The constitution of man in the physical, psychical and spiritual worlds

Dedication

To Joseph Rodes Buchanan (now in spirit life), the greatest philosopher of modern times, this little volume is respectfully dedicated.

Beginning his wonderful career on the physical plane as a physician, he soon far outstripped his medical brothers in their own domain. He discovered the mathematical and magnetic laws that govern the human constitution; and among many wonderful discoveries which cannot be even referred to here, he demonstrated the principle of Cerebral Physiology, and discovered the great Science of Sarcognomy.

Leaving the doctors in their philosophy of matter, he boldly entered the psychic realm, and discovered that grandest of all sciences, Psychometry.

Preface

Eighteen years have elapsed since the publication of my work entitled "Man, His Origin, Nature and Destiny." That book covers a wide field, and is necessarily imperfect as a whole. While it contains considerable original thought, and much valuable information, it is in the main a suggestive, and not an elaborate work. It was intended to set people to thinking about themselves ; and to impress the great truth that "The proper study of mankind is man."

Since its publication, I have read everything I could get bearing on the constitution of man; and have thought and written much on the subject. The result of these eighteen years of study is the present volume, entitled "The Constitution of Man in the Physical, Psychical and Spiritual Worlds." Much of the matter was written ten years ago; partly re-written five years ago; and within the last three years entirely revised, and partly re-written. I flatter myself that I am now presenting to the students of the philosophy of man, as complete and practical an analysis of the constitution of man as has ever been published.

There will be found considerable repetition in several of the chapters; but this seemed necessary, in order to emphasize the vital principles of the work.

Again "I cast my bread upon the waters," leaving it to the providence of God as to the good that may result from the truths therein stated.

E. L. D.

July, ipoj.

Chapter I. The Universe, and the Laws and Agencies That Control It

The Universe has existed forever. It consists of an immense system of suns and planets, revolving around a great central sun; which is itself a reflex of a far greater spiritual sun. Our solar system is located near the great Milky Way, and consists of the sun and eight planets revolving around it, and all inhabited. The Universe contains three primal substances, Spirit, Ether and Matter. Spirit has impregnated ether with the laws or natural forces, such as magnetism, electricity, etc., and through these laws and forces regulates the material world. God is both an impersonal principle and a personal Father. He governs the Universe in part by spiritual agencies ; such as angels, archangels, planetary spirits and tutelary spirits, ruling nations. A great spirit appeared in the sky near London during a pestilence; and the spirit guardian of America appeared to Washington at Valley Forge in 1777.

Chapter IL The Evolution of Man.

The planets thrown off from the sun; and the outer planets, are the older and more advanced in development.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

When the Earth was thrown out it developed : I St, the Mineral Kingdom; 2nd, the Vegetable, and 3rd, the Animal, ending with man. First, the black types ; second, the brown types, and last, the white or ruddy races. Man did not come from a single pair, but from a series of pairs, and in different localities. The original pairs produced by spirit materialization ; and then the race propagated itself by ordinary generation.

Spirit germs are floating in the ether, and are inhaled by breathing. A male germ and a female germ combine at conception.

Chapter III. The Structure of Man

Man is three-fold, spirit, soul and body. In the present state, five-fold. Diagram: Inner circle represents the spirit; next, exterior soul; next, psychic body, and two outside, body and mind. Mind bears relation to soul, of moon to sun, and sheds reflected light. The mind is suspended by death of body, but the soul continues to live.

Many Bible texts quoted, showing man is threefold, spirit, soul and body, and showing the distinction between spirit, soul and mind.

The body is lost by physical death, and is never resurrected; the spirit is immortal and never dies. It passes to the spirit world or psychic realm, in its soul or psychic body, and finally enters the celestial realm, or heaven. The soul may be saved or lost; saved if it accepts Christ, and lives on the spiritual plane ; and lost if it continues in sin. But the intermediate state is one of probation, and every soul can reform in the spirit world.

