The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-01-05
MIR. GLADSTONE ON THE FUTURE
LIFE.

The Right Honorable W E Glad
stone begins a series of articles in the
January number of the North Ameri-
can Review on The Future Life and
the Condition of Man Therein. How
many numbers there will be is not
known, but judging from the character
of the first. the inquiry is intended to
be somewhat exhaustive, and the
prominence and character of the au-
thor will insure a very general reading
of it. Mr. Gladstone both in temper
ment and moral and mental habits has
been almost as much churchman as
statesman. Whenever political defeat
has driven him from public life, he
has always found consolation in re-
ligious studies. and at such times has
usually added something to religious
literature. And for that matter even
in the days of his greatest political
activity he has alternated his politi-
cal work with religious studies. Appar-
entity his mind was relieved of its
strain when preparing an English
budSet-at which he is a recognized
master-by diving headlong into the
consideration of some metaphysical
question concerning the Immortality of
the soul: or rushing into the arena of
public discussion to defend Christian
ity against the assaults Of It's adver-
saries. The Christian church-speak-
ing without regard to it's many Ill
visions-owes much to Mr.. Gladstone
for the defense he has made of the
Christian religion; and beyond doubt
Chri5tendom honors him as among the
first of Christian statesmen.
1t is a real pleasure to see Mr.. Glad
stone. Notwithstanding his failing
powers Of sight and hearing. take up
his pen to address the people on a
subject a. once so interesting and
fraught with such mighty consequences
to humanity. The pleasure of it is
only equaled by the wonder that one
discussing such theme with so much
vigor of which this first article gives
promise.
We know there are some who are
inclined to scott at the old mans IN
dertaking. They will perhaps say, as
they have said before of like efforts.
| that it is amusing in these hard and
scientific times to see old age in SUI
| perstition's lap with eager lips upon
| her withered breastl Or to see old age
| creep into the cradle of its second
childhood. and repeat the simple ia
| bJav +1,ot D1ooSod II IL, its fret r,,h
| to our thinking there is not a sight
more noble than to see this old states
man. with all the battles and strifes
/ Of life passed away. in the dignity CT
| his retirement. devoting the few re-
naming days Of life. and consecrating
| the remaining powers of his great in
tellect to the discussion of so noble a
theme. and we cannot forbear to ex-
press the hope that the Pickering flame
of his life may be made to burn more
steadily until the task is altogether
COMPLETED.
So much for the author: now as to
the matter
The first paper of Mr.. Gladstone's is
largely devoted to a review OF Bishop
| Buffers first CHAPTER on the Analogy
Of Religion. Natural and Revealed, to
the Constitution and Course of Nature.
The review. too. is chiefly in the nature
of a. criticism of the Bishop, a. half
complaint that in his great work he
has not placed the argument for the
immortality of the soul on its firmest
basis. He points out how the Bishop
| makes his argument in the first chap
ter. the title of which is-"Of a Future
Life"-partly negative and partly af-
firrnative In the first part the Bishop
shows the insuf1ciency OF the pre-
sumptions against the survival of the
soul after death drawn from the char
acter Of death: the second part is de-
voted to a consideration of the likeli-
hood drawn from nature or experience.
that the soul may survive death. Mr..
/ Gladstone admits and even glories in
the strength and sufficiency OF the