€¦ · 22 scenes in the spirit-world ; wh ich i h a ve tra veled, ea ch yea r, ea ch h our of wh...

Pa r tr idge a nd Br itt a n’

s Spir itua lLibr a ry.

SCENES IN THE WORLD ;

LIFE IN THE SPHERES .

BY HUD SONlU T TL E .

Tm:Spirit holds th e same rela tion to spiritualth ings th a tMa n holds to physicalna ture. Dea th opens th e door , a nd a dmi ts th e freed spm t into a new a nd glorious

rea lm of h a ppiness.

NEW YORK

P A R T R I D G E AN D BR I T TAN,P U BL I SH E R S ,

N o . 3 4 2 B R O A D W A Y.

1 8 5 5 .

“

533 146 7 0 5 93

li J'

5M

En znt n. a ccording to a ct of Congress , in th e yea r One Thousa nd Eight Hundreda nd Fifty-three, by HUDSON TUTTLE, in th e Clerk’

s Oflice of th e Dis tr ict Court ofth e United Sta tes, for th e Southern Distr ict of New York .

T urney 85 Br oth er‘s Stereotype, 24 Beekm a nSt , N. Y.

CONTENTS .

m onum ox,

m mms PREFACE ,

CHAPTER I.

HARMONIOUS m os ,

CHAPTER II.

GROVE on THE m osom x,

CHAPTER III.

SOCIETY OF AVARICE AND DECEIT,

CHAPTER IV.

LOW soomm s CONTINUED,

CHAPTER VI.

m m.m m MARRIAGE ,

CHAPTER VIII. PAGE

VISIT To TEE CIRCLES on EARTH,

CHAPTER IX.

THE CHANGE CALLED DEATH,

CHAPTER X.

COMING To THE KNOWLEDGE on THE LIGHT,

CHAPTER XI.

TEE SOCIETY AGAIN VISIT EARTH,

CHAPTER XII.

THE TORSAKEN AND DESPISED,

CHAPTER XIII.

THE INSTRUCTIONS or TIIE PEILosomIER ,

CHAPTER XIV.

A VISIT TO A DISTANT GLOBE

CHAPTER

CHAPTER

CONTENTEDESS NOT GOODNESS,

CHAPTER

ADDRESS on THE SAGE,

INTRODUCT ION.

IN presenting th is book to th e public, it is deemed proper to give th e

r ea der some a ccount of its a uth or , th e circumstanceswh ich ca used h im

to write it, a nd th e use it ma y be expected to subser ve to th e ra ce.

A work like th is, pr ofea edly coming from a h igh er sph ere of exist

ence, inwh ich scenes a re described th a t conflict with our previous edu

ca tionalidea s, sh ould h a ve such proof of its origin, if possible, a s ma y

sa tisfy th e ca ndid rea der th a t it really is wh a t it pretends to be. Th e

subject of Spir itualism is now a gita ting public th ough t, more per h a ps

object of enligh tening th e public mind on th a t all-impor ta nt subject.

I sa y all-impor tant, for wh a t oth er subject can equalit in impor tance 7

Wh a t oth er question canpossibly compa rewith th osewh ich rela te to

th ewealor woe th a t awa its us wh enwe ch ange t h is tempor a ry a bode

for one th a t h a s no end ! Th e h uma n mind na tur ally looks to th e

future, and instinctively a sks th e question, Wh a t is to bemy destiny in

th a t world, or r a th er th a t sph ere of existence, to wh ich we a re allso

r apidly h a stening ! Previous to th e spiritualmanifesta tions and com

6 INTRODUCTION.

munica tions of th e present da y, very little wa s pretended to be known

on th is importa nt subject ; a nd th e pla inest of th a t little wa s seen

th r ough a gla ss da rkly.

” To th a t cla ss of th e community wh o a re con

vineed th a t a ch a nnelof communica tion is now Open th rough wh ich

th ey ca n commune with th eir depa r ted fr iends, th is work is more pa r

ticula rly a ddressed. It is also commended to th e a ttention of th ose

wh o doubt or wh olly disbelieve in Spir itu alism. Th ey ca n a t lea st

lea rn by its perusalwh a t a grea t ma ny people, a nd a r a pidly-increa s

ing number , believe in rela tion to th eir futur e sta te of being.

Th e medium !Hudson Ta ttle) th r ough wh om th e following commu

nica tions were ma de, lives in th e townsh ip ofBerlin,Er ie county, Sta te

ofOh io. He is a bout twenty yea r s of a ge, a nd oflimited educa tion so

fa r a s th e sch ools of t h e da y a r e concerned. He h a s improved h is

time, h owever , in rea ding scientific works, much more th a n is usual

for per sons of h is a ge. I am wella cqua inted with h im, a nd also with

h is fa mily connections. I ca n truly sa y th a t h e is a person of str ict

vera city, a nd very truth fulinwh a t h e sa ys. I h a ve never h ea rd h is

ch a r a cter called in question by a ny per son, a nd believe it wh olly nu

About th e a ge of sixteen, HUDSON TUTTLE fir st becamewh a t is usually

known a s a r a pping a nd tipping medium, a nd a grea t ma ny per sonS

fr equented h is a bode to witness a nd test th e truth fulness of th e multi

tudinous a nd v a r ied communica tions th a t were ma de th r ough h im.

With in a yea r from h is first development, h ebega n to wr ite. His writ

ing wa s a ngula r and unintelligible a t first, a s is usualin such ca ses, but

soon became rea da ble a nd a nswers wer e very often given th rough h is

pen to th e numer ous questions put th rough h im,wh eth er or ally or men

tally, a nd th e a nswerswere gener ally correct. His writing a t first wa s

INTRODUCTION. 7

wh olly mech a nical, h e not knowing th e word or even th eletter h e wa s

ma king untilit wa s formed. By degrees th e idea s were impressed on

h is mind ; a t first a few words, th en a sentenCe, a nd a t th is time more

or less of th e wh ole subject th a t is tobewr ittenupon. Inth is ma nner

th a t is,by impression— th epresent bookwa s written. One sentence a fter

a noth er , inwords, wa s given h im, wh ich h e wr otewith grea t r a pidity,

th e ma king of th eletters:spelling, a nd forming of th e words, being h isown production. Th e work under consider a tion purports to be given

by spir its wh olived on th is ea r th ma ny centur ies a go, a nd wh o spoke

th e Greekla ngua ge.

It is wellknown to allwh o h a ve investiga ted th e subject, th a t a very

grea t difference exists in th e style a nd composition of spir it communi

ca tions. Some a re very correct in th eir orth ogr a ph y and gra mma tical

constr uction ; oth ers a re very incorrect. It must necessa r ily be so, if

we bea r inmind th a t spirits out of th e body a re th e sa me individuals in

every r espect th a t th ey were wh en living h ere. Th ere is no difi’erence

wh a tever in th e compodtion of th eir minds, except a gra dualpr ogres

sion. Everyt h ing th ey know in a ddition towh a t th ey knew h ere, th ey

h a ve h a d tolea rn in a simila r wa y. Th er e is no mir a cle a bout it. Th e

grea t law of ca use and effect oper a tes a s imper a tively, a nd is a s much

binding on spirits a bove a s it is onma n in th is lower world. Th is will

expla in th e rea sonwh y spir its wh o wer e ignor ant of th e English la n

gua ge wh en on ea rth , a re so often fa ulty in'

th e ch oice of words a nd in

t h e gr amma ticalconstruction of sentences. Th e substa nce a nd ma tter

a r e often of th emost exalted a nd intelligent ch a ra cter ; but if given

th rough a writing medium wh o is not cla irvoya nt, it must necessa rily

pa r take of th e defects th a t th a t medium is subject to, in commonwith

allpersons wh o a re not ma sters of th e la ngua ge th ey write.

8 INTRODUCTION.

A number ofMr . Tuttle’s productions a s a medium h a ve beenpub

lish ed in th e spir itualpa pers of th e da y, and oth erwise, a ndwere fa vor

a bly received, a nd especially a pa mph let,°

entitled An Outline ofUni

versalGovernment,” wh ich h a s been much r ea d a t th eWest . But th e

most impor tant production of h is is a pa inting on ca nv a s, presenting a

pa nor amic view of th e ea r th in its progress from th e time it wa s fir st

enclosed by th e gr a nite rock to th e present period. It is a bout th r ee

h undred a nd sixty feet long. Th e types of th e va rious vegeta ble a nd

a nimalforms a re given a s th ey a ppea r ed in th e different geological

periods of time, with ma ny exa mples of th e forms th ey presented in

a fter a ges. Th is very interesting a nd splendid pa nor ama willproba bly

be exh ibited to th e public th e ensuing fallor winter . In pa inting th is

long ca nv a s h is h a nd wa s pamive, th e spiri ts h a ving th e entire control

for th e time-being.

Th e motive th a t influenced spir its to wr ite th is book, a s wella sma nyoth ers, is th e love th ey bea r to th eir breth en in th e r udimentalSph er e.

Th ey h a ve a stronger feeling a nd a purer a ffection for us, th a nwe of

ea r th h a ve for ea ch oth er . Th e use of th e book ma y be connected

with th e subject of Spir itualism gener ally. Th equestion is Often a sked,

Wh a t is th e use of th e va r ious ma nifesta tions, such a s r a pping, ta ble

tipping, moving of h ea vy substa nces, etc., or even spir itualcommuni

ca tions, allowing such to be ma de 7 Wh a t good do th ey a ccomplish to

th e inh a bita nts of ea rth !"

I r eply, Th ey h a ve convinced a va st ma ny

people, beyond a r ea sona ble doubt, of th e immortality of th e soul. Th e

pr esent a ge is proverbially a n a ge of skepticism a nd doubt. To th e

grea t ma jority of minds th e future is cloth ed in da rkness a nd doubt.

Th e a rguments used by th e clergy, a s wella s oth ers, fa ilto convince

th e inquiringmind. Th eywa nt someth ing th a t is evident to th e senses.

INTRODUCTION. 9

Th ere is noth ingwh ich strikes th emindwith grea ter dread th an anni

h ila tion a nd is it of nouse to convincema nth a t th ere is an h erea fter

th a t h is destiny is h igh er th a n th e br ute

Aga in, wh a t ca n be a grea ter incentive to virtue th a n a belief in

gua rdia n spir its ! Wh a t ca n be more calcula ted to deter us fr om vice

th a n a fullbelief th a t th e dea r pa r ents and fr iends we so much r evered

andlovedwh en on ea rth , stilllive, and a re oftenwith us, a nd know all

our th ough ts a nd a ctions ! Th a t a belief in Spir itualism does produce

a h igh er sta te ofmor ality, ca n be a bunda ntly proved. Ma ny insta ncesdemonstra ting th e fa ct h a ve come under my own obser va tion. Wh en

I see th ebloa ted drunka rd get a communica tion from a loved pa rent,

telling h im to lea ve th e fa talcup—o r , if h e be a dish onest per son, tell

ing h im to pa y h is h onest debts, and th e a dvice is followed, ca n I

doubt of its use ! It is pa ssing str ange to me th a t any sh ould doubt of

its use !

With r espect to th e present volume, it is sulfieient to sa y th a t its

Object is to present to ma n a fa ith fulr epresenta tion of spirit-life in th e

next sph ere of existence— to embody a s much informa tion of th is kind

a s possible in a smallbook, th a twillbewith in th emea ns of every one to

purch a se. Th e inquir er willfind a n answer to almost a ny question h e

ma y a sk concerning th e future destiny of ma n. Th e Scenes give

a fa ith fuldelinea tion of ma n, from h is lowest a ndmost degr a ded sta te,

to th e h igh est mor ala nd intellectualph ilosoph er , a s th ey a ppea r wh en

th ey enter th e next sph ere ; also, va r ious a ccounts of th e reception th eymeet with , a nd th e pr ogression th ey ma ke in th eir new sta te of exist

ence.

It is believed th a t a grea ter amount of informa tion, such a s th e ma ss

of mankind a re desirous of knowing, is conta ined in th e following1 a

10 INTRODUCTION.

pa ges, th a n in any simila r publica tion. It is not th e Object to Oppose

in th elea st th emany valua ble a nd truth fulworks th a t h a ve beenwrit

ten ou th is subject, but to a dd a noth er ligh t to guide th e inquir ing

la nd to wh ich alla re so ra pidly a pproa ch ing, a nd to enforce on us all

th e importa nce of tin e in prepa r ing for th e grea t ch a nge th a t a wa its

us, a nd th e deplor a ble consequences th a t must necessa rily follow to

th e personwh o neglects or a buses th e time allotted to h im on ea r th .

BATUS

Kenn y’s Isu nn, Ea rn 0 0 , O., July, 1855.

o

MEDIUM’

S PREFACE.

Tm s work conta ins th e impressions I h a ve received of spiritual

life, a nd Of th e occupa tion, idea s , sources Of h a ppiness, ca uses

a nd efi'

ects of misery a nd degrada tion, etc.

, of disembodied'

8pir

its. Its invisible a uth ors h a ve righ tly styled it Scenes in th e

Spirit-world,

”a s it depicts some Of th e most ch a r a cteristic views

of a ngelic life.

As for myself, I h a ve but a word to sa y. I ma ke my bow to

th e public, a nd.

introduce th e reala uth ors,wh om invisibility

conceals, simply sa ying th a t to th em allth e merit or demerit Of

th e volume belongs ; I cla im neith er . I wellknow it conta ins

excellent truth s, a nd equally wellknow th a t it h a s errors. Un

doubtedly ma ny willderive benefit from its pa ges, a nd it is with

th is h ope it is publish ed.

Ma ny, perh a ps, willcriticise. I h ope th ey will. I h ope th a t

th e book willdo good enough to stir up Opposition, a gita te

12 MEDIUMs PREFACE.

th ough t, a nd direct mind into new ch a nnels. Th e impa rtial

rea der, wh o h a s no fa vorite th eory}0 support, wh o is free a nd

unbia ssed on every subject,is my critic, a nd is to decide th e

intrinsic worth of th ese pa ges, a nd to h im I consign th em with

out furth er comment .

HUDSON TUTTLE .

BERLIN J uly,1855.

https://www.forgottenbooks.com/join

14 SCENES IN THE SPIRIT-WORLD

deligh ts wh ich surrounding na ture a fforded— th eir little cottage

wa s a pa r a dise.Th eir h ome wa s such a s th e a rdent ima gina tion of th e ch il

dren of th e Orient pictures in th e la nd Of dreams —such a s

eth ereal, h a ppy minds would be expected to form. Surrounded

by oversh a dowing trees,talloa ks, gr a cefulelms, a nd drooping

willows, entwined with tendrils of th e lovely vine, decor a ted

with a grea t va riety Of th e ch oicest flowers, th e usefulwa s blended with th e ornamental, untilth e embowered cotta ge seemed th e

residence Of some sylva n goddes s wh o, wea ry with th e ca res Of

wa tch fullife, h a d employed allth e means a t h er comma nd to

ma ke a fa vorite sea t.

Th eir minds fully enjoyed th e bea uties cultiva ted na ture h a d

bestowed, a nd, contented, th eylived to lea rn a nd love, unmindfulof th e th robs of th e grea t world a round. True, perh a ps th erewa s a loss in th is meth od Of life. Leon, a s a man of th e world,a cquired no name or credit. On th e contr a ry, h e wa s rega rded

a s a n enth usia st, a mystic, a sentimentalth eorist. He h eeded

not th ese ta unts, but in th e secluded grove, m a de liber aluse Of

th ough t a nd pen ; a nd if h e wa s not exalted in th e estima tion Of

th e m a jority,h e could spea k Of true wisdom.

