Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-04-23
A Belief Sanctioned by
Religious Authorities
That Consoles Many
Soldiers in the
Present War
BY the Rev. Clifton H. Levy, Phi. D.


strain on the minds OF men such
as they have never known before,
has inevitably raised many questions
concerning the nature OF the soul and
psychical phenomena.
Does the soldier killed IN batt,e po
straight to Heaven, no matter what his
SINS! Have there been ghostly appart.
lions on the battlefield? Is 1t true that
brave soldier, having passions OF more
than ordinary intensity is most likely to
haunt the scene OF his earthly activities?
There are thousands Of good people
who devoutly believe in the affirmative
side or these questions. Among the men
OF high intellectual ability who have dis.
cussed these questions are the Rev. DR..
Reginald j. Campbell. Hall Game, Sir
Arthur Conan Doyle and Maurice Maeter.
linck They have all given credence in
some degree to psychical phenomena in
connection with the battlefield.
or especial popular interest is the
question raised in England. Does tho
soldier killed in battle go straight. to
Heaven, no matter what his sins?"
Is 1t conceivable that man who has
perhaps led disreputable life for
twenty years. stealing, drinking, beat.
Ing his wife or committing other Of
fences against society, shall for few
days or hours of bravery and patriotism
be- carried straight to eternal happiness?
II he had stayed safely at home, II
there had been no war, II he had sur
vived the war. IL he had been physically
unfit for military service, he would have
remained an ordinary sinner and per
haps have come to bad end. The mere
accidents Of war and violent death in
sure him eternal happiness.
On behalf of the dead soldier It must
be remembered that he has made the
greatest possible sacrifice a man can
make--he has given his life for others.
That is why religious authorities and
common people are generally inclined to
think he must surely go to Heaven, In
spite Of all other considerations.
The Rev. Dr. Reginald ]. Campbell, the
most popular preacher in England, and
also one OF the most thoughtful, has
practically expressed the opinion that
the soldier would go to Heaven in any
case. He relates how q soldier who had
evidently led a rather turbulent life,
asked him:
Sir, somebody has been saying In
England that a man who dies for his
country goes straight to Heaven, what
ever his life may have been beforehand,
Do you think 1t is true that If a chap has
been bit rackety, and yet gives his life
In this way, he will be all right on the
other side. or will he have to go to hell?"
The Rev. DR.. Campbell answered by
asking the soldier what he would do In
Gods place. The soldier said IT would
give him q chance" The clergyman
then told him that that was the reason.
able view.
1t is interesting 10 note here that one
OF the best pictures produced by the war
deals with this subject 1t shows Jesus
body OF a dead French soldier and say
ing, Come unto Me-" This painting is
by c. Arnold Slade, the American artist
and was exhibited at the Philadelphia
Art Club.
The Rev. DR.. Campbell has made
most startling assertion concerning
psychical phenomena on the battlefield
He has declared that many soldiers who
have been killed during the present war
have communicated with their friends
and comrades after death.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, in a recent
article on some remarkable psychical ex-
periences Of his own, has given a theory
why vigorous young person, such as q
soldier, is more likely to make ghostiy
apparition than another man. He says:
81 volunteered once to sleep IN a
haunted house at Charmouth, in Dor
chester. Two other Investigators went
with me.
"In the middle Of the night fearsome
uproar broke out 1t was not an acct.
dental breaking OF wood or anything Of