National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-01-20
AFTER DEATH, WHAT
An Attempt 20 Explain the Subsequent
Proceedings Before the Ethical So

Proceedings Before the Ethical So.
ciety.
George \. Bacon opened the discussion be.
fore the Ethical Society Sunday afternoon
by q lecture on "Tho Bugbear Of the Age; or,
Amer Death, Wha2' lie regarded death, not
as matter to strike terror into people, bat rs
antevoutlon into another and better life. TO
show the ordinary fear Of death TO be with.
out Just cause, he undertook TO max, known
what follows the separation from the bJdy NJ
death, OF the animating principle; what 90.
ours when man makes his exit behind the
scenes ofmortal life-his sensations aud eXps-
riences on realizing his entrance upon an
other stage Of action in fact, what death re.
veas to the Individual Reasoning from we'll.
known philosophical principles, he extended
his conclusions to the life that follows this,
and affirmed that, at the dscOnnectlon of the
spirit from the body, the immaterlal man
withdraws, or escapes, from the physical man
through the front top of the head, the zero.
val region, and always presents counterpart
of the human, a perfect likeness existing be.
tween the natural form and the form and
structure of his spirit body which is no less
natural than the former, with senses CORE.
spending TO all the external senses. The es-
sences and emanations that are evolved from
the physical body constitute the clothing or
body Of the Interior man.. The newly pro.
NOTED individual finds himself possessed of
all his original faculties and powers and amid
conditions that nre rs natural as those he left
behind.
Tho average moral man, who, irrespective of
all creeds and dogmas, is disposed to help
others rs well as himself breathcs an atmos-
phere refreshing in its purity; he opens his
eyes upon landscapes more picturesque and
beautiful than ever he looked upon before.
lie sees and recognizes, friends and relatives,
who take charge Of and attend to his special
needs. fthey arc such rs require n period of
pelfect rest as in cases of prolonged and severe
illness, an adapted asylum receives him. In tho
great majority OF cases, one attends, fully con-
sclous, an interested observer, the funeral ser.
vices over his own body. He finds that his moral
and spiritual status determine his condition
vice. law gives place to the moral code. He
passes for what nc is exactly worth, sees him
self, and others see him, as he Is, without any
disguises lie carries with him his intelll;
gence, affection, memory, Will, desire-all
that constitutes his personal identity H.
gravitates TO improper place with all the OK
aetitude inherent IN the principles OF attraction
and adaptation. Death furnishes better flcli.
ties for perpetual progress than his life af-
fords. The arts and sciences, In all their pro-
gressive unioldings, are his TO pursue who has
the inclination Homes being necessity OF
our nature, homes in all their complete slgniii'
canoe exist after DEATH The law of physical
kinshlp yields obedience to tho dominion. OF
the spirit. The higher law Of spiritual affinity,
of reciprocal attraction, is the one potent force
operative after death.
There is an inhabitable sphere of refined
and spiritualized matter existing In the
heavens, among the suns and planets In space,
the veritable dwelling place OF man after
death, having definite locality, and conditions
appropriate to his changed relations. Though
there never was a. more rational idea, one
more in accord with the inductions, the prln-
ciples and facts of science,and the teachings Of
universal nature, yet how few accept this
idea? When one does first crystalline his
thoughts concerning the present life and It's
logical outgrowth as to the future, the real
istic sense ofthe idea is apt to startle him into
doubling It's verify, but despite all doubts the
The world IN which man crayitate after
| death is as natural and substantial as this Is
| and subject TO all the natural laws that per
tain to spirit life, II has a congenal at
mosphere and adopted climate, diversified
scenery, music, and flowers, seasons OF rest and
activity, of study and recreation, societies, de
veloplng schools, disciplinary institutions, ant
educational councils. Allotted spaces wer'
apportioned to the criminally disposed VIII
much iSSaoS by dark Phe,es TStGhG,
sionary spirits; nurseries and training places
for children; developing schools for the
morally weak; hospitals for the spiritually de
tendants, instructors, and guardian Locomo
ton ensues from willpower; dwelling place
indicate development; clothing corresponds y
character; thought Is visible. situation accord
with predlsposing desire. Association Is deter
mined by congeniality. Persons approach eacl
other through mutual attraction.
Moral states are expressed by colors and en-
anations. Personal progress depends upon tn
harmonious cultivation OF spiritual graceS. a
the outer reveals the Within each Is seen as h
is, and none can be Inisludged. Out of It all
is seen that moral qualities forever abide, an
spiritual development becomes the highes
good.
The subject opened the way for discusslo
of the question whether there Is q future lif,
in which spiritualistie, materialistic, and az
nostic views were given, all of which stanC
points were ably defended. The interest In th
subject which was manifested determined I'll
society 10 take IL VI again at q future time.