The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-12-15

NoihNS' dNNhiNh L HDSW HucnlOn y NINGI IUUSS,l
Sir William Crookes, of England; Prof Barrett, of Dublin; and the
Hon. Arthur Bahour, the British premier. Alfred Russell Wallace in
deed is committed TO the spiritualsic hypothesis. The study of these
phenomena has reached such a stage that all eminent scientist exclaimed
that we were seeing a new science in the making. There are enough of
ascertained facts to convince us that this subject is worthy of thorough
examination.
To the question as to what good there is in this new science, we
might reply that such a question as that might have been asked 50 years
ago about magnetism or electricity. 1t might be asked now about ra-
dunn. Let us first gather all the ascertanable facts and then perhaps
we may judge. With the investigation of the nature of radum it is
found that numerous uses fol- it are developing. Is that not true?
There are many persons, both connected with the Christian churches
and out OF them, who will not accept anything which they cannot reach
with their FIVE senses. Yet every year we are finding out things about
this world of which we never knew before. New forces are constantly
developing and we are discovering that which is so subtle that it e-
capped the understanding Of our ancestors. Take, for instance, the dis
covery that there is an ether which transmits waves Of light, and now Sir
William Crookes tells us of a still more subtle fluid. 1t is unreasonable
to believe that thought waves may not travel through some means o
which now we know little or nothing. A mother dreams that her son is
in trouble and though he be a thausand miles away it will be found that
her belief concerning him is true.
1t is not improbable that we may yet communicate with one an
other sitting in Our chairs, though separated by great distances. None
would have believed a few years ago that the wireless telegraph could
have been effectively used. Yet now we have messages without wires.
There are those even now who seem to be able to transmit and to locate
waves of thought.
Spirruaism teaches that this world has planes which we cannot
discern by the material senses. 1t teaches that the earth itself is in a
vortex. The spirits have a plane of their own, just as mortals have.
Here we know little except the materal-the earth and the ocear--yet
it may be that there are other oceans of which we know nothing. | give
this only as what the spiritualsts think, for as yet nothing has been
proven concerning this unseen world.
The Scripture records say that "In My Fathers house there are
MANY mansions" Can there be communication, then, between this spirit
plane and the world known to the material senseF Are we at present
prevented from the knowledge of this other life by some stupendous in
hibiion? The human race may not yet be sufficiently developed to
understand these things, which are so subtle that they escape the ordi-
nary sense. Suppose that the knowledge of the uses Of electricity were
suddenly made to some savage race. 1t might by the use OF this power
full agent. of which it knew nothing, soon destroy itself. As the human
race improves mentally and spiritually the time may come when II Will
learn much concerning the life beyond, and possibly will be able to COM
m,nicate with those who are part of it. Such a knowledge would dem
onstrate without question that the soul IS immortal we Woud DC
scientifically sure of all existence beyond the grave.
Now. do not understand me to say that spirit communion with us
through our five senses does actually take place. But what do main
tain is that it isl not entirely absurd that it should take place. And say
to those who believe the Scriptures that the presumption IS IN FAVOR OF
such communication, not against it.