existing phenomena may be resolved into grades or kingdoms,
classified progressively as mineral, vegetable, animal and human, each of
which possesses its degree of function and intelligence. When we consider
the mineral, we find that it exists and is possessed of the power of
affinity or combination. The vegetable possesses the qualities of the
mineral plus the augmentative virtue or power of growth. It is, therefore,
evident that the vegetable kingdom is superior to the mineral. The animal
kingdom in turn possesses the qualities of the mineral and vegetable plus
the five senses of perception whereof the kingdoms below it are lacking.
Likewise, the power of memory inherent in the animal does not exist in the
lower kingdoms.

Just as the animal is more noble than the vegetable and mineral, so man is
superior to the animal. The animal is bereft of ideality--that is to say,
it is a captive of the world of nature and not in touch with that which
lies within and beyond nature; it is without spiritual susceptibilities,
deprived of the attractions of consciousness, unconscious of the world of
God and incapable of deviating from the law of nature. It is different
with man. Man is possessed of the emanations of consciousness; he has
perception, ideality and is capable of discovering the mysteries of the
universe. All the industries, inventions and facilities surrounding our
daily life were at one time hidden secrets of nature, but the reality of
man penetrated them and made them subject to his purposes. According to
nature's laws they should have remained latent and hidden; but man, having
transcended those laws, discovered these mysteries and brought them out of
the plane of the invisible into the realm of the known and visible. How
wonderful is the spirit of man! One of the mysteries of natural phenomena
is electricity. Man has discovered this illimitable power and made it
captive to his uses. How many of nature's secrets have been penetrated and
revealed! Columbus, while in Spain, discovered America. Man has accurately
determined that the sun is stationary while the earth revolves about it.
The animal cannot do this. Man perceives the mirage to be an illusion.
This is beyond the power of the animal. The animal can only know through
sense impressions and cannot grasp intellectual realities. The animal
cannot conceive of the power of thought. This is an abstract intellectual
matter and not limited to the senses. The animal is in