Evening star., 1938-04-25
Challenge Writer'S Views
On the Immortality of Man
| To the Editor OF The Star:

10 the Editor OF The Star:
I challenge the letter appearing in
The Evening Star of April 81, by Edw.
Wolesensky, writing on the subject,
Conviction Not Adequate Proof of I'M
mortality"
do not wish to enter into any lengthy
controversy on the subject as I do not
feel qualified for the task, but do wish
to register my disapproval of the article
for the benefit of those who may take
Mr.. Wolesensky seriously.
believe the lack Of contentment and
peace Of humanity and the unsettled
condition of the world in general are
due to lack of faith, the base of i'm
mortality and the base of all good things.
1t Is true science has no proof of i'm
mortality. Neither does it have proof
of the on-existence Of Immortality. So
what?
We cannot depend upon science to
explain Immortality because immortality
is matter of faith. Neither immortal
ity nor faith can be reduced to labora-
tory experiments or analysis. There is
nothing tangible or material to work
with. But the Bible can explain i'm
mortality.
l presume some people would want
science to prove the divine origin of the
Bible. Here again science would fail.
But the proof of a God confronts us
everywhere, day and night, and that
Is all that is necessary for thinking
people, to have faith in the divine
origin of the Bible and immortality.
OF course, there are those who, like
Mr.. Wolesensky, demand proof. They
are like the Disciple Thomas, who said,
Except I see in His hands the print
OF the nails and put my fingers into tn,
print of the nails and thrust my hand
into His side, I will not believe The
doubling Thomas was given the privilege
OF proof. He found his doubt was un-
founded and he was convinced.
Contrary to Mr.. Wolesensky'S state
ment, Until such proof is Forthcoming,
thinking people will remain uncon-
Vlnced," 1t will be only the unthinking
people who remain unconvinced I
agree with Mr.. Woesensky's statement,
conviction cannot rest on wishful
thinking but l say Immortality or con-
viction can rest securely on active faith.
l hope Mr. Wolesensky will be less
materialistic and read the Bible, where
he will find proof of immortality If he
practices the teachings of the Bible he
will find peace and contentment on
earth and Immortality after death. He
should especially read the Gospel ac-
coroing to Saint John, chapters xx-xxv.
FRANK C. WAGNER.
To the Editor of The Star:
Edw. Wolesensky writes in The Star
of April 81 that he once heard Sir Oliver
Lodge lecture after the latter had be-
come convinced of the reality of i'm
mortal life. What Sir Oliver was
convinced Of is conscious survival of
personality beyond bodily death, which
is quite a different concept from i'm
mortal life
Mr. Wolesensky bases his commen. on
published observsti tions by DR.. Charles
G. Abbot of the Smithsonian Institution
in which DR.. Abbot sympathetically
quotes Lodge and other scientists as
forced to the conclusion that life con-
tinues after the death of the body. In
his letter Mr.. Wolesensky points out
the proper methods of science and
recommends them to Sir Oliver Lodge
and the other scientists.
Considering the unfamiliarity of most
persons with what is going on in this
field of research it is pertinent here to
mention that scientists in many.nations
agree that the abundant evidence ex-
amined fits the theory of survival of hui
man personality better than it fits any
other theory proposed.
The consideration is not lost sight
of that such survived consciousness
may further develop in its new condi-
ton; or be dissipated, disintegrate, die.
H. BUELL..