Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-07-16
TO CONVINCE THE COLONEL.
New York SpirituIists Take Bob IngersolI i
Hand.

Lilydale. N. Y, July 15.-"But where
does the soul go to after it passes GU
of the body? You gentlemen of thi:
faith pretend to have diagnosed thu
case, and ought to be able to answer
my question. Now that l have the
good fortune to be here. l want to in
crease my fund OF information
Thus spoke Colonel Robert G. Inger-
soil to group of leading Spiritualists
at this assembly ground. this morn
ing. The colonel was waiting for q
train for Bradford. Pa, and wanted to
utilize his time in learning the lesson
of Immortality
The soul goes to the summer land,
replied the leading Spiritualist. There
it works. and evolutes to a high
plane
"Ah," said the colonel grimly. 1T
works, does it, l thought we rested
after we got up there. And why I'M
der the canopy do you want to pro-
gress? Are we not all right when we
set up where all is bright and fair?'
The leading Spiritualist spoke of a
passage in Ingersoll's lecture when he
referred to the man in dugout. I'VE
progressed from that man. said he.
Why not keep on
Wei. | am sure" replied Ingersoll.
II get all the work in this world
want, and then he observed, mus
ingly While the crowd hung on his ut
tcrancc as if an oracle. Il am sure /
don't know what | should do, even if
YOU should convince me of immortal
ity, which you say YOU can do. We
don't stop work up there"
No" said the leading Spiritualist
There is the law of progression, You
know
May he So" said the colonel may
be so, l can imagine how large pro-
portion of orthodox folks could put in
their time. They'd hold prayer meet
ings for couple of million years. But
that time reading. Have they got any
spiritual cigars over there
The crowd of Spiritualists had no
reply tc make to this sally. They
didn't know whether TO take the colo
mel seriously or not but finally ven
tured on q laugh which developed into
roar.
Then came another Spirtualist:
You would have the consolation of
knowing that you would let us give
you some tests of future life. We have
trance mediums who could do it,
Don't believe anybody ever went
into trance" was the reply. If you
have people here who are in the habit
of getting into frances. they ought to
be shut up in an asylum until they are
cured
Then you won't let us try and con-
vince you, colonei?" asked a Spiritu-
alist.
No. / don't know that l care to
know whether | am immortal or not
Fact is, | don't want to live forever,
| am not at all satisfied with
this world. y minister asked me once
ii | thought | could improve on this
world If l had the power of creation
Yes said l, certainly. | would, in
the first place. make good health
catching. rather than disease. Acting
in the place of Mother Nature, l would
not burn down this hotel, destroying
the life of mother and babes, at the
same time burning up a few bedbugs
and rats. There would be 40 disease
liz my world. nor death, nor suffering.
nor misery All should be happiness
The principal objection | have to your
Spritualistic belief" said the colonel
abruptly changing the subject. is
that your mediums never tell anything
useful to the human race. They will
go into frances and relate that John
Miller. who was killed in a railroad
accident out West, is now over there
preparing a bed of roses for his friends
here on earth. No, l cant accept your
faith certainly not without more
proof than you have been able to
give"
Colonel Ingersoll passed one of the
happiest days of his life here. He is
looked on by all Spiritualists in the
light of a Moses. who would eventually
lead them to the conversion OF
all the world to their faith
They explain his obstinacy to
the fact that he is not yet spiritual
minded enough to receive the truth.
But they know he will be. some day.
when he shall have evoluted to a
higher plane. AS the colonel took the
train for Bradford. this morning, he
was followed to the station by a dele
hands in adieu from the PLATFORM
saying: "tiopdby, my brethren. You
nave here the prcttiest spot on earth,
and when ] die, or pass over, as you
call it, if | can't go to Heaven [ want
to come TO Lilydale. even if | have to
DlaN on a l6 ia | silver harm -