TABLE OF CONTENTS 9

Chapter IV. The Physical, Psychical and Spiritual Worlds

Figure representing- the three worlds in red, blue and white.

Man is triune, Body, Soul and Spirit; living in three worlds at the same time, the Physical, Psychical and Spiritual. The spirit of God has permeated the Universe with life in various forms and degrees; therefore the spirit world is everywhere, and in everything.

The psychic world consists of a great sea of ether, which fills interplanetary space; and is impregnated by spirit, with the natural forces, such as magnetism, electricity, etc., through which matter or the physical world, is regulated.

Cases cited of spirits from the psychic world visiting the earth ; and of human spirits visiting the psychic realm, while the body is in a trance or profound sleep. Wonderful case of the spirit of a wife taking possession of the body of her sister, and holding it for life.

Chapter V. The Body and Its Temperaments

The seven Temperaments defined and illustrated. Also the principal combinations of temperaments, illustrated by leading men and women of history; such as Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, Franklin, Webster, Gladstone, Swedenborg, Hugo, Paul, St. John, Jesus, etc.

Chapter VI. The Mind, and Its Faculties. The Mind is the reflex of the soul

The brain is the organ of the mind. There are

10 TABLE OF CONTENTS

two brains; the cerebellum or animal brain, which controls all the powers of life. The cerebrum is the organ of the conscious mind ; and each organ in the brain represents a faculty of the mind; such as memory, judgment, conscience, etc. The organs are divided into groups; the intellect occupies the front lobe of the brain ; the feelings the middle lobe ; and the will the back lobe. But the mind, when it acts, is a unit. The mind is an image of God, and possesses his attributes in finite degree. The intellect, occupying front lobe, corresponds to truth; the middle lobe, representing the feelings, responds to love; and the back lobe to the will, represents power or action. The power of thought directed by the will is wonderful. The will is the executive of the mind, and must control thought, and then execute the decisions of judgment.

Imagination is a creative power, and is the connecting link between mind and soul.

Chapter VII. The Soul; Its Nature and Powers

The Soul is the real life of the man; the sub-conscious mind of scientists. It occupies the psychical or spiritual body, as the mind does the physical body ; and has a psychic brain for its instrument ; of which the physical brain is a reflex.

The reasoning of the soul is deductive, and generally correct. Its memory is unerring, and contains a record of every feeling, thought, word and act of life; and by this record we are to be judged. The soul receives innate ideas and wisdom from God's spirit, through man's spirit, and is much wiser than the mind. Wonderful cases cited of the

TABLE OF CONTENTS wisdom of the soul. Also of its wonderful powers; such as clairvoyance, clairaudience, psychometry, telepathy, prophecy, etc. Also wonderful cases of somnambulism and trance.

The soul, the responsible part of man ; and is to be saved or lost, according to the life it lives.

Chapter VIII. The Spirit; and Spiritualism

The spirit defined and proven from the Bible to be immortal and a part of God's spirit.

Spiritualism explained. Many cases of spirit return cited from the Bible; also from history. Communications to the author and others from Washington, Lincoln, Frances E. Willard, Professor Joseph Rodes Buchanan, Zoroaster, Gladstone, Victor Hugo, Jesus, the Apostles and others.

A wonderful reunion of American statesmen and heroes from the spirit world, July 4, 1896; and some remarkable communications.

Chapter IX. Life, and Its Modes of Manifestation

All life radiates from God, and flows out on the spiritual, psychical and physical planes, imparting life in greater or less degree, to all forms, both in the ethereal and material worlds.

Any obstruction to the outflow of life on either plane causes inharmony and pain, and is called disease. The proper remedy is to remove the obstruction; which is mainly by magnetism on the physical plane. Mental science, and other psychic remedies, on the psychical plane, and prayer and

TABLE OF CONTENTS faith on the spiritual plane. Nature of atoms, and the formation of molecules.

