The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-11
LAW AND PURGATORY,

described In the dispatches Of yesterday, the
case upon which this decision was based was
that of an aged Brooklyn couple, who, three
years ago, placed a sum of money IN the hands
of a friend to be used for the purpose above
mentioned. Shortly afterwards the old people
died, calm in the confidence that every
necessary precaution had been taken to
secure their early release from purgatory.
When the holder of the funds proceeded to
carry out the trust imposed upon him, how
ever, he found difficulty in the way. Rela-
tives of the deceased pair objected to the pro-
posed disposition of wealth, which they be-
lieved could be used to much better advantage
in furthering their own worldly prosperity;
and they, therefore, raised the plea that the
trust was void for want of competent bene-
ficiaries, these being the souls of the dead. At
the first hearing a ruling was made in favor
of the plaintiffs but, after dragging through
the courts for nearly three years, this opinion
has been reversed, and the trustee given as
surance that he can now fulfill his task with
out further hindrance.
The case is interesting in general way, as
throwing legal light on the theological and
commonly accepted theory that no man can
take his riches with him when he departs from
this world It is rather startling to those who
have careiessly assumed the truth of this
10 NO .vfo "A had
were in error, and that the lucky possessor of
silver and gold may profit by these earthly
treasures after he has entered an
other state Of existence. It is true,
Of course that he cannot literally carry
the money with him. The Brooklyn court
does not 60 so far as this but he may invest
it so that the benefits will inure to him after
his mortal career is ended When traveller
goes to Europe he does not commonly load
himself down with veritable hard cash, but
trusts to the intermediary services Of banking
house and drafts. In similar way, accord
ing to this Brooklyn court the prudent indi-
vidual, who wishes to smooth his path in the
next world, may arrange beforehand for what
might be termed spiritual bill of exchange.
This, if properly utilized will soften the as
perities Of the purgatorial climate, and hasten
the journey through that disagreeable country;
with the greater outlay the greater speed,
just as liberal expenditures here mitigate the
seventies of earthly life.
The doctrine that the condition of departed
spirits in their new abode may be made more
agreeable by intercessions of survivors in
their behalf is, Of course, matter of pro-
found belief to many devout people; but there
has been some uncertainty as to the proper
method of procedure in case of those who can
not depend upon the voluntary petitions Of
surviving friends, which is now, it may be
supposed satisfactorily settled by this New
York ruling. 1t being agreed by many that
purgatory must inevitably be passed through
it seems no more than reasonable that man
should have not only the moral but the civil
right to bequeath money to his soul for the
purpose of getting it out of misery as soon as
possible.
Another point connected with this case will
also cause some speculation upon the probable
influence of mundane affairs upon those of the
next world. The Brooklyn couple, having
provided as best they could for future emer-
gencies, naturally expected that their sojourn
in the intermediate land between the United
States and heaven would be short Now the
question arises, have the souls Of these relig-
ious and presumably good people been de-
tanned in purgatory pending the trial of the
case which involved the fund intended for
massesY Can it be that departed spirits suffer
from the delays incident TO the course of NOR
tai laws? Consider for moment the unhap-
py condition of that pair of elderly souls, late
from brooklyn, awaiting in more or less
pain and discomfort, the disposal of
their case in the New York courts It will
hardly be believed, of course, that tho fate of
these persons depended entirely upon the rem
dering of the law, but there is evidently a
belief in the mind of the court and of the
trustee that they may still be lingering in the
halfway land, else why should it be considered
necessary to go on with the masses after so
long delayf 1t may be that their residence
Ia Brooklyn was held to be sufficient punish
ment for such sins as they had committed,
and that they were dismissed to glory long
since; but this is merely possibility. 1t is,
unfortunately, not practicable to secure def