the atom disappears from the view of
the scientist？
If plants produce such wonderful phenomena in their life and influence；
what must the Divine organism of man have concealed within his
microscopic universe； to study and comprehend？ Plant life is merely the
alphabet of the complex； intricate； and multitudinous processes； going on
in the human body。
And； as the mechanical microscope of physical science cannot reveal
the why and the wherefore； let us； for a brief moment； disclose some of the
wonders that declare their existence； when subjected to the penetrating
alchemical lens； of the inward spirit。 The first thing that intrudes itself
upon our notice； by virtue of its primary importance； is the grand fact of
biogenesislife emanating from life。 We perceive every external form to
be the physical symbol of a corresponding degree of spiritual life； that
each complete plant represents a complete cycle； state； or degree of
interior existence； that it is made up and consists of countless millions of
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separate atoms of life； that these atoms of spiritual activity are the real
instigators of the life and motion of corresponding material atoms； that
they ever obey the Divine impulse of co…operative unity； in their chemical；
as well as their spiritual affinity。 Consequently； everything in the form of
material substance must be； and is； but the means for the phenomenal
expression of incarnating spirit； the organism of man； a tree； a plant； or an
animal； being no exception to this Divine； omnipresent law of creative life。
To the true Alchemist there can be no mystery surrounding the
wonderful phenomena mentioned in the work we have quoted； in plants
extracting from the same rocks； soil； and air； qualities so manifestly
differentdeadly poisons； healing balsams； and pleasant aromas； or the
reverse； from the same identical plant foods。 Nothing is more wonderful or
mysterious； than； the same alchemical processes； which； are hourly being
enacted within our own bodies。 From the same breath of air and the same
crust of bread do we concoct the blood； the bile； the gastric juice； and
various other secretions； and distil the finer nervous fluids； that go to build
up and sustain the whole of our mental and dynamic machinery。 It is the
same ancient story of the atoms； each part and each function endowing the
same inorganic chemicals with their own spiritual； magnetic； and physical
life…qualities； by what appears； to the uninitiated observer； a miraculous
transmutation of matter； but which is； in reality； the evolution of organic
form from inorganic materials； in obedience to the Divine law of spiritual
progression。 Who could stop with exact science？ For； when we come to
consider the apparent mysteries of life and growth by the aid of this
alchemical light； the shadows flee； and all the illusions of Nature's
phenomenal kaleidoscope vanish before the revelation of the