The Helena independent., 1893-09-18
QUESTION OF QUESTIONS.
Immortality and Nature the Sub
jsc. 1t the Congregational
Church Last Night
Pastor w. q. Eohoppe Delivers the
Second In His Series Of
Interesting Sermons.
The laquisy Made by Patient job Of Old
Furnishes the Text for the
Evsains Discourse.

The second In The series Of four sermons
by Rev. w. g. Sohopps. pastor Of the Con-
ersgationsl church. ON Immortality and
Nature" was delivered last night. the text
being from Job IA: II. III man die shall
he live again7" MIR. schoppe said In part:
God reveals himself 10 mon. Tho revela-
tion that 10 I. ne 10 written ON the desire Of
the heart, wrought into tho mental struo-
ture. engraved on the palm Of shs hands.
That which touches dcspest human naed il,
In origin. divine. Emerson said: when
the master of the unive Sc has points TO
carry In his government. he impreasss his
will In the structure Of minds" Mulfori
said: "Thers ID In man tho suspect, that In
the transient course OF things, there 10 yet
An intimation Of that which ID not tran
aisnt. The grass which fades has yet In
the folded and falling leaves OF its flower
that pssishss. tho intimation of beauty
that docs not fade" Nature 10 Prospective.
Its ANAL aim 10 proportional to it's
preparation. II is not like the
Emp ess Anne of Russia. who enlisted tho
architectural genius Of the empire to con-
struct. finish and furnish palncc Of snow.
TO melt at the a 81 thaw. In tho face of
natute's tendency why do men doubt while
they believe. the souls immortal life. En-
toned after tho routine OF business In the
senate cech div to seek each others COM
.aony and talk earnestly OF immortality.
Soubt OF human dcstiny threw over life .
strange sadness. They left the senate and
met no more for twenty-five yea,s. whom At
they saw each others face. .Prsasing
through tho company they clasped hands.
One said. ANY light vet. Albert2" The
other sadly replied. mo light. Lewi'."
to they parted. to meet no more
unlesa there be !ana OF light. II is the
faith besst with doubt; unconquered hope.
bedimmed with fear. Mind asss t;s bodily
condition denies. That every separate be-
ing 10 but a transient ripple on q. uniyer-
sal sea gains strength from the wide sweep
Of mortality. There 10 general deoay.
What evidence il there that man will sur
vive7 Mon have said: Matter is not dss-
troyed. u simply changes form" Why.
then. shalt life only pass away? Tho soul
of man il q unit and indestructible. The
reply wns made: II life continues as we'll
as matter, animal life must b included.
In his famous analogy Bishop Butler clinRs
to the argument and admits animal oon-
tnuance. With this the human mind is
now unsatisied.
A vast distinction there is between the
WOHlU Oh u6tUIo NHu bno uuuJdu uI0us no
tree may reach o certain hight. bear leaves.
flowers and fruit. 1ts design is FULFILLED.
IL has NO hidden capacities. Its principle
of life can do no more. The capacity OF
min is not exhausted. Its powers and
purposes are undefnsd, its present knowl-
dom never quenches. Virtue by illustrious
service rsplenishes, instead of wasting its
life. Tho soul, by good work, conceives of
higher duties-ls armed with nobles daring.
Its growth reveals no prison walls. Its
progress shows its boundless might. Man.
with capacity for never-ending pre- gress.
must live when nature's produots have
passed away.
To doubt Immortality is to reverse In
atinot, reject reasons loftisst verdict,
withhold from earth ita inspiration and
blast the only hope of man. TO doubt
Immortality is a lapse. q retr rogr ression. 1t
Q owds man back into animal nature.
makes him a thing to cat md drink aud
perish. To doubt Immortality cuts every
tie that binds man to God. ruts In place OF
and leaves .'earth's base built on stubble."
Consider TINT splendid passage from
Channing: 40 me there is bat one OBJ
jcotion to immortality. If objection IL may
be called. and this arises from the 70 y
greatness of tho truth. my mind some
immensity; l scarcely dare believe that
such good is placed within my roach.
When think of myself as existing through
all future ages. as suI viving earth and sky.
as exempted from every imperfeetion of
m, present being, ss clothed With an
looking on the outward universe with an
organ Of vision that will reveal
. beauty and harmony not now
imagined and 90 having aoosss
to the minds OF the wise and good, whom
think of myself 40 forming friendships
Nth hai n m ~ Pinh and var}0na }nk
and Of noblest virtue. as introduced to the
society Of heaven. as meeting there the
great and exosllent Of whom have cad in
history. a. joined with the just made per
feot in an ever enlarRine ministry of be-
Christ. as having IN immediate inter
course with God such as tho CLOSEST init
macies of earth but dimly shadow forth,
when this thought Of my future being comes
to me. while hope ! also fear. But whom
creation and ses there the marks Of omnipo-
tent goodness to which nothing is impos-
sibls and from which everything
may be hoped; when look
what powers . few years have unfoldsd
ing improvement. especially whom look at
Jesus. the conQueror of death. tho heir of
immortality, who has gone as tho forsrun-
nor OF mankind into the mansions Of light
and purity, cnu and do admit the almost
overl owetinR thought OF tho evsrlssting g
life. growth. felicity, of the human sou"
The imaRination's play around this truth
T. divine pledge planted In human nature.
1t breaks through visible barriers and falls
to enlarRinR its domains. II finds itself In
. cell. il Luilds a palace; 1t finds itself
rooted In. 1t will own NO limit save the In
tnite space of heaven. 1t 10 tho door
through which tho mind escapes limita-
ti0As. Whit open into illusion or reality