Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-08-07
APPEARANCE OF SPIRITUAL
MATTER.

A late issue OF The Humauitarla d
discussee, from o scientific stan pol Mt,
the question whether spiritual beings
ever become visible TO the mortal eye.
The discussion referred to, from the
fact OF Its being OF scientific chsrsc' er,
does not consider the veraclty OF wit.
nesees to spiritual manifestations, but
analy yes the process OF such maDifesta.
tions, to determine whether or not, In
view of the scientific knowledge OF the
present day. spiritual parsonage
really can become visible.
Upon this point 1t Is set forth as a
proposition that nothing can bs &C.
tually seen or heard, 30 far as the
bodily organization OF man is coz
cerned, except through the medium
OF the senses; therefore the appearance
must be in some material form. In
order 10 be seen, The Humanitarian
writer snys spirits must exist 10
that form OF matter and energy
which acts upon the retina
OF the eye, and In order to be
heard they must produce those viDra,
tions OF matter which cause the
phenomena OF sound. While many OF
those who assert that they have had
| gh0etiy visilations describe these as
being OF persons in unsubstantial
form, yet the more definitely authen-
Heated appearances, such as recorded
| in scripture, present u measure OF cub
| stanlial material which, while 1t may
paSs closed doors without sound
or warning, ami may vanish
at will. yet Indicates that the spirit
gives some form to matter. And from
these facts the writer referred to con.
cludts
Spirit and matter are usually opposite
i terms, but we may never heless conceive
the so-called spiritual world as in realty
| material one analogous to our own.
Recent science has shown that there liz
probably a world of energy and matter
hidden from our ordinary senses, OF
which we can only conjecture from the
suggestions obtained when the photo
graphic plate records more than the
human eye u ever capable o. seeing, or
the magnetic needle responds to an inilu-
| ence quite unielt by our dull senses.
Now 1t may be that 1t is In
such hidden world that ghosts have
their eNistence-spirits finding a dwelling
place in forms as much material as those
Of ordinary human beings, but OF an es-
sentialiy different, and perhaps moro
ETHEREAL, charao er. Into their hidden
world OF peculiar and unknown energy
n1anlE trH nanallU At
critical times in a mans life, correspond
ing to the iiiiul and occasional appear
ancos OF ghosts, his senses may be
abnormally developed, 50 that--as with
the Photographic camera-he secs more
than his eye is ordinarily capable OF SEQ
ing, and may become conscious by sight,
or hearing, or touch, Of that hidden
world in which ghosts live, and move,
aud have their being.
As to the spiritual sppesrAnces, 1t is
evident that The Humanitarian writer
has not very extensive acquaintance
with the principles that govern
the game; nor d'es he pre-.
Tend TO have. But he does
set forth nu interesting fact
that is known today, but watch was
W anu tElEDllEtH
OF half a century ago, viz; tha mate.
riRlity OF spiritual matter. Recen at
science, he save, shows a world OF mat.
ter hidden from oriinsry senses. This
declaration OF recent Eclnnca is merely
confirmation Of revelation in this
age. The Prophet Josopl Smith
taught that all spirit is matter, only
more rehasd than that which
ordinarily receives that name.
This teaching was commended against
by the religious pTeicheIs OF his |
day, and by many who claim d sci.
eniific knowledge, yet who persisted
In asserting the Numerically OF the
spirit. Blu. the old dogma is passing
awpy, ooudcmue1 by the develor-
ments Of recent science, which are in
harmony with truth revealed through
the great latlcT-day Prophet, whose
declarations oil principles that control
In the universe receive contimatiou
at every step IN demonstrated knovl.
edge.
As to the Appearances OF spiritusl
boipgs, it must not be forgotten
that the spirit in man is capable OF
seeing, when specially qulckened t.