Studies in the Thought World

The human body is a chemical laboratory. The mind is the conscious or unconscious chemist, and exercises direct control in all the multiform physical processes. Its compounding is performed unintelligently, and often ignorantly, but the final product is always the natural outcome of past and present mental activity, in quality and degree. The subtle delicacy and complexity of the chemical transmutations which are ever succeeding each other in the physical organism are unparalleled in the most exhaustive experiments of the best-equipped external laboratories. The possible knowledge of the trained technical expert is but rudimentary in comparison with the marvellous skill of the invisible thought chemist, whose work, though carried on sub-consciously or in secret, is at length known and read of all men.

The growing interest in psychological research, or soul-study, especially in its relation to the body, is manifested not only in a general curiosity about phenomena as such, but in a laudable search for the underlying truth, and especially that which is practical and useful. There is, however, too much of a desire for what is merely strange and marvellous. In this practical age, whenever new theories are proposed, the first question should be, How much truth do they contain? and, second, How can this truth be best applied for the benefit of humanity? Does the thing offered promise, in any measure, to lessen prevailing infelicity, and to promote the welfare and upliftment of mankind?

The general interest in the dynamics of mind is also evident from the attention which is being bestowed upon the subject in colleges and universities. Psychology has now a well-established place in the curriculum of all the larger educational institutions. Several of these contain psycho- physical laboratories carefully equipped for experiment and research.

But it is uniformly the case that when any new truth is recognized, some old doctrines that have been accepted for truth must be displaced, or else given a new interpretation. The spirit of conventionalism tends to make existing institutions extremely conservative, and often rather intolerant of new advances in human thought. That which is, is usually self-sufficient, so that new truth meets with some friction before finding its thorough assimilation. This is seen in the tardy recognition given by established systems to the practical possibilities of mental and spiritual science. Every great advance in its early aspects has seemed like a strange, and often unwelcome, intruder. But all truth which the world needs will be restless, and even aggressive, until it glides into its rightful place and finds application.

The broadened scope of modern scientific research is shown in the expanding curricula of many colleges and universities which now include a department which is known as psycho-physics. Among the most original, unique, and significant of recent studies and experiments are those of Professor Elmer Gates, whose extensive laboratory is located in Washington, D.C. Though one of the most thorough psychologists in the country, and also eminent in the departments of chemistry, electricity, and biology, we understand that Professor Gates’ point of view is that of a scientist and physicist. In view of these facts, the outcome of many of his experiments has a marvellous significance to all earnest seekers after truth. His researches seem to confirm the basic claims of metaphysicians. His specialty is described as “the newest of the sciences,” and he deals with matters which hitherto have been regarded as beyond the field of exact investigation. The whole trend of modern psychology, as an art and a science, seems to be away from former materialism toward the more subtle, immaterial, and spiritual basis of life and being. There are strong indications that the causative power of emotion, thought, and consciousness will soon be recognized by science, and that all phenomena will be found to be expressive and resultant.

The fact has been demonstrated that there is a supremely important realm of psycho-physical law and truth that has been left unrecognized and unutilized, but which has recently been coming into distinct outline in the human understanding. It may be compared to an unexplored territory towards which adventurous explorers are approaching on different sides; or to a lofty mountain peak, towards which, by different routes and unseen by each other, various climbers are toiling up, to gain the broad outlook and secure a vantage ground from which there may be a clear view into a hitherto strange and undiscovered country.

This novel and unfamiliar realm is made up of the broad truth of mental causation and the formative power of thought as expressed in the physical chemistry of the human organism. The existence of this energy, the laws through which it operates, their utilization, wonderful adaptability and potency, all together make up the strange country—till recently the terra incognita of human attainment.

But looking upon another side, we find that a small but earnest band of noble souls, undeterred by the fear of unpopularity, undismayed by flippant criticism and scholastic satire, and impelled by a spiritual intuition which is an enigma to the world at large, had already scaled these heights of “Pisgah,” and gained a clear view of the promised land. Guided by a keen inner perception, this brave and scattered minority, whose names are not enrolled upon the annals of science, reached the goal of high principle, and from their lofty vantage ground proclaim liberty to all the people.

They have interpreted and made known “the mystery of the ages,” and brought into the light of noonday that ideal summum bonum of which the past has afforded only dim and uncertain glimpses. Its partial and occasional outcroppings as recorded in history, which have vaguely been regarded as capricious, supernatural, and super-reasonable, are being retranslated, and a misunderstood mass of chaotic phenomena brought into harmonious regularity.

But, as already indicated, the important development of the present time is that the advance pickets of physical science are coming up to the summit of truth, on another side and by a different route. Through the slower processes of intellectual logic and chemical demonstration, they have toiled up until their extreme advance is almost face to face with the metaphysical minority which for some time has occupied the ground. The supposed “weak things” of the world confounded the strong; for the quiet, silent climbers scaled these heights well in advance. The rigid forms of institutionalism are slow and clumsy in their adaptive conformity to human needs, for they only move forward with great friction.

But let us note more specifically the latest developments in this so-called newest department of science. The recently heralded discoveries tentatively approach a position already familiar to the few who first arrived by the lighter and easier intuitional path. These were able to penetrate the mists of materialism, and to perceive the desired goal and make directly for it. They, however, most cordially welcome their brethren who are arriving by the route of sensuous measurement. We give them hearty greetings; and now let us note their first impressions of this higher realm in their own language. It will be necessary to give quotations at some length, in order to convey their full import.