The sun., 1903-05-10
MAN AND HIS DESTINY,
The Views OF Materia list Philosopher
and q Pessinilst.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SrN-Sir: Over a
half century ago brave Harriet Martineau
said; From the moment when a man desires
to find the truth on one side rather than on the
other, II is all over with him asa philosopher "
This implies that In searching for truth we
must Ignore preconceived notions. likes and
dislikes emotional sentiments. DC. and base
our belief strictly upon evidence and facts
The innumerable arguments which are
continually advanced by the clergy and your
correspondents. based upon the talleged)
universal human lonainRs and desires for
continuous life weigh not a fraction OF
hair In settling the question Of our post
mOrtsn fate. II they did-if our prefer
ences could be factor in the matter all that
would be ne ce ssary for human beings to live
a hundred years or forever in the flesh. :"
here on this earth. would be to intensely de-
sire such prolonged subunary existence, and
theh. behold! their wishes and caprices would
be forthwith realized II not a factor, now
and here. to prolong indefinitely our present
llfe, how can such vague egoistical notions
the human body-as such living organic
S. .;.,s Or ana Sod i sd1S M
into. existence with death warrant in the
hands q tats. and doomed TO 60 through our
death. We long In vain for continued health
nssRssss s,s s ana
public % men and Society '' women D'' in.enssls as
coptinnation Of their prime In, life, only 70
fade and vanish'
Millions struggle bravely for many year:
siesapt homes, Grand bushes HOUSES, e occupy S
PEELED. after a very brief period. to leave all
Are we not In love with this life? Ia IL not
really a prolongation Of earth-life We all most
a;ssiEs' ;E Who would Nd not che.tMlly resis,n, q; 81
dred ys.fs Of pRssio.l health ar and viso1 Rs ADDED
BODY Of assR and blood bd'''" VI " '"''''e
But what does Nature or God care fol, ns2
constitutes our eso. and Without fsDs Which We
canbot even think Of ourselves as men and
sss % ss..: :o0a a. a. bsSf :s 70 assi na
ssif-e vident, absolute fact that when the form
ga, gPsn during life exist. no more the man IS
There is no mystery about denth whatever;
psrienee., Tie sole my.tery eennec.ed with
or n nnsn oefR
We knew new and and r., re we have the entire truth.
tivities Of the human structure simply stop.
that la all: not grain Of anything to make
the surviving soul or spirit" of-not even
the breath" escapes as supposed.
In view Of all Of this. ia Il reasona ble to be-
lieve that the power that controls our ex-
iste nee. whatever this may be-and 40 ut
teriy and cruelty ignores our Wishes now,
during the only life We know. should 40 rad
ically change Its mode Of procedure as to
the absence OF the complex organic structure
which We know TO Be an sbsolute necessity
etistence % utterly incomprehensble to US.
dlsS3ysrabe With the strongest telescopfs
II we can live during eternity without this
wonderful, complicated physical vital-dv-
manic orRantsm the crownine work OF God
reason. ! ash, has this body been bestowed
Neither ie the "universallty" Of the belief
i1. immortality an argument in its favor.
Many Of the wisest men Of all nations have
tejected It, The Egyptians Greclans Hin
doos the American Indians, Catholics. Prot
estants, Splritualists and Iheosophists. all
entertain radically antithetical views OF q
future life. Al Christians Of the "New,Theol-
9osy." from Jefferson. tranklin.. Charming,
EHmsrsor,' Parker. ., TO s;ru, savsee, Swing and
old school theolocians. m 9ans and heathens
alike. as RroSsest superstition: II. then. these
several beliefs contradict and are destructive
Of each other, how can they conjointly prove
that any one Ia based upon truth?
Like cauees produce like efTectA. All ma
tions and races in the past ha wing b,sen alike
ignorant, alike conccited in their own self-