Chapter X. Sex; the Basic Law of Life

Sex runs through everything in the Universe. Spirits created in pairs, male and female, the complements of each other. Seldom meet on earth, but find each other in the spirit world, and are finally united in a perfect angelhood in the celestial world. Affinity the higher law of sex, and prevails in the spirit world.

Defective laws of marriage and divorce. Marriage a civil contract as defined by common law; a partnership which should be dissolved on reasonable notice of either party.

Marriage may be simply for enjoyment of the parties ; or it may be to produce children. How to produce good children. How to determine sex. Magnetation defined.

Chapter XL Man, as a Member of Society, and a Citizen of the State.

Man is dependent both on God and his fellow-man. Hence necessity of human law to regulate marriage, education, trade, money, etc., and to protect person and property. All sane citizens, male and female, have a right to a voice in determining the form of the government and enacting the laws.

Anarchy, socialism and communism, as well as democracy and despotism, considered. Will be no good government until a great co-operative government is established, recognizing the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man.

TABLE OF CONTENTS 13

Chapter XII . Man, as a Citizen of God's Kingdom

Jesus said, the kingdom of God is within you; meaning that man is a spirit and must conform to spiritual law. The existence of evil and the necessity of raising man up from the animal to the spiritual plane. For this Jesus, the perfect man, came, and the holy spirit was given. "The body returns to the dust, as it was," and is never resurrected. "The spirit returns to God who gave it." It is the soul, must be saved or lost. If we accept Christ, follow his example, and practice his precepts, we become spiritual as he was, and finally become citizens of heaven, the celestial realm.

The earth life and intermediate state are probationary; and the soul is permitted to reform and save itself, at any time before it finally destroys itself by sin. We lose the physical body by physical death, and will also lose the psychic body, or soul, by persistent sin, which is called the second death. In which case the spirit will come to earth, re-embody, and make another effort to perfect and save a soul.

All who violate law, physical or spiritual, must suffer the penalties, whether on earth or in the intermediate state. Reports from the spirit world show that many distinguished plutocrats, and religious persecutors, are now suffering for their evil deeds on earth.

Many reports from distinguished residents of the spirit world.

14 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter XIII. The Sovereignty of God, or the Drift of Destiny

The seeming conflict between some of nature's laws and the providence of God. The drift of destiny, as manifested in the sinking and rising of continents; the rise and fall of empires; the death of rulers, and of men in the prime of life. Also the unjust treatment of the Indians and Negroes by the American people. Men and nations commit evil acts; which God overrules for the general good of mankind. God is author of no evil. All evil on the earth comes from the selfishness of man and from disembodied evil spirits. All men will finally reform and evil be overcome by good.

Index To Chapters

PAQH

Chapter II 34

Chapter III 47

Chapter IV , .- - 80

Chapter V 100

Chapter VI 122

Chapter VII 143

Chapter VIII 203

Chapter IX 249

Chapter X 264

Chapter XI 287

Chapter XII 300

Chapter XIII 350

THE CONSTITUTION OF MAN

IN THE PHYSICAL, PSYCHICAL AND SPIRITUAL WORLDS.

Chapter I. The Universe,, And The Laws And Agencies That Control It

It is not in the power of finite mind to determine how the Universe came into existence. We can only take it as we find it, and assume that it has existed forever. We find that the earth upon which we exist, \§> one of eight planets (with more yet to discover), revolving around the sun; and that this revolution measures the year. It also revolves on its own axis in twenty-four hours, which makes a day, and by these days and years we measure time. No doubt each of the planets is inhabited by intelligent beings, more or less after the order of man. The outer planets, Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune, having been thrown out from the sun many ages and cycles before the inner ones, Mercury, Venus and Earth, are far more developed, and their inhabitants more spiritual than those of the inner planets. Even Mars is in advance of Earth. The sun, with all its planets and satellites, is revolving around a great central sun, supposed by some to be the star Alcyone ; and it in turn with all its mighty family of suns and planets, is revolving

I8 THE CONSTITUTION OF MAN IN THE

around some more interior sun; and at the center of the Universe is the great central sun, which is the physical expression of God, the first great Cause, from which all life proceeds.

