The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1883-02-28
MooKINo IMMORTALITY.


The narrow margin between civilization
and savagery has had no recent illustra-
tions moro marked than the two funerals
of Actor Thorue in New York last week.
and of Jack Mccormick, Chicago sssport,"
buried on Sunday last. Both were SYM
pathiZers with Bob Ingersoll, and both
left special requests, or orders rather,
that no religious services should be eele.
bratcd over their remains. Each doubt
less felt that anything like a. religious
ceremony would be mockery, and so
there was none. In the sports case the
pall-bearers took drink over the coffin
after it was lowered. and emptied the
dregs upon it in the other, with Stuart
Robson to deliver brief paHegyric, they
showed little more dignity. but express
ly denied Immortality or religion, read
characteristic telegram from Ingersoll,
and then without ceremony turned away
with as little feeling as though they had
buried horse or dog.
Such exhibitions shock the good taste
and the good sense of the average man,
because there is no just occasion for them.
Even this, perhaps, is the lowest view
that can be TAKEN Why should men de-
ride, defy and mock at Immortality, and
say ''there is no God, "when, according to
their own admissions, they know nothing
about it ? Is mere brute or savage cour-
age so noble a trait that il is to be brazen-
" Haunted on the border Of the Unknown
Land ? Does it heighten the admiration
of any but literal fools to see men reclS-
less in the presence of death, when, with
the possibility Of Immortality and God
beyond, they are as helpless as babes
against what my be in store for them ?
And why is immortality such hideous
doctrine that hatred of 1t is to be cele-
brated in rites designed merely to insult
all its believers?
Men can train them selves to do almost
anything in the way of physical endur-
ance for the moment. The Indians, it is
said, when tortured by Indian enemies,
have Knocked the latter by suggesting new
tortures, which they bore unflinchngly
to show how little they regarded mere
physical pain. The savage Emperor of
Mexico, when stretched by Cortez on
bed of Goals. detiantly asked us this a
bed of roses?' 1t is quite possible that
Mr.. Stuart Robson and Mr.. Jerre Dunn,
actor and sport, could, with little mental
preparation and alcoholic fertilization,
calmly walk into a blazing fire hand in
hand, disrobe and lie down to roast, if
not to rest but would such an exhibi-
ton do any more good than this defiance
of the Infinite and this heathenish disre-
gard of death which it teaches? Their
mere int1delity is matter for themselves
alone, but their blatant advertisement of
it, coupled with pitiful attempt to in-
suit the Creator of the Universe, is au in
suit to everyone who believes civilization
better than barbarism, and shows. dimly
perhaps. what we might expect in il State
where their views obtained 10 the extent
that Christianity now dominates in civil
lied society
But back of this defiance Of the Infinite
and assumed indifference to Immortality is
another motive, especially shown in tho
preface to the actors funeral. These men
had attended funerals where the preacher
having conscience, did not praise tho
dead. They formed a compact to have
no such funeral over their remains
They didn't care tc deserve preachers
praise, but they would have none of his
criticism, expressed or implied They
didn't believe in God, eternity, Heaven
or He'll, but they would be praised. So
Mr.. Stuart Robson said of his friend, .If
he had faults never saw them Gle
had few enemies and many friends
His faith was summed up in these con-
soling words 1.-The future is q dark, i'm
penetrable curtain, which no human. be-
ing has ever drawn aside and come back
to tell the tale. And then lie drew it
aSide-and vanished That was all.
Men do not look often to Il daily Jour
nal engrossed with the affairs of busy
tpD nj fnr rs RI INN nj IN
And yet, it is not out Of character, even
If not common, to repel these hideous as
saults on faith that alone makes life
bright to millions of sorrowing toilers.
1t does more than that-it gives to civil
lied life all the peace, hope, security, CON
tentment. chastity and Joy that there is
in life. Ii this statement seems broad,
let the doubter ask himself what self
denial or regard for human rights could
be expected in Il nation from which ali
belief in Immortality was blotted ont?
Indeed, would there be, except briefly,
any nations at all where every man was
merely law to himself while he tarried
before the "impenetrable curtain, who
expected nothing from the future, and
whose only joy was the present? The re-
gard shown now for law and order by re-
spectacle in1dels is no criterion for such
state of society. No matter how low
the nations may have sunk since tho
flaming sword was placed over the gate
Eden, the influence of religion has shaped
human destines and legislation ever
since. Even paganism was better than
blank infidelity, and its Influence kept So
ciety above the lower deep of degrada-
ton and humiliation. For infidelity-
such as these men teach ia its entirety
means nothing short of social and moral
anarchy, followed by humiliation. II
they do not know tho meaning of their
doctrine they should give 1t consdera-
ton. -Phild. Press.