The Washington herald., 1907-06-09
A LAY SERMON.
BY A LAYMAN.

BY 4 LAYMAN.
Pythagoras' popular account Of earthquakes was
that they were occasioned by synod OF ghosts as
sembled under ground-Warburton.
The Holy Ghost, or the Holy Divine
Spirit in theology. is the appellauon or
the third person in the Trinity. Hence
the phrase in the Apostles Creed. 4 be-
lieve in the Holy Ghost" But it is not
with this that l propose TO deal in this
sermon.
The term ghost is understood TO mean
the spirit of a dead person, specter, a
phantom. or an apparition. There has
been no age Of the world Of which we
have any history without a belief In
ghosts. and this belief was not confined
to the ignorant or uneducated. II 20
what is known now as spiritualism, or
spiritism. may be added those who enter
tain this belief, there are very many
thousands both in Europe and America
who are firm believers in this faith.
Chaucer, the earliest Of English poets
wrote Of ghosts in "Troilus ." 1884 Sir
Philip Sidney, In Arcadia wrote Of
ghosts. In Huxley's lay sermons he says:
The fetichism, ancestor worship, and
demonology Of primitive sayages are all,
l believe. different manners Of expression
Of their belief in ghosts. and Of the an
thropomorphic Interpretation Of the out
of-the-way events which IS concomitant' %
Ghost is the old word for the disem-
bodied spirit. especially as appearing 10
mo 1- ia 81. e 90 IA
ghost Of Banquo The word shade was
used by the Romans 20 denote a ghost
as the shade Of Creusa, who appeared 90
Eneas An apparition is a ghost as ap-
pearing to sight, perhaps suddenly or
Unexpectedly 1t may also be a fanciful
appearance. while the ghost is supposed
to be real-as Jupiter made a cloud into
an apparition Of Juno; Macbeth saw AN
apparition OF a dagger. and the witches
showed him an apparition Of a crowned
child.
Most persons who discard the theory Of
ghosts say that they had their origin I'm
the childhood of the race. There is uu-
depisbly a great deal of testimony in be-
half Of the theory Of ghosts or The ap-
sons to the earth Many cases Of this
sort are reported in the Bible Scientific
men have lately made this a subject of iu-
quiry, and their studies have made many
changes in opinion. II is true that. so
far. no definite OF final conclusions have
been reached. as a very great amount of
evidence has been found which shows that
many Of the heretofore cases. as. Tor in
90 .-f..
have been discarded. Yet many other
cases have been produced which show
their truthfulness with evidence far
greater than would be required 10 estab-
llsh case In an ordinary court ~ law.
II 1t he that ghosts OF spirits of the
dead sometimes appear 20 mor.als. lt ls
but an evidence Of the immortality 0f the
soul; II It be that these appearances are
nothing but illusions. they are harmless
The fear Of phantoms or ghosts springs
from dread of the unknown the mys-
terious. and intangible That # IS "A
gr0uudlcss terror is proven by the fact
that in all cases of alleged spectral ape
pearauces. not a single instance has been
shown I'm which injury was inflicted by
the ghost or specter upon those 20 whom
.it presented itself. So we may safely
conclude that if these appearances are
vsri'able. we should regard them with
both curiosity and reverence. rather than
with apprehension.
II il be true that they are really spirits
of the departed We should not avoid their
visits, bat rather eagerly seek their pres
ence.
I am not arguing in favor of either the
truth or falsehood Of what IS known ne
spirtualism. or the appearance of ghosts.
but suggest that lt is a question which
has been discussed from the beginning of
authentic history. The subject possesses
interest for a great majority II mankind.
and although some may argue that the
existence OF ghosts or appearance of
spirits ~ the dead IS improved. there IS
uudeniably q great deal of testimony iq
their behalf which deserves serious and
respectful consideration.
Within the last few years the attitude
of science toward the problems of spirit
ual.m has altogether changed. and the
wise men have been engaged in making
inquiries thoughtfully and without prau-
dice. and we may hope from them such
Information as they can give. which viii
help us i'm our desire 20 know all that
can be known.
Then we may be able 90 improve our
knowledge and to live such lives as 10
enttle us 10 the favor Of Him who is the
God Of the living and of the disembodied
spirits.