philosophy?" His hypotheses are as antithetic to existing hypotheses in chemistry as the Newtonian system, at its first publication, was antithetic to the vortices of Descartes. The philosophy is not of his creation; nor is it a new philosophy. It is as old as the universe. Its tenets are unpopular, heterodox tenets, but their grandeur, when compared with prevailing theories, will cause the latter to appear like the soap-bubbles that Sir William Drummond said the grown-up children of science amuse themselves with, whilst the honest vulgar stand gazing in stupid admiration, dignifying these learned vagaries with the name of science. It is the sole edifice of true philosophy, the corner-stone of which was laid at Creation, when God said, "Let there be light; and there was light." The scaffolding which our modern Prometheus has built is not the airy fabric of delusion, nor the baser fabric of a fraud, as has been so often asserted. It has been built, plank by plank, upon firm ground, and every plank is of pure gold, as will be seen in due time.
Another question is often asked: "What is vibratory ether?"
The answer echoes down the ages, faintly heard as yet, it is true; but, call it what you will, "the universal ether," "hypothetical ether," "the universal life-principle," "the ambient fluid," "the electro-magnetico-intellectual-divine fluid," it is all the same,—one sole and unique substance, of which Mr. Keely has written, "The true study of the Deity by man being in the observation of his marvellous works, the discovery of a fundamental creative law, of as wide and comprehensive grasp as would make this etheric vapor a tangible link between God and man, would enable us to realize, in a measure, the actual existing working qualities of God himself (speaking most reverentially), as we would those of a fellow-man." As this philosopher interprets the physical forces, they are the fingers of God,—not all that there is for God.
It has been justly said that we have no ground for assuming that we have approached a limit in the field of discovery, or for claiming finality in our interpretations of Nature; that we have, as yet, only lifted one corner of the curtain, enabling us to peep at some of the machinery by which her operations are effected, while much more remains concealed; and that we know little of the marvels which in course of time may be made clear to us.
Earnest minds in all ages and in all countries have arrived at the same inferences which Mr. Keely has reached in his researches,—viz., that the one intelligent force in nature is not a mere mathematical dynamism in space and time, but a true Power existing in its type and fulness,—in one word, God. You may say that such an inference belongs to religion, not to science; but you cannot divorce the two.
