"A NEW HEAVEN"

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 241, 5 July 1919, Page 11

"A NEW HEAVEN"

Books on the ideal state, books written in tlie form of prophecies or allegories, or 'as records oi alleged visions, there have. been .many from Iho days of Sir .Thomas tMoro and his "Ulopiu"" and Jiolilies ami his "Leviathan" down lo (he later , times .which witnessed the nppt'aianco. of Butler's "Erewhon" and certain sociological. und political fantasies which we owe. lo Mr ]I. G. Weils. Uf latb, jilso, the subject of life after death and of the exact character of that existenco has given rise to many interesting .theories ami'speculations, mainly of socalled spiritualistic origin. It has-.re-mainod, however, lor a New Zealand Jliuister of the Crown, the Hon. (.1. \V. h'us'sell,- to draw what ■ is; ..ill -many of ils leading features, anentirely original,- certainly a most uncmivenrionul, picture of Heavenly lil'o. This'is achieved in a bosk cntitljCS "A New Heaven" (tendon, llc-thuou and Co.), a hook which I make no doubt is 'bound to give vise to much animated and interesting discussion,, not only in this country, but in Great Britain, where this reviews-have been very complimentary, and in America.- Tho machinery by which the author! rniispoiis a typical New Zealand worker,-a station shepherd of Scots extraction, and a ln'gh order of intelligence, to the' "now Heaven" need not here bo described. The earthly visitor is taken elmrge of by two iuigel guides, Gnosis and Agapee, who conduct him to the Heavenly abode of his earthly dead father and mother. .He finds that Heaven is very .different from what his religious upbringing and reading had taught luni it would be. lie discovers a city of marvellous beauty, in which the sordid commercialism, - llie selfishness, greed, itwl ugliness generally of the earthly world have given place: lo a positively ideal state of social brotherhood.

The most marvellous wonders .of science, ■as • they,, are known to earthly professors, aro hero transcendently surpassed hy methnds which ensure comforts and conveniences of ■ which the earthly visiter'had no conception.! Here are .no. worries' for the housewife, for by a variety of scientilie appliances and, by the judicious .organ-, isation of co-operative effort, her, duties and responsibilities are so light as tc leave her ample leisure for wholesome recreation". . ..The cost of • living and tho fuel supply problems' are non-existent; the everyday life of tho individual is so moulded as : to eliminato the very . possibility; of "nerves." It is not a Socialistic Heaven, but rather a Heaven of well-ordered inxlividual effort, co-operating, it' is true, for the common good, but never thwarting or .stultifying legitimate personal ingenufty'.or justifiably ambitious personal effort. In tho new Heaven .each fills tho special pines in the community for which his own inclinations and tastes fit him. It is a Heaven where art, and music and literature llourish as never in the dreams of cultured earth-man could they flourish. Abov.o all and dominating all is a spirit, of kindly charity, benign' tolerance and gentlest love, the outcome of an all-pen-ading forco of highly developed spirituality. It' is, inueed a beautiful vision in which the author asks us to participate. • Incidental to the description ,oi'.'Heaycnly life are'OiSqnisitions by various occupants of tho Heavenly region with., irhom tho. visitor conies in contact on various questions of sociological interest, education, health, the moral and religious uplifl- , ing of; man nil; .bcins; represented. C'cr-, tain'fairious .men .of,.the. earthly,,'world who ..havoiipassed away. :ar'e . introduced, aniongst others, Gladstone,. Dr.'"Livingstone, and two such purely hiodbrns as 'Lords Eoberts and Kitchener: The whole dream, for'such,'of-course, it is, is worked out.'in a systematic'and orderly way, but never is tho dominant spiritual element forgotten. In the: course of his- peregrinations through tho' Heavenl) v city tho wanderer from earth finds Henry Ward Beecher, wlibni, by the way, tho author clearly holds in highest esteem as a religious teacher, aiid it is,to the ex-minister of Brooklyn' that is-entrusted the task of explaining "tho religion" of the "new Heaven." The wanderer having asked "Where is God?" Mr. Beecher "replies reverently" i— • God is everywhere. .He -inhabits creation. But Ho is not to us, nor to any being in this existence, visible. As wo grow iii knowledge, and our powers aro developed, wo shall obtain a. closer conception of tho Deity, hut horc wo aro at the first .stage .of progression, and you know what the greatest Apostle said: 'Whom no' man hath seen, nor can sse.' AVe are still men. .... '. "And the Christ?". I asked, with fear and trembling, lest again I should be disapDointcd. "HE IS HERE," he said; with, rapt expression of countenance. "The Divine Man. the Elder Brother, the Deification of Humanity! Still, as ever, the Fountain of Gentleness, the Source of Moral Truth, the lVellspring of Hope and Ijqvc— still the: Ideal One, -leading in tho paths of. -wisdom and knowledge-helping those who start this, life weary, weak, and heavy-laden, and, as of-: old, He gives them rest. He guideß and directs the movements which-uplift men on Earth, as well.'as here.- He■ encourages and assists all who-seek.-iie'w ways of:, helping linmanity. ."You should .see." he added, "how aiixioiis Ho -is 'that any. -discovery in science shall', be .communicated -for tho benefit of men and -woirienf'.".. .tL, "I'-dp not understand," 1: exclaimed. "Oh!" he'said, "'the .prcatpst scientists ot Earth are often but channels by 1 which discoveries' here are communicated to men. Here, mental activity reaches its goa nnicker than was possible below, and whatever will promote happiness, and case humanity is passed on!"

