The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1902-02-08
IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL.
1t is a Necessary Consequence of Mans
Existence.

y
Sir: | ask the writer in recent
issue who referred to immortality as
one of the "nickel-platcd inventions"
of eccleSiusticisln, to follow me in Il
brief argument.
first put it in syllogistic form, thus:
No existing matter substance. en-
ergy. is ever totally lost. destroyed.
But man. besides physical, has intel
lcctual moral, spiritual energy.
Therefore the immortality of the
soul is a necessary consequence of
mans existence.
If the first two of these propositions
be true. then the argument is con-
elusive for Immortality. Let us OK
anime
That no substance that exists is ever
utterly annihilated is merely the enun
citation of IL scientific truth. The old
axiom that ''the corruption OF one
thing is the generation of another"
always holds good in the physical
world. The decay of the human body
results in the massing of the atoms
that now compose it under other
'ornS. its chemical elements and enel'-
gi"S escaping to enter into other
groupings. forces. combinations. There
is no c~aygeratiOn in Uamlet'S sur
In t1,n ,,n.x.ilI, i,r,,n1l1,
in some future day. of the noble dust
Of Caesar My first proposition there
fore is an undsputcd scientific fact
The next proposition asserts that
man possesses two kinds of energies.
essentially distinct one from the other.
and OF absolutely different natures
the physical or material and the intel
lectlal or spiritual energies. If this he
true. then the argument need be car
sion as to the perseverance of all OK
listing energy. But it is precisely here
where the adverSilries Of immortality
bid us go slow. They object that both
tn" intellectual and physical parts of
man are one resultant of the physical
energy exercised in the making of
man. Not to so outside the wording
of the controversy as now carried on
in your columns. the objection as put
by Mr.. Ellis reads thus: "Embryology
and lcrcdity clearly prove that each
individual soul and hoGy--conSiSts of
factors the result of tho union of
germs of both parents" The Objec
ton was Obvious and is worth coil
Sidrring.
1t will Immediately be seen that the
difficulty centcrs round the question:
are the physical and intellectual pow
ars of man of essentially different
natures. or are they both the resultant
of mans physical makeup? contend
that The, hitter position is Ivy no means
clearly proven.
1t will be admitted. to begin with,
that man does possess intellectual en-
~
argue on immortality. which the brute
cannot. 1t should not be necessary to
adducc proof of this any more than OF
ones existence. On the strength of
his ability to think, Dcscartes was led
to acknowledge that he existed: II
think. therefore. I am"
II will likewise he admitted that this
intelligence has power over certain of
our physical energies. but not over all.
Tt can control the movement of my
fingers as put the present argument
on paper hut ii cannot control the cir
cnlation of my blood, nor the neuralgia
in my cheek. Such vital functions as
pulsation. digestion and respiration
are utterly beyond. and independent
Of. the control of the intelligence.
On the other hand. not the most ar
dent opponent of Immortality will ask
me to consider it clearly proven that
the growth of my hair, or the eXpan-
sion and contraction: of my pupil, can
have the slightest possible influence
on the course of my thoughts.
If this radical and evident indcpenl
rncc OF the physical and intellectual
in man does not demonstrate an essen
tinl difference of nature Of the two
energies, then I may as sensibly con-
1,11, ,nsr + TOW,
exists. or that a man may reason with
his heels.
Now. if it he admitted. as it must on
scientific grounds, That not one atom
of mans physical organism is lost.
even after death. then, If there be
virtue in logic. with equal gertrude
must it he admitted that mans intel
lcctual energy lives on. which is only
another way of saying the soul is
immortal.
Millions of years ago the SUMS rays
fell upon that portion of the earth
from which ! indite this letter. They
remained locked up in the coal beds.
biologists may tell you how long,
care not: but they are now being
brought forth to furnish light and
heat and power. Here is resurrection
and Immortality for the humble cauli-
flower. And we are seriously asked to
believe that mans spiritual energy Is
not immortal. that the idea Of immor-
tality is one of the ''nickel-plated in
ventions" OF, the clergy. that the high
est and noblest element of the uni.