The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-22
THE FUTURE LIFE.
Belief in Immortality as an Influence on
Human Conduct.

heller In Immortality ae an lnhuehce On
Human Conduct.
To TIE EDITOR OF THE sUN-Str: Prof. Gold
win Smith in the very suggestive letter with
which he started the present discussion In
THE Sun concerning personal Immortality
said that except for such belief the cultivation
OF character. independently OF present social
requirements would lose its object. since the
best OF characters formed by lifelong effort
and self-deni al would. equally with that formed
by lifelong crime or sensuality. come 10 dust.
Interest in the future of our race would lose It's
force; reason would bid each man aim simply
at comfortable passage through this life"
That this belief In immortality IL necessary
as o restraining influence and to impel mon to
the highest development OF character. Mr..
Goodwin Smith seems to assume. But Is belief
in immortality practically the incentive to
such effort now. ana has II been in the past
II the assurance In all mems minds that .
future life awaited them was as positive as 10
their consciousness OF this material earthly ex-
istence itself. would there not be removed from
them the incentive which leads to the develop
ment OF civilization
In the early days OF Christianity there was
this implicit belief in q glorious future for the
SANITY under the actual earthly dominion OF
Jesus in His second coming. They believed
that they were only waiting little for the full
flIment OF their every desire. What was tho
effect? They abandoned often the cultivation
OF the arts Of civilization. took no thought OF
present conditions and spurned the delight OF
the eye. Domestic virtues even we're lightly
esteemed Ceibacy was hold to be a
higher virtue. Marriage was tolerated by
St. Paul only on the lowest grounds.
Men fed to the woods and lived In caves
like savages. Woman was degraded. on
the ground that she should be ashamed to be
OF the nature she was. a daughter OF Eve. a
tempter OF man. The feminine influences
which give beauty to life were condemned.
Women were held under restraint. The virgin
was exalted above the matron. Thus was bred
a generation morally equipped for the fright
ful period OF religious prosecutions which en-
sued. 1t was made hard hearted; the beauty
of life was gone from It. Literature and art
had to draw their inspiration from the old pa
Ranism. and it was not until Christianity had
been tempered by such influences from Roman
civilizations acceptance oft that modern Chris
tan civilization began to blossom. and as 1t has
blossomed the absolute assurance OF the old
faith in immortality has declined.
Is not the first incentive to the cultivation OF
character afforded by the increasing re-
nnement. criticism and sensibility OF civili-
cation. or the improvement Of earthly con-
ditions2 1t is necessary in the interest OF the
Goodwin Smith. The natural affections stimu-
late men to IT. for it Is the most valuable inner
itance for their children. Through our de-
scendants we have an unending chain OF i'm m Or
tality. and it extends to all the race. and every
contribution we make to high ideals OF char
actcr is immortal in its influence. Conversely.
an evil use OF life goes down unendinRly.
At this time. whom probably more than ever
before in history the personal immortality OF
man Is doubted by the best human inteli-
Rence and reflection. there is manifested m ore
OF this altruistic spirit than at any past period.
1t is the handspring OF modern life: it impc s
science and art and literature. When men be-
come convinced that this life is to be their only
conscious life. are they not impeled rather to
make the best OF it possib BILE than aim simply Mt
q comfortable passage through this life? or
rather can the passage be made comfortable
unless the comfort bs general and not selfish
merely? Misery about us is disaRreeable to us
selhshly In order to improve our own cond-
ton we are compelled to improve the conditions
Of others. We cannot hide our talent. but must
put it to use and thus subserve the general
good.
II is a very large subject Mr.. Goodwin Smith
introduces and no one Is better fitted than the
master of so lucid and beautiful literary style
ms his to pursue it in the way which have sug-
gested so rudely. Il. p. X.
NEW YORK. Sept. 81.