W e h a ve h ere a representa tion Of truo ma rria ge, th e institu

tion Of na ture, producing its untold joys a nd plea sures,wh ose

perversion ca uses th e most fea rfulmisery th e mind ca n conceive.

NO sweets like th ose Of spiritualor congenialm a rria ge ; no h it

ternes s so bitter a s false unions, such a s a re often recklessly formed

on ea rth . W e sh allsoon depict scenes in wh ich th e woes of illformed ma rria ges opera te to destroy a llpure enjoyment. Th ey

a re not unions, but r a th er a nimalconnections. Hea venly ma rr iege, th e union Of

.

congenialspirits , results in certa in a nd unal

loyed bliss. Th is is th e sta te in wh ich th e individuality Of ea chis swallowed up in th e oth er , a nd th e two a re made one- a unit

in th ough t, feeling, sentiment, and a spira tion. Th eir ch ildren

OE, LIFE IN THE epa nnns. 15

were wh a t na ture designed ch ildren to be, perfect models, and

tra ined from infa ncy in morality a nd intellect. Th ey were perfecttypes of wh a t m a n sh ould be, to go r a pidly on to perfection.

Welldeveloped mor alminds h a ve a n intuitive belief in immortality. Th e pure soulfeels th e intuitions of th e glorious fu

ture. Th us it is with allmen, wh o fully believe in th a t brigh tinspir a tion wh ich points h ea venwa rd to th e r a fter-life, a s th e

grea t reality sh a dowed for th by th eir ea rth ly existence. Th eych erish th e truth fulconception th a t dea th willnot sepa r a te th em,

but willrender th eir union more complete. Fully a pprecia tingth is idea , Leon a nd Hero looked forwa rd with j oy to th e h our ofdissolution between th e body a nd th e spirit. Not th a t th ey

wish ed to die, or lea ve th e ca res Of th is life, but th ey knew th ech a nge would be for th e better , a nd wh en th eir ta sk wa s finish ed

on ea rth,th ey were willing to depa rt. jBut perfect h a ppiness is

limited, amid th e ja rring scenes of ea rth . It rests sh ortly, a ndmoves Often. Th e h ours Of grea test j oy h a ve th eir clouds. Tra nquillity willnot endure forever . Age h a d rested ligh tly, it istrue, on th ose wh ose destiny we write. Th ey h a d tra ined up

th eir ch ildren, a nd sent th em out into th e world to a good pur

pose. Th eir spirits were ripe for th e ch a nge. Hero wa s first to

depa r t. Her gentle spirit found its cla y tenement no longer fit

ting recepta cle for its br igh t form,a nd quietly with drew from th e

external, a nd ga th ered itself into th e internal.

Brigh t spirits welcomed h er birth into a noth er sph ere, a nd h erlove found sympa th y m th e h osts Of resplendent beings wh o sur

rounded h er. Joy Of joys ! no ba rrier sepa r a ted h er from h er

beloved Leon, except th a t Of invisibility. Sh e could h over wh en

sh e wish ed a round h im, a nd wh en da rk th ough ts clouded h is

a gita ted brea st, sooth e h is mind by h er gentle influence, ch a nging h is idea s a nd turning th em towa rd h ea ven, th us restoring

th e h a rmony Of h is disturbed th ough ts. How ch eering th e be

lief ih gua rdia n a ngels It lifts up th e soulto a Gode exalte


tion to know a nd feelth e presence Of th e loved ones wh o h a ve

pa ssed from ea rth — pa ssed from mortalsigh t, but wh o neverth e

less live ia a fa r brigh ter sph ere, a mid th eligh t Of th e source of

love, a nd wh o for th e love th ey h ea r th eir friends on ea rth , come

down a nd sola ce th em in time of triala nd trouble, a nd Often impress a brigh t truth , immor talfrom th e th rone of God. It is a

blessed th ough t, a nd ma kes th e ma n stronger, nobler , a nd pro

duces a determined energy to strike out boldly into th e ch a nnels

Hero ta rried not long a s a gua rdia n spirit. Th e Destroyer,wh om ma n cloth es in a skeleton form of th e grea test h orrors,

a ga in enters th e cotta ge. Leon is to cross th e limits of th e two

worlds. He reclines on th e couch of dea th . Th ere is noth ing

to draw h im ba ck from th e th resh old of th e unseenla nd. Ch il

dren, family, friends, a nd a th ousa nd ca res gener ally bind th e

str iving soulto ea rth , but h is ch ildren h e h a d educa ted, a nd be

h eld th em allrigh tly directed in life. Th e family tie wa s severed ;noth ing rema ined.

A spirit in th is condition softly sinks awa y to sleep, but th e

a gonies ca used by its striving to rema in a fter dea th a re inevita ble,a nd terrible to beh old. Allh is a ttra ctions a re beyond th e gra ve.

His second self h a s pa ssed th rough th e “sh a dow a nd th e vale”

before h im,a nd h e must pa ss itsmyt h ic terrors before h e ca n be

h old h er a ngelpurity. His being folds inwa rd, a nd th e deepsleep Of th e tr a nsmuta tion comes slowly on. Oblivion h overs over

allth ings. Allperception for th e time is gone. Hours pa ss a wa y,a nd h e a wa kes from h is dream-sta te to fullconsciousness, to h ea r

h is name spoken in endea ring a ccents .

Leon it is I. Do you not recognize your Hero 9 I wh o wentbefore you, a nd wh o nowwith your friends h a ve come to welcome

you to your new h ome 1 Ta ke th is robe, finer it is th a n th e gossamer , setting to sh ame th e purple Of ea stern fa ble ; wea r it, it is

your h a biliment, simila r to ours.

”

on, LIFE IN THE SPHERES. 1 7

Th e wh ole reality bursting so suddenly upon h im,h e stood

ama zed a nd in speech less a stonish ment— so new,brillia nt, a nd

unexpectedly did th e new world brea k upon h is vision. With a n

efi'

ort such a s th e stern willsometimes comma nds, h e uttered

th e one wo rd Here,”a nd ca ugh t h er in h is embr a ce. His

m a nly form quivered like th e a spen in th e breeze, so powerfullydid th e plea sures of th a t meeting da sh over th e h ea r t-strings Ofh is soul. Joy ca uses th e tea r to sta rt in th e strong ma n

’s eye

sooner th a n th e severest grief. Th ere is a n anguish in Our j oy.

His th ough ts found utter a nce in speechRealiza tion of my former fa ncies, bea utifuleffor t Of pro

ductive Na ture ! Am I eternally to enjoy such bliss a s th is !

Ca n,ca n th is be reality or is it delusive fa ncy wh ich gives my

dr ea msform a nd substa ncel”

Leon, th is is no h allucina tion. Our belief wa s true, a s fa r a s

it pr ofessed to go . Allth a t you now see a nd feelis but a drop

compa red with th e ocea n Of deligh t in store for us. You h a ve

yet to beh old th e groves a nd bowers ; murmuring streams a nd

da sh ing wa terfalls th e continualdeligh t of our new h ome.

Here, too , a re th e joyous a nd’

enligh tened compa nions with

wh om I h a ve pa ssed my h ours wh ile ta rrying for you .

”

W e willnot describe th e greeting offriends. Th e ima gina tion

can fillth e blank better th a n th e pen.

Th ese h a ve been my guides, instructors a nd friends,

”sa id

Hero;“ th ey a re now yours. We h a ve much to lea rn before

we go onwa rd, for my longer sta y h ere h a s a dva nced me furth erth a n you in th e wa ys of spirituallife.

”

I ca n never detr a ct from your h a ppiness, th ough I wa nder inda rkness th rough Eternity.

”

“ Leon, spea k not th us. It is my ea rnest desire to a id you.

Our destinies a re bound togeth er by th e indissoluble laws Of th eUniverse ; wh y seek you to brea k th ose ties ! For th e time, I am


to instruct you in our wa ys Of life. Apprecia te th is, a nd to

geth er wem

willmove on in progress.

”

Oh , Hero h owever a ttentive I ma y be, your sa crifice is too

grea t.”

TO me it is no sa crifice,for I lea rn to love wh ile tea ch ing

you . And more, th e ph ilosoph y Of our h ome is allI h a ve totea ch you, a nd I tea ch you th a t by oth ers, a nd sh owing you its

va rious scenery.

“ Wh ere a re we now ! Ah,h a ve I not left my own room

yet ! How long a m I to rema in h ere !

N0 longer th a n you desire. Every spirit follows its own

inclina tions in th is respect.‘

Some go a wa y immedia tely, wh ileoth ers a re so engrossed in th e ca res of life a s to rema in a round

th e old h omestea d for yea rs. For th e present, h owever , youh a d better depa r t to our new h ome, examine its locality, a nd become better a cqua inted with your future a ssocia tes.

”

Pa ssing upwa rd with th e a ttenda nt spirits, Leon found h imselffa r ,fa r a bove th e ea rth . Th rough th e intrica cies of th e clouds

h e stillbeh eld th e green fields,woodla nd glens, blue mounta ins,

rolling rivers, a nd fa r-rea ch ing ocea n sprea d benea th . W ith

soul-th rilling plea sure h e ga zed on th e gorgeous pa nora ma wh ichmet h is a stonish ed ga ze. Allfa ded a wa y in th e indistinct

blending of Objects. His cotta ge, with its little ga rden, became amote lost in th e dim dista nce.

“ Hero ,”sa id h e

, does it not ca use you to feelsa d to lea veth a t little spot, wh ere we h a ve pa ssed so m a ny h a ppy da ys ! I

must confess it m a kes my h ea rt bea t quicker , a nd produces un

plea sa nt feelings .

”

“ Sh ould th e butterfly regret its ca terpilla r sta te i”responded

sh e. Sh ould it lament h ow m a ny sunny da ys it pa ssed in th esh a de Of th e Old oa k, a nd h ow it cra wled a bout a mong th e

green lea ves ! It h a s wings now,a nd ca n swiftly fly from flower

to flower . Its sunniest da y on th e oa k wa s pa ssed in ea ting th e

on, LIFE IN THE SPHERES . 1 9

tough a crid lea ves ; now h e ca n sip h oney from a field Of flowers

th e da y long, a nd th e h ea vens a re fa r brigh ter to h im th a n

before.”

Is th e ch a nge I h a ve undergone so grea t ! Willth e pleasures Of th is life so completely eclipse th e enjoyment Ofmy previons sta te, th a t allits joyous h ours willbe forgottenl

”

Not forgotten, but surpa ssed. If you believe not wh a t I sa y,look a round you we a re in th e sph eres.

”

He ga zed a bout h im a nd beh eld th e spirit-world, encompa ssing h is firm ament, in allits eth erealsublimity.

Th is th e spirit h ome ! W h y th e floor is ground ! Th e

pla nts a re true pla nts ; I ca n gr a sp th em ; a nd yonder th e fa rexpa nding ocea n reflecting th e a zure sky, wh ile from its expa nsedelicious zeph yrs fa n my brow. Really now I a m drea ming ;

such sublime bea uty, such tra nspa rency, belong alone to th e

realms of th e ideall”

My beloved, th is is no fa ncy, but sta id reality, th e per

ma nence ofwh ich is a s fixed a s our former a bode. Th is is la nd,th a t is wa ter, th ese a re pla nts : you a re not deceived in th e

lea st. I wonder not a t your incredulity, h owever . I h a ve seen

individuals enter our a bode wh o for yea rs believed th emselves

drea ming, a nd no a rgument could persua de th em th a t th ey were

not living in fa ncy. One I knew wh o kept a memor a ndum Of

every occur rence for a long time,th a t wh en consciousness re

turned h e migh t rela te allh e h a d h ea rd a nd seen to h is friends.

Remember th a t our world is a da guerreotype of th e lower world,

like a reflection in a grea t mir ror , a nd th a t Spirits h old th e same

rela tion to spiritualma tters a s ma n h olds to ph ysicalna ture, a ndth en th e reality Of th ese scenes willgrow in your mind.

”

I a pprecia te your reality. But h ow a m I to lea rn th e

ph ilosoph y Of allth is— th e wh y a nd th e wh er qfore Of th is h igh er

life i”

I understa nd you well, a nd am extremely gla d th a t so ea rly


in your progres s such desires sh ould fillyour mind. You would

know from wh ence ca me th is sph ere, by wh a t la ws it is governed,a nd allth e oth er mysteries ofna ture usually denomina ted immaterial. Allth is I do not feelca pa ble of expounding. I migh t,th r ough mista ke or misundersta nding, lea d you into errors.

Th is is our first lesson in our renewed lives. It seems a s th ough

we were renewed or restored to ea ch oth er, for alth ough much

of th e time a fter my depa rture from my ea rth ly form I wa snea r you, yet you did not seem to me a s now. True, our life

a s one is renewed. I am plea sed with your inquiries. My first

object is to lea d you to th e dwelling of one wh ose a cqua inta nceh a s grea tly a ided me in my a dva ncement— one wh o h a s beenmore th a n a tea ch er to me. He is to a id you likewise in a scend

ing th e embowered pa th wa y ofligh t.”

And wh o is th is benevolent spirit wa o so interests h imselfin our welfa re a s to neglect h imself to a dva nce us 8”

Oh,h e is a n a ncient sa ge, wellknown by h is Portico a nd

sch ool. He ta ugh t erroneous doctrines th en ; h e is righ t now.

His na me is Pr rna eoa a s.

22 SCENES IN THE SPIRIT-WORLD ;

wh ich I h a ve tra veled, ea ch yea r, ea ch h our of wh ich h a s

ta ugh t me its lesson of wisdom . I understa nd your wish es ;

you would know th e wh y a nd th e wh erefore of th is sph ere. Ia m h a ppy to instruct you in th is fundamentalsubject. Lookbelow. Beh old ea rth with allh er million forms. Open your

spiritualvision ; see th ose clouds of eth erealma tter continuallya rising from every plant a nd a nimal— every living, moving,creeping th ing ; even from th e mineralma sses of ea rth itself.

Such a toms a scended wh en ea rth wa s inh a bited alone by th elower orders oflife.Th e sph eres were not crea ted with ea rth , for a t th a t time th ere

existed no m a tter sufliciently refined. Ma tter h a d first to pa ssth rough th e process of world forma tion, a nd become a cted on

by la ws th en in oper a tion, before sufficiently sublima ted to

become influenced by a new condition of gra vita tion. Wh en

th e first form died,th en commenced th e a gglomer a tion of exh a

la tions into th e form a tion of sph eres . To illustr a te : Your

ea rth ly body wa s perva ded by a spiritualelement ; your dea th

wa s like th e dea th of th e a nimal,wh ose externalbody, in th e

same m a nner a s yours, conta ins th e eth erealelement. Wh en

dea th severed th e ties wh ich united th e spiritualwith th e ma terial, th e component pa rts of your spirit possessed suflicient

a flinity to reta in th em togeth er , with out th e intervention of th e

gross form . Not so th e a nimal. Th e dea th -struggle brea ksth e connection between its m a teriala nd spiritual; a nd its

eth ereala toms not reta ining suflicient a ttr a ction for ea ch oth er ,

th ey, a s va por, difl'

use th emselves into infinite spa ce,untilbe

coming influenced by a condition of gr a vita tion, th ey a scend toth eir a ppropria te pla ne, h igh or low, a ccording to its r efinement.

