As I rend these articles, recently. it became clear that nothing ne' was said. All the arguments bad been used a thousand times. What, however, was significant was the kind of men, and the number of} them, who found these arguments eonvine'ng. 'The debate was carried along broad general lines. Several of the writers accepted the Christian revelation as final for] themselves, yet they did not seek tw close the debate by quoting text, but stated their ease in way' that might appeal to a non-Christian. All of the writers ex. pressed their respect for the work and character of Sir Arthur Ke'th land most of them agreed with him that the future life is not capable! of scientific proof. It is true th individual members of the Psychicat Research Society claimed thet they had received actual demonstration, the Society as a whole has not committed itself to that position But we must not make the mistake of thinking that because a thing cannot be proved, it is therefore disposed of; for there are also many other things, including ever the working hypotheses of modern science, which cannot be proved. And this also should be considered: if the future life cannot be proved, neither can it be disproved. That consideration came almost as a revelation to Mr. Robert Blatchford, who used to be a sceptic in religious matters He writes: told myself more Ueno sail the: evidence "Ie agar Tmagize when Soweto, Slee E'tourd thst here fe 0 evide So you see that if proof is rule out on the one side. it is ruled fut on the other side also. Wel failing se'entifie proof of a future! life, what have we got to say for} it? TE we accept that doctrine immorzality as the scientist accepts) the theory of the universal reign of law, that as a working hypothosis, what arguments can we summon support? We shall, of course eave out more than we can dele, and shall probably raise more question than we can answer, but here are a few considerations:
The Crown of Creation -If there is no future Ife, this life appears to be robbed of its! menning. According to man is the crown of creat is annbilaion to be his end? Wou'l not that rob the whole process of purpose or meani Some: tone has suggested that it would be no more than a diabolical joke to ead man so far and then abandon hire. If this life may be regarded Naining ground for souls; it Joys and sorrows, its hones!
appointments, have an educa tive purpose; then we are encourag ed to. go on learning and growing i€ physical death, which comes soon enough to all, is' gain to wipe out the whole process, then it is difficult to find an answer to the sensualist who says: "Lot ux out, drink and be merry, for to-morrow we dic. Now to the infinite credit of sue men as Sir Arthur Ke'th, let Ue said at once that they are the last people on earth to draw for themselves such a base, though logical, inference. In spite of their belief that phys: cal death means the dissolution of personality hey continue their unselfish roses! eches in the sacred cause of trot! That ix to thir lasting none Dut coild a righteous Creator after to leave the matter there?
'Then too, not only is the presen] life as we know it incomplete, i also felt by many to be unin It often happens in th's life tha: the good people suffer while tha' bad people thrive. Take just oni Mlustration. In a time of fer'sis the loyal citizen places hia services at the disposal of his coun uy. He may be kiled or mained for life, but even if he comes: through' alive, he is impoverished. and this impoverishment involves his dependents ax well ax himself. But, while he gives his all, t uncultured profiteer waxes wealthy at h's expense. This is but one illustration of the unequal distribution of the prizes and the penalties in th's life. Such things lead people to feel that the last word has not been spoken, and that their belief just God Ceniands that there] should be a future life to the unequal balance of this.
Does this argument prove the future life? No, indeed; but it peals to us as a a Letter caplanation than the nes hich rgesis. that the ior pros ss$ of dev ivziocnt and training leads wsiare and shat the wicks< may pomonently prosper' at the expense of the just. Asa working hypothesis, atiemytzng give an explanation of the cacts as} we know them, that of the futare life is incomparably more satis'. tory than that of ann'hilatien.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.