Astronomers, by the aid of the telescope, have discovered myriads of suns in the great Milky way, which appears to be an immense belt of suns and worlds stretched round the Universe. Within this immense belt of suns and planets, occupying the great space included by it, are other suns and planets ; and near the edge of this inner group it is said our Solar system is located. This mighty Universe is only the physical expression of a far more real, spiritual Universe within and behind it. . Our sun, and all the suns of the Universe, are simply reflections of invisible spiritual forces behind them.

As to the shape and structure of the Universe, I will have to refer the reader to the works of that wonderful seer, Andrew Jackson Davis.

It is believed that the immense void space of the Universe is filled with primal planetary substance, and that the process of evolving suns and worlds goes on continually. The erratic bodies, called comets, may be planets in process of formation, to be members of new systems.

Scientists have discovered that the substance of the sun is the same as that of earth ; and of course the other planets of our Solar system are the same, as all are the common progeny of the sun. So when chemists have discovered all the elements which constitute matter, they will have a substantially correct idea of all the matter in the Universe.

Matter is a very unstable form of substance, and is continually changing its form and condition. It is subject to two great laws which seem to be balanced, — that of formation and dissolution. Matter is continually evolving into organic formations which soon dissolve, leaving the particles to return to }their original elements in the earth, water and air. But the atom, the original center, around which the molecules gathered to make the formation, is hever destroyed; it is ether and enters into new combinations and serves as a basis for new forms of life.

Two inferences are clear from the foregoing facts : First, matter is not the real, permanent substance of the Universe, but back of it is an invisible, intangible, durable substance, called by scientists ether; and that in this ether are located the natural forces or laws, which govern matter. In other words, matter is simply ether condensed, just as cold condenses water into ice. As ice is not a permanent form of matter and can readily be resolved back into water, and then to steam by heat; so no form of matter is permanent, but all forms, earth, water, rock and metal, can, by sufficient heat, be resolved back step by step, through gaseous conditions, to ether. The wonderful latent power of water is seen in steam, which is now the great carrying power of earth. But far greater agencies than steam are quietly resting in the great sea of ether which fills space ; and the one which appears to have most to do: in regulating the material world is electricity. Ether fills all space and enters matter at all points ; and is said by Colonel A. C. Paul, one of our most advanced thinkers, to consist of atoms in globular shape. These ether atoms are no doubt the atoms which scientists discovered by inference, and around which other atoms gather, forming molecules, in the process of constructing an organic form either in the mineral, vegetable or animal kingdoms.

Electricity is no doubt a form of ether used in condensing and regulating matter. It is no doubt electrical laws which keep the planets moving in their orbits, and revolving on their axes, just as they send messages around the world by telegraph; and the human voice hundreds of miles over the telephone.

While scientists have long since discovered that heat can be produced by friction, no intelligent definition of heat has yet been made, and the definitions of light, color and sound, and the causes that produce them, are equally ambiguous and conflicting. Colonel Paul insists that all these so-called natural forces, electricity, heat, light, color and sound, as well as magnetism, attraction, gravitation and levitation, are the products of ether; and depend mainly on the position and movement of the ether atoms. That one position and movement of ether atoms produces heat, another light, and another sound. While Dr. E. D. Babbitt holds that all these natural forces are different forms of ether itself, and that the shape of the atom is ovoid. I am not sufiicient natural philosopher to know much about these natural forces, but it is evident to me that they all pertain to ether; that ether is the great medium between spirit and matter ; and that electricity is the principal agent used in regulating matter.