”

But does th is a ccount for th e non-individuality of a nim als !”

Yes for you observe th a t identity is like a complete a rch .

Inma n th e key-stone of th a t a rch is supplied, a nd th e structure

is eternal, wh ile it is wanting in animals, and consequently dea th

on,LIFE IN THE SPHERES. 23

demolish es th e structure. Th e process of a scension of ultima te

pa rticles commenced wh ile th e ea r th wa s in its morning da ys,

a nd h a s gone on increa sing ever since. Th e soilwh ich supportsth ese trees, differs from ea rth only in th e degree of its refinement,a nd consequently, of neces sity, its productions a re simila r to th ose

of ea r th ; and a s th e exh ala tions frokn th e ea rth differ a s its

development va ries, so th is soil ch a nges continually in its

ch a r a cter. Hence th is world, in th e va riety of its forms, h a simita ted ea rth , copying in minutia allits types from a ge to a ge.

Th us sa ys a spirit from a world brea th ed into existence longbefore ours, a nd h is speech is rea sona ble, a nd proceeds fromdirect observa tion. Soon a fter th e Sa uvian Age, our sph ere wa sinh a bited by th ose reptile forms wh ose rema ins a re buried in th epermia n a nd oolite rocks. Th e uncouth mamm alia of th e ter

tia ry, alike,were allrepresented h ere. So h a s it been with all

a ges th eir peculia r types a nd forms were allrepresented in th isworld untilth e present period da wned, wh en th e refinement of

a toms wa s so a ccelera ted, th a t spirit with intelligence alone

could occupy th is a bode.

”

Here is a sh a dowof th a t correspondence wh ich exists, a nd

h a s ever existed, between th e spirit-world a nd ea rth . Ma tter is

prone to ta ke th e form in wh ich it h a s previously existed.

Hence th is grove, th ese bea utifulpla nts, reveling in th e ligh t

of th eir own spirituality. Th ey h a ve allexisted on ea rth , a nd

th ough th e a toms wh ich compose th is or a nge tree never beforeunited in th is pa rticula r tree, yet allh a ve existed in va riousor a nge tr ees before. Atoms th us modified h a ve afiinities to

unite ih -th is peculia r form of tree.

”

Th en th ere a re no a nimals h ere, a sked Leon.

No ; if you would view th em you must retire to some oth er

globe, or a s you journey from one world to a noth er, you will

beh old allth e innumer a ble types a ssumed by crea tive life. Th eyexisted h ere before th e h uman spirit took up its a bode in th is


sph ere. Th ey h a ve pa ssed a wa y, a s th ey ultima tely will,fromth e globe. Th is willta ke pla ce wh en th ey h a ve fulfilled th eirdestiny, a nd can not longer subserve a usefulpurpose in itseconomy. Th ere a re none h ere now,

not even th e h igh est develo

oped, our a tmosph ere being too refined for th e production or

susta ining of such crea tions.

I alwa ys rejoice a t th e song of th e birds ca rolling amid th e

br a nch es, a nd th e busy a ctivity of a nimallife ; under th is consider a tion, sh allI not wea ry with th e uninterrupted stillnes s

wh ich preva ils ! Willnot my spirit cloy with th e solitude of

its h ome 1”

“Men a re fond of th e notes of th e bird, a nd become a tta ch ed

to a nimals a nd pla ces, beca use th ey ca n find noth ing better tolove. Give th em congenialcompa nions, a nd th ey willnot feelth e a bsence of th ese. If th is h ad been your a biding pla ce, th e

consequences you forbode would never be realized.

Na ture continually spea ks to h er ch ildren, let th em roam

wh ere th ey will. Here a re th e ch a nges of vegeta tion, th e

ch a nges of th e gla ssy ocea n into da sh ing wa velets, th e murmur

of th e brook gliding to th e grea t sea , th e roa r of th e ca sca de, all

to a ttra ct a nd divert. Th e sea yonder,a s smooth a s a polish ed

mirror , with a Sligh t breeze is r amed a nd rendered a portra it of

h uma n life, now smooth , now rough . No storms sweep overits bosom sufi cient to destroy or terr ify, yet it pa sses th roughplea sa nt vicissitudes. You mista ke your position. Th is is th e

'

h ome of th e Spirit. I sta y h ere but a limited portion of my

time,wh ile allth e rema ining portion I am tr a veling in oth er

pa r ts. You willdo likewise ; but wh en‘

wea ry with a ctivity, it

willbe plea sa nt to come ba ck to th is retrea t, a nd commune

a wh ile with internalna ture, a nd study a nd reflect.”

I am,th en, to ch oose a locality, a nd callit h ome i” ex

cla imed Leon in a stonish ment th a t h is futurelife wa s to become

such a simile of h is pa st life.

m m m m smnam 25

Th a t a a s you plea se. Wh en on ea rth you did so. Th en

you migh t h a ve been a rover with out a fixed h a bita tion. Thesa me a pplies h ere. You h a ve a ch oice. Th is spot is my selection, a nd it is h ome to me. How stra nge you th ink of th is !You stillh a ve a body ; you h a ve lungs, a nd must brea th e ; youh a ve a stoma ch , a nd require nourish ment. Here, a bove a nd

a round us,is our food. We toila nd delve not to bring it forth ,

but th es e a re allsponta neous productions of a fertile soil. Pa r

ta ke ; is not th e fla vor unsurpa ssed ! W h o ever ta sted a n or ange

more juicy, a fig sweeter, or gra pes of such ch oice fla vor

Your speech is stra nge, but true. My ta ste is quickened,a nd th ese a re splendid fruits, a nd a s I st a nd h ere pa rta king of

th em with Hero, I seem tr a nsported to my quiet ga rden. I

once believed th e spirit lost alla nimalpropensities a t dea th , but

I see more pla inly now.

”

Your former belief h a s been a fa vorite dogma , with out

a sh a dow of proof,”replied th e Sa ge. Th e existence of th e spirit

depends upon th ese ; with out th em,it could not exist. With

out a due degree of selfish ness, allenergy would belost . Intellect, h owever superior, a nd coupled with th e morality of a god,bereft of th e sta mina impa rted by th e a nimalities, islike th e enginewith out stea m. Like it, too, it must h a ve its continu alsuste

na nce to u rge it a nd keep it in motion. But, wa iving ph ilosoph y,h ow do you rega rd my Portico i

— h ow fa ncy it a s a h ome i”

“ Excellent !” sa id both .

“ Th en, with out a ny th a nks on your pa rt,my ch ildren, con

sider th is your h ome, wh eth er I am present or a bsent ; a nd m a y

you find it a fit resting-pla ce a fter your journeys a nd surveys .

”

He wa ved th em to follow,a nd a fter th ey h a d pa ssed over a

consider a ble spa ce, h e spoke'

a nd sa id :

You h a ve seen a green spot in a desert. Wellunderstand

ing your wish es, I am now conducting you to th elower circles,to sh ow you some of th emore

pncongenialph a ses of spirit-life.

26 som e SPIRIT-WORM)Allis not bea utiful; but inmany localities allisch a nged to scenes of strife. Alrea dy h a ve we a r rived a t one of

wh ich I spea k ; look a nona d, a nd wh a t

you see.

”

on, LIFE IN r im BPHEBES. 27

CHAPTER III .

m SOCIETY 0 7 AVARICE AND nm rt .

THEY pa used, and before th em appea red a group of being:

cloth ed in ra gs. It were better to callth em beings destitute ofrea son, for th ey merelylived.

I sa y, Mor ton,”spoke one,

’twa s no smallj ob wh en I dis

covered th a t rich old mine of silver , from wh ich th e Inca s derivedth eir wealth . You h a d better go with me, andga th er moneyth a t tells, th a n forever be picking gra ins of sa nd.

”

Th e person a ddressed, looked up h is gla ssy eye seemed to

ligh twith fire h is nervous h a nd clutch ed th e ba gwh ich conta ined

Ah lh a ve you a mine of silver , a nd I only a ba g of gold !

Oh , h ow poor I am ; I must la bor h a rder—4 1m “be up ea rlier,

a nd be more diligent . Ah , poor me !”a nd th e wretch groa ned

in very a gony a t th e th ough t of h is poverty, wh ile, if h is sa ck'

h ad conta ined realgold, h e would h a ve possessed millions ! Fora moment h e pa used, th en commenced to ga th er glittering gra ins,a nd

, one by one, pla ce th em in h is sa ck. Th e first spea ker stoodintently ga zing a t h im for a long time, th en burst into a

‘

loudla ugh .

W h y fool,”sa id h e, you a re h allucina ted th a t is noth ing

but sa nd. Empty out th e contents of your sa ck, a ndnot keepit sh ut up from its true ofiice in supporting vegeta tion. It is

28 sca n s IN m a rm s-woma n ;

worth noth ing, a nd you a re a poor ba nkrupt,worth more for th e

r a g-millth a n for a ny oth er use.

”

Th en h e la ugh ed a ga in, in wh ich th e oth er joined ; some proposing to rob h im of h is migh ty trea sures, oth ers jeering a nd

scorning h im,wh ich ma de th e poor victim of inordina te love of

ga in creep a wa y, cursing allcrea tion in h is bitterness.You, Wintle, need not put on such a irs

,

”sa id one, wh ose

gr a y eye a nd iron visa ge procla imed h im a n ea rth ly tena nt of

Wall-street ; I mistrust your intentions, a nd suspect th a t youa re not th e wealth iest one a mong us.

”

Wealth y ! Wealth y did you sa y Not th e wealth iest one

a mong you, with allth e untold rich es of my newly-discoveredmine i”

Yes, I sa id wealth y,

”replied th e man of Wall-street, with a

cold sneer . You sa y you h a ve done noth ing but sea rch for th is

mine for th ela st ten yea rs. I fa ncy you would be worth littleif th a t were gone.

”

Not a fa rth ing.

A totalba nkrupt.”

Yes.

”

Well, I used to sea rch a grea t dealofmy time for mines ; I

spent th e first twenty yea r s of my life sea rch ing ; a nd a fter be

ing deluded ma ny times, I came to th e conclusion th a t th ere

were oth er meth ods of securing a fortune, sooner a nd ea sier , a nd

with fa r more sa fety. I sa id, a fter being deluded, I h a ve beenma ny times, and almost every one I ever h ea rd spea k of th us em

ploying th eir time, h a ve beendisa ppointed, th eir mines ofpreciousmetalturning out but some worth less mineral.

”

Wh ere is th is mine of yours loca tedl”

On th e western slope of th e Andes.

”

Does a la rge tree grow close by— a pine tree, wh ose h ead isrea red h igh a bove its neigh bors i

”

Alltrue.

”

3 Q SCENES IN THE SPIRIT-WORLD

believes Wilder a n ignoramus l Now I’llsend one of my men

to h im to ma ke th e purch a se ; a nd a s h e th inks it wor thless, if h e

receives a nyth ing for it h e willth ink h e is ma king a specula tion.

Yes,it is allmine, a nd worth more th a n New-York city lI falsi

fied a little— ma de h im feelbad ; but wh a t is th a t to such trea

sure

An a ngellooked down from th e upper sph eres, a nd a s its puresoulsa w th is moraldegr a da tion, wh ispered in sorrow :

Wh a t ! is it noth ing th a t you h a ve’

lied — noth ing th a t you

defra uded your fellow,a nd crush ed your soulinto a dolla r

noth ing th a t you'pla y th e h ypocrite a nd deceiver ! No ; you

belong to th e ch urch ; a ttend every Sunda y, a nd rea d your longpra yers under th e h igh steeple. Th e blood of ensla ved souls

h a s made you rich . You a re called to th a t ch urch by th e tonesof a bellca st from th e solidified tea rs of women a nd ch ildren

crush ed by your a va r ice ! ‘

Noth ing th a t you ma ke property of

your ch urch , a nd refuse th e poor ma n wh om you h a ve made

poor, 9. sea t ! Allth is noth ing ! But remember th e grea t Godenters not under th e sh a dow of th a t steeple, a nd willnot listen toyour fine-toned bell, but sh uts down your pr a yer with in th e ceiling. Th e righ teous Judge goes into th e a ttic wh ere you h a ve

driven th e ch ildren of th e soil,a nd pa tiently h ea rs th eir pr a yers,

a nd gives comfort to th eir souls. He t ells th em'

of t h e brigh tda y coming, wh en allth eir wrongs willh a ve ended. Slowlya nd silently, but surely a nd irresistibly, it a pproa ch es. Ah foolishma n ! h ow much better a re you with a million, th a n with a

th ousand ! Every dolla r you a ccumula te more th a n a sufficiency

is so much lost from your soul. You enj oy a ccumula tion. Soonth a t pa th sh allbe closed, a nd from wh ence, th en, sh allcome en

j oyment to such a dwa rfed a nd contr a cted being ! Are you

more of a ma n for rich es ! Na y, less a nd less, dolla r by”

dolla r .

Turn to th e ligh t, for angels weep for th eir erring broth ers on

ea rth

on, LIFE IN r IIE srm ns. 81

cloud now closed down, a nd h id th em a nd

th e a ngel’s view, lea ving th e benigh ted group wh ich

we h a ve described, deep in th e winding pa th of folly. Th is is

a true representa tion of ea rth a nd th e lower societies of th e

second sph ere. False to ea ch oth er, th ey deligh t in th e ba nkruptcy of th eir fellows, wh en not th emselves a ffected th ereby,forever striving, yet ever disappointed a nd unsa tisfied.

3 2 Bon us IN run esmIr-wcnw ;

OHA. P T ER IV

r a n Low soorn'rms CONTINUED.

Th e family tr a nsla ted unprepa red—Th eir qua rr els and miseries, inwh ich th e effects of

lnh a rmonlous unions a re represented—Th e society of drunka rds—Th eir conversation—Reflection.

W E a re now also in th elower societies of th e second sph ere,sa id th e Ph ilosoph er ;

“

you willnow beh old exa mples wh erein

you willrecognize th e same pa ssions wh ich a nima te many.

of

ea rth ’s ch ildren, plunging th em down into misery a nd woe. In

th e la st scene, you beh eld th e influence of uncontrolled a cquisi

tiveness, th e desire for wealth wh ich a va ils not. Here you see

th e a ction of comba tiveness a nd destructiveness, resulting in

qua rreling a nd dissension.

”

As th e Sa ge cea sed spea king a wretch ed group a ppea red, allunprepa red to be ush ered into a h igh er sta te. Ba d a s th eir con

dition wa s previously, it wa s a pa r a dise to th is. Th ey were discontented on ea rth , a nd often h a d wish ed for dea th . Howlittle

knew th ey of th e ch a nge ! Th e discontented, unfledged birdwould fa in skim th e eth ereala ir

,like its strong pa rent, but not

being a da pted to th a t element untilm a ture, it falls from its

h a ppy nest, a nd receives ma ny a bruise. Th e ca terpilla r wouldsport in th e a tmosph ere among th e ga y flowers, sipping delica tenecta r from ga udy corolla s, but spins its cocoon before its time,a nd th en

,wh en too la te

,finds its food sh ut out, its life cr a mped.

a nd if it live, a t most ca n ma ke but a n imperfect fly.

