Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-05-28

Every day some paper has an article
from someone airing his or her theories
on a future life.
Many Of those articles remind me OF
meas in a pint measure. Put in Few
and Oh. how they rattle. NIL II up and note
the difference. These rattlebrains ad-
vance all sorts OF empty ideas am glad
that there Is no law 10 make US read the
stuff.
Harper's Bazaar, you know, is one OF my
favorfte magazines. and I am going 10
give you some ideas that John BigeloW
advanced in the June number:
ours is the only species Of the animal
Kingdom that is never satisfied with what
~ anv moment il is. has been. or has
done. Its successes are regarded practi-
caliy as but steps TO a higher plane. We
are always struggling 10 accumulate
power: whether in the form OF health,
OF strength, OF knowledge, OF experience,
Of SKIN. Of wealth, OF popular esteem or
iniueuca. The passion to better our state
or posftfona 10 accumulate more Of some
thing that we value. is an emotion which
distinguishes US more than any other
species OF the animal kingdom. and ami
mates us to the very close Of our earthly
what pretext or excuse can be made
Tor the creation OF a planet-not to say
an fncalculable number OF planets-and
stocking ours with creatures whose en-
vironment is specially calculated TO mt
them 70 become purer, wiser, and better
than they ever do become while incar-
nate, and yet who are always impelled
BY desires which result in more or less
successful struggles to become purer,
wiser. better. or in some way. at least in
their own eyes. more important? Surely
such a life IL terminating at the grave
can only be regarded as but fragment.
as only a page OF the great volume Of
human life. as only the atrium of one Of
Gods nobIest temples"
The results OF the Science Of the Ra-
tionaIist at best are but hypothesis. the
possible fragments OF a truth. but in no
sense absolute truth They are vessels of
which any man may drink. but none OF
them are like Joseph's cup with which he
divineth' We infer that the sun tfat
disappears this evening will reappear the
following morning, but that is not the
conclusion. but only inference OF
science The inference that the sun will
reappear tomorrow is faith. without
which the scientist Is as blind as the
beast that perisheth. for neither can de-
ulenstrate the truth Of what is not. That
can be rendered even probable only by
faith. which. as the apostle Paul. with
scienctific accuracy, Said 70 the Hebrews.
is the assurance Of things hoped for; the
proving Of things not seen For therein
the tIders had witness borne TO them. BY
faith We understand that the worlds have
been framed by the word OF God. so that
what Is seen hath not been made out Of
things which do appear
but faith Is not material. but spirit
uai. and what advantageth IL a man TO
know what has been, without the faulty
OF trusting at decretiOn upon the cOnsec-
utive relations Of events and their prob
able consequences
In what respect. then. ought our faith
in sunshine tomorrow TO differ from our
faith in the continuity OF life after part
ing with its earthly garments? We can
not demonstrate, neither can we deny
either. while for both there is every prob
ability and for neither any demonstrable
improbability."
There are times in every life when we
would Ike TO put out our hands and
grasp something more tangible than the
most Of us have in our hearts, and right
then. IL We wait for the still small voice"
we viii have an assurance that is almost
Ike the clasp OF a hand. Lately a dear
friend has been in the depths of sorrow,
her sixteen-year-Old daughter was sud
denly taken from her. The only child Of
= WIDOW ana girl VINO gave promise OF
such a noble wOmanhOOd one can see
how hard II was to say, the Lord giveth.
and the Lord taketh away. blessed be
HIS name" But she said il. and through
binding tears repeats IT, With her home
broken up and living now in the home of
others she goes to her daily work and is
an example OF fortitude to the hundreds
she must meet every day.
In all this city there is no Hvelier exam
pie OF Christianity. Do you suppose life
20 her would be worth living but for the
knowledge she has that when her mission
on earth is ended she will be forever with
her dear ones in one Of the mansions
our Saviour has prepared for all who love
and serve him? Faithfully yours,
LIZZIE o. THOMAS.