There is another natural force not yet considered, which is even harder to comprehend than electricity, and that is called magnetism. It is so near to life itself, that it may be called the modus operandi of life ; the means which spirit uses, operating through ether, to manifest life in the material world, in its various forms and degrees. We find that spirit, through ether, has impregnated every part of the material world with some form and degree of life. We find the lowest degree of -life in the mineral kingdom, a little higher degree in the vegetable kingdom, and still higher life in the animal kingdom. The degree of life depends on the rapidity of the ether vibrations. This vibration is slow in the mineral kingdom, a little faster in the vegetable, still faster in the animal, and more rapid still in the human. Now magnetism is a product of this vibratory movement of life, and manifests itself in all the aforesaid kingdoms. In the mineral kingdom it manifests its power and its usefulness, in its control of the magnetic needle, forcing its positive end to point to the north, enabling the land surveyor to locate and survey lands; and the sailor to pursue his course on the trackless sea. In the vegetable kingdom it carries the pollen from the male tree, plant and vegetable, to the female; thus producing fruits, nuts and vegetables, as food for man. In the animal kingdom, it enables the lion and tiger, by magnetic currents thrown out from the eye, to easily magnetize and capture their prey; and even snakes charm and capture birds. The same wonderful power is manifested in animal man. A base scoundrel often magnetizes and marries an estimable woman; and often weak men are forced by magnetic influence to commit murder and other atrocious crimes. Two persons whose life vibrations are nearly in unison, are said to be en rapport, — that is, their magnetism easily blends, and they become friends, or lovers if of the opposite sex. This fact is well known to all, both by observation and experience, and from it we draw the following inferences :

1st. Human magnetism is the essence of the soul and flows out through the mind into the body, and is emitted from it, just as the rose emits its fragrance.

2nd. Life in every part of the Universe manifests itself by vibration, and when two persons have about the same rapidity of vibration, they are in harmony, and their magnetism readily blends, making of them friends, if not lovers.

Electricity is the force of physical and mental life. It comes from the sun, passes through the sea of ether, and regulates matter. As long as it has a conductor, it is invisible and intangible; it is only when it reaches a non-conductor that it becomes thunder and lightning. The physical Universe, the revolution of the suns and planets in their orbits, and on their axes, is controlled by electric laws. These laws also in the main govern the -physical body and mind of man, and health depends on their unobstructed inflow and operation.

Magnetism is a higher force than electricity, and may be called the modus operandi of life itself. Magnetism radiates from the great spiritual sun, permeates the Universe at all points, and through ether impregnates all forms of matter with life, in its various degrees.

In man the headquarters of this great life force is the soul ; and from the soul it is reflected into the physical brain, as the instrument of the mind. And also into the solar plexus, the psychic entry of the body.

These two great natural forces meet and mingle in the realm of matter. Magnetism is a positive force; electricity a negative force. In the human body there must be an equipoise of magnetic and electric forces in order to have harmony and health. Magnetism as it pertains to man may be termed a psychic force ; electricity a physical force. These forces combining in harmonic proportions constitute the electro-magnetic forces of human life. Health depends on this electro-magnetic force. It exists in greater proportion in the vegetable than in the mineral kingdom, and still greater in the animal kingdom. But the earth itself is the great store house and natural battery of this force. By lying on the dry earth, head to the north, the human body will absorb this life force, and become much rejuvenated. By exercise of tliought and will power, the same force can be attracted from the psychic realm to any part of the physical body.

This brings us to first principles; whence conies life? Evidently spirit is the source of life; spirit radiating from the great central spiritual sun, has permeated every part of the Universe, and impregnated all ether and matter with life in some form and degree. Spirit is the source of life; and ether is the all-pervading medium between spirit and matter. Spirit has impressed on ether the great laws or natural forces we have been discussing, and by them condenses it into matter and governs it. There are in the Universe three primal substances, Spirit, Ether and Matter; which are in the last analysis but one substance, Spirit or life. Spirit radiates from God, the first great Cause ; condenses a part of itself into ether; impresses on this great medium of life, the natural forces or laws of life; through which it condenses a part of ether into matter, thereby producing the material Universe. On the physical plane, the process of construction and destruction, of organization and disorganization, seems to be balanced. But nothing is lost; the famous atom of the scientists is an ether atom, and when the molecules of matter around it dissolve, it slides back into the great sea of ether which fills all space.