Th ese exa mples ma y be used to illustra te th e condition of

th ose wh o would depa rt from th e present to try th e unknown

tea, LIFE m m spnnnus. 3 3

future before fullprepa ra tion. Th e la w wh ich governs th e

ch a nges of t h e butterfly is modified in m a n, so th a t th e illustra

tion loses its force in a mea sure ; yet ma n sh ould ma tu re a s ”ca n

before h e becomes a spirit. He sh ould live to a ripe a ge, a ndfalla wa y a s ea sily a s th e a pple from its stem .

”

I fea r you willfind extremely few th us ma tured.

Ala s ! allma nkind h a ve yet to lea rn of th eir being— lea rnh ow to live, to brea th e, to th ink, a nd to a ct. Ea ch h a s yet to

lea rn th e lesson, knew th yself.’

Ah ! wretch ed group wh ich now stood before th em ; fa th er ,moth er a nd ch ildren ; allwere th ere— th e entire family

Th e Sa ge spoke a ga in, but a side h is ch a rity would not allowh im to injure th eir feelings

I know th is family well. Ma ny yea rs since, wh ile pa ssingover th e ea rth , I encountered th em

,th e sa me a s now. Th e

pa rents wh om you beh old, worn down with ca re, were unh a ppilyma ted. Th ey falsified th eir internalch a ra cter , a nd ea ch ma de

th e oth er believe th a t th e two were perfectly a da pted to ea ch

oth er . But ma rria ge, a s is too often th e ca se, revealed ea ch to

th e oth er in th eir true ligh t, Th ey united, a s a fea rfulm a jorityof ea r th

’s ch ildren units

,from selfish a nd pa ssionalmotives.

One pa ssion necessa rily excites th e oth ers h ence, a s t h is burnedout

,th e fuelbecoming exh a usted, comba tiveness a nd th e a nimal

orga ns beca me inflamed ; th eir bodies, under a ccumula ted a buses,

beca me disea sed, th eir minds necessa rily peevish and irrita ble,crea ting a n a vowed disgust in ea ch of allth e oth er sa ys or does.

Ca n you a sk wh a t th e ofl'

sprring of such unions ca n be ! Th eyca n inh erit but few of th e good qu alities of th eir pa rents , but allth e ba d, a nd th a t, too, in a n excited sta te. Th is is a n ill-under

stood, but a n una voida ble consequence, of embryonic growth .

Th e Bible sa id truly of such Conceived in sin, a nd brough t

forth in iniquity.

’ Th ese ch ildren illustr a te th is. Th ey h a teth eir pa rents, a nd a re kept to

geth er only by fea r . Th e fa mily

3 4 sca n s IN THE smmr-wosw ;

circle, instea d of being a sch oolto instruct th em in pr a ctical

goodness,h a s ta ugh t th em noth ing but evil. Here a re

]ten

ch ildren a nd a group of twelve persons ! a conta gion swept th em

alla t once from ea rth ) h a ving a s much a fiinity for ea ch oth er

a s th e la mb for th e wolf. Ten ch ildren ! No pa rent ca n rea r

during th eir sh ort ea r th ly life th a t number, a nd impa rt allth e

necessa ry vitality a nd instr uction th eir na turm require.

’

And

wh a t righ t h a ve pa rents to bring immortalbeings into th e

world, ifnot prepa red a nd qualified to susta in th em !

Th en you would h a ve th e pa rents instruct th eir own

ch ildren !”

“Yes ; th e moth er sh ould first give th em good constitutions,

a nd th en,a t suflicient a ge, instruct th em in th e

'

sciences, tea ch

th em allth ey require to know, a nd point th em th e direct rea d

to preferment a nd h onor . Th is is h er duty, a nd sh e obeys th evoice of na ture in proportion a s sh e perforrim th is ta sk. W h o

tea ch es th e young ea gle to poise its untra ined pinions , or to da rtwith unerring precision upon its prey ! W h o gives it its firstlessons in

‘

th e a rt ofclea ving t h e a iry tide, a nd th en, a nd not tillth en, th rows it upon its own responsibility ! W h o but its

moth er l”

But h ow is sh e to obta in time a mid‘

allth e ca res woma n

on ea rth is obliged to submit to i” a sked Hero. True, sh e

migh t do it h ere, but there it seems impossible.

”

Did you not educa te your ch ildren i Did you not send th em

alldirectly to posts of h onor ! Do th ey not constitute th e prideof your h ea rt ; for ca n a moth er h e indifferent to th e success of

h er ch ildren 3,Th ey a re a n h onor to you a nd ligh ts to th e

world ; a nd to you th ey owe'

allth a t th ey a re. Depend uponth is, th a t just a s a moth er uses h er ch ild,

'

so willth e ch ild use

th e world. How th e ch ildren before us illustr a te th is ! Th e

words th ey utter a re too low to be spoken or h ea rd, constitutingth e la nguage of unrestra ined animalities.

”

ca m m 'rnn erm a s. 3 5

How th ey ca n do so, I ca n not ima gine ; wh y do th ey notsepa ra tel”

It is beca use th ey h a ve not yet discovered th a t it is possible,but believe th a t simila r restrictions preva ila s on ea rth . Th is

th ey willsoon find,a nd th en th ey willdissolve.

”

Oh , it is drea dfulto see such confusion Let us a wa y.

Th en, fa ir Here, we willpursue our wa y, a nd not h alt to

provoke a n outburst of th eir pa ssions ; but perh aps th e next

group we meet willbe no less inh a rmonious.0 0 0 O 0 0 O 0

Ca n you smell. th e odoriferous fumes of toba cco, or inh aleth e brea th of th ose wh o drink wine th a t ma ddeneth i Na y, you

ca n not. I almost th ink th a t I ca n ; a nd we now sta nd nea r

th ose wh o fully believe th a t th ey in reality do .

”

Rea der, h a ve you ever’

entered th e respecta ble saloon .9 Ha ve

you ever wa tch ed th e stupid sta re of th e inebria te wh en th e eye

grew less a nd less lustrous,'

slowly closing, th e muscles rela xing,a nd th e victim of appetite sinking over on th e floor in bea stly

drunkenness ! Oh , h ow dense th e'

fumes ofmingled toba cco and

alcoh ol! Oh .wh a t misery confined in th ese walls ! If you

h a vewitnessed such scenes, th en we need describe no furth er .

If you h a ve not, you h a d not better h ea r th e tale of woe.

Ima gine to yourselves a ba r-room with allits sets , a nd th eir

number multiplified indefinitely, wh ile'

conscience-sea red a nd

bloa ted fiends sta nd beh ind th e ba r , from wh ence th ey dealout

dea th a nd damna tion ; a nd th e picture is complete ! One h a s

just a rr1ved from ea rth . He 18 yet uninitia ted in th e myster ies

and miseries of th ose wh ich , like h ungry lions, awa it h im. He

died wh ile intoxica ted— wa s frozen wh ile lying in th e gutter , a ndconsequently is a ttra cted towa rd th is society. He possessed a goodintellect, but it wa s sh a ttered beyond repa ir by h is deba uch es .

Ye a r’a fresh one, a in’

t yel”coa rsely queried a set, just

th en pa rticula rly communica tive.

3 6 sa una s m m SPIRIT-WORLD

Wh y, yes, I h a ve just died, a s th ey callit, a nd’ta in’

t so ba d

a ch a nge a fter all; only I suppose th ere’llbe dry times h ere fo rwa nt of someth ing stimula nt.”

Nct so dry ; lots of th a t allth e time, a nd j elly times too.

”

Drink ! ca n you drink, th en 3”

Yes, we just ca n, a nd feela s nice a s we plea se. But all

ca n’t— not unless th ey find one on ea rt h just like ’

em. You go

to ea rth a nd mix with your ch ums, a nd wh en you find one

wh ose th ough ts you ca n read, h e’s your ma n. Form a connec

tion with h im,a nd wh en h e gets to feeling good, you

’llfeel' so

too. Th ere, do you understa nd me Q I alwa ys tellallfresh

ones th e glorious news , for h ow th ey would sufl'

er if it wa sn’t

for th is blessed th ing !”

I’lltry it, no mista ke.

Here’s a covey,”spoke a n ulcerous-looking being ; h e

’s of

our stripe. Tim, did you h ea r wh a t a n infernalscra pe I gotinto la st nigh t ! N0 , you didn

’t. Well, I went to -our friend

Fred’s ; h e didn

’t wa nt to drink wh en I found h im,

h is dimes

looked so extremely la rge. W ell, I destroyed th a t feeling, a ndmade h im th ink h e wa s dry. He dra nk, a nd dr a nk, more th an

I wa nted h im to, untilI wa s so drunk th a t I could not break

my connection with h im, or controlh is mind. He undertook to

go h ome ; fellinto th e snow, a nd came nea r freezing to dea th .

I suffered a wfully, ten times a s much a s wh en I died.

”

0 0 O 0 0 O O 0

Ca n th ese ever progress from th eir fea rfully depra ved con

dition,”a sked Here in sor rowfula ccents.

Yes,

”replied th e Sa ge ; th elowest mind ca n progres s, a nd

millions of a ges h ence we sh allfind th ese same degra ded men

on our present pla ne. Th e yea r s of eternity a re unnumbered,a nd in th eir dura tion th ere is time for th e eleva tion of all. Th e

ca pa bilities of th e h uma n mind a re a stonish ing, a nd th ese

degra ded objects h a ve th e germs of allth e fa culties rea dy to

3 8 scsuss m m srmrr-wont n

CHAP T ER V .

FURTHER DESCRIPTION OF HADES.

undeveloped mind— Th e lover of plea sure, th e sensua list, etc., elm— They a re

a pproa ched by th e bigoted spir it of a miser , j ust depa rted from ea r th, wh o a sks

them where Hea ven, Hell, GodMth e Devila re—His terror when h is corpse is

pla ced in th e tomb, a nd woe wh en h e beh olds h is h eirs divide h is property—Hedepa r ts in a sea rch for Hea ven.

As th ey pa ssed from th e scene descr ibed in th e la st ch a pter ,th e Sa ge seemed wra pped in th e deepest medita tion. At length

h ega ve uttera nce to h is feelings

Here I beh old minds equalin na tur alstrength to my own,

yet deba sed lower th a n th e brute. Th is is th e punish mentof viola ted la w— th e ma ny misdeeds of th e body. Here you

beh old th e rea ctive energy of th ose la ws. Th ey must work outth eir own redemption. Th ough not plunged into a fiery gulf ofsulph ur , smoke, a nd wr a th , th eir punish ment is a th ousa nd-fold

more severe. If th ey feelth is not new, th e th ousa nd cycles of

th e future willrevealth eir trespa sses in allth eir deformities.

Th e knowledge of wh a t th ey h a ve lost willforce itself upon th eirminds. W e willnot dwelllonger on th is pa infulsubject. Oh

jeeta ofgrea ter interest a re a round us.”

As th e Sa ge pa used, Leon ra ised h is eyes from pondering h iswords, a nd beh eld a ma j estic yet mournfulprospect. Th ey weresta nding on a lofty eminence overlooking th e h orizon. Fa r

a wa y stretch ed a n a rid pla ne, interspersed with h ills, valleys a ndr a vines, a nd oa sis-like green spots would now a nd th en brea kout like isla nds in th e Sa h a ra . Th e pla ne a ppea red boundless,

0 3 , m u 111 ms am a ss. 3 9

a nd on every side it lost itself in th e th ick clouds of vapor h anging over it. Millions of h uma n forms were wa ndering over th isva st spa ce. On every side a ppea red th e scenes beh eld by a ncientcla irvoya nts, sca rs a nd visiona ries, a nd by th eir excited ima gina

tion wrough t into a fiery h ellof Jeh ova h ’s wra th . Oh , th e

loneliness of th e prospect ! Th e dim view of millions of h uma n

beings, allonce of ea rth , wa ndering over th e a rid wa ste, with

h ea r ts a s stinted a nd souls a s contra cted a s th e stunted mimosa

a nd dwa rf a ca cia wh ich grow in clumps h ere a nd th ere ever th edesert.

”

Here h a ve I often contempla ted th e scenes of spirit miserya nd woe,

”sa id th e Ph ilosoph er woe beyond allpossible con

ception— beyond allexpression ; for wh ile pursuing th e ruinous

course of error , th ey one'

a nd allth ink th ey a re enjoying th e

fullest mea sure of.

h a ppiness. Th eir minds a re h ermeticallysealed to th e ligh t. Th ey ca n never progress untilth eir mental

vision is unsh rouded from th e th ick va ilof th eir present7,

Wh en I ga ze responded Leon,“ it brings realiza tions

of ea rth . To ‘alla ppea ra nce th is is a n ea rth ly prospect, a nd th e

spirits I beh old yonder a re a s busily enga ged a s ma n with all

h is ca res. Ha ve I not viewed th is prospect before i”

“ True, it is a n ea rth ly scene. Th is is ea rth . Th e lowest

circle or pla ne of our existence is not removed a bove ma n’s

pla ne. Th us a good opportunity is given th e undeveloped tolea rn th e laws wh ich govern ea rth ; a nd you wellknow th a t

th ey must lea rn th ese before a dva ncing.

”

Th en th ese sh a ded spirits wh o flit a bout a nd tillth e ground,a nd a ppea r so busily employed, a reyet in th e flesh , th ough th eysca rcely difl

'

er from th e oth ers i”

Yes,th ose a re th e

'

inh a bita nts of ea rth toiling for food a nd

r a iment, wh ich is righ t, a nd ten“

th ousa nd useless luxuries wh ich

a re h urtful. Here we find allcla sses a nd va rieties of minds

40 scam s m r a n swa n-wea rs) ;

th e bigot, th e h ypocr ite, th e trader, th e tra flicker wh o used

fra udulent a nd unla wfulmea ns, deception a nd sca nt mea sure

th e na r row-minded, th e selfish , a nd th e sensual— alla re h ere.

”

For a long time I h a ve wa tch ed th em intently, but owingto th e diversity of occupa tions I ca n not sa tisfy my curiosity.

”

Th ey a re va riously employed. Yonder is a group wh obelieve life crea ted for to da y ; th a t to

‘drink and be merry’ is

th e ultima te of existence. Th ey h a ve in consequence permittedth eir minds to run to ruin

, a nd h a ve prostra ted allth eir energies

in th e cultiva tion of a lisping speech , a nd wh a t th ey style gr a ceof ma nners. Now th ey join in th e da nce— wellenough in itself,it is true, wh en performed for exercise, but wh en m a de a ch id

'

employment of life, extremely bad in its effects. Hundreds of

yea rs since I pa ssed th is wa y on a mission simila r to my present,a nd th en I beh eld th is sa me circle employed just a s you now see

th em. I sa y th e same; it a ppea rs a s if some a re not h ere now

wh o were h ere th en, a nd th a t th e number is a ugmented. Per

h a ps some h a ve seen th eir folly in a new ligh t, employed th eir

mentality, a nd a rose a bove th e pursuit ofmere a nimalgr a tifica

tion. Yonder is a group of sensualists, th inking, t alking a nd

a cting a s on ea rth — s a crificing th eir energies on th e alta r of

sensualdesire. Th ink you on th is specta cle ! Let me drop th e

va ilof modesty, remembering th a t th ese h a ve too ma ny cen

geners on ea r th . Leon, do you recollect Ma rvin, th e merch a nt

prince, th e specula ting ca pitalist, th e bigoted religionistl”

I h a ve ca use to r emember h im. Ma ny a time h a ve we

a rgued untilh e became a ngry, a nd condemned me to th e

infernalgulfofmisery a s a n outca st a nd infidel.”

