The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-01-03
IMM0R1 ALlTY.

| There is general impression gone abroad
tnat the facts of science are dead against
the doctrines of revelation in respect to the
immortality OF mans soul. One of the
accepted evidences, in fact, of being scieu-
titic, in the estimation of superficial peo-
pie, is discovered in disposition 10 sneer
at revealed religion and in the rejection of
this Bible doctrine of mans Immortality as
an impossible thing. Those. however, who
think nothing can be said on the other side
OF the questlon-who think that science
cannot be made to do service in sustaining
the doctrine of immortality, will find an
intensely interesting article on this subject
In the Christmas Century, by AUGUSTUS
JAY DU BoIs; and those who have hitherto
found in science strong confirmation of the
great truths of revealed religion, will find
their convictions strengthened by perusal
OF Mr.. DU BoIs' thoughtful paper In
| respect to the views of scientists upon this
subject, Mr.. DU BoIs divides them into
three classes first, a small number who
would be found to hold that there
is scientific evidence both for and
against the belief Of Immortality; second,
somewhat larger number who hold that
such scientific evidence as existed at all
was dead against any such belief; and
third, still larger number who would in
sist that such belief must ever rest upon
grounds which science does not touch at all.
and that ali such questions are entirely
beyond its scope. But despite the fact that
by far the larger number of scientists
would either say that the facts of science
are dead against the belief OF immortality.
or that 1t is question beyond the scope of
science, Mr.. DUBOIS boldly and, as we be-
lieve, makes successful argument to the
effect that there is scientific evidence for
the belief in future LIE. His basic prin-
ciple the writer states as follows:
The universe in all it's parts is the visible
manifestation of underlying mind and all inter-
probation by US of the phenomena of nature
should therefore be guided by the assumption
o. underlying purpose.
He then proceeds at some length to de-
monstrate the truth of this proposition. He
finds in the mind of man himself power
over matter Limited that power is, of
course. Yet limited as it is, it furnishes
demonstration that mind can and does af-
feet matter and that so far as human ex
perleuce goes it stands back of all purpose,
OF all design; and from thence he concludes
since in the phenomena of nature and
the movement of the universe there is
manifest purpose, there must be MIND
underlying that phenomena, that move
ment
He sees also in the life of man purposes
which are not attained in his mortal
! career, possibilities in him which do not
reach full fruition. Yer, "as the end of
creauon, We share to some extent the at
tributes of the will which guides creation :;
to certain extent we exercise the same
powers Of causality; within certain limits
matter obeys our behest, even as all matter
Is subject to mind, and we possess con-
sclous personality, free will, and causality
as partakers and co-workers with mind
through the possession Of mind.n
In respect to mans relation to the great
purpose which is visible throughout the
works of nature he says: I'VE see a vast
interplay OF force and matter, on scale
lar surprising human comprehension.
leadlng up to consciousness and life. -
And now, if all this wondrous deyeIon-
ment, based upon mind at every step and
with purpose attested by uniform action
at every step, which has led stead-
lily up to the result of self
conscious mind and spirit emhod
LED III material existence. is to
END IN collapse and utter extinction of tho
very result obtained, what a ridicnlouo
mouse the mighty mountain has bronght
forth. What gigantic failure, nro
cess seen clearly to rest upon everlasting
purpose, plan conceived in in intelligence
and discerned by reason, is found To he b,,t
aimless and purposeless activity which
ends by destroying the very object at
tanned. Can such conclusion stand for
one moment the test of reason?,,
Conscious OF the inferential nature of
this argument, and the possible objections
that might be made to it as not being soien-
tihc in character, he makes these observa-
tons upon the nature of this species of
scientific reasoning:
IL Is always within the province of scienca 70
employ legitimate influences from observed
FACTS It's proudest claim has been it's abiIitv
from study OF the past to foretell the future
and If this process is to continue to he con
sidered as sound, then it seems to me that
science. as it exists to-day, furnishes material
for an argument OF the greatest strength in
favor OF immortality.
But after all, the strongest and best
argument for the Immortality of the soul
of man Mr.. Dubois finds, as all others will
IND VINO reflect upon the subject, is the
consciousness and very nature of man
coupled with the demands of Justice. The
writer whose work is under consideration
touches the latter phase of the subject
thus; Justice demands Immortality. The
UNEQUAL distribution of happiness. disasters
mingled with pleasure, misery side by side
with happiness, the hard, I'm equal lot of
many. bearing the heavy burden not only