Robert G. Ingersoll Writes that Life and Death are Complementary

March 10, 1917
Received by James Padgett
Washington, D.C.

I am here, R.G. Ingersoll.

Tonight I am a very happy spirit, and one who realizes that: "It is not all of life to live, or yet of death to die," for life and death are mere incidents in the existence of the immortal soul's career through eternity. Life on earth is but a short breathing of the soul in bondage, yet prized so highly by mortals; and death of the physical is the liberating of that soul from its bondage, and yet, men fear and shun it and, if possible, would never let it come to them.

This may be said to be natural and not to be wondered at, and all because mortals do not know that life and death are brothers working for the good of humanity, the former giving them the opportunity to seek and possess happiness or misery, and the latter ending that opportunity in this, that happiness may be increased without having to undergo the retarding influence that life on earth throws around mortals and misery, or rather the cause thereof, prevented from increasing. So you see, life and death are complementary, the one positive and the other negative, but each the great helpful friend of the human soul.

You wonder: "Who I am?" And I wonder that: "I am what I am, and not what I was."

My friend, life has continued with me in greater and more enlarged abundance, until now I am the possessor of that life which Jesus came to earth to declare to be the heritage of every mortal who should seek it. My friend, death has left me, and in leaving me took with him all the possibilities of increased causes of unhappiness in my soul. The results or effects of the causes that existed in my soul while in the mortal life came with me in more acute and overpowering abundance; but no new or additional causes to produce additional effects came with me. Death took them with himself when he departed from me forever.

Life and Death - the friends of mortals - each to be welcomed! The one, the friend for eternity; the other, the friend for only a moment, but what a friend!

I intended tonight to write you a long and (as I think) important message relating to the real world of spirits, but thought it best not to do so and, hence, gave you the little impersonal thoughts with reference to my friends and your friends. I will come soon. Good night and God bless you.

Your brother in Christ,
R.G. Ingersoll