He h a s depa rted from h is pala ce h ome in th e distance

yonder . Ca n you see th a t da rk spirit yonder l How wildly h e

ga zes a round h im. He is bewildered a nd lost“ It is th e one of wh om you spea k. Th ere is th e ch urch ma n,

th e creed-fettered ma n— a strict observer of bigotry. How

en m ru m srnmim. 41

often h a ve I h ea rd h im repea t, th a t one could tellSunday fi'om

a week da y by its appea ra nce How often h a s h e cursed me

from h is Bible, a nd sa id I wa s elected for h ell, a nd h e for h ea ven !W h y cometh h e h ith er i

”

Wh ile h e wa s spea king, Ma rvin, a ttra cted by th e superiorligh t issuing n

'om th e eminence, h a stened up, wildly ga zing

a round a t every step. Th e moment h e came with in spea kingdista nce, h e recognized Leon, a nd excla imed

Leon of th e h amlet ! a nd your wife -you h ere 1 Wh a tkeeps you in th is dismalpla eel Wh a t a re you doing h ere !

Wh ere a m Il”

We came h ere to obser ve th e ligh ts a nd sh a dows of na ture.

You a re in th e pla ce wh ere I once told you you would go, forwh ich you scornedme.

”

I remember , a nd believe none th e more or less now. I am

not dea d yetl”

N0, but you a re dea d to th e world.

Sa y not so ; I am only dreaming a fea rfuldream .

If you sh ould beh old your body conveyed to th e tomb, yourdreams would begin to put on form a nd substa nce.

”

I sh ould believe th em reality,” excla imed h e, stillga zingwith a n insa ne sta rs, a nd sta rtling a t every sound.

Follow, th en,”sa id Leon, wh o wellknew th e position of th e

ta tely h allth a t rea red itself nea r by h is h umble cotta ge.

Th e group proceeded to th e former h ome of Ma rvin, a nd

entered its ma rble walls, furnish ed with th e sumptuousness of

untold wealth , procla iming Ma rvin a prince in dolla rs a nd pride.

In a ma h oga ny coflin, on a ma rble ta ble, rested th e ea rth ly rem a ins of th e grea t lea der in commerce a nd religion, bloa tedwithth e ra va ges of disea se. His spirit drew nea r , folded its a rms

,

a ndwith a fixed ga ze, stood over th e corpse. Not a limb movednor a muscle vibr a ted, except a sligh t quiver would now a nd

th en run over th e fa ce. Th e view of h is mortalform h eld h im

42 sa unas 111 m s srmrr -woa nn ;

fmcina ted.

‘

Never willth e ea rnest look h e fixed upon h is former

self be forgotten. Th e bea rers entered, a nd pla ced th e coflin in

th e beams. Th e steeds, decor a ted with la ce, began th eir slow,mea sured pa ce for th e family tomb. Th en, with a loud screa m

of a gony, h e a ppea red to wa ke to consciousness, th rew h imself

on th e coma , h ugging th e corpse with allh is energy— crying

with migh t a nd m a in h e wa s to be buried alive— h e lived— h ewa s not dea d— h e wa s to be murdered ! He h ad seen too

much beyond dea th alrea dy. He only slept. . After lamentingin th is m a nner for a wh ile, h e beca me a wa re th a t th e spirits

with h im h ea rd h is voice th rough th e vibr a tions of eth er . His

friends, wh om h e wish ed to h ea r , could not h ea r in th e.lea st. He

th en strove to move th e corpse— to move th e a rm to ma ke th emknow th a t h e yet

,

lived. Allwa s va in ! He h a d lost control

over h is own form,a nd knew not h ow to move ma tter. Fr a ntic

with fea r a nd a nxiety h e clung to th e wreck of h is mortality,a nd refused th e request of th e Ph ilosoph er to rise. Wh en th ecoffin wa s pla ced a wa y side by side with th e previous genera tion,a nd with a lingering look th e bea rers were a bout to depa rt, h e

beca me ala rmed for fea r of being sh ut up, a nd ,followed th em

out into th e free a ir , decla ring allth e time h e wa s in a tr a nce !

Oh wh a t a n awfuldream 1”

Na y,”sa id th e Ph ilosoph er ; your body is dea d ; yourlive,

a nd a re a spirit in'

th e spirit-world.

In h ea ven I” . excla imed.

h e in extreme surprise I in

Nc, not in h ea ven to you, but it is to us.”

“,W h y th is is no h ea ven, th is is ea rth ! Wh ere is h ea ven

I ca n’t see it P

!

Wh a t kind of pla ce do you expect to find h ea ven,”a sked

th e Sa ge, with ,

someth ing of pity.

ma ntling h is lofiy brow.

Wh a t kind of a pla ce i I believe it is a s th e Bible describes.

It sa ys h ea ven is pa ved with brigh t gold, a nd walled a bout with

on, u rn m m spnnnns. 43

precious stones, so th a t no sinner ca n get in th rough th e na rrow

wa y wh ich I h a ve tr a veled except now a nd th en a sligh t tra ns

gression, wh ich th e Lord h a s forgiven me. Now you a re sinners,

for you a re wa yla ying me, a nd decla ring me dea d wh ile I live.And a m I in allth e h ea ven I sh allever find ! Now if I a m in

h ea ven, wh ere is God, to wh om I h a ve pr a yed th ree times ea chda y allmy life 2

”

He is h ere.

”

Wh erel” h e excla imed in terror .Here, a round a nd with in us.

”

No ;.

I see h im not : a nd th us you h a ve proved th a t I am

not in h ea ven. God is in h ea ven ,th e Bible sa ys so . If h e wa s

h ere, I could see h im fa r pla iner th an I now see you. He sits'

on

a n ivory th rone, with scepter in h is h a nd, dealing out la ws a nd

punish ments to th e na tions. Alla round a re elders a nd a ngels

with golden h a rps, singing h is pr a ise. Wh ere is allth is ! I

h ea r noth ing ! Do you suppose such a concourse could esca pe

my sigh t ! No:I could see it a cross th e universe.

”

You h ea r th eml— no, nor never will.”

Oh , sinners, evila ngels sent to tempt me from th e pa th of

righ t 1 Oh th a t I could a wa ke ! Wh ere is h ea ven ! Don’t

sta nd pointing to your mind ; I wa nt to beh old t h e rea lh ea ven,with its glittering pa vement l

”

Ma ny of ea rth ’s sons would fa r ra th er see th e glittering

pa vement’ th a n h ea ven itself, but none willever be gra tified,calmly replied th e Sa ge.

Is th ere not such a pla ce i” a nd a ga in th e storm of pa ssion

No localh ea ven. Hea ven is a condition, not a

Do you deny th e Biblel”

N

Th a t sa ys h ea ven is loca ted.

”

Not if righ tly understood.

”

44 som e n: r a n sr rnmwonnn ;

Yes it does, pla inly. I h a ve crucified my flesh , suffered

everyth ing, ca r ried my grievous cross—a llfor noth ing ! Na y,

na y, I’llfind th e pla ce yet.

”

Never 1Never I” replied th e Sa ge in ch illing a ccents .

Are my sufferings of no a va ilNone wh a tever , unless to depress you. Th e pa th of h a ppi

ness pa sses not th rough sufi'

er ing. Suffering is th e consequenceof infringed la w— h a ppiness, of obeyed la w. To be h a ppy is toenjoy allth e pure plea sures of ea rth . You h a ve alwa ys la bor edunder a grea t mista ke.

”

But my pra yers Q”

Pra yer with out a ction is noth ing.

”

Did not Ch rist die for me 3”

a NO.

”

W h y wa s h e sa crificed th en !

He died beca use th e Jews were angry a t'h i

'

s reforma tion,a nd trea ted h im just a s allreformers h a ve been used since time

bega n— burned, crucified, murdered bv th e mob a t th e instiga

tion of th e priesth ood.

”

Ca n h e not forgive sins

No ; every m a n h a s h is own a ccounts to answer for . If h e

is debtor h e is necessa rily punish ed.

”

Atonement false 3”

Yes, Ch rist suffers not for your sins. He is not a sca pe

go a t on wh om you a re to la y your burdens.Heretic ! h eretic ! No wonder you h a ve not seen h ea ven.

I’lla rgue no more with you, but retire to my h ouse, a nd sh ow

you I live th er e yet.”

Let us ta r ry,for a new scene willbe soon exh ibited,

”ex

cla imed th e Ph ilosoph er . In a few moments Ma rvin rush ed

from h is once lively h alls with a fra ntic gesture, excla iming

46 senses m m srmrr-wosnu

Th a t is wh a t Imea n to do, a nd am in no

be successful.”

Go ! mea nwh ile we willtake our depa rture, with th e h umblebe guided by th eligh t

with in you.

on, LIFE IN r a n srnnnns. 47

C HA P TER VI .

mscussrons.

i t s society, wh ile resting on ea rth , hold important diseuu ionswith ea ch oth er, and

listen to th e a rguments of a n infidela nd clergyman—They th en endea vor to impressth e infidelwith th e reality of spir itua lexistence, a nd pa rtially succeed.

Bum s now in th e rudimentalsph ere, we migh t profita blyta rry for a time, a nd improve th e opportunity in lea rning va rious idea s enterta ined by th e spirit before it h a s left ea rth to tryth e unknown realms of eternity

,

”sa id th e Sa ge.

Th en you stillh old th a t ma n knows noth ing of th e future

sta te wh ile h e rema ins ma n,

”a sked Hero.

He ca n not know with certa inty— allis obscure a nd doubtful.He ma y possess a n interior desire for immortality, but h e ca nnot

rea sonfi pon th is importa nt subject with h is senses ; a nd h e h a sno oth er da ta from wh ich to dr a w h is conclusions.

”

Ha s h e not th e Bible 3”

Wh a t da ta ca n th a t a fi'

ord, wh en th ere is no externalevidenceof its truth And th ose wh o profess to believe it do not live a nexempla ry life a s a proof of its inspira tion. Th e truth is

,th a t

ma n believes not fully in immor tality. If h e did,th ink you h e

would not depa r t th e‘

ea rth ly life with j oy, wh en h e wa s su re

of being ush ered into th e presence of h is God ! Verily,if h e

recognized fully in h is conscience such a bea utifulpla ce a s h is

idealh ea ven,h e would rej oice a tgrim Dea th

’s a pproa ch . Men

profess to beh a ve th e Bible fully, a nd a re terribly sh ocked if youquestion its

'

ver a city in th e lea st. It is th e idea th eybelieve, notth e substa nce, educa tionalprejudice compelling th em to ta ke

48 sca n s m r un smmr wom ;

for gra nted th a t wh ich th e internalligh t of th eir na tures con

demus.

”

Rea son, th ey sa y, is ca rnal, a nd not of God,

”sa id Leon,

a nd sh ould not be exercise

Yes, a nd th ose wh o prea ch th is doctr ine, exercise th eir rea

son to sh ut th e ligh t from oth ers’understa nding.

”

Th a t is th eligh t inwh ich it alwa ys a ppea red to me. I h a veh ea rd prea ch ers decla im by th e h our on th e fallibility of poor

h uma n rea son, a nd th e infallibility of th e Holy Scriptures, a nd th emore th ey prea ch ed th e more th ey excited th eir own benigh tedrea soning powers to prove rea son false.

”

But wh y sh ould th ey decla im so much aga inst rea son !

a sked Hero ; th ey of course a dmit th a t rea son a nd na ture , a s

wella s th e Bible, came from God ; wh y recognize one a s superiorto th e oth er !

”

To support priestly rule, th em a ss must not th ink, nor rea

son, but be kept in ignor a nce. On th ese grounds, rea son must

be deba sed from alla ccess to th e Bible— for you wellknowth a t, a dmitting

.

th e righ t to rea son on a subject, gives also th e

righ t to pronounce true or false. With out th is privilege, rea sonis a useless effort. Wh en we rea son on a subject, we a re in

doubt a s to its truth . Our rea son ma y condemn, a nd no one

sh ould question our righ t to obey its dicta tes, or condemn us for

not a ccepting th a t wh ich a ppea rs contr a ry to our understa nding.

If th e righ t to rea son on th e Scriptures a nd th e va rious ch urch

sch emes of salva tionbe a dmitted, th en we ca n, a fter ma ture ia r a stiga tion, condemn th e wh ole or a pa r t. To ma inta in th e presentsystem of th eology, th eBible must be ta ken a s a n infallible sta nda rd. Everyth ing must be mea sured by it. Rea son, if allowed,would condemn a portion, a nd prove very h ostile to th e monstrousspecula tions dra wn from myth ic tra dition. Hence it is h urled

rudely a side, a nd from one end of Ch ristendom to th e oth er, th e

cry is sent up : Trust not ca rnalrea son and poor foolish na

on, LIFE IN THE spnnnns. 49

ture, th ey h a ve plunged more souls into h ellth a n th e a rch -fiend

h imself, wh o bids you follow th eir guida nce.

” Th e wh ole fa bricof th e ch ur ch system is founded on educa tionalprejudice . Th is

system , a ccumula ted under pr iestly rule,h a s a ssumed th e ch a r

a cter of a dea d weigh t on ma n’s a dva ncement, dra gging h im

down to ignora nce a nd blind subservience. W h y is it indisput

a bly th e ca se th a t th e la wyer , ph ysicia n a nd clergyma n a re

generally striving with th eir united energies, a nd h a ve everstriven

,to keep th e ma ss in mentalda rkness ! Simply beca use

th eir wh ole success— th eir wages, depended on th e ignor a nce of

th e ma sses concerning th e orga nic a nd ph ysicalla ws. Under

th ese, a nd no oth er conditions, willth ey swallow th eir stale doctrines with out murmuring. But set th em to th inking, a nd th eyma ke sa d h a voc with th e professions. If clergymen would

prea ch pra cticallessons of mor ality, instea d of such endless,ver

bose th eorizings, th ey would become more usefulmembers of

society. If th e doctor would la y a side h is a ntiqua ted th eories

a nd mys ticaltech nicalities, a nd discourse in a la ngua ge wh ich

common sense ca n understa nd, expla ining th e la ws of h ealth a ndlife in a simple style

,h is pa tients would soon know enough h ot

to be sick. If th e la wyer would strive with h is broth er,th e

clergym a n, to eleva te th e mor alcondition of h is clients,instea d

of a rousing allth e ba se pr inciples of th eir na tures, h is quibblingfalseh oods a nd deceptions would not be needed. Ma nkind

, pro

perly eleva ted by th eir mor altea ch ers, would forgive th e tres

pa sses of th eir broth er , a s th ey alrea dy h a ve th e idea of doing,

a nd not th ose feelings of h a te a nd revenge, too often

found a m h igh est order of Ch ristia ns. If a llwould str iveto eleva te th eir fellows, instea d of keeping th em in ignora nce,

h ow soon, th ink you, th e r a ce would be redeemed, a nd allth ese

professionalmen wh o now live, like sh a rks in th e ocea n, on th e

smaller fish es, be compelled to forego delica cies for wh ich oth ers

h a ve la bored ; a nd with th e motto, dig or die,”ringing in th eir

3


ea rs, of necessity be forced to h onest toil! Th e clergy h a ve

ever a cted a s a millstone a round th e neck of reforma tion, ch eck

ing progress untilit could be restr a ined no longer— wh en th e

ma ss, bur sting th rough th eir efforts to h old th em ba ck, ta kes amigh ty lea p upwa rd a nd onwa rd, ca rrying everyth ing with its

a ccumula ted energy. Allth eir ! th e clergy’s) influence h a s been

directed ba ckwa rd, wh ile h uma nity h a s moved forwa rd, despiteth eir efforts. Th eir cries of infallibility a re now but little h eeded.

