aiding in the fertilization of the seed, which may be, after all, only a preparatory process within the male. In the case of the reproduction of vegetable life we shall consider the sowing of seed as the fundamental one, and not the new plant resulting from the transplanted offshoot of the parent tree; the latter is rather a continuation of the process of growth; but in every case I feel that the tree or plant serves the father-function, and the earth always the mother-function.[1]
- ↑ While scientific men may insist that in vegetable reproduction the apparent male and female elements in the plant represent more nearly the father and mother elements, I submit that the earth more perfectly performs the true mother function. While the correctness of this assumption does not appear necessary to prove our fundamental position later developed, still the confirmation of this point by Swedenborg, in his True Christian Religion, No. 585, clearly indicates the analogy and may prove of interest. He says:
"It has been taught by many of the learned that the processes of plant growth, not only of trees, but also of all shrubs, correspond to human prolification. I will, therefore, add something on this subject by way of appendix. In trees and in all other subjects of the vegetable kingdom there are not two sexes, a masculine and a feminine, but everything there is masculine; the earth alone or the
