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CHAPTER II
THE FOUR KINGDOMS
he three Worlds of our planet are at present the
field of evolution for a number of different
kingdoms of life, at various stages of
development. Only four of these need concern us at present,
viz.: the mineral, plant, animal, and human kingdoms.
These four kingdoms are related to the three Worlds in
different ways, according to the progress these groups of
evolving life have made in the school of experience. So far
as form is concerned the dense bodies of all the kingdoms
are composed of the same chemical substances—the solids,
liquids, and gases of the Chemical Region. The dense body
of a man is as truly a chemical compound as is the stone,
although the latter is ensouled by mineral life only. But even
when speaking from the purely physical standpoint, and
laying aside all other considerations for the time being, there
are several important differences when we compare the
dense body of the human being with the mineral of the
Earth. Man moves, grows, and propagates his species—the
mineral, in its native state, does none of these things.
Comparing man with the forms of the plant kingdom,
we find that both plant and man have a dense body, capable
of growth and propagation. But Man has faculties not
possessed by the plant. He feels, has the power of motion,
and the faculty of perceiving things exterior to himself.
When we compare man with the animal we see that both