Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-08-07
CAN THEY COME TO US?

1--WE did it, dear. in some such way,
long ago.
C. W. C. in Philadelphia Ledger.
CAN THEY COME TO US?
The angel of the Lord encampeth rounc
about them that fear him, and deliverett
them.-Psalms, XXXiv., 8.
In what way do the dear ones who
have been summoned to the other
shore employ themselves? Love often
asks that question and love ought to
have an answer. Is it a problem that
cannot be solved, or are there clews
which will lead us through the laby-
rinth into the clear sunlight of I'M
wavering faith?
MIt Is rather an important matter, for
if we feel that they are always or even
sometimes within reach of us we can
bear the separation more bravely,
while the thought that they are in
some remote region into which no in
tellIgence from the earth penetrates is
SO depressing that our shoulders SILVER
beneath the burden.
Death is little less than death when
we are reasonably certain that the IA
ther who has gone has still the power
to watch over the child who remains,
and death is little more than death
if it means the humiliation of the af-
lection which made this life SO pre-
cious
Fortunately we are we'll rid of the
curious and fantastical ideas of heaven
which have prevailed SO extensively in
the past. 1t has been pictured as a
conventional place, whose very joys
partake of a dignified and gloomy
solemnity; where the natural propensi
ties from which SO much pleasure in
the present life is derived are relent
lessly suppressed; where such excessive
attention is given to music that the flu
ture seems like an eternally prolonged
chorus of vocalism, and where the sou
will no longer take delight in those in
fore given it both it's enjoyment anC
it's individuality. In a word, it wa
regarded as so undesirable a residenc,
that the longing for an extended lf,
here became painfully intense. w
did not wish to go to heaven, partl,
because it was a region peopled b,
strange beings and partly because j
was impossible to see how we could b.
contented there.
All this was demoraliZing spiritually
and we chung to life, not only with tn
tenacity that God implanted in GU
constitutions as necessity, but witt
an added tenacity which was morbit
and unnatural, since we felt ourselve
wanting in the capacity of adaptiD
ourselves to the peculiar kind of happj
ness which the angels are supposed l.
enjoy.
But these legendary notions are
Pigment OF the past and a more ration
al view has taken their place. Gu
present faith is not based on the i'm
agination merely. but on a superio
knowledge of Gods providence and OIL
a wider view of the souls require
ments. We now know that eternit,
for US began when we were born, tina
the future is only the present prolong
ed, and that heayen will simply fur
nish us with added opportunities TO
spiritual and intellectual DEVELOPMENT
Eternity is nothing more than a Nov
indefinitely repeated, and the law.
which govern US to-day will also gov
ern us tomorrow. Death is remova
from lower sphere of activity to q
higher one, with no changes whatever
to mark it except the loss of bodies
which have achieved their purpose and
can no longer be made useful
1t becomes easy, then, under the re
gime of this new thought, to decide in
at least a general way what are the re-
latiOns between the two worlds. We
may make grave mistakes if we deal
too largely in details, which is the ten
dency in this age of reaction from the
formal and cold and unnatural specu-
lations of other times; but we can ven
ture upon some generic statements
which must certainly contain the gist
of the whole matter. and these state
ments come to us like unexpected
strains of cheering music to the weary
traveller. The soul is so fortified by
them that the direct bereavement has
a modicum of comfort in it, and the
profoundest sorrow, like the cloud at
sunset, a silver lining.
They who have gone have not gone
far. They have not been Transported
to such distance that their interest
in and love for us have been interrupt
ed or intercepted. Those who were
dear to each other are still dear, and
will remain so until changes are effect
ed by mutual consent. They are not
asleep, awaiting a summons by the
archangel's trumpet, for the trumpet
has already sounded for them. They
will not arise from the grave, for they
never went into the grave. From here
to heaven is only a step, and those
who have taken the step to heaven
can also take the step from heaven.
The soul without fleshly body can
do what soul hampered with a body
cannot do. Heaven, as literal fact,
is all round about us, and not a cry
goes up from earthly misery that is
not heard there, and not a loved one
turn and to influence in some degree
those who are left behind. If we have
the power to think of them thew Ger
tainly have an equal power to think
of us, and though, imprisoned in this
tabernacle of flesh, we may not visit
them, they have no such impeachment,
and not only may but do throw them,
selves into our interests just as they
did when they lived in this lower
house.
1t Is mistake to suppose that soul
becomes enfeebled simply because it
has crossed the river. Its intellectual
and spiritual powers are greatly en-.
larged; it can love with deeper love
and it can help US in many ways to
bear our burdens.
That kind of faith is healthy slim
ulant. 1t glorifie5 this life and irradi.
ates the other life, Religion becomes
a joy forever, the most desirable thing
in the world, as necessary to our com
fort as our daily bread They see you,
they sympathize with you, they help
you. The dear Lord said, Il will come
unto YOU" and an it be true that He
always come, one, or He accom-
panied by those who still pray for our
welfare and love US as deeply as everi
~. Y. Herald.