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LEFT SPINOZA, BARUCH 30 SPIBITUALISM the inherent cause of the universe, is one absolutely infinite substance, of which all the several parts which we recognize are but finite expressions; that man, being but a part of this greater whole, has neither a separate existence nor a self-determining will; but that he can, by means of knowledge and love, so far control his passions as to enter into the joy which springs from this idea of an all-embracing God. He died February 21, 1677. SPIRAL, in geometry, a curve which may be generated by a point moving along a straight line, in the same direction, according to any law, while the straight line revolves uniformly about a fixed point, always continuing in the same plane. The portion generated during one revolution is called a spire. The moving point is the generatrix of the curve, the fixed point is the pole of the spiral, and the distance from the pole to any position of the generatrix is the radius vector of that point. The law according to which the generatrix moves along the revolving line is the law of the spiral, and determines the nature of the curve. Any position of the revolving line, assumed at pleasure, is called the initial line. Spirals are known by the names of their inventors, or by terms derived from the properties by which they are characterized; as, the spiral of Archimedes, hyperbolic spirals, logarithmic spirals, parabolic spirals, etc. Also a helix or curve which winds round a cylinder like a screw. SPIRES. See Speyer. SPIRIT, an immaterial intelligent sub- stance or being; vital or active princi- ple, essence, force, or energy, as distinct from matter; life or living substance considered apart from material or cor- poreal existence; as, the soul of man, as distinguished from the body wherein it dwells. Hence, a ghost; a specter; a supernatural apparition or manifesta- tion; also, sometimes, an elf; a fay; a sprite. Also, real meaning; intent; in contradistinction to the letter or to formal statement; and characteristic quality, particularly such as is derived from the individual genius or the per- sonal character; as, the spirit of the law. In chemistry, a name generally ap- plied to fluids, mostly of a lighter speci- fic character than water, and obtained by distillation. Thus, the essential oil of turpentine is called spirit of turpentine. Essential oils dissolved in alcohol are called spirits, as spirit of aniseed, pep- permint, etc., because formerly prepared by distilling the herbs with alcohol. The volatile alkali ammonia, distilled and condensed in cold alcohol, is called spirit of ammonia; even hydrochloric acid is often called spirit of salts. But in a stricter sense the term spirit is under- stood to mean alcohol in its potable con- dition, of which there are very numer- ous varieties deriving their special characters from the substances used in their production, as brandy, rum, whisky, gin, arrack, etc. In theology, the Spirit, or Holy Spirit, the Holy Ghost; the Spirit of God, or the third person of the Trinity. The spirit also denotes the human spirit as animated by the Divine Spirit. Rectified spirit, proof spirit made pure by distillation. SPIRIT LEVEL, an instrument used for determining a line or plane parallel to the horizon, and also the relative heights of tv/o or more stations. It consists of a glass tube nearly filled with alcohol, preferably colored. The re- maining space in the tube is a bubble of air, and this occupies a position exactly in the middle of the tube when the latter is perfectly horizontal. The tube is mounted on a wooden bar, which is laid on a beam or other object to be tested; or it is mounted on a telescope or theodolite, and forms the means of bringing these instruments to a level, the slightest deviation from the hori- zontal position being indicated by the bubble rising toward the higher end of the tube. Spirit level quadrant, an in- strument furnished with a spirit level and used for taking altitudes. SPIRITUALISM, the term used in philosophy to indicate the opposite of materialism, and the belief in the existence and life of the spirit apart from, and independent of, the material organism, and in the reality and value of intelligent intercourse between spirits embodied and spirits disembodied. The belief in spirit manifestations has long obtained, but in its limited and mod- ern form spiritualism dates from the Fox sisters in 1848. In this year a Mr. and Mrs. Fox, who lived with their two daughters, Margaret and Leah, at Hyndsville, N. Y., were disturbed by repeated and inexplicable rappings throughout the house. At length it was accidentally discovered by one of the daughters that the unseen "rapper" was so intelligent as to be able to reply to various pertinent questions, and so com- municative as to declare that he was the spirit of a murdered peddler. When this discovery was noised abroad a be-