Los Angeles herald., 1907-04-15
SPEAKER TALKS
OF RE|NCARNAT|ON
Henry Hotchner Gives a Free Public
Address, Followed by interest
ing Discussion, Before the
Progressive Club

Henry Hotchner, the New York
speaker who will be in this city for a
month in the course of his lecture
tour through the country, gave free
public address last night before the
Progressive club in Symphony hall. A
most interesting discussion, in which
James T. Moriarty participated, fol-
lowed. On Thursday evening, in
Blanchard hall, Mr.. Hotchner will
lecture on 1.-THE Life After Death"
Last night he spoke on "Reincarnation
and Justice and said in part:
"Reincarnation means that the soul
returns to earth life again and again
divine possibilities-not that man can
return to the body of an animal, which
is an absurd mistake.
1.-THE goal of humanity is perfection,
and each soul is eventually to become
perfect. Each life on earth is like a
rung in the ladder that leads to that
splendid height. Each life teaches man
more wisdom, gives him greater pow
ers and capabilities and develops deep
er love for his fellow men, and the
lives on earth will continue until this
unfoldment has reached the point
where the man is perfect.
"Reincarnation is believed by ma
jority of the worlds inhabitants, has
been taught by the greatest thinkers,
and is supported by reason and COM
mon sense. The people who believe it,
understand the world and their place
in it far better than those who do not,
and they are far happier and more
useful to others.
"Reincarnation solves problems,
clears away difficulties, explains enig-
mas where nothing else does, and 1t is
the only teaching that establishes firm
ly the business, the goodness and the
wisdom that guide evolution.
What Relncarnatlon Shows
"Reincarnation shows that genius is
the result, not of caprice on the part
of the Deity, but of definite effort by
the person himself. Shakespeare, Mo-
zart and others possessed their great
powers simply because in previous
lives on earth they strove for the high
ideal, for the great faculties which
later they embodied.
"Reincarnation illuminates the whole
subject of the physical, social, intel
lectual and moral inequality in the
world. Why it is that some children
are born blind and poor and weak
minded and evil, while others are born
healthy and wealthy and strong-minded
and good? 1t is because in previous
lives on earth they have lived in such
way as to bring these later condi-
tions upon themselves.
For there is a law of divine Justice
that governs reincarnation, so that. in
the language of the apostle 'Whatso-
ever a man soweth that shall he also
reap A mans actions, words, de-
sires, thoughts and aspirations, his
conduct, his attitude toward others;
all these are factors that influence his
later lives. If man lives in accord
ance with the laws of nature, If he
tries to keep health, if he avoids dis
| sipation, IL he does his duty, IL he
seeks to improve himself intelectu-
ally, If he aim to be unselfish and
moral. then in future lives the results
of such efforts will show themselves
in providing him health, with strong
character, with good capabilities and
with opportunities to be of use to his
fellow men. If, on the other hand, he
leads a life of dissipation, If he does
not try to improve himself. IL he is
narrow and immoral. and does not full
fill his obligations to his fellow men,
then in the future earth-lVes he will
bring upon himself the consequence
of his wrong-doing in the shape of
poor physical health, feeble intellect.
uncontrolled passions, tendency to evil
thoughts and actions. Then through
his pain and suffering he will learn
that II is necessary TO learn a right
life and thus later on he, too. will be
happy and useful.
"The unselfsh and aspiring man will
accomplish the purpose OF this eVolu-
ton long before the selfish and un-
aspiring one and win attain to spirit
ual heights now beyond the grasp OF
the imagination. But all will attain in
time. for the scheme is perfect and
embraces ALL"
Editor-I notice that you say that tn,
women at the ball tonight were "Ele