CONSOLATION

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21807, 12 June 1936, Page 17

CONSOLATION

TO THB EDITOR OR THE PRESS. Sir, —I met a man the other day who was bowed down by a great sorrow. As a friend of long standing, I knew that he had always played his part in trying to make conditions of life better. I also knew that he was not religious in the “orthodox” sense, he being an agnostic. I gave him all the consolation I could, but I felt that my words were mere empty phrases to him. Now I know that there must be many more people in the same state of mind as this men, and I also feel that there is only one thing that can help them. I admit that this one thing is a problem that I cannot demonstrate, but and this Is why I am writing, I have been told that there are people in Christchurch who can. That is, demonstrate to these people who are in great sorrow that those they sorrow for are not gone for ever, that they exist “somewhere,” and that there is a reasonable chance of their meeting their loved Mies again. Now I understand quite well that what I am ask-

mg has puzzled intellects far greater than mine for ages, but, as I have said, some claim that it can be done.

1 know that the churches, through their ministers, maintain that it is simply a question of having faith in God or Christ, and that any person can get the demonstration. To repeat that to my friend, I fear, would be useless. He claims that if there is such a thing as a person who claims and knows that there is an after life, it should be possible for that person to demonstrate it to any other reasonable person. Is there anyone of your readers who can? If so, I think they would be giving great service to humanity by making their knowledge as widely known as possible.—Yours, etc., R.M. June 11, 1936.