Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1917-03-08

share with us the sublime knowledge
which has come to them in fash OF
glory. For they are not dead. Earth
IS not a CLEARINGHOUSE. Brute force
has no power to destroy the life OF
man."-Horatio Bottomley.
Through its exclusive news sources
In Great Britain the international
News Service today obtained an in
teresting discussion by Horatio Bot
tomley, ex-member of parliament, of
his belief that the men killed by the
ten thousand on the battlefields do
not really die, but are still alive.
This belief he bases on scientific con-
siderations, as he is mot a religious
man"
Sir Oliver Lodge, Sir William
Crookes and other eminent British
scientists also hold this belief, which
Is gaining ground in English intellect.
ual circles.
Mr.. Bottomley, formerly a member
OF the house of commons, is editor of
the weekly John Bull" and famous
also as fnancier and an owner OF
fast horses. His article follows:
ARE THEY REALLY DEAD?
(By Horatio BottomIey,
Ex-Member of the British Parliament
Do you remember the story (usual-
Iy attributed to Lord Beaconsfield)
of the witty Lord Chesterfield, who
once claimed that his religion was
'the religion of all sensible menu"
and what is that?" ventured an
inquisitive friend.
mo sensible man ever says" came
the cynical retort.
And so | can imagine that many OF
my readers, as they glance at the
title of this article, will be inclined
to rank me with those who rush in
where angels fear to tread" How
ever, L am going to take the risk.
Truth to tell, am not greatly en-
amored of the convention that places
all matters of religious belief, the
vital problems of life and death and
the beyond, outside the pale of popu
lar discussion. II seems to me
form of moral and mental cowardice.
In every other branch OF human spec
ulation, free discussion and inquiry
have been the conditions of progress.
Why. then. should we be silent upon
the grandest theme of all?
DOES MAN SURVIVE
THE GRAVEL
''If man die, shall he live again?"
The question is the perennial cry of
humanity. Is man mortal? Is death
the end? Shall life endure? Is there
room for comfort and hope? Is re-
ligion mere farrago of picturesque
legend, or at the best, cEaste monu-
ment of imaginative literature, or
may we discover in its books the
sign manual of truth? Was Christ n
mere visionary, or, Mt most, an in
spired moral teacher, or had He the
clue to the eternal mystery? Such,
through the centuries. have been the
souls deepest questionings. And as
the aim and focus OF all speculation,
the one intending query: Does man
survive the grave?"
THE QUESTION NEAREST
OUR HEARTS
Today this eternal question Is re-
lated to the tnrobbing reality of a
worlds grief. For the avenues of
Heath are broadened. the gates of the
.omb are flung widely open, and thou
sands of our bravest have already
passed to the. great beyond. Are they
'eally dead? Sail we ever meet |
hem AGAIN. Does nothing remain |
Il all that was noble. true and heroic,
Il all that claimed our love and in.
pired our hearts devotion. Are their
.allant souls destroyed? In other
words, are our dear war heroes real
v %dead?"
These are not the barren specula.
ions of philosophy, or of a theology |
hat has lost its faith Such ques.
ions spring not from mere intcllec-
ual curiosity, but from the agony
f broken hearts, from the anguish
Z minds assailed by black despair.
hey come from widows intheir bit.
sr loneliness, from parents faced
18th life's most poignant tragedy.
'om lovers robbed of Joy and prom.
@, from children who on the thresh.
d of life have met the affrighting
,ectre OF death.
The great enigma clamors for solu.
,n. Can we believe, dare we &C
pit the assurance OF the rubric that
+ dear ones are laid aside Gin sure ,
d certain hope OF the Resurrection" .
so, then indeed we shall mot be '
Ty as men without hope" But even c
'.deyout are dubious. What is the n
thu v
MFoRT FROM THE v
OF KNOWLEDGE
fancy we shall find an answer a
ner II We lift tho question from a,
realm of dogma, from the dark tn
nsels Of a medieval theology, on of
he sUIer ground of nranfloai nbI. an