The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1899-08-16
Forms Of ImmortantY.

80 much Of the plainly imperiahable
touches human life that materiallsis
should be cautious in tempting TO draw
the line. Nature steadily continues the
types Of mankind, and by the laws Of
heredity almost reproduces the individ-
ual There may be somewhere today an
Oliver Cromwell, wart and all,
though his name would be something
else, as the family was continued only
through the female branch, or collster-
ally Then there is the law OF the con-
servation Of matter, giving to each atom
an eternal endurance, though it's form,
like that Of the raindrops, is constantly
changing. Again, Immortality awaits
the achievement Of the thinker or in.
ventor who adds something Of use to
future generations. The mere record Of
this is called fame, and may be presum-
ed in some cases TO be everlasting. But
when Immortality is referred to it is gem
orally understood to mean the continued
existence Of personal identity, and for
this the msterialist finds no ground Of
belief, though he can present no evil
dence that the sense Of identity, made
up largely of memory and PERCEPTION, can
be instantly wiped out If matter, it is
certainly indestructible, though subject
to transitions. The sense of identity
may be suspended or lost while the fun
ctiOns Of the body 90 on. 1t does not
come to the child until certain degree
Of memory and intelligence is establish
ed. it is dimly present in sleep, it is in
terrupted in periods OF delrum or I'M
consciousness, and is absent in certain
forms of mental arrangement. in all
these cases it returns, or may return, in
an instant. Materialism contends that
it may be absolutely annihilated in an
instant, though admitting that an atom
can not be snnihilated at all. Nor does
the skeptic dispute the scientific truth
that the conservation Of energy which
may neither be increased nor diminish
ed, though its manifestations are varied.
If the mental and emotional life OF
man, with all its wonderful completely
and power, can be snuffed out in the
fraction OF second, human existence is
indeed a frail thing and the line between
life and utter extinction 80 fine that the
time consumed in the passage OF an cleo.
trio spark would cover it. Natures phases
Of suspension and transformation are
many, butt seems to have no place for
humiliation. These are thoughts that
occur before the higher level of faith aud
spiritual ideals is reached The church.
es and temples reared throughout the
world represent something in the hum
an mind that is deeper than the process.
es Of reasoning which, on this subject
must deal with much that is mysterious
Churches and temples are the true
counterpart of a reality in mans deepest
intelligence and insight. They are moi
false note unless the false note is in
man himself, From the same region o.
infinite apprehension comes the faith in
personal Immortality The thought
presents itself constantly to every mind
1t gives pause to Hamlet, and Claudio
the young courtier condemned to die
thinks not only Of the cold obstruction
but Of the prospect that the spirit goes
To bathe in fiery floods, or to reside
In thrilling region OF thick-ribbed ice
To be imprisoh' d in the viewless winds
Aud blown with restless violence about
The pendent world
These thoughts are spontaneous, ever
where faith and moral restraint are alb
sent. Materialism rows against univer
sal tide in resisting the conception of the
soul and of immortality Globe. Dem
ocrat.