The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-17
THERE is NO REINcARNATIoN.
REV. CHAs. II. STRONG SPEAKS OF
THE THEOsOPHIsT,s VIEW.

THE THEOS0PHISTrS VIEW.
The Biblical View COntrasted With
That Doctrine That Came From
the Buddhists-The Doctrine I'm
Sought With a View of Relief.
Death and Its Mysteries-What.
Death Means-The InscrutabIe
Mystery of Life.
THE Christian View of Death" was the
subject Rev. Charles II. Strong interest
ed his congregation with at ST. Johns
Church last night, closing with con-
trast between the Theosophist's doctrine
of reincarnation and the Biblical state
ments of the hereafter. The subject was
suggested by the article of the Apostles
Greed, Jesus Christ, dead and buried
being another of the series of subjects
Rev. Mr.. Strong has drawn from that
source.
He spoke first Of death, the dark shadow
that is continually falling across the ages
that span the life of man. 1t has always
been and will always probably remain the
deep inscrutable mystery of life. Men
tons. Some welcome it as a blessed re-
lief, others never shun 1t when duty calls
upon them to face it; some have spent
fortunes to delay its approach. 1t is the
greatest experience the human mind is
called upon to undergo. and to all it must
come. Death Is the only common familiar
thing that is ever new. Leaves have
their time to fall, flowers to wither, but
thou hast all seasons for thine,
Death"
HI spoke of the pleasures and joys Of
human life. Often man thinks too much
of the valleys and forgets to climb the
hills. In It's many features we find life
joyful until death summons us to leave
1t, ana to leave the persons we love. 1t
seemed TO him, he said that knowing the
certa .nty of death all men should arrive
at some definite conclusion in life-some
conclusion for themselves as well as Tor
their loved ones. Some men tell US that
life ls limited by the grave, that there IL
nothing beyond it. Men are bewildered.
III IS absolutely impossible to limit the
life Of man to three score years ana ten,
or to limit it TO the grave. Man frequent
~ seems to be just at the beginning OF his
work when he is summoned to ieaVe it.
Just at that moment when his powers are
assuming shape he is sometimes summon.
ed by God and we are compelled to be-
lieve that there is a sequel to this life
lIyond the grave.
He referred, TOO, to the materialist's view,
and said 1t was just as absurd
to say that thought is finely spun
brain matter as to say that every atom
| of matter is endowed with consciousness
Thought and brain cells are most closely
united, 1t is true, but they are just as DIFF
| ferent as it is possible for them to be- He
| spoke of some of the incidents of life
which destroy this realistic view. The son
carries and cherishes the miniature of his
| dead mother To the realist it is nothing
more than piece of ivory, but to the son
| it is his inspiration and life. Matter, and
| spirit are essentially different. just as men
/ have learned that lesson, and that the
| spirit is superior to the material organ
ism, so much more ready will they be to
meet death.
| Death, he said, in speaking of the theoso-
| phist's view, is not reincamation. Some
| years ago it would not have been neces-
/ sary to make that point The idea came
| from the east from the Buddhists and is
/ as old as the hills. 1t Is that every soul
| that is not perfect at death is born again
IN some new form, and in a new body 1t
is only recently that the doctrine has come
to people of this country under the guise
| OF theosophy. 1t Is Inconsistent. 1t never
would have been received had not men
| wanted some idea that this mortal life
is not the only chance given. In many as
! poets it is a manifestly unreasonable doc
| trine. 1t is a doctrine in which men have
! sought relief from the idea that they are
! going out of the world just as they have
| been while here
There is only one life in the Bible of
/ which any re-eXistence is stated, he said
| the life of Christ. There is nothing
| whatever said about any reincarnation in
| this mortal life. The Bible SAYS the soul
| passes in states of spiritual DEVELOPMENT
| growing from strength to strength to a
| state of perfection. The soul passes at
once into new conditions of development
| and growth. Paradise is an immediate
! and not final condition. Contrast these
two doctrines he said, that of the Scrip
ture on the one hand and that of the
son say which is right
| The physical body is the cause of all
mans suffering, humiliation and poverty
| Under spiritual conditions he develops to
! perfection. The spiritual body is not a
| hindrance, but a help Few men want to
| live always, or want to live over this same
| life or another. Death is the end of temp
| tation, and to man that has a
! world of meaning. 1t means
! nearer approach to the goodness Of
! God. The noblest struggle is to be pure in
| the midst of evil. 1t means pain and lone
| illness, but the reward is with us ever after.
| Death means a nearer approach to the
| love of God, and to the likeness of Christ
which he has promised to his people. 1t is
| the supreme test of our manhood; let us
meet it with brave and hopeful minds and
| hearts of peace.