Few h a ve pa tience to h ea r th e j a rgon of diploma ed ph ysicia ns ;a nd none but th e ignor a nt, wa nted confidence in th eir remedies.

A less number of per sons th ink of consulting a priest wh ile on

th e dea th -couch . Th e once prevalent idea of lea rned infalli

bility is fa st decrea sing. Th e question now a sked is,

How

much do you pr a ctically know !”

not,“ At wh a t college did

you gr a dua te !” Oh

,th a t th e brigh t da y, fa st da wning,m a y sh ine

forth , wh en every one willbe h is own ma ster , h is own sovereign,h is own ruler

,a nd govern h imself with th e strength of h is m a n

h ood ! Th en sh allwe h a ila millennium,wh ere allwillbe de

veloped up to th e pla ne of th e h igh est now on ea rth . Th en we

willh a ila n a ge of pr a cticalCh ristia nity,of intellectualpower a ndmor ality, sh a dowed forth in th e va gue proph esies of th e pa st.Alrea dy h a ve I tr a nsgressed my r ules of conversa tion ; butwh en I th ink of th is glorious subject, th emillennium of th ough t,

I am excited in feeling beyond power of expression.

”

Nea r th e pla ce wh ere th ey were reposing, a clergym a n a nd a n

infidelwere enga ged in a rgument, a nd a s th eir subject ba rmonizes with th e previous discourse we introduce it h ere.

Th en you doubt allcla ims of th e Bible to inspir a tion !sa id th e clergyma n.

Not only do I doubt, but wh olly, totally disbelieve, repliedth e infidel; wh a t cla im h a s it to my be

lief!

W h y it comma nds allto believe, or be ca st into h ell, wh ere

willbe wa iling a nd gna sh ing of teeth forever.”

on, LIFE IN THE SPHEBES. 51

Beca use it comma nds,is th a t a rea son wh y I sh ould be

lieve wa s th e retor t,with a sneer .

In truth it is, a nd a strong rea son, too .

”

Must I believe th a t wh ich contr a dicts my senses

If God sa ys so, you must.”

Does not God spea k th rough na ture, a s wella s th e Bible !Yes.

”

Do th ey a gree !Not a ppa rently.

Do th ey in reality !”

I must a cknowledge th a t God h a s seen fit to th row grea t

mysteries in th e wa y of reconcilia tion,a nd to my feeble knowl

edge th ey ca n not be h a rmonized.

”

Of th e two, a cknowledging both ca me from God, wh ich one

must be ta ken a s a sta nda rd— wh ich of th e two ! W h y, th e

written pa ge, you sa y, descending th rough centuries, unknown a s

to its origin except its own a sser tion, a nd even if true, but th e

rude ch ronicles of a tribe of low ba rba ria ns. Yes,th e written

pa ge, mutila ted, interpola ted, falsely tra nsla ted, must be ta kena s infallible ; a nd Na ture, th e living mouth -piece of Deity

, th e

instrument th rough wh ich h e now spea ks to ma nkind,must be

rejected ! God m a de na ture, a nd pronounced it allr igh t, a c

cording to your Bible. W e a re left to judge of its la ws a nd a c

tions. Our lamp is rea son, wh ich‘

you a ttempt to ridicule a nd

despise ; a nd we callallCh ristendom to witness, th a t our livesa re a s correct a s your s.

”

“You ma y be moral, my friend, a nd do righ t ; yet mor ality is

not religion. You a re not ba ptized in th e blood of th e Lamb,a nd th erefore ca n never enter life eternal. In th e la st grea t da y

you willbe found wa nting. Ch rist died to sa ve sinners ; but

th ey must ta ke up th eir cross.If Ch rist died to sa ve sinners, of course with out h im none

52 SCENES IN THE e nrr-wonnn

ca n be sa ved. By wh a t mira cle were th ose sa ved wh o died be

fore h im i Th ey must necessa rily allbe lost .”

You deny th e grea t doctrine of th e a tonement !”

sa id th e

priest, in h oly h orror .

“ I never could believe th a t my sins were to be la id on a n ia

nocent ma n. I expect to suffer for my own errors, a nd for no

one’s else. Th eworld must be sa ved by its own merits— sink or

rise by its own wickedness or goodness.

“ Few,th en

,willbe sa ved. If our own goodness is to sa ve us,

I fea r few,few willever enter h ea ven.

”

Th en few will; for to my understa nding th ere ca n be no

oth er sch eme for th eir salva tion— if sa ved.

”

“ If sa ved !” W h y a n if !

”

Beca use I feelth e ca se doubtful.“W h y sh ould th e h uma n mind desire immortality— wh y

such a n excessive h ope in th e future !”

I a nswer th is question by a sking a noth er : If ma n is not a n

nih ila ted a t dea th , wh y does h e so sa dly fea r th a t end i”

Ah , my dea r friend, I fea r th e oldma ster of evilh a s h a rdenedyour h ea rt, a nd turned you to error l”

Sa ta n, do you mea n ! I do not fea r h im ; in truth , sir, I

never could see th e use of th e old ra scal.”

Worse a nd worse ! Wh ere willyou la nd next ! Betterdisbelieve allelse th a n th a t. Th e Bible tea ch es of a devila s

much a s of a God.

”

“ And na ture sa ys th a t th ere is not, a s pla inly, a nd a th ousa nd

times more conclusively.

”

!Clergyma n musingly.] Disbelieves in a devil! wh y th a tsa ps th e very founda tions of our th eology, a nd destroys alloursystems of salva tion, allour creeds, our ch urch es— all— everyth ing. !Aloud] Na ture tea

ch es ! Ah , va in a nd miser a ble mortal! you but exercise your ca rnalrea son.

”


No, I never yet h eld a n a rgument with a clergyma nwith out

being insulted a nd a bused.

”

Ha ! h a !” excla imed Leon.

“Let us try th is a ga in. Th e

spirit exists.”“Yes,

” muttered th e infidel, my logicwa s better th a n h is,

but someth ing in my mind begins to sa y, spirits ma y exist ”

Ca n th a t sentence be th e res ult of our th ough ts !”

Yes, a nswered th e Sa ge ;“

you perceived wh a t a tr a in of

th ough t wa s produced. You alrea dy query a s to th e ph ilosoph yof th is effect ; I sh alllet you rea son for a wh ile. We a re in h opes

th a t a better meth od willyet be discovered, for we allwish to

spea k with our ea r th ly broth ers.

”

I h a ve alwa ys been a wa re,”sa id Leon, th a t th e world did

not believe in a future sta te— a t lea st, th a t men do not believeth a t th eir friends in th e a ngelic sph ere a re wa tch ing over th em.

If th ey did, th ey most a ssuredly would do better. Th eir a cts

belie th eir words.

”

At th e time we write,th e la ws by wh ich spir its could commu

nica te were just beginning to be exposed ; a nd soon a fter th e

Opening of th ese scenes,”th e brillia nt discovery wa s ma de th a t

spirits could converse freely with ea rth .

on, LIFE IN THE srnnnns. 55

CHA P TER V I I .

THE UNHAPPY MARRIAGE .

While th e Society a re enga ged in conversa tion in th e Portico, a stra nger a pproach es,a nd to th e q uestions of th e Sa go, gives a brief h istory of h is life, illustra ting th emiser ies a ttenda nt on inha rmonious Unions—Th e Ph ilosopher points out to h im th e

sphere inwhich h e mustla bor.

As th e Society were enga ged in conversa tion,a str a nger spirit

ca me th a t wa y, a nd pa used nea r th e Portico. He th en drew

nea r , a nd sea ted h imself by th em.

Welcome,”

sa id th e Sa ge ; welcome h ere, even if th ou

comest with grief a nd woe on\ th y brow. Th ou a rt free now

from ea r th , a nd its sorrows h a ve pa ssed a wa y,in pa rt ; yet th ou

th inkest of th e pa st a nd feelest sa d.

”

I a m sa d wh en I th ink wh a t a pa r a dise ea r th migh t h a vebeen to me, if it h a d not been for one false step in my youth .

By th a t I am rendered forever miser a ble.

”

Not forever miser a ble i If no grea t crime h a s sta ined yourmind, it willyet be Wellwith you .

”

N0 crime. I am no criminalwh o drea ds justice. Th a t is

wh a t I wa nt— I wa nt justice done me. I a m a victim to false

ma rria ge.

”

Th en you a re relea sed, a nd ca n soon be h a ppy.

Yes, I migh t be h a ppy, for I a m free now, if I could forgetmy th ough ts respecting my ea r thly broth ers. Th e misery a nd

ignor a nce under wh ich th ey a t present sufi'

er is beyond th e

power ofmy tongue to describe. Oh,it wrings my h ea rt to feel

a nd sympa th ize with th em ! I ca n not th row off th is burden,


a nd wh en I wish to soa r aloft in a h ea ven of a spira tions, I am

dra gged down to ca rt

Th en it is your ma nifest duty to go down to th e rudimental

sph ere a nd instruct ma n in th e la ws of a ffinity a nd life.

”

But a h , grea t Sa ge, wh a t sh allI tea ch‘

l I ca n not a pprove

th e doctrines of free love a s commonly understood, a nd yet I feelth a t th ere sh ould be fr eedom in love. As soon a s love is con

fined, it is love no more. But if freedom is given, I fea r th econsequences.

”

“ Ea r th is not yet prepa red for th e doctrine of wh ich you

spea k. It willbe true for th em wh en th ey become a s th e a ngelsin purity. In th e a bstr a ct, it is true ; in th e pra cticala pplica tionof tod a y, it is false. It is not th e doctrine you sh ould tea ch .

Ra th er go to ea rth a nd tea ch ma n th e la ws wh ich govern th e

mind, th a t th ey ma y know ea ch oth er’s ch a ra cter, a nd not be de

ceived by a ppea ra nces. Tea ch th em th a t purity is worth all

else.

Ah it is a grea t ta sk— one I sh rink from with fea r a nd trembling. Someth ing must be done to relieve me, for my mind isla cer a ted with a drea dfulla sh ; I ca n not bea r itlong. Grea t God

,

giveme strength to perform th e ta sk before me with energy a nd

success ! Give me pa tience a nd persever a nce to gra pplewith th ework successfully.”

“ If you a ct a s ea rnestly a s you pr a y, you willbe successful.

But wh y so troubled ! Does it allresult from your ph ila nth ropya nd th e love you bea r your r a ce ! If so, th a t alone willpla ce

you a bove us all.“ I a m selfish , I fea r . Perh a ps th e idea ofwh a t I migh t h a ve

enjoyed ca uses my sorrow. I wa s a h a ppy youth . Educa ted a t

college, a nd enjoying allth e fa cilities th ela tter a fforded, I climbedr a pidly upWisdom

’s'mounta in. As I a rose h igh er a nd h igh er,

th e prospect sprea d furth er a nd furth er a wa y, lost in th e dim

dista nce. Th e fa r ofl'

objects came forwa rd to meet me a s I a d

os , Lmn m m srnm s.°

57

va uced upwa rd, untilbenea th me sprea d a glorious view to enno

ble my life, a nd give me a position of h onor among men. Th e

rose-bud, h alf expa nded, wh en just to bloom in fragra nt bea uty,ma y be crush ed forever. A rude bla st ma y freeze its delica te petals

,or ch a nge to disgusting odor its fra gra nt bea uty. I wa s,

like th a t bud, just opening to th e bea uties a roundme. My h ea rtyea rned for congeniality— for sympa th y of a kind I could not express. I could only ca tch a glimpse now a nd th en, so ba sh fully

it a pproa ch ed me. Th e cold selfish ness of th e world galled me.

I sh ra nk from its rude brea th . I wa nted a cotta ge in th e wild

woods, fa r, fa r from th e h a unts of ma n, th a t th er e I migh t employ th e lea rning I possessed m diving into th e depth s of myste

rious na ture— exploring h er la ws, a nd journeying th rough h er

la byrinth s with th e torch of rea son to ligh t my pa th . I desired a

kindred mind to journey with me— to become one with my

th ough ts— wh om I migh t love with unsuppressed a ffections, a nd

wh o would love me with a love th a t would never die. Th is wa s

a rude efi'

ort ofda wninglove to picture th e idealof my dreamsa n effort of mind to rea ch out into th e undefined future, a nd

ma ke fa ncy a proph esy ofmy destiny.Wh ile in th is sta te ofmind, I sa w sever alth a t seemed th eper

sonifica tion of my drea ms, a nd one th e very ideal. In h er I sa wallmy fa ncy h a d a dored. Ah , h ow bea utifulsh e a ppea red !Poets migh t strive in va in ; th e pencilwould be a useless instru

ment ; th e pen of th e novelist, in its wildest fligh ts , is ina dequa teto convey th e dimmest sh a dow of th e bea uty sh e a woke in me.

So long h a d I dreamed over my ideal, th a t th e object wh ich represented it wa s mine. Sh allI give a pa rticula r description ! No,I willnot —I ca n not, for th ey a re only for th e lover ! Ah

, wh ydid not th e a ngels wh o weep in h ea ven for th e ignora nce ofma n,come down, a nd by somemea ns ma ke me sensible of th e g ulf onwh ose fea rfulbrink I stood ! With allmy lea rning I wa s ignor a nt. My knowledge wa s th eoretical, a nd not in th e lea st a da pt

58 sca n s IN THE SPIRIT-WORLD ;

ed to th e dema nds oflife; It wa s useless to mewh enmost needed—r a th er worse th a n useless, for it ga ve me a confidence in my

self wh ich wa s not ba cked by th e necessa ry knowledge. I knew

noth ing of th e la ws of life, or h ow I migh t a rrive a t th e knowl

edge of a noth er’s ch a r a cter. Wh y I loved I knew not ; I only

recognized th e fa ct. I wa s led on by th e blind instinct of a mis

directedlove. I h a d h ea rd of a fiinity a nd a ttra ction of spir it, but

it served only to involve me more inextrica bly, for I supposed, if

a ttr a cted, I sh ould follow th a t a ttra ction, a nd th a t it wa s a n ia

stinct pointing out my proper compa nion.

Sh e loved me, or so pretended ; a nd, of course, wh en I wa snea r , to alla ppea ra nces wa s a n a ngelin goodness a nd love.

How ph ila nth ropic wa s sh e ! How sh e desired seclusion from

th e wide, wide world ! How sh e h a ted selfish ness, a nd h ow dis

gusted wa s sh e with th e a nimalpa ssionslSh e put on a irs wh ich

ma de h er th e idea ] I sough t. I loved th a t idea ], for it wa s th e

offspring of my ch ildish dreams— of my youth fulh ea rt, myda wning m a nh ood

’s th ough ts . I ca n not sa y I loved h er , but I

did love th e a ttributes I supposed sh e possessed— h er a ppa rent

bea uty, goodness, a nd gentle, a ffectiona te spirit. How fa ncyflew

th en ! Wh a t would I not h a ve done to ga in h er a ppla use ! Istrove for a name for h er sakelSh allI tellyou th a t we united our destinies ! Na y, you

know th a t alrea dy. Oh , h ow th e brigh t vision fa ded a wa y !

