DEATH NOT THE END.

Wanganui Herald, Volume L, Issue 14740, 20 October 1915, Page 4

DEATH NOT THE END.

(By a Professional Nurse, in the Cliristian Commonwealth.) Death is not the end, I know that it is not. I will tell you why I am absolutely certain that it is not,, Perhaps .there who have had experiences somewhat similar to mine may ’■ e induced thereby to relate them. And the query “la Death the End?” which heads the leading article in the last issue of the Christian Commonwealth, may then be answered in a way that will afford comfort to many bereaved ones who are now sadly and vainly 'seeking an answer to it. ; . For many years I was a professional nurse, and during that period X witnessed scores of deaths. Just before their breathing ceased a , number of those whom 1 saw die recognised, or. seemed, to -recognise, someone who was invisible to the friends of relatives gathered at the bedside. I have seen a woman, who had been in a comatose state for hoars, suddenly open her eyes and, with a look of glad surprise, stretch forth her hands, as though to grasp hands outstretched-towards-h«r-and then, with what seemed a sigh of relief, expire. I have seen a man who had been writhing in agony suddenly grow calm, and with an expression of joyful .recognition fasten hfs eyes ok what, to his wife, seemed only vacancy, and, uttering a name jn tones of glad greeting, breathed his last breath. Many similar scenes I have witnessed. They are not, as many believe, merely phantom creations of their own disordered imaginations on which the dying often gaze so gladly just before death - takes place, but ministering spirits who have come from the realms of spirit life to welcome those who, through the portals of death, ate about to enter another state of exist- ■ ence. This I know, because, in such instances as came under my observation, I, too, saw what the dying saw, and also the subsequent transformation. For, through no merits of my own, I have been richly endowed with what are com-, monlv called psychic powers. I will describe one of many similar scenes that 1 have witnessed. It was in a hospital; A girl of 17—a good kind-hearted, spiritually-minded girl—was dying of consumption, t A -short time before she expired two spirit forms—angels I call them—suddenly appeared standing near the head of the; bed, one on each side of it. .They were as die-, tinctlv visible to me as were the human occupants of the room. Just .before they appeared the dying girl exclaimed: "It has grown dark’; I cannot see anything!” Then she saw them, and a smile, beautiful to see, lit up her face. She-stretched-forth her hands. “You have come to take me away,” she cried, in Joyous tones. “I am glad, for I am very tired.” As she held out her hands the two angels extended each a hand, one grasping the girl's right hand, the other her left hand; Their faces were illumined by a smile more radiantly beautiful even than that of the girl who was so soon to find the rest for which she longed. She did not speak again, but for nearly a minute; so; it seemed to me, her bands remained outstretched, grasped by the hands of the angels, while she continued to gaze at them with the glad light in her eyes and the smile on her face. Her father, mother, and brother, who had. been summoned that they might be present when the end came were weeping bitterly, for they-knew that she 1 was leaving them;-. From my heart there went up a prayer _that they might see what I saw, but they could not. The angels relaxed their grasp of the girl’s hands; which then fell back on the bed. A sigh came from her lips, such as one might give who resigns himself gladly to a much-needed sleep, and in another moment she was what the world calls dead. But the sweet smile with which she had recognised the angels wpa Still stamped on her features. The angels remained by the bedside diiring the brief space that elapsed before the spirit form took shape above the. body in which phvsical life had ceased. Then they rose and stood poised for a few moments, oneon each side of her, who was now tike unto themselves. , And I saw , three angels go forth from the room where a short time before there had been but two. Death, which so many regard as something terrible and awesome; shrouded'.in unpenetrable mystery, has indeed been shown to me as the crowning proof of the unfathomable love of the Heavenly Father. Many phases of angel ministry I have seen. And I am , glad’ that the reports of angels appearing on the battlefield have turned the thoughts of many to the possibility of obtaining help and succour from them in times of dire'iperfl ' and distress. ■ Their ministry is a real Did they but know how to avail themselves oXit; many thousand* of those heart-broken ones who! aretmtf' mourning their dead would find , pomfort hnd guidance.'-' - m ‘ ~ ''J ' t y . I? \ It, f W K tAjii.V Ac .