The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-02-19
Immortality
You Read This You viii Probably Feel That You
Have Wasted Tmc.)

eye PrlVe man with long, red hair shivering in
ICY pool He has taken refuge there from pursuing bear
or other foe He that he must die of cold or of the
Teeth His dark mind-product of brain primitive and
poor In conVoutions contempates vaguely the prospect
ahead Of him. He hopes that after death he NAV through
some mysterious kindness be permitted to meet again the
redared women and the wolsh children left behind
mere IN the cave man mind is the first craving for
immortality Born in that poor brain long centuries ago it
has steadily grown stronger with mans mental develop
ment
No looks death without looking beyond it. None
but has craving for future e with consciousness of his
personality AND WITH RECOLLECTION OF FRIENDS,
FACES, AND DEEDS HERE
Say to a 'You shall be immortal but you shall
not know that you are YOU He will not give you thanks
for such immortality
So strong mans craving for personal individual i'm
mortality that hell with its fires would be preferred by many
to annhiaon The strongest argument against immortal
y-Weak and Ignorant at bes-is but frantic attempt
OF the mind to prove negatively the existence of what
covets.
Fortunately for human happiness in general FAITH
covers the requirements of millions They live and die
tented the instinct within them fortified by the teachings
OF faith not to be questioned.
But what of the men and women who ask for evil
dence, at least plausible argument proving the rea
sona6eness OF immortality? What can be said to please
them?
Not much, alas Probably because we are still so un
developed that would be- for many reasons unsafe
let us know how great future is before Strongest
in hope is the argument of Charles Fourier based on
what he declared to be natural law.
DEsTMIES''
Bythis Fourier meant that universal longing among
human beings certain proof that their ultimate des
tiny involved the fuhlment of the longing The little
girl fonding doll foretes maternity. The hectoring
boy foretels the soldiers career No universal arac
ton, save with destiny proportionate.
The human race since it began to think and believe has
thought OF and believed IN Immortality. The half wise de-
clare that belief in immortality and spirit world to
savage peoples through Dreams that has been kept alive
through superstition and the power of religion Trivial
certainly is such explanation of phenomenon wide
as mankind's existence.
very consoing fact for the doubter is this. The
roir5e 1oro
ably, at stage of development rejected belief in
immortaty-only to return to the belief at least to
the HOPE, with fuller age and ripper wisdom. That
great mind has any positive argument against the
hope OF immortality is certainly comforting to all of
Intelligence always refue imprObabiity and false
hood.
What about the nature of immortality? The Indian
hopes for dogs and hunting the Turk for life of which the
least said the better The Christian borrowing his ideas
from the writings of the old Hebrews looks forward to what
may be called solid gold existence made of
gold or OF something more expensive.
We do not think that religious docility demands i'm
pc belief in any of the published details of our future e
lstence Gold is not comfortable; Jasper would not well
place the green turf.
Is not more reasonable to assume since Immortality is
to be ours that is and always has been? We
cannot imagine creation of the indesructibe Is not
sensible to take literally that most beautiful invocation:
"Thy kingdom ON EARTH as it is in heaven?"
We know that heaven cannot be above US or hell below;
because whr round in each twenty period
those abodes would have to whrl asoqute unreasonable
The earth would make very good heaven-prop-
erly improved and managed. Wipe out human selfish
ness and the Sahara and other deserts Establish uni
versal philanthropy, regulate the climate conne hui
man manual labor to the pushing OF an electric button
all quite possible-and you have the sort Of heaven
that would select if left to choose.
Why should we not come back here again and again,
taking varying human FORMS doing our duty well
badly each time according to start in life, and
fn-lly enjoying perfect terrestrial happiness here
finished race of immortal beings-immoraI in the sense
of being ndesucbe and of possessing the gift of per-
petual reincarnaton?
Now, this earthly reincarnaton idea is what have
been driving at since the beginning of this particular
tce What the argument against prior and subsequent
existence here? It is this:
eff to live here again. must have lived here be-
FORE If have lived here before do not know it, and
do not look forward with pleasure future existence