How feels th e tr a veler a wa y on th e desert, wh en groves of palms,a nd la kes of clea r blue wa ter , sprea d out in allloveliness on th ebrim of th e h orizon, Ta ntalus-like, to tempt h is th irst ! He

urges on h is camelwith renewed pa ce, th a t by nigh t-fallh e ma y

sla ke h is feverish th irst. Th e sun sets in th e western sky, a nd

with its la st crimson blush , th e glorious palms a nd blue wa ters

allva nish a wa y, a nd a re seen no more. So I felt wh en th a t

glorious vision of h a ppiness seemed just with in my gra sp ; butth e moment I rea ch ed forth my h a nd, it va nish ed a wa y.

on,LIFE IN THE srnsnns. 59

W e put on smiles a nd politeness, a nd a re ever so communi

ca tive, benevolent, a nd unselfish in compa ny, just a s we would a

ga rment, to be pa cked in th e closet wh en a t h ome. It wa s h er

exter ior ga rment I loved ; a nd wh en t h e soulwh ich inh a bited itstepped out from h ome, j oy fled forever

Her I h a d never seen. I wa s totally una cqua inted with th e

being wh o now revealed h erself to me. I loved h er not, buth a ted h er fo r h er selfish ness a nd a fl

'

ecta tion, a nd for th e decep

tion sh e h a d pla yed me. My a ngelwa s not a n a ngel. My idealh a d fa ded into a low a ctual. How, th en, our minds a nta gonized !

Sh e fea red th e wide, wide world no more, but wish ed for sh ow

a nd popula rity, a nd sh e told me pla inly th a t sh e sold h erself for

mywealth . Ma y th e grea t God blot from my memory th e few

yea rs— long a ges th ey seemed— during wh ich I sufl'

ered th e

penalties of my ignor a nce of th ela ws of th e rela tions of mind.

Let me pa ss th em by I am th ere no more. I a m tra nsported

from misery to regret. I would live longer on ea r th to pla nt a

little monument in th e minds ofmen, to tellth em I h a ve existed.

Th e wide influence I h a ve wish ed to build h a s va nish ed. Th a t I

must ever regret. I h a ve lived so fa r to no purpose but misery inth e end. Is th ere no balm in Gilea d ! Sh allth e wea ry find no

restl”

Th is is wrong, sa id th e Sa ge. You yield entirely toomuch to your feelings. Be calm,

a nd use your rea son. Misfor tunes a re necessa ry to a n undeveloped life. If you were

ignor a nt th en, you ca n inform yourself now in th e truth ; a ndh ere a re better opportunities for uniting congenialminds th a n

ea rth a ffords. If a few yea rs a relost, remedy th e fa ult by ih

tenser a pplica tion. You a re only one in millions wh o h a vesuffered in a simila r ma nner . In fa ct

, you h a ve given a perfect

description of ea rth ly ma r ria ge, wh ere ea ch deceives th e oth er

into a belief th a t th ey a re wh a t th ey a re not ; a nd a fter union, th e

two unh a ppy beings find ea ch oth er not th e ones th ey loved,

60 sca s IN THE e nmwonLn

but some stra nger ,wh o h a s, by some una ccounta blemea ns, slippedin a nd ta ken th e pla ce of th e lover . Th ere is too much idealitya bout love wh ich becomes so exalted th a t it is not realized byth e a ctual.

Th is is th e grea t ca use of my grief— beca use so m a ny a re

going to th e ba nquet of woe with ga rla nds of roses on th eir

brows, allunsuspicious of th e sufferings th ey a re to endure. And

th ere is no remedy !”

Yes , a remedy is nea r . Th ey must be instructed. La ws a re

seldom viola ted willfully, but almost alwa ys th rough ignor a nce.

Th ey must be ma de to see th e righ t, a nd to recognize th e gra nd

difl'

erence between a nimalinstinct a nd a ngelic love. Wh ere th espirit lea ds, go. Ma gnets h a ve not surer a ttra ctions th a n amnities of soul.

Go ! But wh a t sh allI tea ch l”

Not freelove, a s now understood ; it is not pr a ctica ble for th eage, a nd its tendency, untilm a nkind become more pure, wouldbe pernicious. But te a ch h ow mutuala ttra ctions ma y be recognized a nd preserved. Freelove is for m a n only wh en h e becomes

a n a ngel. Tea ch th e world th a t ma rria ge is a bove a nimalia

stinct ; a n eterna lrela tion of th e souls of two immortals ; th a t

dea th ch a nges not th e rela tions th a t congenialminds h old to ea ch

oth er , r a th er strength ening th e ties of a ffection ; tea ch h ow th e

soulma y be rea d benea th its exterior ga rment, a nd h ow allits

interior promptings a nd desires ma y be determined.

But h ow, 0 Sa ge, a m I to tea ch such lofty doctrines ! I

sh allnot be believed.

”

Th e tr uth is superior to allconventionalism. Go down in th e

sunbea ms of morning’s ligh t, a nd write for th e world. W h a t

you write willbe rea d a nd criticised to-da y, a nd th e present

gener a tion willprofit very little by it. But th e young a nd ex

pa nding minds willreflect on th ese th ings , a nd in th e ages to

come th ey sh alltell, a nd become a grea ter monument th a n you


C H A P T E R V I I I .

THE vrsrr TO THE CIRCLES or Esnrn.

‘

First stages of th e SpiritualPh ilosoph y—Th e Societylea ve th eir homes and visit someof th e circles held on ea rth—Th e crude elements— Th e bigoted a nd pro]udicsd‘l‘h e rightly-formed circle—How circles should be formed—Reflections.

WE wish to embody in th e na rrow limit of th is work a s much

truth as possible. So numberless a re th e fa cts from wh ich th e

na rr a tive is dra wn, th a t it requires grea t wisdom to select th ose

wh ich convey th e truest impressions of our a bode. Indeed, a t

best, but a pa rtialidea ca n be given of th e bea uties, gra ndeur,

a nd wonders of spirit -life.

A few yea rs since th e discovery of th e meth od by wh ichth ese pa ges a re wr itten, h a ve ela psed. During th e first yea rsof its growth , but few demonstra tions were ma de, a nd th ose

of a disconnected ch a ra cter . Th e concentr a ted a ction a t cer

ta in points h a d elicited public a ttention, a ud dra wn out much

curiosity a nd mirth . A more diffused a ction soon bega n to

ta ke th e pla ce of concentra tion. Ea ch spirit wish ed to h old

specialcommunica tion with its friends, a nd h ence strove to impress th ose friends to form circles a nd obey certa in condi

tions, th a t th ey migh t communica te with th em. Th e a wful

subject, bringing on its wings so much j oy, wa s perverted, a nd,in m a ny ca ses, brough t to ridicule. Th ere preva iled

'

a n almost

totalignor a nce of spirituallaws, a nd a blind zealin th e belief ofspiritualinfallibility. A dense ma ss of crude spiritualelementsenveloped th e rudimentalsph ere in th e da rkness of nigh t .

Drea ry doubt, cold skepticism,a nd unbounded credulity, strove

on, LIFE IN THE SPHEBES . 6 3

for th e ma stery. Perverted rea son looked th rough imperfect

mediums , a nd sa w everyth ing distorted, blurred a nd imperfect.A few a ctive th inkers only a gita ted th e m a ss, a nd fea rlessly ga ve

th eir truth s to th e world. Such , th en, wa s th e sta te of th ings.

W e willgo to ea r th,

”excla imed th e Sa ge, a nd, for a wh ile,

witness th e errors a nd mista kes of our broth ers, inform ourselvesin th eir present idea s, a nd th en endea vor to tea ch th em a righ t.

”

So sa ying, th e Society depa rted from th eir brigh t h ome, down,down, to witness th e crudities of ea rth . It wa s evening wh en

th ey a rrived, a nd such a bea utifulevening ! Th e silvery-orbedmoon h a d just a rose from benea th th e ea stern curta in of trees,

a nd poured its flood of mellow ligh t over th e scene. Th e bluesky, with its lofty a rch a bove, wa s redolent with gems a nd glittering dia monds.

“ Oh , h ow bea utifull”excla imedHero ; I am onea rth aga in,

a nd seem a n inh a bita nt of th e lower sph ere.

Yes, na ture is bea utiful; but m a n is corrupt, beca use h e isnot true to th a t na ture spoke th e Ph ilosoph er in sorrowful

a ccents.

Nea r by a circle h a d convened to witness th e ma nifeststions ma de by th ose wh o dwelled on th e oth er side of Jorda n’

s

terrible stream . A m iscella neous crowd h a d collected, with

curiosity on tip-toe, a nd allexcited into a fever of expecta tion.

Two or th ree mediums were th ere, with minds a s cloudy a s

a stormy nigh t, ‘uncultiva ted by a rt, a nd a n orga niza tion not well

formed by na ture. Th rough th ese ch a nnels th e crowd expectedto receive wisdom worth y of a god.

Over th ese a ssembled a group of spirits, fullof fun a nd mis

ch ief,th ough th ey h a d no ba d intentions. Q uestions were a sked,

a nd a nswered by th e moving of th e ta ble. Such questions !Th is ignora nt group of spirits, it wa s supposed, knew allth e

secrets of h ea ven a nd ea rth , a nd were wiser th a n th e Deity

h imself. To th ese th e spirits a nswered a s best th ey could, a nd

64 SCENES IN THE e m wosLn

generally, a fter repea ted blunderings, succeeded in stumblingupon th e truth . In sh ort, th ey were questioned like prisoners a t

th e ba r ; a nd oh , such questions ! An idiot migh t wellla ugh a t

th eir silliness. Th is very much plea sed th e spirits. Th ey wereh a ving a gala time. Th ey loved fun, a nd could not h elp givingmirth -provoking a nswers sometimes. One of th e “

circle wa s

determined th a t th ey sh ould tellh im wh ere h is pocket-knife was .

Anoth er h ow ma ny dolla rs h e h a d in h is pocket. And,most

wonderfulof all, a decrepid old ma n sa id, If th ey’lltellmeh ow ma ny ch ildren my grea t

-

gr a ndfa th er h a d, I’llbelieve i

Th is grea tly a stonish ed th e Society, a nd its ridiculousnes s called

out th eir mirth , for h uman na ture willou t, onea rth or in h ea ven.

A wh ining fellow dra wled out, If th is is my fa th er’s Spirit

,

won’t you tellme wh o stole my oxen !

Yes,”wa s th e prompt reply ; your broth er Joh n sold th em

a nd kept th emoney.”

D— d lie,”sa id Joh n.

Th is wa s true— th e spirit rea ding h is th ough ts, th ough h is

fa th er’s spirit wa s fa r from th ere. J oh n wa s condemned nuez

pectedly, a nd th e compa ny h a d grea t merriment over h is discomfiture

,in wh ich th e Society from a bove h ea rtily joined.

Enough of th is circle,”sa id Leon ;

“neith er wish es to re

ceive or impa rt much usefulinstruction.

”

Th ere a re th ousa nds of such circles now on ea rth ,”a nswered

th e Ph ilosoph er , composed of excited elements, a nd h ence

ga ining noth ing but disgust. O ea rth ! is th is th y boa sted wis

dom — is th is th e use of th e intellect th ou extollest so h igh ly !Wretch ed, indeed, th e ta ste wh ich prompts such ga th erings, such

questions, such curiosity I I almost blush to th ink th a t I wa s onceof ea rth .

”

Th e next circle th ey visited w a s composed of believers wh o

were allstrong in preconceived errors. Th eymet, not to a ba ndon,but strength en th eir old position. Th ey h a d a ttra cted a spirit

on,LIFE IN THE SPHEBES. 65

wh o wish ed to instruct, but wh o wa s so pa ssive a s not to desire

to infringe on th eir feelings . A Meth odist a sked questions, a ndfrom th e a nswers drew th e h onest inference th a t Meth odismwa s allrigh t. A Ba ptist, from th e a nswers h e received, concluded th a t h is creed wa s th e th ing th e world dema nded. Th e

two conclusions disa greed, a nd th e Meth odist a nd Ba ptist re

volved in th eir minds wh eth er th ey were h olding communica

tion with Sa ta n ! Th is grieved th e spirit very much,for h e wa s

not,like th e oth ers, given to m a ke mir th out of th e ridiculous in

h uma n na ture, a nd h e took th e a ccusa tion a s a n a ffront personal,a s th ough h e were living in th e body .

Ca re noth ing for th is a ffront, but lea ve th em a nd go with

us.” As h e spa ke th us, th e Sa ge extended h is h a nd, a nd all

depa rted. He led th e wa y to a circle composed of tenmembers,

allh a ving th e h igh est a spir a tions for truth a nd a deep under

sta nding of spiritualla ws. Th is h a d a ttra cted a la rge concourse

of th e h igh est order of minds, wh o were disposed to revealallth ey possibly could. Joy sa t on every countena nce, a nd inex

pressible h a rmony perva ded every mind. Th ere wa s not even a

wish to inquire a fter stolen goods, or ea r th ly a ffa irs of a ny kind,for th e circle were sufliciently developed to understa nd th a tma n

’s

business on ea rth is to look a fter th ings of th e ea r th , a nd exert

h is own fa culties ; a nd th a t th e business of th e depa rted is in

rela tion to th eir own sph ere ; a nd th a t if th ey undertook torevealallcrimes, a nd give certa in premonitions of allcomingda nger , ma n would resign allh is a ffa irs into th eir ch a rge, a nd

sink into indolence a nd idiotism ; th ere would be a spirit pilot toevery vessel a nd steamer— a Spir it engineer , conductor , a nd

br a kema n, to every tr a in of ca rs ! In Sh ort , th a t th e spirit

-world

could do noth ing else th a n look a fter t h is lower world. Th is

circle understood th a t th e spiri t’s mission wa s to tea ch grea t

moraltruth s, a nd a fterwa rd to go to th eir own h omes a bove.

“ Broth ers, rest now,

”excla imed th e Sa ge, for h ere th ere

66 SCENES IN THE SPIRIT WORLD ;

is h a rmony, wh ich we alllove. I would instruct th is circle, th a tth ey ma y depa rt wiser

'

th a n th ey ca me.

” He th en th rew ba ckh is robe

,a cted on th e medium,

a nd proceeded to spea k a t lengthon th e spirituala ge. He deta iled th e grea t era , a wa kening fromits eigh teen centuries of repose, in allits bea rings, a nd exh orted

h is h ea rers to persevera nce a nd truth .

Th e members of th a t circle went to th eir h omes wiser a nd

better th a n th ey came. Th eir spirit friends depa rted wiser , too,rejoicing th a t th e long-sough t meth od of communica tion h a d

been discovered, a nd th a t th e ea rth received by its mea ns a

new impetus by th e influx of h igh er ligh t. D uring th e first

yea rs of Spiritualism,th e stupendous subject w a s often brough t

to ridicule by th e unwise course pursued by th e lower gr a de of

spirits a nd circles, a nd th e foolish a ctions of ma ny of its vota ries.

