The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-15
FUTURE LIFE OF MAN.
e-ience, Philosophy and Religion
- Form Proof OF Immortality.

pastor of Emmanuel Presbyterian Church
Of this city. has written book on I'm
n ortality a Rational Faith" which will
csuse a deep-seated pang in the hearts of
those Christians who have faculty of
rtading a work in fragments.
There are passages in the work, and adj
missions, too, that will stagger the faithful
vho have been pinning their faith to the
o.d-time philosophy OF the pulpit, but taken
ah whole the volume Is a powerful argu-
nscnt In favor of the future life for man.
Jas a clergyman I'm charge of the Milwau-
kee church Mr.. Chester was considered one
OF the most profound teachers of the truths
o. the gospel In the city. He resigned his
position here against the wishes of his peo-
Pc. and, 1t may be said. the people of the
city. to go to Europe and study deeper into
'tae problems Of religious life. That he has
Keen successful in his efforts his book may
he cited In evidence. He Is at present re-
sdins in Milwaukee and Milwaukee claims
him as a citizen.
He has treated his subject with absolute
fairness from the beginning to the end of
the volume. He starts out with the premise
that neither science, philosophy nor re-
Hgion. taken separately. prove Immortality.
hut that the three taken in combination do
prove II 20 the satisfaction, at least, of a
Hair-minded person. He discounts the idea
advocated by many that the corporal
Resurrection of Christ settles the whole
Froblem- Others base their prescriptions
ef a future state upon the moral conse-
euerces that would result from it's aban-
Comment. Profound statesmen have de-
elared. he says, that human institutions
~ould crumble in a few generations were
Immortality conclusively disproved. And
then, In the absolute fairness Of his posi-
Sion, he adds:
But when one stops to seriously reflect
Npon this argument and hear the far nobler
response to 1t. namely. that truth should
aever ask what are the consequences, but
@nly what the facts; that faIlacy is
never Justinable no matter what the conse-
Iuences may be. one must never do evil that
good may come, that virtue is to be sought
Tor her own intrinsic quality, and not out Of
= selfish policy to secure reward ones con-
science responds at once TO this nobler code
Of ethics and this argument of moral conse-
auences Is shattered. If immortality is true
i Is gratifying to know that its truth helps
elevate the human race, as " undoubtedly
Hoes. but II immortality is false. then no
Or promulgating a lie and humanity will
have to be taught virtue and self-sacrifice
Tor the sake of their own beauty, nobility,
and reward"
; Mr.. Chester declares that science in a GER
tain sense blocks the road to the duscus-
MON to immortality, as il deals with facts
s1emonstrable to the senses and the laws
arising therefrom. Ii is of little avail he
says. TO argue life after death from the ma
ture of God, man, or the universe, and de-
clares that the strictly scientific attitude
toward future life is that of agnosti-
-ctsm- "Of course, he says, 1.-The question
of Immortality is out of the realm of phys
1cal science. So are all the supreme reali-
ties of lfe-God. the soul, the moral sense,
the affections. the beautiful. the true, and
The good. Yet these are the highest part
,try TO weigh emotion, obtain the spe-
tcffic gravity of an affection. or the chemical
ianalys1s OF soul, as to try To test scien-
uncally the indestructibie life of the spirit,
which belongs not TO the domain OF sense,
but to that OF the spirit.
when we obtain comprehensive view
from the whole field We will see that taken
scumulstively. there are abundantly sufii-
.cient grounds for forming a judgment, and
that this agnostic position, In view of the
sum total OF predictions. is inconsistent.
iAli that We need from strictly physical
science Is the assurance that If immortality
IL not provided IL Is not, at least, dsproved.
and that the way. therefore. is open for in
,yestigation on broader lines"
The subject Is then treated on the broader
lines, strictly within scientific bounds. on
the doctrine of evolution and the bearing of
science upon immortality is summed up:
Looking back. then. over the whole field
OF science as TO it's predictions upon the
problem OF Immortality, We see that the
materialistic declarations that future exist
ence Is an impossibility is an absolutely
worthless assumption; that the agnostic
answer that there is no evidence either way
Is true only OF strictly physical science and
even In that domain the way is left open
and hope not forbidden: that the answer
or brain investigation shows that conscious
ness Is not brain product, but brain con-
comitant; that IL masters the brain matter
{ and predicts Its survival after brain disso-
lution, and that the answer from all the
different phases OF evolution Is that the
; whole logic OF the reasonableness of the
!. universe imperatively demands mans sur
/: vival hereafter"
/ The predictions of philosophy are next
: considered by Mr.. Chester, and, in the
! course OF lengthy and profound argument
: The whole realm OF embryoIogy reveals
the vast law that death means simply out.
GROWING limitations and passing into a
: ply the elimination OF one stage OF exist
! ence and the birth into larger more com
| pick state OF Development.
!, de then cites the cases where one insect
: dies that another may be developed. and
! draws the conclusion logically that the hu-
!; man body dies when IL has outgrown its
: limitations: that its nucleus the spiritual
: that either this process must continue OF
there Is a sudden illogical break in the con-
unulty or the Creators process. He SAYS:
There Is the instructive consciousness
that the real individual is not body but
spirit. which being immaterfal principle
: IL not necessarily any more affected by the
! dissolution OF the body than the tenant Is
1 Affected by the removing OF his house.
The predictions or religion are treated al
length. and then, in summing I'D his line ot
argument. including the conditions of life
after death. which Is also treated, Mr.. Ches-
ter says:
All that lies paralyzed under the uncer.
inspiring under the vista or eternity For
) both a sufficient motive and an interpreta.
ton OF life are found. Ii Is worth while
striving for nobility OF character for char.
acter moves on toward destiny, and Is Il
! be taken with Us. IL Is worth while TO live
/. seif-sacrffcfngly instead OF selnshly for we
: are immortals working among immortals
. TO prepare ourselves and others for eter.
nifty liz Is worth while cultivating the in
feiiect up TO the last. for artists 10 paint
poets 10 sing. authors 10 write musicians
To compose. scholars TO search, noble souls
10 sow what others must reap. for all al.
sa'nment Is 10 be conserved, and the devel
oped talent and the capacity to open ur
! sacher treasures IN eternity"