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

low down in the scale OF evolution
have assumed that the soul-whicl
Is the most convenient word-wha
there was of IL, returns to its sourc,
unaffected in any way by its tempo
rary sojourn. In the othe, have
regarded II as either refined or de
graded by the conscious acts OF II:
possessor And it will be seen that
on this theory the great store OF life
force isalways tending towards q
higher or a lower degree of divinity
In other words, until all mankind is
exalted to a true nobility of charac,
ter, we can never, in the hackneyed
phrase OF the churches. enter the
Kingdom OF God. Il am dealing now
with the human race only; the ami
NAL kingdom is separate and pro-
foundly interesting study
COMFORT FOR THOSE
WHO MOURN
But now come to an aspect of
the matter wherein there is comfort
and hope for all who have been be-
reayed by the war. So far l have
spoken of the soul returning to its
source, after death, in the same, or a
better, or worse condition than that
in which II enteredthe human body;
and ! have not suggested that once
liberated il retains any of its individ-
ualiy; il simply goes back like the
thimbleful of water. leaving the sea
unaffected or in a minute way purify
ing or polluting 1t, according 20 the
elements it has collected during its
human habitation.
But since the Divine purpose Is
ever towards eXaltation, there is one
thing, and one thing only, which in
sures conscious life after death-the
ennoblement of the soul by love and
sacrifice to such a degree that once
liberated from its mortal prison it is
of too high a quality to blend with
the common ocean and roams about
finds in those who were dearest to
it in life and for whom primarily the
love and sacrifice were given. And
it is the bridging of the gulf which
separates here from the beyond which
is the problem OF the scientists in
the immediate future. And some of
them are doing it, Dark rooms and
spiritual seances" won't do it. They
are all frauds.
THE GATEWAY TO THE
LIFE BEYOND
Nature abhors darkness-and so
does truth. But | can tell you that
one of the greatest scientists in Eng.
land, a man of European reputation,
the principal of a modern university
one with whom accurate thought and
critical analysis are the habits of a
| lifetime-Sir Oliver Lodge-havine
lost son upon the battlefield, has
devoted his unique powers of inves
LEGATION TO this great mystery, anC
after weighing every scrap of avail
able evidence, considering every ar
gument-colding, dispassionately, sci
| entitlcally-has declared his unalter
| able belief that what we call dealt
is but the gateway to the life beyond
There is no mistaking the signifi
canoe of such testimony, nor dare
question the validity of evidence tina
has satisfied one of the most bril-
liant OF modern scientific minds. AnC
If the word of the principal of thu
Birmingham University is not suf
ficient, it is reinforced by that O
Sir William Crookes, a man who ha!
won the Order of Merit by his nota
BILE contributions to scientific truth
and who now declares his deep con
Yiction that the life we know is bu
a single phase of conscious existence
and death mere episode in the as
cent of man.
THE UNFOLDING OF A
MAJESTIC PURPOSE
To me these are facts of stupen
dous Significance, and the realization
of cherished hope. l have long be
lieved that sooner or later the straight
and narrow path of scientific inyes
tigation would lead US to the heart
of the worlds central mystery. To
some, faith comes easily, intuitively;
to others only by painful searching;
but look forward with sanguine
hope to day when knowledge of a
future life will be part of the com
on heritage OF man. Already sci
entists and philosophers are Joining
hands with poets and mystics to pro
claim the glories of the life eternal
The historian sees in the annals OF
the race the slow unfolding of a
majestic purpose.
There was a time when the clever.
est men thought this tiny earth the
center of the Universe of God. We
smile at the conceit, but perhaps fu.
ture generations may wonder how
men could ever have believed that
this little span OF earthly life was
the sum and extent of human exist.
ence. Perhaps some of the brave