New-York tribune., 1878-03-04
PROOFS OF MANS IMMORTALITY.

PROOFS OF MANS ErdORTALITY.
The Reu W. r. Ager at NE church Of ne Mssia (Und,ianl
At the Church of the Messiah, yesterday
morning. the Rev. william r. Algcr preached on "Ths
Latest Word of Science and Religion the Immortality
Of tho Soul" taking for his text Job xiv, 10: Man
giyeth mp the ghost, and where is hel"
One principal reason, said the speaker, for the donb,
immortality is the study OF materalsic science Tie
authority OF the physical has superseded the authority
of the supernatural. But Immortality Is TO be decided
on intrinsic evidences. not by any historical evidences
Disbelief in the resurrection of Christ ought to m
ply doubt OF the Immortality o, the soul Any measure
OF doubt thrown on individual instances ought
not to stir the foundations OF great faith. The
one fascinating subject just row is the study OF
physical sccnce IT colors the popular view all sub
jects Of morals anl religions To those who plsce
physics above religion. the spiritual IS eubordnated 70
the material; the faacy is obvious the remedy simple
The whole universe is divided into two rreconcllabe
parts spiritual subects soul and material objects or
parts OF outward nature. Thought. Will, volition are
mmateral. though more real to Us than many material
things II Is only hopeless yulgary or Incompetence in
thinking that seeks merge the spiritual In the domain
OF the material. There is no affinity between sent.
mcnt and al atom; gas and an aspiration; all have
laws Of their OWE, and cannot be cOnfOundcd.
The ablest supporters OF evolution declare IN the
words Of Herbert spencer, that II compelled to. they
would give ideast.c nicrDrct9i0n 10 matter rather
than nIaeri1 istic Interpretation Of naiure In the
rc,us C true study OF physical science lie t overthrow
Of all doubts Scientific men OF the O9t profound Intel
ect have applied 10 me phenomena OF phys scA nature
tests before which everything dssOyes IN Ideal law and
beauty They convert the realm Of science into tie
yeritabo domain OF religion; they snow the theorizing
mind OF akin 10 the creative mind Of God. Instead
0i me sprtnA Delhg nt'eiifu, n.att.r - nenaei.
But there remains more direct way ot contiadctns
the dismal defiant dOubt- Il nateralists BFug up
the action OF spiritual force, tho play OF mind N reason
and faith the love Of tine good, the aspiration toward
what is hi CHEST and hohest. ..,.,,..
The last and most important cause OF the failing faith
IN Immortality Is the common lnaDhi! to sI'sp con-
ceptl0n The scramble over material Interests,
tho rrtaed attention gwen TO external things are iatl
10 that concentrated calmncss Of mind requisite for the
fl contemplation of doctrine so sublime ~ that Il m
out OF c ping with the divine kiuship qua Tie eternity
OF tho soul. No wonder that when minds and hearts
familiar only with houses dC's. 0aiiy needs. are sum
ccpton OF II. Untl this absorption In everyday needs
reaches its climax scrpteism VIII increase.
tvato what tends 10 remove IT. In explaining the des
mems rather tLan the abnormal ones. From the study
OF ,hr chic results OF human genius immortality Il clear
porence OF the soul itself The Apostle Paul said ho
va, caught up into the third heaven and saw what WIS
yet 10 tested 10 discriminate tnc true from The false
WHAT are prcsentlmcnis bnt the divine wings of Tie
sclan aud the mathematician Use the same devices lat
the creator has IN the world; they hud truths wlch
a..n the Par n, bind Of the universe, IG.nA OF ne
strides man has taken from caye"c Ter 10 MS p.-e1J
station TINS advance MIN the right 70 peer forth
intO the unknown ana promise himself an hhoo4haed
The idea OF an infinite GoI-present IN all men -is
warrant tor inimortGiity IN which no " can be found
%, tnu-r Who staoy tHe subject iuirihgruty. Tie
u0bp>t spirits ~ a ages have walked ~ tul fellowship
with Cod. The atmosphere Oi eternity benia Que who
lives IN association with the spiritual II thl' ne elGs
all how super lf1Ousy Is man equipped win powers ir
beynd ms needs II ne Is u have LO future, Why tor.
turr with rua pursuit ot tAc ulcachan4c goa a.!
perfection l. II credible that the moro sftcd ana d.,
man Is, the moro nc shall slut IN ie3r-
i'm. his -.eatcr share oI the burdens Of the Teci
In some blessed ace !to come when man shall ouE0w
IN. dlscord with nature, the truths II Immortality WIZ
be r~vCa ed unto HIM The ath is WHO regards man ~
. he,aTed butterfly falling frDZ on the boundaries -.
a dead universe refutcs hs theory hy thc very power
which conceived II. The indi conclusion j. that
either separate portion of the Godhead or separate
entities destined Immortality. The latter tGnk 10
be Tie truth Man forever feCdiBs or the uIAnUNn b
tho quest OF God III tie universe.