Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-31
Widow of Bob" Ingerson Ap-
peaIs to SpirituaIism.
CURIOUS ABOUT Hereafter
She Is Not Convert to Cult, But Is
Willing to Test It
AND FINDS COMFORT IN HOPE
Experiments Have Been Put Down
as Deceptions by Her-Worried
About the Future.

What awaits us after death?
Whether it be humiliation or i'm
mortality: We can speak with no GER
tainty.'-The late Robert G. Ingersoll
in public address in 1898.
II do not know whether I shall ever
see my husband again. My consola-
ton is in memory. 1 have as much
consolation as any one who is be-
reaved. l know as much as they do
about the hereafter 1t is nothing
Mrs. Eva Parker Ingersoll. widow Of
the famous agnostic, in public state
ment July %, 1891 when he was Gre
mated.
NEW YORK, August 31.-The widow Of
Robert G. Ingersoll is endeavoring to
communicate with the great agnostic's
spirit
Although during his life she was his
most devoted follower In his rejection Of
the Christian belief that a hereafter was
certain, her great love for Bob" has
brough her to a different frame of mind.
She Is testing spiritualism
II do not know that there is here
after. but there may be one" she said
yesterday I am not spiritualist, and
/ do not know that there are spirits.
But II spirits exist 1 think my husbands
spirit will seek ME out. l am trying to
aid IT."
Mrs. Ingersoll. cultered, kindly gentle
woman. made 1t clear when she admit
ted this that only her head and not her
heart would accept evidences, If they
come, of her husbands spirit She must
have its existence and its presence in
dubitably proved before she will believe.
Betrothal Period to Test Faith.
II must have the most positive COM
munication." she said, earnestly. THE
words or messages must deal with sub
jects known only to myself and my hus-
band. Before 1 win finally admit the
identity of the spirit-if it comes-it must
tell me certain sacred things in our life
the period between our betrothal and our
marriage: II that can be done l will
admit hereafter and a spirit world.
II am not a spiritualist.' she began. in
setting forth her narrative. yet am not
opposed to spiritualists They are a kind
ly people. as a rule Their beliefs are at
least harmless. Their ideas seem to give
great comfort to some.
He Promised to Try.
II have a woman friend who is a me-
dium. She appears to have unusual pow
ers. Yet many others who displayed
strange powers before my husband and
afterward exposed as fakirs. And SOL
have no firm opinion.
yet this is what makes me persist in
seeking the truth on the subject My hus-
band. Influenced by his own great love of
truth. on every subject. said to me before
his death:
IF a world of spirits exists, and it is
possible for a-spirit to establish COM
munication between that world and this
on which we live. I will try to establish
communication with you
II am endeavoring" the widow contin-
ued. Ito aid in the establishment Of that
communication
And IL has not Conner
mo. 1t has not come
1t was suggested to Mrs IngersolI that
divers noted mediums had professed to
have RECEIVED communications from her
husband. < ,.rr
Finds Comfort in Hope.
- II know she said, smiling. Il have
heard some of them. 1 have heard SEN
fences purportine to be in his style of
oratory. They We're fiimsy limitations,
imagined by those who gave them out
'Yet you hope that Col. Ingersoll's spir-
it may Gomez"
II hope SO: yes 1t would be a great
was waiting for mine to join II, and also
to believe that in the spirit world he was
continuing the activities of which 1 was
so proud in this life. If were sure of
this L would not care to live longer. 1
am sure that if there is spirit world
there are no evil spirits in, it; it must be
altogether a good world
Mr.. Jngersoll died In 1899. The nearest
approach he ever made to admitting even
the possibility. OF a hereafter was I'm the
famous funeral Grafton which he deliv-
cred over the, body Of his brother in
which he said:
What awaits us after death? wheth-
er 1t be humiliation or Immortality. we
can speak with no certainty
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