i t ? ) *) . -^xfy^J &y*. H ~ ~ ~ r a c X ' \ 0 ^ * A L REINCARNATION TRUE OR FALSE 7 A re the Theosophic Claims of Reincarnation Proven by Modern Science and the Spiritual Philosophy? BY REV. E. W. SPRAGUE 1 * # t * • ■ ami•*» «• •««. ihm %««••.■ ••, «. *« * • •*•>♦ **»«■•* *** **■ »■ • » >WI*W »«*• )« • ..- KiMto a • IMMtMHat (*>4«vl4a*ni !« •*•**•' *• ♦%>■#%« |. >*» >■»*»« •«# t«k» «** *HM*«*«Mlta ' * *4 • **•*"««►•* #***■ 4mm #«• «♦» ♦ w« 4 * • <•»*• •*«*«•»<«* f%««MI4 4 >fl»l | »*»#«» ^ t> »< 41 % t*w 4 • v**-».* »»#• ► * % m m *0t | m ► •> 1 n 0 M M M » t « 4 m > « • * « * « f i « (N * * • ' hx a |4% 4r * flHa •* ■* • A • **»# »**<•.« #♦ % Maaanaa H«a» »> % fr afWanr* * I >II|IK1M 4 ««M »»«W t ii^n>i— % Hhp*»v 1/4 * N»»nw*a * *** * # f M ► *f 4<Px »— um f»MM«M %•» ■> ii Index Is This the Only Place to Educate the Spirit?....... 7 If Lincoln Was Reincarnated?.................................18 Knowledge Versus Belief.......................................... 52 Karma the Hell of Theosophy................................... 30 MummieB Fail to Disclose...........................................21 Oriental Spirits Teach Reincarnation........................ 11 Our Faults (Poem )......................................................53 Personality and Individuality Lost.......................... 42 Progression in Spirit Life...........................................51 Peebles, Dr. J. M., Adds Testimony............................24 Reincarnation Not Proven...........................................60 Reincarnations Numerous, Sex Changed...................43 Reincarnation True or False?................................... 3 Rev. Minot J. Savage's Views....................................27 Reincarnation Annihilates Personality.................. 42 Reincarnationists Condemn Belief in Heredity... 15 Reincarnation Retrogression................................... 17 Reincarnation Tested by Reason.............................. 23 Rebirths Break Up Families..................................... 46 Reincarnation Acknowledged Unprovable............... 48 Shall We Sometime Recall?..................................... 48 Sharat Chandra Das Speaks....................................... 27 Spiritual Philosophy Versus Reincarnation........... 53 The Spiritual Body.................................................... 39 Testimony of Wise Spirits......................................... 8 Truth Man’s Savior (Poem )..................................... 23 Testimony of Ancient Spirits..................................... 23 Theosophists at Lily Dale...........................................36 Theosophic “Masters of Wisdom” Inaccessible.... 49 Will Memory Sometime Return?............................... 41 Reincarnation—True or False? Are the Theosophic Claims of Reincarnation Proven by Modem Science and the Spiritual Philosophy? For thirty-six years we have been seeking the truth regarding the subject of reincarnation. We have read a great deal, listened to lectures on the subject, and have met and conversed with some of its leading exponents; and through all this investigation we have as yet to receive the first real proof of the truth of reincarnation. Whatever the truth may be we are desirous of obtaining it, believing with the Nazarene that "the truth shall make men free." We have tried to go back into the misty past and to recall some little incident that might satisfy us that we have lived in a former life, but everything is blank, entirely blank. If the reader in perusing this work should think the author speaks in too familiar and positive terms regarding spirit-communion and the things of the spirit-world, we would ask him to consider the fact that for more than thirty-six years he has been a spirit-medium actively working in the field of Modern Spiritualism and has been blessed by daily com­ munion with the spirits of that better world; and naturally the things of the spirit-world of which he speaks are to him realities, as potent, as certain, as natural and as true as are the things of this life. The truth of spirit-communion is to him no more strange or mysterious than the most commonplace experiences of this life. Much that he has learned of the spirit-world he has received personally from Its inhabitants. We have never lived in France and what we know about that country we have learned from people who have been there who know about it. We may say the same of the spirit-world; we take the word of its inhabitants whenever it coincides with our reason. REINCARNATION—TRUE OR FALSE? If reincarnation is true, it will remain true what­ ever we may think about it. If it is not true, it will not become true though all the world proclaim it true. The writer has perfect faith in the Great Cause of things, and is satisfied that if reincarnation is true it is right. What we want to know is the truth of the matter. We do not believe it is true, but we are open ii Index Is This the Only Place to Educate the Spirit?....... 