John Edward Mercer eBooks
eBooks di John Edward Mercer editi da Forgotten Books
Alchemy, Its Science and Romance. E-book. Formato PDF John Edward Mercer - Forgotten Books, 2017 -
An Anglican bishop, clergyman, and social reformer, John Edward Mercer was also thoroughly interested in the art of alchemy, or the ability to transform base metals (such as iron) into noble metals (like gold). This transformation of matter was considered the height of an alchemist's achievements during Mediaeval times, and many scientists spent their entire lives chasing the elusive dream of alchemy. Mercer's book, Alchemy, Its and Romance describes the allure and danger of the pursuit of this knowledge of the Gods.Predictably, the wanton pursuit or wealth and fame often had negative consequences (as such things often do) and more than one great man found himself cast out of society and into the gutter as a result of his obsession with alchemy. Mercer explorers the world of alchemy by examining the many legends that men found tempting and offering a sound comparison between alchemy and magic. Later in the text, he details the means through which alchemy gained legitimacy by crossing from the purview of the magician to that of the Chemist. Finally, Mercer highlights the romance surrounding the legendary Philosopher's Stone which could turn any metal into gold and grant immortality to the man who had it in his possession. Alchemy, Its Science and Romance is comprehensive account of the power of legend and the cultural significance that a singular pursuit can have even over the course of millennia. An incredible read from start to finish, this book is great for anyone interested in folklore, history, alchemy, magic, chemistry, or the power of myth.
Nature Mysticism. E-book. Formato PDF John Edward Mercer - Forgotten Books, 2017 -
The aims of this study of Nature Mysticism, and the methods adopted for attaining them, are sufficiently described in the introductory chapter. It may be said, by way of special preface, that the nature mystic here portrayed is essentially a modern. He is assumed to have accepted the fundamentals of the hypothesis of evolution. Accordingly, his sympathy With the past is pro found: so also is his sense of the reality and con tinuity of human development, physical, psychic, and mystical. Moreover, he tries to be abreast of the latest critical and scientific conclusions. Im perfections manifold will be discovered in the pages that follow; but the author asks that a percentage of them may be attributed to the difficulties of writing in Tasmania and publishing at the antipodes.