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The Second Lesson: Omnipresent Life.729
Science teaches us that all forms of matter are compiled of minute particles
called molecules. A molecule is the smallest particle of matter that is possible,
unless the chemical atoms composing the matter fly apart and the matter
be resolved into its original elements. For instance, let us take the familiar
instance of a drop of water. Let us divide and subdivide the drop, until at
last we get to the smallest possible particle of water. That smallest possible
particle would be a “molecule” of water. We cannot subdivide this molecule
without causing its atoms of hydrogen and oxygen to fly apart—and then
there would be no water at all. Well, these molecules manifest a something
called Attraction for each other. They attract other molecules of the same
kind, and are likewise attracted. The operation of this law of attraction results
in the formation of masses of matter, whether those masses be mountains
of solid rock, or a drop of water, or a volume of gas. All masses of matter
are composed of aggregations of molecules, held together by the law of
attraction. This law of attraction is called Cohesion. This Cohesive Attraction
is not a mere mechanical force, as many suppose, but is an exhibition of Life
action, manifesting in the presence of the molecule of a “like” or “love” for
the similar molecule. And when the Life energies begin to manifest on a
certain plane, and proceed to mould the molecules into crystals, so that we
may see the actual process under way, we begin to realize very clearly that
there is “something at work” in this building up.
But wonderful as this may seem to those unfamiliar with the idea, the
manifestation of Life among the atoms is still more so. The atom, you will
remember, is the chemical unit which, uniting with other atoms, makes up
the molecule. For instance, if we take two atoms of the gas called hydrogen
and one atom of the gas called oxygen, and place them near each other,
they will at once rush toward each other and form a partnership, which is
called a molecule of water. And so it is with all atoms—they are continually
forming partnerships, or dissolving them. Marriage and divorce is a part of
the life of the atoms. These evidences of attraction and repulsion among the
atoms are receiving much attention from careful thinkers, and some of the