DEATH NOT THE END.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 110, 19 November 1915, Page 4 (Supplement)

DEATH NOT THE END.

WHAT A NURSE SEES. (We print the following, taken from the "Christian Commonwealth," at t;ie request of a Reader. — Death is not the end. I know that it is not. 1 will tell you why lam absolutely certain that it is not. For many years 1 was a professional nurse, and during that period 1 witnessed scores of deaths. Just before their breathing ceased a number ot those whom I saw die recognised, or s,eemed to recognise, someone who was invisible to the friends or relatives gathered at the bedside. I have seen a woman who had been in a comatose state for hours suddenly open her eyes a'd, with a look of glad surprise, stretch forth her hands, as though to grasp hands outstretched towards her, and then, with what seemed a sigh of relief, expire. I have seen a man who had been writhing in agony suddenly grow calm, and with an expression of joyful recognition fasten hie eyes on what, to his wife, seemed only vacancy, and, uttering a name in tones of glad greeting, breathe his last breath. Many similar scenes I have witnessed.

They are not, as many believe, mere. ly phantom creatures of their own disordered imaginations on which the dying often gaze so gladly just before death takes place, but ministering spirits who have come from the realms of spirit life to welcome those who, through the portals of death, are about to enter another state of existence. Th ; 6 I know because, in such instances as came under my observation, 1 too, 6aw what the dying saw, and also the subsequent transformation. I will describe one of many similar scenes that I have witnessed. It was in a hospital. A girl of seventeen —a good, kind-hearted, spiritually m:nded girl—was dying of consumption. A short time before she expired two spirit forms —angels I call them —suddenly appeared, standing near the head of the bed, one on each side of it. They were as distinctly visible to me as were the human occupants of the room. Just before they appeared the dying girl exclaimed, "It has grown dark; I cannot see anything I'' Then she saw them, and a smile, beautiful to see, lit up her hands; "You have come to take me she cried, in joyous tones. "I am glad, for I am«very tired."

As she held out her hands the two angels extended each a hand, one grasping the girl's right hand, the other her left hand. Their faces were illumined by a smile more radiantly beautiful even than that of the girl who was so soon to find the rest for which she longed. She did not speak again, but for nearly a minute, so its eemed to me, her hands remained outstretched, grasped by the hands of the angels, while she continued to gaze at them with the glad lght in her eyes and the smile on her face.

Her father, mother, and brother, who had been summoned that they might be present when the end came, were weeping bitterly, for they knew that she was leaving them. From my heart there went up a prayer that they might see what I saw,, but they could not.

The angels relaxed their grasp of the Sirl's hands, which then fell back on le bed. A sigh came from her lips, such as one might give one whe resigns himself gladly to a much-needed sleep, and in another moment she was what the world calls dead. But the sweet smile with which she had recognised the angels was still stamped on her features.

The angels remained by the bedside during the brief space that elapsed before the spirit form took shape above tho body in which physical life had ceased. Then they rose and stood poised for a few seconds, one on each side of her who was now like unto themselves. And 1 saw three angels go forth from the room where, a short time before, there had been but two. Death, which eo many regard as something terrible and awesome, shrouded in impenetrable mystery, has indeed been shown to me as the crowning proof of the unfathomable love of the Heavenly Father. Many phrases of angel ministry 1 have seen. And I am glad that the reports of angels appearing on the battlefield have turned the thoughts of many to the possibility of obtaining help and succour from them in timed of dire peril and distress! Their ministry is a real ministry. Did -they but know how to avail themselves of it, many thousands of those heart-broken ones who are now mourning their dead would find comfort and guidance.