7 If Lincoln Was Reincarnated?...................................13 Knowledge Versus Belief............................................ 52 Karma the Hell of Theosophy................................... 30 Mummies Fail to Disclose...........................................21 Oriental Spirits Teach Reincarnation........................11 Our Faults ( Poem) ......................................................53 Personality and Individuality Lost......................... 42 Progression in Spirit Life...........................................51 Peebles, Dr. J. M., Adds Testimony............................24 Reincarnation Not Proven...........................................50 Reincarnations Numerous, Sex Changed...................43 Reincarnation True or False?................................... 3 Rev. Minot J. Savage’s Views....................................27 Reincarnation Annihilates Personality.....................42 Reincarnationists Condemn Belief in Heredity... 15 Reincarnation Retrogression................................... 17 Reincarnation Tested by Reason.............................. 23 Rebirths Break Up Families..................................... 46 Reincarnation Acknowledged Unprovable................. 48 Shall We Sometime Recall?..................................... 48 Sharat Chandra Das Speaks........................................27 Spiritual Philosophy Versus Reincarnation........... 53 The Spiritual Body................................................... 39 Testimony of Wise Spirits......................................... 8 Truth Man’s Savior (Poem)..................................... 23 Testimony of Ancient Spirits................................... 23 Theosophlsts at Lily Dale...........................................36 Theosophic “Masters of Wisdom” Inaccessible.... 49 Will Memory Sometime Return? 41 Reincarnation—True or False? Are the Theosophic Claims of Reincarnation Proven by Modem Science and the Spiritual Philosophy? For thirty-six years we have been seeking the truth regarding the subject of reincarnation. We have read a great deal, listened to lectures on the subject, and have met and conversed with some of its leading exponents; and through all this investigation we have as yet to receive the first real proof of the truth of reincarnation. Whatever the truth may be we are desirous of obtaining it, believing with the Xazarene that “the truth shall make men free.” We have tried to go back into the misty past and to recall some little incident that might satisfy us that we have lived in a former life, but everything is blank, entirely blank. If the reader in perusing this work should think the author speaks in too familiar and positive terms regarding spirit-communion and the things of the spirit-world, we would ask him to consider the fact that for more than thirty-six years he has been a spirit-medium actively working in the field of Modern Spiritualism and has been blessed by daily com­ munion with the spirits of that better world; and naturally the things of the spirit-world of which he speaks are to him realities, as potent, as certain, as natural and as true as are the things of this life. The truth of spirit-communion is to him no more strange or mysterious than the most commonplace experiences of this life. Much that he has learned of the spirit-world he has received personally from its inhabitants. We have never lived in France and what we know about that country we have learned from people who have been there who know about it. We may say the same of the spirit-world; we take the word of its inhabitants whenever it coincides with our reason. REINCARNATION—TRUE OR FALSE? If reincarnation is true, it will remain true what­ ever we may think about it If it is not true, it will not become true though all the world proclaim it true. The writer has perfect faith in the Great Cause of things, and Is satisfied that If reincarnation Is true it is right. What we want to know is the truth of the matter. We do not believe it is true, but we are open 4 to conviction. Reincarnation does not appeal to us, as it seems to contradict science, philosophy and all natural law, including the laws of progression. But if we are mistaken and it is true, we want to know It. Reincarnationists will do us a favor if they will present the proof of their claims. It is our great desire to find the truth, whatever it may be, and in discussing this question and comparing views we may arrive at a better understanding of each other’s belief if not of the subject. Can anyone disprove reincarnation, or can anyone