WE IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 299, 9 June 1898, Page 4

WE IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, -Referring to Mr White's letter which appeared in your issue of May 25th, your readers will perceive a wide difference from the oue published on April 26th. The former denies calling in question future immortality, but to make it more plain I copy the as printed, which reads thus : It is nothing new to hear of soul immortality, and further reference is made to Professor Beet. He also ocmes to the same conclusion that immortality of the soul is not taught in the Bible. Then comes Mr White again, and with surprise this time that any body of men should make such a statement. I make these remarks to make it clear where we s'arted from, or where I started from, and that was to prove by Scripture and reason of man's superiority to all animal creation, so much so as to possess a soul independent of this body, and to be destined to live as long as eternal age 3 roll —everlasting and immortal—and where there is immortality there is life everlasting, for both word 3 have the same meaniug and convey the same idea. The above is Mr White's statement. His intentions may have been different, but those are the words, and at present are past recall. I have no doubt many of your readers will view it in the sxme light as I do. In criticising a body of men or a single individual, it is not fair to pick out a single error he may have been drawn into, but the whole course of his life should be taken into account, and the c nirse which has been followed establishes his character. Judges in our Court 3of Law are guided by this. As regards the \Ve3leyan body, 160 years have pulsed since John Wesley commenced preaching at Oxford, England, and from that time his followers have increased wonderfully. It may not he out of place in this short note to notice the state of society in England at the time Wesley began preaching. His historian says the leligioua and moral state of the nation at that time exhibited the most appalling aspect The cure had exerted a banetul effect on the cause of religion, but the rapid decay of religious light and influence from the restoration ot the Stuarts to the time of Wesley is, perhaps, without a parallel in the history of any country. Comparing society at present in a religious point of view with that time, religious truth and Bible light have spread amazingly, and the Wesleyan body has been one of the chief means of the religious revival. This controversy which Mr Wiiite eomnu-nced is one of words only, and after all does not affict the principle. Heaven's promises are not in the least affected, whatever may be man's decision. Leaving it at that point.—l am, etc., John Gibson.