Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-04-27
What will We Do Over There 2


BY N. NJ. P0MERoY.
1t is late, very late. Before this
chapter will be finished, the day, the
week will have gone, and another notch
have been numbered on the scale of
time.
But for long talk this evening with
an old friend we should have flushed
this chapter and our allotted work for
the week, before this, and have written
on another subject.
The friend who called was a man.
An earnest man. A deep thinker,
though young as we count by years
He came and would not go till he had
asked questions, and piled up, as it were
mountain high, ideas, theories, and ar
guments unstamped by reason often
times, but still arguments.
He was afr aid to die
He wanted to know achy he was. We
told him all his fear was the result of
pernicious education from the teachings
Of those who rule by fear, under re.
ligion based on eternal, God-beslowing
love! We pitied him. We pity any
one who is afraid to go home. We pity
the agent who cannot think without
fear, of going to his employer. We
fear that religiou-that theory-that be
lief which teaches men to fear death.
We would fear to love tyran,!
All the land over are children being
educated to dread death. Rather fear
to live, lest we fail TO live arIght.
1t is late. 1t is very still. Our room
seems filled with mellow, golden
light smiles. The presence about
us is beautiful beyond power of words.
Our friend has gone, but we have some
thing for him from others-for all who
want more light.
This is au age of progression. Every
age has been this. Every age will be |!
Minds are bursting the fetters Of igno-
rance and narrow superstition as grow
ing buds burst their pods, or growing
trees burst the cords and ropes tied new
er so tightly around them by men.
Because this and that was of the past
is not that it will be of the future.
The gas-burners overhead have taken
the place of the ssucerfull of fat with
its floating cloth wick, by which We
read years ago, as that took the place
of darkness. Why? Pretty soon we
will tell you. The telegraph has killed
the carrier pigeou-the piano has taken
the place of the harp-the balloon has
superseded the Ass on which He rode
into Jerusalem-the little letters or
types with which these words will be
printed have superseded the hieroglyph-
les aud mouth to ear traditions of those
whose ashes have nourished trees,
grown fruits-again enriched the earth
and sprouted grass 10 again enrich roots
and tint flowers.
Why these changesl Because they
are God! The work Of God. The
plan of reation-continuing creation
AS matter works upon matter, so mind
upon mind. By chemical or other proc.
ess the life of root, bark and leaf is ex.
tracted-,he spirit is preserved, and
remedies are made to be applied to
those who are i'll.
By the change called death the dross is
removed, but the spirit is saved. Thus
the Gardens of God in the wonderful
Laud OF the Leal are filled with new.
comers each day till in the Realms oI
Regeneration are multitudes no man
can count-spirits in the Grand Treas.
ure House, each to work for all time to
come, but standing face to face aud see
ing no more, God Himself than we dc
here.
Why do we grow-expand, progress
Why do plants grow in lighthouses
Why does iron take shape9 Because
worked upon by agencies-by power
irresistible. We teach children al
those who have passed on to another
sphere teach us. We are taught MOI
alone by books, nor by words. Tht
winds, the storms, the light, the seasons
the events Of time teach MS.
Our minds are operated on. Not by
minds here so much as by minds Ove'
There, with power to reach us; to an
initiate space-to teach us by thousand
OF agencies. As some speak in many
languages, while Others speak but one
and that one but poorly.
While on earth we have earth-borr
thoughts of earthly things. This is al
there is of our present creativeness
Men make toys for children as othel
minds older than ours tell us Of tha
which is of That Life-not of eartl
and not known by US iu the least unless