The Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1870-1875, 1870-11-30

mary for the frst forty volumes Of the
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the Magazine, because the Index
will inform them just where to find
valuable information on any partieu-
lar subject or topic. The Index con
tains four hundred and thirty-three
pages. The publishers certainly have
conferred o very great favor upon the
many thousand admirers Of their
magazine By this complete arrange
ment of les contents. For sale by
Robert Clarke & Co, Of Cincinnati.
A CRITICAL HISTORY OF TIE DOC
TRIMS Or A FUTURE LtFE;" by
WILLIAM GtouNsEvIl-LE AIGEH
We have received from the Pub
Fisher, ". D. Middie3en, New York,
through Robert Clarke s Co, of Cia-
oinnati, copy Of The above work,
Ar Alger. the ssholaFig asthor, has
obtained 8 widespread and deserved
popularity in American Literary cir
ales by his former publications, -
'The Poetry of the 0riene" The
Genius Of Solitude. anl "Tbe
Friendships of Women But in
none Of these works Is the charming
dictioa. the argumensaGye skin, the
elevated culture and comprehensive
scholarship of the author SO eonspio-
uously displayed as in the elegant
volume before US on the Doctrine
Of Future Life" The work is an
exhaustive treatise on the all
important theme indicated by
its title; aud, Notwithstanding
many Of the positions taken by the
author are directly opposed to the
views commonly received in orthodox !
circles, still the greatness Of its theme. |
the classical beauty Of its style, the
ingenuity Of its arguments, the eandor
with which i assails the general opin-
ion, and the touching pathos which |
ever and anon dims the readers eyes |
with tears, will secure for the work
wide spread reputation.
Ia the introductory chapters the au-
thor discusses the varied theories of |
the souls origin; Celebrates the idea /
that death was an original and beneVo- |
lent arrangement of the Divine gov
eminent; presents the grounds of q |
belief in a future life, and, under the
head of Theories Of the Souls
Destination" discusses in a mastery |
manner, the theories of aanihi1atsoR,
rs-absOrptiOa, resurrection, c0nveyance. |
recurrence, and transition.
In the second part ofthe work, en-
bracing one hundred and thirty seven
pages, We have a detailed statement
and critical survey Of the varied opin-
ions On the subject Of a future life,
which have been entertained among
the Pagan nations. An incalculable
amount Of interesting and useful in
formation, which it would be difficult |
to find in any other single volume.
has been condensed into this part of /
Mr.. Ayers great work. In parts
third snd fourth, the author enters in
to critical examination of the teach
ings Of the Christian revelation and
of the Christian Church uponthe great
theme before him, ingeniously setting
aside the received interpretations in
many instances, and arriving at con-
illusions wholly adverse to the con
7iotions of the staid champions of
In part filth. the author
treats at length on the more import
ant theme associated with tho notion
of future III s-at saas - =
direction. future punishment. the ma
ture and method Of salvation, the
recognition of friends in a future
state. and ''the local fate Of man in
the astronomic universe"
The author contends that the whole
account of the garden of Eden was
fanciful creation of the mind; that
Adam was bat the representative of
single race Of the great human family,
whose origin must be referred to the
dateless calendars of a pre- historic
antiquity. He discards the notion that
death IS a consequence of human sin,
but regards it as an original, benevo-
lent necessity. He presents 4 variety
Of objections to the theory Of literal /
bodily resurrection. and concludes |
that there is an ETHEREAL structure "
which, IN death, is disengaged at last |
from It's gross envelope, and, unfet- |
tered, scars to the divine realms of |
ether and light" He evidently be-
lieyes in future punishment, but re-
jeot5 the orthodox idea of the eterni-
ty Of its duration. His theory Of sal
walton is, that it is harmony Of all
the forces Of the soul with themselves
and with all related forces beyond
harmony Of the individual will with
the divine will, harmony of personal
action with universal activity"
These are the principal poiats of the
work which come in contact with
the teaching called evangelical.
While dissenting from many of the
views presented. we think the work of
Mr.. Alger an admirable and we'll
timed addition to this department of
our literature. Truth will suffer no.
thing by Investigation and, aside from
a few grave errors in doctrine, there
is a common sense. a philosophy. in
/ the researches and conclusions of this
volume, which acoords with the in
buttons Of the soul, and to which all
| cultivated thought seems to be rapidly
/ tending.
PERIODICALS.