But shall I astonish advanced thinkers by saying, that so far, I have only been discussing secondary causes and their effects, and that the greatest cause is yet to be considered? A machine always implies a maker; a clock would not run if somebody had not constructed it and set the forces to work that make it keep time. What of the Universe, with its wondrous mathematical laws and its myriads of suns and worlds whirling in their orbits, in endless precision ? Does not all this imply an architect ? A great first cause which produced it? We will not quarrel about terms, we can call it God (which means all good), or we can call it the great first Cause; and the process by which the Universe was produced, we can call creation, or evolution, for the latter is creation working by laws, and is no doubt the process by which all things are produced. Some shallow thinkers insist that everything was produced by Law. Law is simply a rule of action, and implies both a law-giver and a sovereign who acts by and through that law to govern and develop results. The great First Cause working through and by his own laws, produced the Universe, but how and when, we know not. We can have no conception of creation, we can only accept the existence of the Universe and its Divine Author, as Eternal facts. But I am asked, is there a personal God, or is it an impersonal principle? I answer both. I endorse Pope's immortal lines,

"All are parts of one stupendous whole Whose body nature is, and God the soul."

That is, that God by his spirit permeates every part of the Universe, and imparts life in some form and degree to every part of both ether and matter. God is everywhere, and Paul recognized this in his great speech at Athens to the Greek philosophers, when he said, "In him we live and move and have our being;" and yet Jesus, a greater than Paul, called him Father, and represented him as a God of love; taught his disciples to pray to him for blessings, and said he was more ready to grant favors to his children than any earthlv parent. We therefore believe he is also a personal Father, whose Providence can be seen in the affairs of men and nations. Jesus defined God as a spirit; and as the Bible teaches that man was created in the image of God, we have a right to infer that he is a great personal spirit in the form of man. To reconcile this with the idea that God is everywhere, both Swedenborg and A. J. Davis supposed that the universe might be in the shape of a man.

From the standpoint of finite man, but little of the glorious proportions of God can be discerned. Nevertheless, revelation having informed us that man was created in "the image and likeness of God," we are able to reason from effect back to cause, and get some general idea of the first great Cause.

Both observation and experience teach us that the leading principle in the constitution of man is love. The love of a mother for her children is a feeling so devoted and sO' unbounded that it no doubt excites the admiration of the angels. If so great love can be manifested by the miniature "image," how great must be the love of the original Father for all His earthly children. "If ye being evil give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give unto you." That glorious love is perpetually and practically manifested in the provisions of nature for man's benefit. The beautiful green earth and its varied productions ; the air we breathe ; the water we drink ; the bread we eat ; and all the kind providences that cluster around us attest the infinite love of God for His child, man. "Every good and perfect gift Cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness nor shadow of turning." Hence we infer that love is the leading attribute of God, and we have the testimony of the Bible that "God is Love."

The next strongest element we find in man is Truth. Notwithstanding the deceitfulness of his heart and the many prevarications he makes to cover up his sins, there is a fundamental principle in his nature, beginning with earliest infancy, to learn and teach the truth. And thousands of good and great men give their whole lives to the propagation of truth, and often attest their earnestness by a martyr's death. This faithful though feeble reflection of the light of truth by men, points back to the original source, and hence we infer that truth is another leading attribute of God. And the entire Universe manifests his wisdom.

Before his ascension, Jesus repeatedly promised his disciples that he would send the Holy Spirit, which he called the spirit of truth, to teach them all things.

The third attribute of God which we find reflected in man, but in finite degree, is power. Man has subdued the aninials, felled the forests, opened the farms, builded the cities, caught the lightning of heaven and harnessed it to a car and ship; and in a thousand ways taken control of the forces of nature. He is every day becoming more familiar with the invisible forces which control the grand Universe, of which God is both the Architect and the Soul.