Beyond the Border-Line of Life by G. B. THOMPSON

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 10, 1908

Beyond the Border-Line of Life

By G. B. THOMPSON

—No. 1

G. B. THOMPSON

“Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth as a flower, and is cut down.” A few brief years constitute the span of the longest life, and man is gathered in by the grim reaper. What lies beyond the grave has always been of interest to man.

Beyond the portals of the tomb, no footsteps have ever passed to explore its dark and mysterious regions. The veil of the future never swings outward, to permit even a glance into this unknown realm. No traveler has ever returned from the regions of this mysterious bourne to unfold to curious ears its secrets.

It is quite true that the Deity, before whom the present and the future are outspread, has made a revelation concerning the future of man. He has pulled aside, as it were, the veil which separates between the present and the future, and which has thus far effectually repelled the most persistent scrutiny of man, and opened, to the gaze of those who believe, what is beyond the border-line, not only for the righteous, but for the wicked as well. One would suppose that a revelation of such absorbing interest would have been welcomed, and the knowledge imparted gladly received. But, no; blinded through unbelief, men have set aside the knowledge of the most high God, closed their eyes, and continued to grope in darkness. And, strange to say, while seeking through worldly wisdom to find the door, they boast of their ignorance.

But for years science has been seeking in various ways to fathom the depths of the unknowable, and of late has sought to drop the plummet into the dark abyss of futurity, and find, if possible, the bottom. Under the title of “Beyond the Border-Line of Life,” in the September and October issues of Van Norden’s Magazine, Mr. Gustavus Myers gives to the world what he claims to be the latest explorations and conclusive deductions of science. The articles are intended to show that science has established, by a “mass of absolutely verified facts,” the claims of modern Spiritualism that the dead are conscious, and have been materialized, handled, talked with, and even photographed.

The editor prefaces these articles with the information that “while science has reversed itself as regards its attitude toward metaphysical phenomena, its new position is taken as the most reasonable hypothesis — which subsequent empirical system of knowledge must substantiate — by which to explain certain happenings not explainable on natural grounds.”

Many eminent scientific luminaries are mentioned, who have been making research upon this question. Among these are Professor Schiaparelli, who discovered canals on Mars; Prof. Pierre Janet, a French writer on criminology; Gaelotti, professor of pathology in the University of Naples; and numerous other writers of note. “This,” the author of these articles says, “is a scientific age, when none but absolutely authentic facts are held worthy of consideration. That science has been able by infinite patience to explore into a domain far removed from our customary senses, is its greatest triumph so far.” He further states, however, that “all these men do not agree as to absolute conclusions,” but that “they are a unit on one point, which is that they no longer believe, as they had thought and taught for years, that physical death ends our life.”

From this we learn that science has reversed its former conclusions, and taken an entirely new position. Then who knows that this new position is correct, and that further scientific investigation may not lead to other “absolute conclusions,” and the position of science again be shifted? But upon this movable and sandy foundation we are asked to build our hopes and plans concerning our eternal future. Their positions remind us of the story of the Irish barrister who soberly told his lordship that if he was wrong in this hypothesis, he had another equally conclusive. For centuries science has guessed its way in this matter, and now, in the light of more recent research, reverses its verdict of the past. Scientists have arrived through experiments and investigations to the conclusion that “physical death” does not end life. Formerly “no scientific proof was adduced that the spirit, which guides the body, did not die with the body; to all appearance it flickered out with the passing of physical life. Since no evidence to the contrary was presented, science regarded this religious belief as a superstition.”

By “physical death” not ending life, science means “a continuation of consciousness, a survival of that mysterious thing which we call intelligence, spirit, or soul.” Through what they call a “mass of absolutely verified facts” of “occult phenomena,” proof has been furnished concerning “corporeal persons” and “disembodied beings” who communicate with the living, and thus demonstrate the uninterrupted consciousness of man beyond the border-line.

But the fact that there are “disembodied beings” is the point at issue, for which we desire some other evidence than the “facts” of what is called “occult phenomena.” This is a vague and undefined term. To the savage, thunder and lightning may be “occult phenomena,” while to the more enlightened they may be perfectly understood. The Bible says, “The dead know not anything.” Eccl. 9: 5, 6. We prefer to believe this statement from the infallible Word, which will “stand fast forever and ever,” rather than the “facts” of a science which “has reversed itself” after more careful investigation.

It is by such teaching that modern Spiritualism will be able to ensnare the world in its terrible web of deception, and lead men to perdition at last. That there is life beyond the tomb by means of the resurrection, we firmly believe; but that “physical death” does not interrupt consciousness, in the face of all the so-called facts of scientific investigation, we most positively deny.

Takoma Park, D. C.