Los Angeles herald., 1892-07-10
THEOSOPH|C REB|RTH.
An Exposition of Features of
the New Greed.
The Three Hypothesis Concerning
the Souls Origin.
The Objects OF Life-The Christian and
Materialistic Dogmas-The Souls
Certainty of Seeking It's
Strongest Affinity.

There are three hypotheses concern
ing the origin and destiny of the sou
which include almost every possibl
form of belief within their limits. Th
first, and that which is held by yer,
large majority of the human race, i
reincarnation, or the repeated descen
OF the soul into material bodies. Th,
second is the one-hirth theory, whicl
supposes the creation of new soul a
each birth, and having its chief repre-
sentative In modern not ancient
Christianity. 1t also includes most O
the believers in spiritualism. The
third looks upon the soul as the produc
OF the molecular and chemical activi
ties going on within the body, and holds
that the cessation of these activities ne
cessitates it's destruction. This is the
modern materialism. Now if we apply
the crucial test of hypothesis-that OF
accounting for all the phenomena in
cluded within its own proper territory
we shall be at once in a position to
Judge OF the truth or falsity of each OF
these three concerning the soul.e
First, then, as to the object of life.
Except we deny any aim at all in ma
ture's processes which have led u to
man, it is evident that in man the one
paramount object is to gain knowledge
and wisdom through experience. Even
one short life forces us to this conclu-
sion. Materialism does not deny this,
but claims that this increment OF wis
dom is transmitted to the race, and
that tho individual hoe M f,,@r.n ,bo.o
| in it. If experience be the
object, then one life is simply absurd.
Did all attain old age the case would be
bad enough, but when we consider the
vast number who die with no ex-
perience whatever, the inadequacy of
one life to accomplish its object
becomes apparent to the dullest intel
lect. Justice, also, is set completely
aside by the one birth theory. Accord
ing to Christian dogmas, child who
dies at birth is surely 'saved'--what-
ever that may mean to them. 1t has
had none OF the experiences and nd ta9llR3tfat- llR3ft
tions of its fallasz.--~--ss<s
of its earthly career. One plftn pan-
isnes both method and reason from Inc
plan OF creation, for there is no neces-
sity for the spirit to incarnate at all, or
else the coming to earth Tor lew mo-
ments, as in the case OF babes who Ole
at birth, cannot fulfill the requirements.
The same fatal defects apply to the
materialistic theory OF the enon-existence
of soul independent OF the body, For
admitting that the experience and WIS
dom might be transmitted to the race
as its heritage, yet the race itself must I
eventually perish, and with it all the
| fruits of the suferings of its units.
Materialism merely removes the diff
culty one step, and leaves lite none the
Elees q farce because this now as-
sumes colossal proportions. 1t is
quite as unjust for the race
to die. even after millions OF
wears. as it is for the individual to do SO
after one life. Both results argue the
/ non existence of any design in nature.
and relegate the whole problem OF nu-
man life to either pure chance, or else
the barbarous whim of some Jehovah,
who creates and destroys men and worlds
az the humor suits him! No sane man
can deny the evidence OF inteiii-
cent design in nature. His lmper-
feet physical senses make this PLAIN,
and the most powerful microscope
or telescope only adds to the evidence
already at hand. The more deeply one
searches the more abundant the proofs
become. This is admittedly the law OF
the physical. Having reached the
mental or spiritual plane, does nature
now suddenly fly in the face OF hel
former methods and hand the guiding
reins over to blind fate or binder
chance?
Materialism, too, is particularly un'
happy in applying its hypothesis to lt'
own erandest and most sweeping gener
alizations. 1t proudly announces tina
s.ex nihilo nihil fit," and then assume
an intelligent, reasoning soul as startln!
J into existence 'out of nothing
and departing into the same un
/ reasonable and impossible limbo whei
, certain processes pertaining to tint
! bodily form cease to be active. Tne IN
, destructibility of matter, the correlation
OF force, the conservation OF energy, IN
law of evolution, all are in hopeles
irreconcilability with the one birth tne
: ory, whether we admit the soul as lae
tor or whether we deny it. Matter, lorc
: and intelligence are but three aspec!
of the one reality, ana thei
separation under any conaltlon
: absolutely unthinkable. Ii matte
/ is indestructible, then the ms
8 terial base of the soul Is lnoestruoS M
l. bic, IL IOrc6 lb hlWdyp oSAS -
Q this includes Psychic or soul force.
: energy is eternal in its action, then II
r. tellectual energy cannot be excluoea
! evolution be fact in nature, tnen ~ y
. cludes the larger fact that its process
y are necessarily infinite in duration.
n Scientists claim that atoms OF mas!' s.'
10 can never escape from the laws OF ann
)" itv. that atoms of iron, Tor lnstanc
N will even be attracted to iron atoms, al
N that no power can destroy that part.
,e ular property which constitutes u
: atom iron, instead of, say gold, aitnoui
ii may be so buried among other aton =
as to be entirely indistingulsnan3 :
by our coarse physical senses.
v Intelligence must follow the san
n. law. by all the evidence
analogy. The soul represents in It's
ed oI am II manifestation, an ultimate olV
ng ion, if we may be allowed the Term,
'ut Intelligence, and must retain its II 9
ey 10 qualities under whatever assoclato
,es ,es it may find itself, just as truly
re, reasonably, and as certainly
KS that the ultimate material ats
whose properties constitute 1T iron, :
,1s us something which is not tiron. Ii the 9
' is law on the material, the otner