Can the Dead Communicate?

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 248, 6 February 1917, Page 1

Can the Dead Communicate?

[TO THE EDITOR. ] Sir, —A recent article in your Supplement headed as above is especially interesting. Just at present, when so many people are getting killed—or about two per cent more than die ordinarily—there is a great call in hearts that never bothered before, and one asks oneself " Can our dead communicate with us?" Let us consider the usual death rate of the world annually—tearly 40,000,000. This gives us an idea of the immense number of people who annually " cross the divide." And of all this multitude—is there no one can bridge the gulf ? Professor O. Lodge and Miss Stead say there are some. My observations and experiences lead me to believe they all can if they go prepared and there are capable receivers this side. Who are receivers ? All history does not show 100. The best known is Jesus Christ. How can anyone qualify ? Jesus has told us what to do. Now let us consider the universe and what it is. Most of it is the very opposite of what it seems. «• Solid matter," as we call it, is not solid matter, but the exhibition of motion. As the scientists put it, the universe is built of "' Light." Go further back and the foundation is the Moral Law (see first five verses Johni.) Love is the law of the universe. What we call " chemical action " is the result of loye. Chemical action causes solids, liquids and gases. Chemical action, or love, directs the particles of action of the atoms that .form our solids, liquids and gases. In relation to their size the particles of the atoms are further apart than the earth is from the sun, and work in much the same way, This leads us to—What are we here for ? Just training—all we can take with us is " character," our bodies are but a garment. We are given free play to train ourselves—for the moral law or against it. For the moral law means for love—not " the lusts of the eye, the lusts of the flesh and the pride of life," but for love. And the keynote of love is selfsacrifice. Remember what the answer was to " What shall I do to be saved ?" " Sell all thou hast and give to the poor" (see also Matt. 16—25, 26). Now if these are the requirements, how many of us are trained or tuned to receive messages, impressions or impulses from the other side ?

Miss Stead's and Professor Lodge's experiences, I consider, are either conscious or unconscious self-sug-gestions, thought transference. Bu wherein comes consolation if If we all learn the lesson of self-sacrifice, repressing greed aud selfishness, doing all and working for all to make this world a Garden of Eden again, the war will not be fruitless.

The greatest sorvico we can rendor the dead is to look after the living—the greatest joy, self-sacrifice for the dead beloved.—l am, etc., " A FARMER.''