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because we can observe the wood and the gelatinous tissue
connecting together all the individuals which compose either the
tree or the mass of polypes ＇sic＇。 Yet the skeleton； whether of
tree or of polype ＇sic＇； is inanimate； and the tissue； whether of
bark or gelatine ＇sic＇； is only the matted roots of the
individual buds； so that the outward and striking connection
between the individuals is more delusive than real。 The true
connection is one which cannot be seen； and consists in the
animation of each bud by a like spirit…in the community of soul；
in 〃the voice of the Lord which maketh men to be of one mind in
an house〃…〃to dwell together in unity〃…to take what are
practically identical views of things； and express themselves in
concert under all circumstances。 Provided this…the true unifier
of organism…can be shown to exist； the absence of gross outward
and visible but inanimate common skeleton is no bar to oneness of
personality。
Let us picture to our minds a tree of which all the woody fibre
＇sic＇ shall be invisible； the buds and leaves seeming to stand in
mid…air unsupported and unconnected with one another； so that
there is nothing but a certain tree… like collocation of foliage
to suggest any common principle of growth uniting the leaves。
Three or four leaves of different ages stand living together at
the place in the air where the end of each bough should be； of
these the youngest are still tender and in the bud； while the
older ones are turning yellow and on the point of falling。
Between these leaves a sort of twig…like growth can be detected
if they are looked at in certain lights； but it is hard to see；
except perhaps when a bud is on the point of coming out。 Then
there does appear to be a connection which might be called
branch…like。
The separate tufts are very different from one another； so that
oak leaves； ash leaves； horse…chestnut leaves； etc。； are each
represented； but there is one species only at the end of each
bough。
Though the trunk and all the inner boughs and leaves have
disappeared； yet there hang here and there fossil leaves； also in
mid…air； they appear to have been petrified； without method or
selection； by what we call the caprices of nature； they hang in
the path which the boughs and twigs would have taken； and they
seem to indicate that if the tree could have been seen a million
years earlier； before it had grown near its present size； the
leaves standing at the end of each bough would have been found
very different from what they are now。 Let us suppose that all
the leaves at the end of all the invisible boughs； no matter how
different they now are from one another； were found in earliest
budhood to be absolutely indistinguishable； and afterwards to
develop towards each differentiation through stages which were
indicated by the fossil leaves。 Lastly； let us suppose that
though the boughs which seem wanted to connect all the living
forms of leaves with the fossil leaves； and with countless forms
of which all trace has disappeared； and also with a single root…
have become invisible； yet that there is irrefragable evidence to
show that they once actually existed； and indeed are existing at
this moment； in a condition as real though as invisible to the
eye as air or electricity。 Should we； I ask； under these
circumstances hesitate to call our imaginary plant or tree by a
single name； and to think of it as one person； merely upon the
score that the woody fibre ＇sic＇ was invisible？ Should we not
esteem the common soul； memories and principles of growth which
are preserved between all the buds； no matter how widely they
differ in detail； as a more living bond of union than a framework
of wood would be； which； though it were visible to the eye； would
still be inanimate？
The mistletoe appears as closely connected with the tree on which
it grows as any of the buds of the tree itself； it is fed upon
the same sap as the other buds are； which sap…however much it may
modify it at the last moment…it draws through the same fibres
＇sic＇ as do its foster…brothers…why then do we at once feel that
the mistletoe is no part of the apple tree？ Not from any want of
manifest continuity； but from the spiritual difference…from the
profoundly different views of life and things which are taken by
the parasite and the tree on which it grows…the two are
now different because they think differently…as long as
they thought alike they were alike…that is to say they were
protoplasm…they and we and all that lives meeting in this common
substance。
We ought therefore to regard our supposed tufts of leaves as a
tree； that is to say； as a compound existence； each one of whose
component items is compounded of others which are also in their
turn compounded。 But the tree above described is no imaginary
parallel to the condition of life upon the globe； it is perhaps
as accurate a description of the Tree of Life as can be put into
so small a compass。 The most sure proof of a man's identity is
the power to remember that such and such things happened； which
none but he can know； the most sure proof of his remembering is
the power to react his part in the original drama； whatever it
may have been； if a man can repeat a performance with consummate
truth； and can stand any amount of cross…questioning about it； he
is the performer of the original performance； whatever it was。
The memories which all living forms prove by their actions that
they possess…the memories of their common identity with a single
person in whom they meet…this is incontestable proof of their
being animated by a common soul。 It is certain； therefore； that
all living forms； whether animal or vegetable； are in reality one
animal； we and the mosses being part of the same vast person in
no figurative sense； but with as much bona fide literal
truth as when we say that a man's finger…nails and his eyes are
parts of the same man。
It is in this Person that we may see the Body of God…and in the
evolution of this Person； the mystery of His Incarnation。
＇In 〃Unconscious Memory；〃 Chapter V； Butler wrote： 〃In the
articles above alluded to （〃God the Known and God the Unknown〃） I
separated the organic from the inorganic； but when I came to
rewrite them I found that this could not be done； and that I must
reconstruct what I had written。〃 This reconstruction never having
been effected； it may be well to quote further from 〃Unconscious
Memory〃 （concluding chapter）： 〃At parting； therefore； I would
recommend the reader to see every atom in the universe as living
and able to feel and remember； but in a humble way。 He must have
life eternal as well as matter eternal； and the life and the
matter must be joined together inseparably as body and soul to
one another。 Thus he will see God everywhere； not as those who
repeat phra