El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-02-21
SbiritiSa11 Looms
As Ne1O Religion
For Human Souls

vroTv older. They might learn to ap-
preciate better the risk they run. But
law cannot change their deadly ego
ism. Under the mask OF an apparent
submission they remain ready for
continuation OF anti-social actions
Two centuries Of philOsophic criti-
cism have broken down their BELIEF
in Christianity. We must have some
thing TO replace it.
is spiritism the new creed2
Shorn Of pucrile or confused theo-
ries Epiritism is something very
different from the gross superssti-
tions with which IL is generally con-
founded
1t Is based on scientifically oh
served fnets. These facts cannot
he denied today without falling
into the tolls Of an fncreduiity us
ridiculous n its opposite Smiles
Of unbelief are never an nrEu-
ment.
gives Of the phenomena under observa-
ton may be contested II may be
argued that certain naterializatlons
Of hitherto unseen bodies are not due
to the spirit Of the dead, but to some
extraordinary faculty OF the living.
But this latter hypothesis, which
must be admitted II the former is re-
jected, is just as disconcerting.
spIritIsm SimPIe3
The marvel IS not the explanation
but the fact When we lay aside the
explanation and look only at the fact
the theory OF spiritism is simple and
satisfying. AS scientific belief
spiritism can affirm merely one thing
that human personality persists
after deaeh- The spirit is separated
from the body at the moment OF
death. but continues 10 exist. the
spirit does not undergo any radical
modification Ie remains exactly as Il
was before with the same qualities.
the same virtues and vices, inspired
by the same beliefs, a prey 10 the
same ignorance 1t remains in the
midst Of the world OF men, frequent
ing the same old haunts. taking an
interest in the persons Il loved or
hated. Then, after a more or less
long period, during which Il appears
to relive all It's previous lie. in
during its last embodiment, Is present
as in a hypnotic trance It Is rein
carnated for new period OF terres-
Spirits UninfOrmed.
This is-au that we can conclude
from observed facts Nay we hope
that more precise data. which VIII
clear Up still further the mystery OF
the world, can be gathered in the
near future2 Il Is possible, but BY
no means certain The spirits do
7 not seem 10 have any more knowledge
have, and whatever we have re-
ceived from them Is merely the per
sonal opinion OF the spirit But this
I IS not important because the mini
mum OF knowledge, this fact OF the
] survival Of personality. II i became
an article, would be sufficient 70 allay
/ the danger which menaces humanity
The last barrier, perhaps the
strongest, which f. raised 1EainEt
the selfishness OF mnn Is the sell
durity which exists among those
who work together for n common
We are stopped by this barricade
either because we have an affection
I for those with whom We are in cola
I boration or because We feel that they
may be able 70 exercise a considerable
| influence on our destiny and that we
have therefore an interest in assur-
[ ing for ourselves, at the cost OF some
/ sacrifices. their neutrality or their
good will
Happiness Made Certain.
Now. this possibility OF the influ-
ence OF others on our future happi-
ness IS made certain by the proven
/ facts Of spiritlsm. Those who live
close 10 us or far away. those whom
we meet every day, or those We have
never seen to our knowledge, we
times in the course OF our previous
lives. and their destiny Is bound TO
ours for incalculabIe aeons- They
have loved US or hated Us. have hin
dered or helped Us. 50 that often. long
before their actions OF their words
have revealed their intentions. va
have recognized them as enemies OF
as brothers
Even If the spirit IN its newest IN
carnation does not remember every
person OF fact OF previous incarna-
tions. Il is certain that Il preserves
the memory OF the emotions which
those persons or facts have caused,
just as the liking or the dislike OF e
dish persists long after the circum-
stances IN which Il was partaken
have vanished from our minds II we
have committed a crime. the ven
geance OF our victims II we escape
II in one existence. viii follow US
through eternity until the day when,
finding US disarmed and helpless, our
victims wiz turn and strike US down.
on the other hand. the good we may
accomplish even II the person who
benefits IS unknown TO Us, VIII never
be sterile
Il viii be inscribed in the con-
! science Of the unknown and HIS