The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-09-22
TIE TIMES RICHMOND SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 1867


together. And yet they are as closely
connected as II they had been consec-
utive. Christ had been speaking or
Immortality and Of the silence which
even In His teaching hangs over the
subject. A discussion had arisen as to
the way" of arriving at II clear con-
victlon on this point. Thomas IL OF
the opinion that the true attitude for
mon Is agnosticism: I'VE know not
WHITTIER Thou goest, and how can
we know the way7" But Philip takes
another view: SHOW us the Father, ana
1t suiIlceth us"--and that will suffice
us for n proof OF Immortality.
That is what lie means. For q belief
In future state the one thing needed
Us a clear conviction OF the existence
of Cod And am free to say that
agree with that statement. Personally,
should ask no stronger evidence OF
Immortality than the distinct conscious
ness that l am in the presence Of God.
That is Tcnnysons argument; he says:
Thou art just,
Thou Wouldst not leave me In the dust"
1t is n bold saying; he POUNDS his
immortal hope, not on Gods grace, but
or. His Justice-nnd he is right. II
God made an eagle immortal 1t would
be an act of grace, for the eagles life
Is quite complete here; 1t needs 10
more. But to make man immortal is
only Justice. His life Is not complete
here; 1t is but fragment. It is like
the half OF an unfinished, though in
habited castle. Within that finished
half there Is a mass OF unused furni-
ture--furniture which can only be used
never come? Shall there be no use for
that furniture? No completion of the
building? Shall man be the one UNI
completed fragment of the universe
that never spreads. the bird that never
Gics, the river that never reaches the
sea? Surely, that is incompatible with
the justice of my Father
My Father In heaven, when doubts
arise about my future. let me gaze
into Thy present face Like Thy dis
cple, feel that sure knowledge or
Thee will suffice for my hope of i'm
mortality. No need to open the pearly
gates, nor TO unseal the crystal foun-
tains ] need not stand upon pisgali
height to view the promised land;
have only to gaze at Thee. I have
only TO remember that Thy work is
never left unfinished. Thou wilt per-
feet that Thou hast begun. Thou art
the evidence of my Immortality, o.
Lord ! could not know Thee to be
just and doubt that l am immortal.
The greatest evidence lies in my i'm
projections. 1t is Just where 1 am
weak that 1"shall be made strong.
am too small for the clothes Thou hast
made me. / have aspirations beyond
my strength and desire beyond my
power. have visions wider than the
range of my telescope, and longings
cannot put into words. l have will
to be good beyond the capacity of my
nature. have purposes OF action be-
You'd the limit of my life, and debts
to pay that require eternity to dis
charge.
Why hast Thou swathed me in such
garments, II am not to grow? Why
hast Thou given me hopes and aspira-
tions and longings and powers If they
are never to be developed? / appeal
to Thy justice, o my Father! That
which Thou hast created and is part
of Thee can never die or be obliterated.
need no other proof of the life eter-
nal; the thought of Thy Justice suf-
ficeth.