Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 March 1889 — SOLVED THE MYSTERY. [ARTICLE]

SOLVED THE MYSTERY.

While willing to admit that agnosticism and doubt have taken a strong hold upon humanity many people lose sight of th Q fact that the effect of this absence of be lief is, to a certain extent, offset by a class who believe f r more than is generaby thought necessary for the salvation of the soul.— Spiritualists and believers in the principles of theism may explain many things to their own satisfaction, but there are now and then occurrences which must forever remain unsolved mysteries. A case in point is th .* recent remarkable experience of Mrs. Charles Collin*'. Soon after her husband’s death she became seriously ill and apparently died. Twelve hours after her supposed death she showed signs of animation and in two l ours more was reclining on a sofa conversing with friends. Sue related all she had seen and heard in such a plain and concise w ,y no one could doubt the reality of her visiou or dream. She said her soul left her body during her comatose condition and went straight to heaven. She declared she saw the Lord, and the marvel, ous beauty and magnificence his surroundings were oo wonderful to be expressed m words. that I saw,” said Mrs. Collins, “I can never describe in this life, but I know that I was dead am’ went to heaven, and my eyes beheld its glories. I can affirm that I had personal experiences after the change called death, but which is not death at all; instead of that it is another and perfect existence in joy and glory. Oh, why did you not let me alone? Ido not care to stay here now, knowing what unspeakable glories are there.” Mrs Collins told he * story calmly and earnestly, honestly lamenting her return to earth. She firmly believes it was neither a dream nor a vision, but that her soul w as transported. She is ot a believer in modern “spiritualism,” and no motive for a deception could be discovered.

A parallel, but if aaything more wonderful, case is the tranc* of the Rev William Tennent Almost two centuries have gone since it occnrred at New Brunswick, N. J. After a regular course of theology, and being in his 25th vear, he was preparing for his ordination. His close application to study had affected his health so much his friends be ame anxious as to the result. At the same time his spirits were very low and he 1 egan to enteitain doubts as to his final happiness. , One morning as he was conversing with his brother in Latin he fainted and seemtd to die. After the usual time his funeral was announced. His physician who was much attached to him, had gone to a distant city for a short time, but returning just before the hour for the funeral refused to believe his friend was dead. Upon told that one of the attendants had observed a slight tremor of the flesh, he investigated the fact, although there seemed to be no hope of reviving what seemed to be a cold and inanimate corpse. But he determined to make a trial. He first held his hand in warm water to make it as sensitive as possible and then felt under the arms above the heart and affirmed that he noticed an unusual warmth, apparent to no one else. He had the body placed in a warm bed and ordered the postponement of the funeral. — The brother objected to tsis, saying it was absnrd, as the eyes were sunken, the lips discoiored, aid the rhole body cold and stiff; however, the doctor prevailed, and all known restoratives were a. plied to produce symptoms cf returning Lfe.

The third day arrived and no one entertained any hope except the doctor, who remained day and night. The funeral was agiin announced, but still he objeeted, av*d at last confhnd his request to one hour, then to a half, and finally to a quarter es an hoir, when the

brother came in the room and insisted earnestly that the funeral should proceed. At this critictl and important moment to the supposed corpse he opened his eyes, gave a terrible groan, and sank again into apparent death. This, of course, put an end to all idea of burying him tnd every effort was put forth to bring about a speedy resuscitation. In about an hour his eyes again opened and he > mitted another groan, then all appearance of animation van:’shed. In another hour life returned with more power ard complete restoration took place, to the great joy of his relatives and mtimate friends ind the astonishment of the many who had ridiculed the idea f “bringing the dead to life.”

When his strength partially returned he was importuned to tell what he saw during his state of suspended animation. “While I was conversing with nay brother about my doubts and fears as to my future welfare,” he said, “I found myself in an instant in another state of existence and under the guidance of a superior being who commanded me to fol low him. I was wafted along I know not how, until I beheld at a distance an ineffable glory, and the impression which it made on my mind is impossible for me to communicate to any one on earth. I reflected on my h rt ppy change and then thought, ‘blessed be Ged!’ t am safe at last beyond all my trials and fears. I saw a great host of happy beings surrounding the inexpressible glory, in acts of adoration and joyous worship; I heard things unutterable. I heard songs and hallelujahs of praise and thanksgiving with unspeakable rapture, I felt joy unalloyed, and my soul was filled with the glory of the infinite. I then asked my escort to permit me to join the happy throng, but he said: “You must return to earth again.” This seemed like a sword piercing my heart. In an instant I saw my brother standing before m disputing with the doctor. The three days during which I had appeared llfeles. did not seem to me more than a few minutes. The idea of returning to earth gave me such a shock I fainted repeatedly. Th* ravishing songs and words of praise ar*e n.-t out of my ears a moment when awake.”

Mr. Tennant had to begin his studies again as soon as his strength permitted him to do so, for he had nearly lost all recollection of his past life, H« knew his friends and was able to converse, but as to his books he had forgotten their contents. As his strength inoreased his memory also returned, but for three yer.rs his sense of divine things continued so great and everything elae ppeared so completely vain to him that nothing which did not relate to heaven and its glories cculd command his serious attention. He seemed as one raised from the dead, and was continually m a condition of mental ecstacv. But in 41 tune he recovered and again prepa ed himself for ordination He live . many years after and was a faithful minister to the last. He died at Freehold, N. L, aged 72 years. This very extraordinary event is abundantly confirmed by the best autherity. Vs it happened long before the days of spiritualism nothing of that kind could be connected wi*h it and the integrity of the man was unquestionable.