Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1904-05-25

II
&SHSR@N being sometimes enters the body Of
sSSsFe an inferior animal
Many a religious person in these countries refrains
from killing fly lizard lest he should destroy
his own great grandmother
In this belief in reincarnaton system of rewards
and punishments is bound up.
It is thought that wicked mems souls are sent
back to inhaOt the bodies Of low animas-the very
wicked man is sent back to inhabit the body Of a
woman.
For a soul to go through existence ina woman's
body is looked upon as a great caamity-and none
need wonder at that who is acquainted with life in
India, where poor little girls married at nine
ten, or even younger, where widows until lately
were burned alive when their husbands died, where
life generally is made a nightmare for womankind.
There is good deal Of speculation everywhere
to-day to the destiny of the soul aud the posi-
bity of it's coming back to work here 10 some other
body.
Many men among those religiUusly inclined, and
even among cergymen, do not accept literally the
Jewish conception OF Heaven.
Many are inclined to think that men are put here
to do some actual, useful work on earth, and not
merely en- prohibition previous to their admittance
to an eternal home Of solid gold, jasper, etc.
This newspaper has no theory to Ofer-theOrizng
is rather foolish in realms where both reason and
experience fail
But there seems little doubt that the relncarna
tiOn theory might produce good results under modi
fled conditions,
In Olden days many vicious men used to reform
and behave at least in their old age, because they
were very anxious about going to Heaven-wOrred
by disagreeable stories of the other place.
If we could all believe tha5 as soon as we die or
very shortly afterward, our souls come back to in
habit the body Of some newborn child, we might
take very charitable view Of other peoples needs
and plan very industriOusly for the welfare OF the
next generation.
Many rich man on his way to the train or boat
dri "a ~ kosku nd
absent-miuded or Indifferent, at the children In the
streets, tired, hot, iIlfed and uncared for.
He might look differently at these children II he
could be made TO believe that but few short years
would find him tenant in one Of their wasted, I'M
derled bodies.
The rich woman wearing her fine apparel regard
less OF the tired hands and aching eyes that put t
together might interest herself in the sewing girl il
she thought that few years would find her back on
earth and at work in q stufy sweatshOp room.
The selfish plut0crat who has built up his millions
from public franchises spends life in which devo
tion to others has part, and dies, leaving all to
the twsAOr three children that he leaves behind him
His VAll might read differently if be believed that
bis sOu going out the back door of life, through
death, w5ld instantly come back through the front
door in thy body Of some baby.
There w{pld be no trouble in getting plenty of
fine maternity hospitals for poor women and child
rem II the rich believed in the reincarnatiOn theory
no trouble in getting play grounds or comfortable
nuserles where working mothers could leave their
babien during the day.
II OlmOusly rich men could be made TO be-
lieve IN rencarnation they would realize that, as
the or Outhumbered the rich hundred to one, so
he chances Of their being rich in the next existence
weld only be one in huzdred, and all their plans
WOul0 change
Tie millionaire - . now thinks out fine sarco-
phagus with q fine mausOleum for himself, and |
careful tying up Of his fortune to keep away from
the mass Of the people, would as reincarnatiOnist
think more Of the millions Of poor children and less
about his own funeral pomp.
The most beautiful Of al religions that which in
its spirit will last forever no matter how far men
may progress morally is the religion preached by
Christ-because It commanded men to devote them.
selves uuselfshly to the welfare OF others.
The real Christian needs no selfish urging born of
q belief in reincaration.
He is bound to work for Others to protect poor
chidrer3 to sympathize with unfortunate women
apart rom any personal interest.
But the real Christian is not a numerous part Of
civilization
There is a great talk about q new reIigion--new
religions, in fact Of various kinds spring up every
year.
II some able man will give q great boom to the
theory Of reincarnatiOn, making every man believe
that few years will perhaps fnd him in the place
0f the most unfortunate Of mortals We may get re-
suits that the preaching Of abstract unseldshnees
does not always produce.
Art nov draws inspiration from . machine. A
sew York painter has introduced nhOnOgraph into