The sun., 1897-03-14
Ill.

Is there. however, asks Mr.. Goodwin Smith,
any voice In our nature which distinctly tells
that death is not tho endi II there is, there
seems TO DO no reason why we should not listen
to It, even though its message may be incapable
Of verifcation. such as. in regard TO material
hypothesis is required by physical science. That
the intelligence OF our Ave sonscs OF which sci.
once is the systematizcd record, Is exhaustive.
we havo no apparent ground for assuming; tho
probability seems to be the other way; II seems
likely that our senses. mere nerves, even II com.
p!otely evolved. are imperfect monitors and that
We may DO living in a universe Of which We
really know as little as the mole. which no
doubt seems to itself to perceive every.
thing that is perceptibie. though It knows
nothing OF the world OF sight. Now" says tho
author, there does seem to be voice In
every man. which. II he will listen to 1t, tells
him that his account Ia not closed at death. The
good man. however unfortunate he may have
been. and even though he may not have found
integrity profitable, focls at tho end OF life n
satisfaction in his past, and an assurance that
in the sum OF things he will find that he has
chosen oright. Tho most obdurately wicked
man, however his wickedness may have pros
pered, will probably wish when he comes to die
that he had lived tho life Of the righteous" Mr..
Goldwin Smith, indeed, does not deny that "it
may be possible to explain the sanctions or
warnings OF conscience generally. as the infu-
encc OF human opinion reflected In the individual
mind transmitted possibly by inheritance and
accumulated by transmission" 1t win here be
observed that Mr.. Goodwin Smith does not un-
dcrtake to decide between the views OF Lamarck
and those OF weismann. He proceeds fol-
lows: But such an explanation will hardly
cover the case OF deathbed selfapprobation
remorse. There seems to be no reason why We
should not trust the normal indications OF our
moral nature, as well as the normal indications
OF our bodily senses; and against the belief that
tho greatest benefactors and the greatest enc
mics of mankind rot at last undistinguished in
the same grave, our moral nature vehemcntly
rebels" Touching this point. our authors con-
viction is that this, at all events. is certain:
IL death is to end all, alike for the righteous and
the unriGhteous, for those who have been bless
ings and those who have been curses to their
kind. the Power which rules tho universe cannot
be Just many sense Of the word which VIC can
understand"
Is there. as a matter OF fact, anything In us
which appears to transcend the conditions of
mans present existence. to bo likely to survive.
and be carried over to q larger sphere OF beingi
This Mr. Goodwin Smith regards as tho practi-
col question, II the subject is to be considered
from tho strictly rational point Of view. He
comedies that character Is no doubt formed by
action on a basis OF natural tendency under the
moulding environment OF circumstance; nor
1t be affirmed that there Is any thing In moral
action not dictated BY the present requirements
OF our state as domestic and social beings, hav.
ing relations with others. as well as being under
the necessity Of caring for ourselves. Ncvcrthe-
less. although formed and manifested by acting
in cont fnr ty ha rttlea ~
character seems, when formed, to have n value
and beauty Of Its own apart from Its usefulness
In current activities; SO that we can contemplate
It, mark its improvement or deterioration in
ourselves, or make Its improvement the object
of distinct and conscious effort. What we call
spiritual life seems In fact, to be tho cultivation
OF character, carried on under religious influence
by sort Of inner self Mr.. Goodwin Smith
deems 1t conceivable that good and beautiful
character may be priced by tho Soul OF the
Universe, II tho universe has soul. as
capable OF union with itself, and that
II may thus transcend tho limits OF our
being here. III this" no says, I" is but hint on
u question at once so dark and OF such over
whelming Importance, we may gladly welcome
the fantest CLEAN OF light" At the same time
SO far as our author can discern, character can
be formed only by effort, which implies some
thing against which to strive; so that, without
OWL, or what appears TO us evil character could
not bo formed. The existence OF evil In fact, SO
far as we can sce is the necessary condition OF
active lito. For aught We know, effort or some
thing which We can only describe as effort, not
fiat, or nero evolution, may DO the real law
or tho universe. 1t Is true, however
that tho Immortality to which any sug-
gcstion OF this kind points would be
OF q conditions kind since good character alone
could have q lfe-giving affinity to the power OF