Later Q.n wo find Mr. Beecher explaining that there is no more "religious imii'nnii'tv" In I be "new Heaven" than upon the old: Earth, and delivering', himself of it lengthy and interesting disquisition on tho special suitableness of certain creeds and religions io different sections of humanity and diverse rlimes and environments. Spirit telepathy through prayer is described as a powerful in the beneficial influence exerted by 'hose in Heaven for their friends anil relations who are still on the earthly .sphere. The description of a Heavenly "oratorio," ;erformod in the open-air on the Plain of Mercy, and closing with tho beatific vision, of the Saviour, is _• conceived and written in terms of dignified and deeply reverential eloquence. -The book closes with the return of the wanderer to his. earthly homo. He is conducted, buck Io earth by his two faithful .angel-guides who, in parting, give him a message "that, will bring comfort', hope, peace and joy to many a weary and heavy-laden heart."

"Tell them." said Gnosis, "that Heaven is a. real place—a. world of industrial;-:, inlellecliiaj. artistic,' moral, and social- activity. Tell iheih that here is room for all. Tell them tli2t here education is free lo all, t.liat (lie wells of knowledge ai'i alwavs full, without money, and without price. Tell them that this is a •world of conipensalions, where the inerinalilies of life are put richt, Tel) ■llicm .that .here every man obtains Hi" i.,i'D'".t"Pitie'- '>f which he was deprived on Earth., Tell them that here iliey will .'find that occupation for which they are best suited, and which .will Kive them, the greatest happiness. Tell them that here industry, merit, and capacity Unci (heir full outlet and reap I heir due reward.

■:.I'Yn-ni tlie other angel's. (Agapee) cnii. Iribulion to the message I take Ihe fol lowing extract:—

,'i'ell the fathers and mother* who sorrow, over their dead soldier hoys, hi whom all I heir cherished ambitions are buried, not to despair. Here their lads await (belli, perfect in form and feature, dear ami slrcutr in Intellect, and ready to fiil/i! their nnhlent. ambitions. . . . Tell the norl.H. tliii artists, who have thoughts Inmiint: in their breasts that they cannot give forth, that the opportunities Krrth withholds are wnitin!,* here. Tell the wenrv mid oppressed thai here there ■i.i.i'Mt. Tell I lie we.'ilt mid derornird that hcij they will stand level with the nol'.fot, and enjoy the friendship and love-for whMi they hungered on Earth in \linn. Teli tin: scientist who. wrestles va'nlv with problems for the service of ■hrmlnily that here-they ■ will be Tinraveled, that here lio will not see, an tliroikh a. fflass diirkly, but face to face. .. Ant', filially, take to men and women this fi:cssiißO —lhat Love is the fullillins of Ih • fj nw ; 'hat every kind deed done. every' l; ' n<l word, spoken, every increase

given to .knowledge -and light, every burUei cased,, ..lj:'i%d nearer mat auspicious <lsiy when error; soinslincss, uiiU sin will have ■ disaiJiicarat,'. when Death will have, been ' finally cunuuercil, and when JII'iAVKK Wild. 11AYK- IiI.UAX ON KAli'l'li.!-. ■ . ■'. .

Whilst, all may-no!: lie-.inclined •<> " l> ■colli .tho author's theories as io I he-char-acter of tlie Hie■ atler death. .Mr. Hiivsel! will.begiven credit- -for the-originality of his general theme, lor the ingenuity -wi'.h wh.ieh'he has worked it oul in detail, ami fur the simple but dignified language in which.-his conception oi .Hen-veiny exigence ia linl'nlili'il. The general point, .of ■ view,- whether' on. social or •. i>\li;»io"is questions, wliirh. is made mamiVsl in 1 lie .narrative, is • one..- wl.iit-h,- all uiusv admit-• who Vend. ■ tlie book, is as

distinctly creditable In- the.- author's heart and mind as its maimer .of presentation is to his 'ability -as a literary cra!lsma.n. (Price ids.). '