The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-09-11
7OLO IN -FOUR SERMONS.
Immortality and Modern Science
the Subject at tho Congre-
gational Church.
The Best Efforts Of Modern Thought
Presented by Rev. w. G.
9choppe.
h Physica, Will Give Place 10 Spiritual
anA Man's spirit VIII uo
Immortal.

Last evening At The Congregational
church the frat OF a series OF fou- sermons
en- Immortality and Modern Science'
vas delivered by the pastor. REV. W. g.
&phoppe. Tho text last night was from
VI. Pstsr Skill. Nevertheless we, Accord
ing to his promise. look for new hsavens
and a now earth wherein dwslleth righteous
ness" Truth 10 an achievement. II II
gained NOT by reason. bat through the
spirit In the process Of human life. II you
wan truth At it, full value. 20 coin II.
Other avenues stop short Of the goal. II
you would find immortal life seek il In
obsdient human life. Man II not an eye to
see truth nor an ear TO hear. but a being set
in . soal world 10 achieve II. Rut evidence
has its value. Mental conviction helps
hints of immortal life in nature
and in man.. There are scientific
dsnials that lose thei' force under inspsc-
ton. The present aim 10 TO o!ear tho mind
OF these questions and show the upward
belief In Immortality, not like the vanish
ing myths Of ancient story. grew with ad-
vancinQ civilization. II encountered no
- ious obstacle till 1t faced mode n science.
Men, undss the principle Of induction. said
lot us look al facts-fnd What tho eenass
YONG ue ! N0tb II "
measuring physical facts. They studied
gases, fluids. solids. with length. breadth
and thickness. They came back from their
research and said: 1--WE have found no
heaven. No SEQ no repo.t OF eternal life:
therefore We know nothing OF it," Thi,
chasms or permit aucssss for the
sake OF morals has become quito
common, by TINT wise oontagion, also the
hope Of the good. by that waioh man move
unconsciously IN bntt.llions OF shought:
We appreciate their Iahors; NO deplore
their short.sightsd dentists OF what they
have not seen. Tho time may como when
rressed by the enemy they will Welcome
the skill Of those who can throw a brids
ncross the fatal river to the unaeen shore
Why was no created? No questions that
cannot be silenced. Science answers mot
the deepest c-nstions of Ito. By Its en-
phasis of the physical il has. in that ultra
Sion that pe'meates common thou2ht-al-
ways more dangerous to religions truth
doubt on immorsalitr. But in It..
reversal of natures apDearanoe IL
has cleared awny obstaoles. Under
the old rtolemaio illusion mon said
things arc what they seem. tho sky IL
solid, tho sun moves, the fiat earth 10 at
rest, then copercan revolution oams, the
beginning OF an endless process. science
has done little bnt change the Illusion OF
the one into tho reality OF the other.
Matter seems solid and Mt rest. IL is the OPP
seems TO end with Differentiation 1t really
passes into another form. Knowledge 10
not immediate, nature wisely puts truth
behind q veil. No crandsr achievements
has the mind than to turn the solid heavens
into empty space. tx the moving sun in the
Truth il an achievement through "a
Confidence il arss nppear.noes
has produced skepticism Of immo. talitv.
The soul OF man plsnds for IL. Highest
human life disclaims its denial. 10 great
voot suffers its eclipse to fall upon his page.
Yet great nj uncertainty ID cast BY appearance
Of dissolving nature. The heavens nre
empty-enrth resolving back to fre-mist
Where arc the eternal heavens? What
emotion shu. up for a span in a aeetins
oceanism. Death appears absolute. The
door Of tho grave ia locked. Tho lips of
man ara closed. The generations passed
are still. Here Ia the source of that dread
fear that haunts the mind OF man. Tho
lie e.. but %rissn." and modern science.
standing there repeats. my vooa-
ton is 10 arrest truth from illusion.
do not SEQ what You claim bnt the appeal
ancs of the opposite. On that principle
you may DO right. Renlitv gene ally re-
Vo bcb hppc0' uHoC PAV0NS
clears the way 70. proof.
You invert the landscape in the lens OF
the eye to give the mini a true picture.
Men OF noble thought arc not easily de-
ceivsd by the appearance of death. the lofty
Imagination mole easily transends the IL
lusions OF sense. Assume evolution, and at
every step of it's progress you have seen
wonders that can only be accepted rs you
look back upon its history. Take your
stand At tho beginning. Tbs first fire.
turo life on earth. How c%ontrars to all
appearance. The racing elements !auRh
you TO scosn. Your mind arpre-
lends the law OF progress. On this
Eint. unsciontific though 1t be. you soc
the future world OF life from the mollusk
of verdure. From huge monsters OF the
lrairie to thinking, conscious man.
You have lea ed broader chasms than
that which separates death from immor-
talitv. Why cnt short tho ascending exist
ence at the brief life of man? Science
under the same laws that produced devel-
opment. Evolution spnres not the indi-
vidunl O. class. II has been a struggle fo'
e%xistence-a survival of tho st.onR." Life
j. said to hs the adjustment of an object to
its environment. Whsn it fails 30 ndjus,
itself to surroundings. life ends Spencer
claims if there can be n perfect adjustment
to n perfect environment life would be
eternal. Is there no absolute existence
showing that possibility?
Is organization the cause of lifo or life ths
cause of organization? Science begins will
matter Mt rest. What is the origin of 1T
movement Whence comes fot Gel? Tn,
better school of science admits an end IL
view-that 10 humanity. Did tho purpost
i. side in matter or in some mind OUTSIDE
capable of conceiving man? Matter canno
include mind. 1t Is tested by mind. On,
clod cannot ~annlyze another. A creating
mind 10 back of all. May not matter ant
not spirit be a moro s,mblance and the I'M.
movable? After mo Q struggle through
this tangle of mntter we will stand on
peak with before us tho great ocean o
spirit. Physical science has no bldg,
across the river to the spirit lind. 1t onn
not explain the highest in life. LIST q
have no biRoted objection If til,
bridge il constructed from tho other shore
Man 10 the end of the development, there
foro not wholly Of 1t. Tho laws of tn,
process. survival OF the ftteat. atru2cle TO
existence. do not govern tho object that IL
the long struggle OF aees they have aimee
TO produce. Ho has new conditions. laws
aims, weakness 10 protected, meekness nna
love inherit tho oatth. Product of th'
struggling ages In him the individual /
preserved. John Fiske hns sail "tho uni
versal struggle for existence having QUO
ceeded In bringing forth that consImmat,
product of orentiye energy. the human soul
has lone its woik and will presently cease
In the lower regions of organic lite IL mus
go on, but a. q determining factor In tn
highest work OF evolution it Will oease.'