The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-02

and women when lilo nccomplishes It's full sum ol
wears ana death gently III tho natural
close OF AN ample existence this form of the longing
Tor Immortality Will disappear. Tho beiiei IN minor
tally OF great Importance rs an educator o. nlec'
ton There is none much affection In the WORLD.
The world live contracted, and therefore we
who IL do not call into exercise tho breadth Of
our faculties. Our humanity takes It's tono iroin our
conception OF the human as that conception
wldens the humanity becomes rich and ten
der as that shrinks the humanity shrinks.
But the popular faith in Immortality has probably q
Grmcr hold the conscience Than u has even on tho
heart. IL IL indeed the buiwark OF conscience WITH tho
multitude OF mank Justice regarded the chief
OF All The attributes OF God The demand Tor JUSTICE
Tor absolute, poetic justice is imperative. But tina
universal aud absolute faith in the divine justice re-
ccyes shock when confronted with the aspect
oil the world There 10 the ordinary vision, IN place
Of the rule. justice Is the exception Things every
where look out OF joint Knaves ride IN carriages
honest tramp on foot Tho conviction that justice
done in this world is nearly as universal US the
persuasion that II ought TO be done.
WHAT THE cLEAR-EyED SEE.
The clear-e eyed look beneath the surface. nnd
discovering the infinite resources o. being ana tne In
pensation ask Tor no supplement Of hereafter 10
complete work that Is finished here. Tho faith IN
God is 10 them assurance enough; convinced that he
exists they cannot question that He exists every
moment and that no exists NIL is we'll u -
easy TO make sport these utopas, but the men and
women whe have the hard lie do appreciate
the Jest. They want something more and something
clscnot necessarily pleasures that have been denied
lhcm or delights they have never known Let II
come The faith in the hereafter, not US Offering vul
gar or superficial compensation Tor the present. but AS
q ana Impulse 10 ueSeopincHt,
is Of immense value 10 mankind. IL can hardly DO
denied that II keeps patient, constant and
loyal many spirit IN whom deprivation ,',
dcepcn into speration. IL IL prcservave against
rebellion and suicide, against bitterness and ferociiy
against uervelessness and mbecility. II assists tho
human 10 MAINTAIN superiority over tue bestiaL
That nope should be tinsed with extravaganza Is
natural IL not enough that the wen doer should DC
convinced OF tho divine justice, no must enjoy an
ocular demo nstratioL OF IT, The vision OF day vi
Judgment iaintly before tho MINDS ego Of tho
believer. Such expectation, besides being 10 tho
last degree unreasonable weakons the iorcc OF tho
plea for justice that conscience urges.
The real power OF the immortal hope lies IN tho
prospect opened by tho longer allowance OF time
Tor the full elaboration oil tho moral law. ~
makes a now horizon line, allows new deal.
The great charm OF this dream OF conscience Is It's
humanity. The promise OF this hereafter IL to tho
poor nd the unprviiegcd " IS dream Of good Tor
those who have known only evil Of happiness Tor tho
unhappy. Conscience anticipates an opportunity Tor
the millions OF nuinelcss ones who have never had
chance either 10 DO loved hated 70 DO honorcd or
tent with one lie. Who would usk thing moro Tor
hlma He had his great opportunity and greatly did
he improve IT,
That the apparent inequality OF this worlds arrange
ments Is valid argument Tor future lilo cannot with
good reason be maintained. The demand that each
human creature should come maturity, when IN
departments OF nature not one III ten thousand
does SO, seems plausible. But that each Individual
Mould cherish the OF II IS certainly great thing
For the highest practical function ol tue
beilcf IN Immortality TO cxait, magnify, glorliy the
nature OIL keep atlVe anc VlVu ZIG
that man is ideally an. potentially great being how
ever small creature he actually may be. Man would
be II We better thought Of htn The bchei that
u future lie awaits him helps 10 make him appear
less abject Ii is objected that tho belief
in Immortality rather wcakens than sim nlatcs rather
diss,pates than condenses rather fatters than in-
spires IL is true in vast multitude OF instances but
IL probably Is not true tho whole. No great idea
or principle does accomplish all that might be OK
pcclcd OF it, Doubtless people think they need the
immortal hope than they really do but the loss
Of would be lct severely than somo would have
US believe. | cannot Iccl with Theodore Parker that
this life would be desolated II tho next were dis
credited.