Each individual has two inherent phases of life - the outer and the inner, or an objective self and a subjective self.

The objective self is represented by the physical body and objective mind, with its five senses of sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch. It is the part of the individual that is at the mercy of human judgment, as every thought and act of daily life is incorporated in the mental structure and impressed upon the physical tissues, making them more perfect and enduring, thus increasing happiness and prolonging life, else is destructive in tendency, leading to suffering, disease, crime and early death. There is no intermediate point of indifference or standing still in nature. The objective self, both physically and mentally, is constantly changing for better or for worse - the new cells of daily growth are stronger and more vital with each cycle, or weaker from deterioration, and living is scientific to the degree that all action, whether in thought, labor or recreation, is elevating, progressive and just to one's self and to others, thus building the best possible objective life.

The subjective self is represented by the Ego. It is the better self and is an ideal, or pattern, according to which the objective life should be constructed to yield the highest manhood, the truest happiness and the greatest degree of success. The Ego is the life principle of the man, and is in "attune with the Infinite/' from which its forces are sustained. When the objective conditions are normal the subjective mind furnishes, through the nervous system, a steady supply of vital force, which combines with that generated within the organism from food, keeping the system in working order and rebuilding the tissues during sleep.

Abnormal objective conditions, such as worry, fear, excesses, poisonous food, crimes, diseases, anger, ignorance of the source of life, impatience, or loss of sleep, check or hinder the influx of the vital life current, as well as interfere with the action of the system in generating supplementary nerve forces from cell activity, thus fostering complications leading to dissolution.

Nature always tends toward the perfect - its effort is always to restore harmony or to readjust the objective and subjective life, hence when a resolve is made by the individual to correct a wrong, or improve a condition, or even when hope is inspired, a sudden influx of vital force is aroused to sustain the effort. This sustaining power is usually greater than the normal amount that has been suppressed, but it gradually subsides to the normal as readjustment is established; however, it is an important factor to consider in all hygienic as well as moral changes. It may be used as a direct power when the laws of mind are understood, but its action is spontaneous to a great degree in the present stage of development. Worry and tensions that hinder the processes of the life principle should be thoughtfully avoided, as they deteriorate cell growth and shorten life.

Because of the two natures, that so often conflict for supremacy, man seems to be dual, but he is not in reality dual, as it requires the two selves harmonized to make a perfect man.

Instead of the "double" man so popular and delightfully mystical, it is apparent that the more the selves are separated the less the man, as a practical entity; in fact, in this age of disease, crime and early death, no one can boast of being a whole man, much less a double one or a god; however, the great purpose of life is to approach the ideal, attaining perfection little by little, thus elevating the human race that the greatest happiness may be enjoyed here and hereafter. This can be done only by the gradual improvement of the objective mind and body, which, in itself, is conducive to indefinite existence; thus the first necessity of prolonging life, as well as fulfilling the great purpose of life, is to be able to intelligently bring the objective self more and more in harmony with the subjective self, that the vitality may be maintained and all the activities of mind and body may be as free as possible from friction, which is disintegrating to physical tissues.

To this end there is a place in every line of action where it serves its greatest purpose. It is this point of "greatest good" that should be always held before the mind as a guiding star.

Animals are directed toward it in their habits of life by instinct. Man is protected greatly by intuition, but if guided entirely by an "unknown force" he would have no use for reason or judgment, hence the higher position of intelligence, by which to direct the course of life, must be acquired; this, with the ups and downs of experience, in at-taining it, is life.

It is more desirable to progress gradually, through aspiration, effort and action, than to have been created perfect, and free from negative conditions, merely to exist.

Happiness is not dependent upon perfection, but upon harmless relaxation or thoughts and actions leading toward perfection - it is the reward of unyielding precaution or direct effort to advance in some capacity, and can be gained in no other way, although momentary gratification, followed by regret or pain, is often sought and mistaken for happiness.

The idea of the "greatest good" in action may be illustrated to appeal even to a child by means of the locomotive. The slow engine is not doing its best while the wild train meets with wrecks and self-destruction. An engineer is needed to regulate the engine to attain its highest speed before its best service can be secured, its speed being in harmony with the principle of the machinery. A large strong engine will produce a greater speed for a longer time than a weak and poorly constructed one. A competent engineer can easily tell what course to pursue with two such machines to prevent total destruction for the longest possible time.

In a similar manner the will and judgment of the man should regulate the objective life that it may run smoothly year after year, and century after century, as, unlike the machine, the body, constantly rebuilds itself anew. No cell in the body, of even an octogenarian, is over five years old. Old age, sickness, and death are the results of ignorant or wilful violation of the laws of life, acquired or inherited. God does not enforce obedience to natural law. In his infinite wisdom and desire for man to progress he is most lenient; yet, law and regulation would serve no purpose if suffering did not follow its violation. Pain is a voice of warning, that readjustment of the objective and subjective life is necessary to check the encroachment of old age, or death, that must result from the course pursued, hence a spell of sickness stays the mad rush to the grave more perfectly than other forms of warning.