The soul is a term employed to represent in the abstract an intellectual product of, or the result of functional activity of, brain substance. Where there is no brain there can be no soul. And souls differ in proportion to size, quality, quantity, educational or brutal development.
The mind is the collective term for the entire product of nervous activity, from non-intellectual to intellectual activity. Thus we have all kinds of minds—vulgar, brutal, licentious, pious, enlightened, educated, intellectual, refined, ideal, imaginary, etc., etc.
A mind may be simple, mixed, complex, complicated, perverted, disordered, rational or irrational, etc., etc. The mind is of ages—infantile, childish, youthful, young, mature, deliberate, strong, weak, and senile, feminine or masculine, etc., etc.
Nervous effects not understood are interpreted to be supernatural, not the product of the matter composing brain; this is false.
The so-called spiritual manifestations are, in plain terms, delusions for susceptible nervous conditions, and generally largely adulterated with fraud. Nervous conditions bordering on hallucinations may easily be influenced by a strong nervous force and utilized for swindling purposes. There is as little truth in spirit manifestations as there was in the casting out of evil spirits or devils, as related in the Bible.
Fourth.
Material prosperity consists in the accumulation of wealth, gained either by industry or inheritance. Wealth is used:
1. To supply food sufficient in quantity to sustain bodily health.
2. To obtain clothing to protect the body from extreme heat, and also for decorative purposes.