The herald., 1893-09-03
THE IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL
A Mortal Body and an Immor.
tai Soul.
Does the Mind Survive the DissOlu
tiOn Of the Bodys
Tho Arguments Pro and Con-Infiuenoe
of Minds Ovor Each Other-The
Science OF Mesmerism-Evi-
dence of Immortality.
TsECoND PAPER.l

Mans nature is dual. That is to say,
it consists of two parts, namely, body
and mind. Every one knows the body
ia mortal. The great question, which is
of absorbing interest to all mankind, is,
if the mind, soul or spirit, or any term
by which 1t may be known or under
stood, is immortal. Does it survive the
death of the body? Answer this ques-
ton satisfactorily, and peace of mind,
joy in the present and hope for the fu-
ture will be priceless boon for all who
may obtain such knowledge.
Mans body was formerly supposed to
have been made out of dust, but science
has brushed away this fallacy. Out of
the average 150 pounds of flesh and
bones put into the crematory. only two
or three pounds OF ashes are taken. The
other portions of the body have been
resolved by the intense heat into their
primal gases, and have passed away.
The heat OF the crematory simply assists
of hastens the work of nature, which it
would otherwise be months or years in
doing.
In regard to the nature of the mind
there are two great conflicting schools
of thought. One affirms that the mind
is simply the result of the organization
of matter. The other says that the
mind exists Independent of matter, and
merely uses the latter as workman
does his tool or an organist plays upon
the keys of his instrument.
The argument of the first school ia
that of the growth and decay of the
mind with the body. 1t is almost too
familiar to be restated. The mind of
the infant opens like budding flower.
1t grows to the ripeness of maturity in
manhood, and often, not always, decays
with the body in old age. The many ex-
ceptions in which the mind ia bright
and vigorous to the last breath is very
weak point in the arguments of ma
terialists.
This school assumes the negative, and
says that the mental manifestations
cease with death. Therefore, the bur-
den of proof naturally and justly falls
upon those who affirm that the mental
manifestations do not cease with, but
continues after death.
A favorite argument of the material
ist, In support of his position that mind
is result of organization of matter, ia
the oft-cited instance of the operations
OF the mind when there is violent press
ure upon the brain. These instances
are numerous and varied.
By some accident the skull has been
broken, and a portion ef the bone pressed
down hard upon the brain. The mind
ceases to act in part or in whole. This
state has been known to continue for
wears. Then. when surgical operation
has removed the pressure of the bone
upon the brain, the mind suddenly re-
news it's consciousness. Many of these
instances are amusing where the thread
OF thought has been taken right up where
it left off.
In all OF these instances the interyen-
ing period was perfect blank. Some
OF them haye been known to be as long
as 15 years, yet the individual, upon re-
covering consciousness, was not aware
OF the flight of time.
Again, it ia urged tha heads of idiots
90 to prove that mind is the result of
organized matter. The brain of the
idiot is badly formed; therefore his
mind is badly formed. The instances
of lunatics are also cited. A diseased
brain a diseased mind, and vice versa.
These facts all 60 to show the very
close connection there is between the
mind and the body. For all them, may
not the mind still be superior to and
independent of the body? Can the
workman work with poor or broken
tools? Can the organist produce the
concord of sweet sounds" if the KEYS
are out of order? May not all these
facts cited by the materialist be true,
and still the other fact remain that the
mind does survive the dissolution of the
body?
On the other hand, does not the mind
do the best it can with the brains at its
disposal? The five physical senses are
the avenues to the mind. 1t ia we'll
known what high degree of skill they
can acquire. The artists eye knows
every variation of hue and shade. The
musician appreciates every tone. The
keen touch of the blind is proverbial.
The taste and smell of the vigneron ia
unerring. As the senses are educated
the mind can use them better. 1t is un-
doubtedly true that the better the brain
Is organized the better the mind can use
it. But does this prove that mind is the
result of organized matter any more than
it proves that matter is the result of or
ganized mindP The question is still ur-
answered.
The argument is, of course, specious.
Mental manifestations occur always, 80
far as we know at present, only through
matter. Apparently the mind grows
and dies with the body. Apparently
the sun moves westward around the
earth. Science has revealed the truth
OF the latter question. And science.
which is only exact knowledge, may
possibly reveal the truth concerning the
existence of the mind after death.
If the mind does survive the dissolu-
ton of the body, then it certainly re-
tains all OF it's attributes. Memory, af-
lection and reason must remain. If
such a thing as disembodied mind ex-
lists, it certainly must have lively re-
membrance of its career while in the
body. 1t must retain its love for those
with whom it associated while embodied.
It must reason that those who have not
yet passed over the dark river look with
curious eyes across the Stygian food, or
long to lift the veil that hides from them
their future. If it be of that class Of
unselfish souls who always desire to do
good to their fellow man, is it not natu-
raj that it should try to help those on
this side to solve the great question?
As between embodied minds the only
avenues of communication are the five
senses. For ages mankind has wondered
if there might not be sixth sense.
Why not? What do the fishes of the
Mammoth cave know OF eyesight? What
means the pineal gland in the human