LIFE AFTER DEATH.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 May 1921, Page 5

LIFE AFTER DEATH.

THE POWERS OF MEDIUMS.

ARE THEIR MESSAGES GENUDiBI

ARCHDEACON EVANS’ ADDRESS.

Some interesting observations touching on the subject of “the world beyond” were made by Archdeacon Evnwi, in the course of his address at the unveiling ceremony in St. Mary** Church. New Plymouth, yesterday. He said*

What a large amount of informatter the Bible actually gives of the othei world that surrounds thia one! It it surprising to find how much has realty been told us about this subject, in whicl we are all so deeply interested. It it sad to think of the number of poor anxious souls who have never sought th guidance of the Sacred Word, or the DP vine Spirit, who have wandered from medium to medium without gaining any great satisfaction, and never really knowing whether the massages they receive are to be depended upon or not. Now I should like to state definitely my absolute conviction that no medium however upright and sincere, has any power, without the Divine permission, to have any intercourse with the Saint? of God. Sometimes, I have no doubt, ii is permitted for some good end; bnt generally speaking, I should lay it dowi as a certain fact that those safely gathered into our Father’s home can neve£ he interfered with by any earthly power, especially by those who make their aoealled occult powers a means of gaining a world living. But I am in no doubt whatever that God allows for His glory, and our good and comfort, many of those who have passed away from this life to visit and help their loved ones left behind. I have known two persons —.sane, reasonable people—who have seen angels. One has gone where the angels dwell, and the other is still in this world. I knew one saint of God whose face shone with supernatural light when she was dying. Several who were present ean bear their testimony to it. But I am inclined to think that instances of the sort are extremely rare, and only permitted in special cases where God sees it to be good. A NEW EXISTENCE.

Here then we have this wonderful belief—that around |his world, and quite close to it, is a world, peopled with glorious oeings, all doing their part in ministering to thbae who are journeying on towards perfection in their primary existence. Into this world our dear ones are ushered, when what we call death takes place, and instantly begin their new existence in the nearer presence of the Blessed Father and Saviour of all. But there is this apparent drawback to this view of the future life: If this is true, then is there not a danger 6f our loved ones being grieved and ashamed on seeing the falls and sins and sorrows of those left behind in (bis world? Will not this detract from the happiness of the other life? But I think that there may b® wonderful compensations in this, of which we can now know nothing. In this world we are hindered from seeing many things that would hurt us, and. our restricted vision is perhaps our greatest blessing. And in that other life it may be that a grief-producing vision may be denied to God’s sainte; or that they may be able to perceive a gracious end to poor and sordid beginnings. They may see all things in their ultimate perfection—that, somehow, good will be the final goal of ill. They may see more of the great victories of the soul than of the many failures. In any case wa have the Divine assurance “that God shall wipe away all tears from their eyas.” Then let us realise to our deep joy that at the change we call death our deer ones have simply gone into their other world that surrounds this one of oun.

NEW WONDERS.

Are they alone in their new experience? Must they grope along unaided? Do they miss our help and support? Why, the same ministering beings who have helped them in their lower plane will surely be at hand to assist them still and to initiate them into new wonders of that other world. We often think of the loneliness of those who have passed away from us. Why, they can never be lonely. Do we think in our foolish kind of egotiam that they must be lonely without our companionship? Why, God cares for them much more than we possibly can. He loves them with an everlasting love. He has prepared for them such wonders as pass man’s understanding. And do you think He will suffer them to be alone in the great crisis of life? No; no. “When thou passe,st through the waters I will be with thee.” We take our dear ones down to the brink of the dark river; we comfort and help them as far as we can; but we can go no further than the brink. We must let go their hands there. But it is there that the glorious Redeemer and His ministering angels stand waiting for them, and, as Edwin Eland so well put it, the souk awakening on the other side are for ever in their care. If you believe really in the eternal love of God, you can implicitly trust your loved ones into His care. " Shall He care for them and us in this life, in its battles, sorrows, sins, and falls, and then, when we need Him most, forsake us? Surely not. The psalmist knew the truth when he said: “Yea, tho’ I walk through the valley of death I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me: Thy rod and Thy staff comfort me.”