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656 THE SECRET DOCTRINE.
If this is the last word of Science upon the subject, whither then
should we turn in order to learn what the Nebular Theory is
supposed
to teach What, in fact, is this theory What it is, no one seems to
know for certain. What it is not—we learn from the erudite author of
World-Life. He tells us that it:
i. Is not a theory of the evolution of the Universe. It is primarily a genetic
explanation of the phenomena of the solar system, and accessorily a co-ordination
in a common conception of the principal phenomena in the stellar and nebular
firmament, as far as human vision has been able to penetrate.
ii. It does not regard the comets as involved in that particular evolution which
has produced the Solar System. [The Esoteric Doctrine does, because it, too,
"recognizes the comets as forms of cosmic existence co-ordinated with earlier
stages of nebular evolution"; and it actually assigns to them chiefly the formation
of all worlds.]
iii.
// does not deny an antecedent histoiy of the lutninous fire mist—[the secondary
stage of evolution in the Secret Doctrine] [and] . . . makes no claim to having
reached an absolute beginning. [And even it allows that this] fire mist may have
previously existed in a cold, non-luminous and invisible condition.
iv. [And that finally] it does not profess to discover the origin of things, but only a
stadium in material history .... [leaving] the philosopher and the theologian
as free as they ever were to seek the origin of the modes of being.*
But this is not all. Even the greatest philosopher of England—Mr.
Herbert Spencer—arrayed himself against this fantastic theory by
saying that (a) "The problem of existence is not resolved" by it;
{b) the nebular hypothesis "throws no light upon the origin of diffused
matter" ;
and {c) that "the nebular hypothesis (as it now stands) implies
a First Cause. "f
The latter, we are afraid, is
bargained for.
more than our modern Physicists have
Thus, it seems that the poor "hypothesis" can hardly
expect to find help or corroboration even in the world of the Metaphysicians.
Considering all this, the Occultists believe they have a right to
present their Philosophy, however misunderstood and ostracized it may
be at present. And they maintain that this failure of the Scientists to
discover the truth is entirely due to their Materialism and their contempt
for transcendental Sciences. Yet although the scientific minds
in our century are as
far from the true and correct doctrine of Evolution
as ever, there may be still some hope left for the future, for even
now we find another Scientist giving us a faint glimmer of it.
• World-Life, p. 196. t Westminstef Review, XX., July 27, i868.