III

THE HIGHER SPACE, AN APOLOGY

THERE can be but few persons who have not at least heard of the Higher Space, or, to use the more familiar expression, the Fourth Dimension of Space. It is a term which in some excites a good-natured ridicule; some hear it with a scarcely veiled derision; others treat it with a more or less respectful interest, as describing something very wonderful; some again meet it with the idea that it speaks of a purely mental and imaginary conception, useful it may be to mathematicians in their more. abstruse calculations, as a means of solving difficult problems in the higher branches of their science; but I suppose that all or nearly all will agree in regarding any such

application of the subject as I am contemplating, as being, if not fanciful, at all events very nearly approaching that position of affairs.

I think, however, that it may be shewn that the proposition is not fanciful, that this conception of Higher Space is not to be regarded as merely imaginary. On the contrary it is to be considered as giving us a hope of the greatest assistance towards the solution of questions in which we all have, or at least ought to have, a very direct and even overwhelming interest.

It would be highly unscientific to deny the possibility of the fulfilment of the hope which has been expressed, or to assert a priori that the Higher Space is and can only be the playground in which an ingenious imagination may disport itself unchecked. We will, therefore, endeavour to investigate this most fascinating subject, with some hope, however faint it may be, that as we proceed we may not impossibly discover something of value, or even of importance.

IV

THE HIGHER SPACE

As a preliminary it is necessary that the principles on which we shall have to depend should be enunciated with as much clearness as possible. And the result of various discussions has shewn that a very considerable amount of detail is not to be thought superfluous.

Without doubt even the most elementary idea of Higher Space is a difficult one to grasp; and although it is not really essential to my argument, still I cannot but feel that many persons would not be prepared to accept any conclusions unless that idea were set before them with some elaboration. It is quite sufficient if the existence of the Higher Space is taken for granted,

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and this assumption used as the basis of our argument, the principles being accepted till the deductions drawn from them have been examined. If these are consistent with each other and with what we know, either of our own knowledge or by Revelation, the preliminary assumption will be fully justified.

1. The first point on which we shall have to dwell is this, that there are very few indeed who can realise the idea of the Higher Space to the extent of picturing it mentally. Of these I am not one.

This power is no doubt a very enviable one; but though it be lacking, the want of it does not in the least degree interfere with the acceptance of the proposition before us. It will amply suffice, as has been said, if the principles are grasped, and the argument will not suffer in any way so long as this is the case.

We start then from this point, that we cannot illustrate the conception of the

Higher Space even in the most diagrammatic way upon a blackboard. It is at first a purely mental conception, and the only way in which it can be approached is by degrees.

2. At the very outset we are met by a difficulty, which expresses itself in the question, Where is there any room for this Higher Space?

Our natural ideas of our own Space, based upon our personal experience, lead us to imagine, among other things, that it extends on all sides of us. Thus, when we try to think of other Worlds or other Spaces, we are inclined to think of them as if they were at a very great distance from us.

That is to say that we think of our World or our Space, as if it were in the centre of the Universe, occupying a vast sphere, while beyond that sphere there may be other Worlds or Systems or Spaces, occupying still vaster spherical envelopes.

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