Few considered th a t th e mind wa s not ch a nged in th e lea st by

th rowing off th e body. Th e ma jority believed th a t a grea t

ch a nge in th is direction took pla ce a t dea th ; a nd h ence could

not realize h ow immortalminds could descend to th e performa nce of such simple fea ts. Th e subject wa s viewed in a wrong

ligh t ; a nd th e lowest cla ss of th e community were generally th eonly ones wh o da red to ta ke h old of th e subject a t all. Muchexcitement also existed among th em. Allkinds of communica

tion were received ; some were pure deception, oth ers were th e

result of m agnetism ; some came from undeveloped minds, wh oa ttemptedto tea ch th a t ofwh ich th ey were profoundly ignor a nt ;a nd grea t er rors were dealt out to a ga ping world. But such a

sta te of th ings wa s not of long continua nce ; a nd a s curiosity

a ba ted, th e subject settled down into sta id reality, wh ere it isnow seen. But its course is onwa rd

,a nd, like a migh ty r iver ,

it goes on gr a dually increa sing, ma king grea t h a voc with creeds

a nd sects .

From th is ch a pter , we wish th is infer a nce a dduced : If you

form a circle, form it in truth . Admit no ridicule, idle mir th ,

on, LIFE IN THE SPHERES . 6 7

fea r , timidity, or h a te. Let love alone controlyou a nd yours.

Be ch eerful, willing to receive allth a t is given, to be weigh ed in

th e bala nce of rea son, a nd h old free discussions on allsubjects

with th e communica ting spirits . Such circles a s th ose first de

scr ibed h a ve been a grea t detriment to th e r a pid progress of th eSpiritualph ilosoph y, th ough in th e end th ey h a ve subserved a

very impor ta nt purpose in forcibly illustr a ting th e ch a r a cter of

spiri ts a nd th eir fallibility. Ignor a nce is th e ca use of allvicea nd sin ; but its influence is more decidedly felt h ere th a n a ny

wh ere else.

Th e wh ole circle of science sh ould be brough t into th e investi

ga tion of th is subject, a nd even th en centuries alone willreveal

th e deep mysteries of spirit-life.

W h y fea r you investiga tion 2 W e th row th e wh ole subjectopen to you. We give you lea ve to enter every depa rtment, a ndinvite you to explore to your h ea r t

’s content. W e fea r not ih

vestiga tion, discussion, or opposition, but r a th er cour t th em

th rowing down th e glove a t th e feet of th e lea rned a nd scientificworld. W e seek not da rkness

, but th e ligh t from th e th rone of

God ; a nd we would ligh t th e wh ole ea rth in th e bea ms of th e

rising orb of truth .

SCENES IN THE SPIRIT-WORLD ;

C H A P T E R I X .

THE CHANGE CALLED DEATH .

Th e Society, while reposing benea th th e grove, receive a n Ancient, wh o recounts h isthoughts a nd feelings while pa ssing th rough th e ch a nge ca lled Dea th .

THE scene is a ga in ch a nged to th e h ome of th e Sa ge. Th e

gorgeous views a nd scenery sprea d so la vish ly a round, ench a ntedth e eth erealspecta tors, a ccustomed, a s th ey were, to its bea uties.

Th e eth er tide came in rolling gusts, fa rming th e gr a cefulfolia ge

of th e grove, a nd m illing th e stillbosom of th e blue ocea n in

tiny wa ves, wh ose Sweet murmurs joined h a rmoniously with th e

zeph yrs. Such coloring is una pprecia ble to ma n,wh o sees only

by th e common ligh t. Th e splendid views wh ich sometimes

a ppea r before th e cla irvoya nt’s eye, r ivaling ten th ousa nd r a in

bows in gorgeous splendor, convey, perh a ps, th e best idea of th evividness of th e tints. To one a cqua inted only with th e scenes ofea rth , wh o h a s not tr a veled on th e swift wings of cla irvoya ncea cross th e universe, it is useless to a ttempt to ima ge by words th esplendor , gr a ce, a nd eth ereality of na ture in th is h igh er sph ere.

Th e four kindred spirits were reposing benea th th e sh a de of

a gra cefulgrove, wh ich filled th e a ir a r ound with th e sweetest

perfume. Th ey were discoursing on th e ph ilosoph y of na tureand th e surrounding objects . Leon h a d begun h is r a pid a d

va ncement. Alrea dy h a d h is investiga ting mind sent forth its

a spir a tions,a nd rea ch ed fa r out into th e a rca na of na ture. His

mind a woke to th e fullconsciousness of its strength , a nd,a s a

gia nt, h e strode th rough sph eres of th ough t, towa rd th e h igh

7 0 SCENES IN THE SPIRIT-WORLD ;

belief,wh ich never beca me a clea r reality in my mind. How

sh ould I h a ve obta ined a correct idea of a subject of wh ich Icould receive no proof by my senses

,or receive tidings of th ose

wh o h a d gone before ! My rea son sa id, dea th is a nnih ila tion. I

could not th row off its grim influence. Its voice wa s ever ringing in my ea rs . But I da red not th ink of infidelity to th e gods,a nd h ush ed my fea rs. Th e instinctive idea of a controllingpower— a somewh a t

,a somewh ere

, ca me ditfidently into mymind,a nd prejudice ch a ined it th ere. Myth ology came in a nd ga vemeits crude instructions. I tried to subduemy rea son, a nd endea voredto believe. Ye gods, I never could q uite crush my doubts l

O O O C C O O C 0

It wa s a cold sta r-lit nigh t wh en I pa ssed from ea r th . Th e

fields were covered with a purema ntle of virgin snow. Th e frost,

driven by th e north ern bla st, glistened fa nta stically in th e sta r

ligh t. Th ere wa s'

a bea uty in th e scenery wh ich , to one fa in to

ta rry longer on ea rth,would h a ve rendered it h a rd to close th e

eyes a nd sa y, I h a ve viewed th ese bea uties for th e la st, la st

time ; I a m no more of ea r th .

’ I could not force ba ck th e clouds

of ma ntling nigh t a s th ey rolled over my intellect. Slowly,

gr a dually, I sa nk down, down into a grea t bla ck gulf of oblivion.

Down,down I sa nk, beyond allh uma n th ough t or conception,

seemingly millions of millions of miles, with th e gloom growingth icker , denser and more stifling. It wa s a n a wfulsens a tion to

be suspended over th a t bla ck a byss by a single th rea d, a nd, a s

life ebbed a wa y, to feeloneself going down, down into its un

fa th oma ble depth s.

Th e la st words I h ea rd a s I sa nk down,were th e lamenta

tiens of my family a nd friends, a nd th eir sobs a nd cries a s th eysa id I wa s gone. Yes

, gone ! gone fr om ea rth , its plea sures a ndits pa ins. Th eir sigh s seemed my dea th -knellto

'

oblivion.

Down, down I sa nk for h ours a fter th ey sa id He is gone,’

wh en suddenly a flood ofligh t burst upon my a stonish ed vision

on, LIFE IN THE SPHERES. 7 1

a s a glea m ofligh tning, a nd on its wings my Soulsped upwa r dup, up, up, in th a t golden ligh t, to ea rth a ga in. I wa s conscious,a nd

,looking a bout me, sa w my body on th e couch . I wa s a

sh or t dista nce off, but stillmyself. A slighl

'

. cord of eth ereal

ma tter connected me with my form. It wa s soon broken, a nd Iwa s free. Th ere stood my friends weeping over my ina nima tebody, inconsola ble for my loss. I strove to convince th em th a t

I stilllived, but could not ; for I found th a t my body, th oughrealto me, a nd perfectly orga nized, wa s fa r too eth erealto a ffect

ph ysical’

a toms. My a cqua inta nces, wh ile on ea rth,wh o h a d

gone before me,now welcomed me, a t th e sa me time giving me

a bea utifulma ntle. Th ey th en conducted me to my new h ome

with th e a ngels.“ Ah , h ow ca n I express th e overflowing r a pture wh ich th r illed

my wh olebeing, wh en th e sublime reality of immortallife ca me

r ush ing over my soul, like a glea m'

ofligh tning ! Words a re but

fa int indica tors of th e emotions I experienced, or th e inefi‘

a ble j oywh ich filled my being . You h a ve pa ssed th rough th e ch a nge

a nd ca n sympa th ize in my sensa tions, compa r a ble only with th e

out-fla sh ing of th e noon-da y sun from midnigh t gloom.

“ Centur ies h a ve pa ssed a wa y since th a t time but its scenes still

cling tena ciously to memory’s a bode. I h a ve pa ssed th ose cen

turica in tra veling from world to world - ia tra veling th e'

eth er

ocea n th a t fills up th e intrica cies between th e suns a nd pla n

ets. Let me spea k with out egotism. Wh en I look ba ck on bygone a ges, I feela s if sta nding on th e summit of some lofty pinnacle, a nd looking down on my pa th untilit seems lost in mists ;a nd I ca n clea rly see now from wh a t a smallbeginning I h a d

sta rted. I am wea ry now,a nd would be a cosmopolite no

more.

Accept th is, th en, a s your h ome, for we Sh ould value th e a c

q uisition of such a s you to our Society,”sa id th e Ph ilosoph er .

I ca n not express my th a nks to you for your offer .

”


Pla tonius, do you not recognize me ! Ha ve you forgottenth e Por tico of Pyth a gora s

If a th under-bolt h a d dropped a t h is feet h e could not h a vebeen more surprised. He ga zed stea dfa stly a t h is ma ster for a

moment, a s one wh o would recallth e pa st. A tea r a rose in h is

eye, a nd with a sudden impulse h e ca ugh t th e ma ster in h is

a rms. Twenty-five centuries h a d no t efi'

a ced th e gr a titude a nd

love from th e pupil’s mind. In allh is wa nderings, a mid allth e

va rious scenes h e h a d witnessed, th e ma ster h eld th e supremepla ce. Gr a titude willca use th e tea r to flow a nd th e h ea rt to pal

pita te sooner th a n th e oth er emotions. Th e friendsh ip of ea r th

a wa its its expa nded bloom in th e spirit~world. Th e gr a titudewe

feelwillbe expressed in a ffections, a nd th e friends of tod a y willbecome more th a n friends to-morrow.

It ma y be th ough t unph ilosoph icalth a t Pla tonius did not re

cognize h is m a ster a t first ; but th ough developed spirits ca n rea d

ea ch oth er’s minds, th ey ma y be so a bsorbed a t th e time a s to

ta ke no cogniza nce of ea ch oth er’s th ough ts.

Ma ster ,”

excla imed Pla tonius, h a ve I found you a t la st !

Wh en I felt th e irresistible a ttra ction th is way, I suspected some

unusualca use, but I did not a nticipa te th e j oyfuldiscovery wh ich

a wa ited me.

”

Th ese a re th e ligh ts of our abode wh ich we often experi

sneed, producing th e most exquisite plea sure. Th e a ffections a re

woefully neglected on ea rth ; but th ey wh o do cultiva te th is no

ble depa rtment ofmind, sh allbe fully rewa rded for allth eir toil.Afl

'

ections set th e mind on th e pla ne of a ngels, a nd th row a h alo

of r a dia nce a round th e h uman soul. You, of course, h a ve a com

pa nion— one on wh om you h a ve pla ced your deepest a ffections !

or, h a ve you journeyed so fa r solita ry a nd alone f”

I could not do th a t ; sh e is a bsent now, but willjoin mesoon.

”

Sh e, too, is one of us. Th e more of such , th e more prosper

on,LIFE IN THE SPHEBES . 7 3

one a nd instructive our Society becomes. For centuries I dwelt

h ere alone,except th e compa ny of th ose wh o ca me a fter instruc~

tion, a nd th en depa rted. But now a little ba nd is forming, fromwh ich , a s a nucleus, a va st society of congenialminds sh alla rise,wh ose influence sh allbe widely extended, a nd wh ose wisdom

sh allbe ofuniversalrenown.

”

c H A. P T E R x

COMING TO THE KNOW LEDGE o r "run n ea r .

Ma r vinvisits th e Society.—His conversa tion, surprise, etc.

Sca RCELr h a d th e Sa ge completed th e la st sentence, wh enHerd excla imed in a stonish ment :

Look, h ith er cometh Ma rvin— h e of wh om we lea rned so

much i”

Yes, it wa s h e— th e self-sa me individualwe described previ

ously, unch a nged in countena nce, if we except a more h a gga rd

expression of th e fea tures, a nd a spa rk Of restless insa nity ga th ering in h is eye. Such a bewildered a nd a stonish ed expression a s

came over h im as h e a pproa ch ed is beyond th e power of th e pencilto express. He felt th a t h e stood on sa cred ground. With

ca utious step, h e trod th e flowery pa th , a nd with a curious ga ze,

sca nned th e Eden a round. Wh en h e beh eld th e group of spirits

enga ged in deep conversa tion, a nd recognized th em a s th e same

h e h a d so scorned a t h is entr a nce into h is new life, h is ch a grin

overpowered h im. Fa in would h e h a ve h urried a wa y, h a d not

th eir united m a gnetism reta ined h im . He rema ined speech less,

with eyes ca st on th e ground. Th e Ph ilosoph er, wellknowing h is situa tion, a nd pitying h im for th e errors wh ich h a d pla cedh im in such emba rra ssing circumsta nces, broke th e silence

Friend, you a re welcome h ere. W e left you ma ny yea rsa go, newly born into th is sph ere. You were th en impregna tedwith th e erroneous idea s of a false th eology, a nd were beyond th erea ch of rea son. You th en set out on a sea rch for h ea ven. You

on, LIFE IN THE spnnsns. 7 5

h a ve been unsuccessfulin your sea rch , or you would not be h ere.

You wronged us th en, but if you a re righ t now, th a t occur rence

willbe a s th ough it h a d never ta ken pla ce.

” Ma rvin’s bigotry

wa s much subdued by h is unsuccessfulsea rch ; but h e would

ra th er h a ve a ppea red before th e judgment-sea t of h is Crea tor

th a n before th is Society, wh o were a cqua inted with h is pa st h istory, a nd could rea d allh is th ough ts . With th ese impressions,combined with th e contr a cted idea s in wh ich h e h a d been educa

ted, such generosity wa s a s unexpected a s a stonish ing to h im.

For a moment, feelings str a nge a nd sore ch oked h is utter a nce.

Th e h ea rt of stone h a s its la tent sympa th ies, a nd th ose wh ose

h ea r ts a re steeled to allch a rity, ma y be ea sily a ffected if th eirch a r a cter is understood. He rea ch ed forth h is h a nd to th e Sa ge,

Ah , reverend fa th er, if I h a d listened to your wa rning voicewh en I first entered th is world- if I h a d first sough t th e source of

true h a ppiness in th e internalligh t —h ow superior to my present position would I now sta nd ! I a ppea r before you fa r lower

th a n wh en, yea rs a go, I entered th is my immortallife. Ha d I

h a rkened to your words, a nd not scorned your sa yings, r a th er th a nh a ve ta ken th e words of a myth ic book, a s expounded by a designing priesth ood, h ow much more a dva nced would I now be !

Th en migh t I h a ve enjoyed groves like th ese, wh ich remind me

of th e tree oflife wh oselea ves a re for th e h ealing of th e na tions

h a ve lea rned from th e grea t volumes I see a round me, fit em

blems of th e Book of Life. Curseme, but do not pity ; I deserve

it not a nd you ma ke me miser a ble by your kindness. I h a ve

brough t allon my own h ea d, a nd must sufi'

er .

Curse you ! Let not such words h e uttered to a society of

Ph ilosoph ers. W h o th a t occupies our position willcondemn a n

erring broth er ! Assuredly none. Na y, friend, we h a ve no ill

willa ga inst you . Allyour former h a rsh words a re forgotten ; we

remember th em no longer but strive to remember th egood deeds


alone. It is true, th a t you migh t h a ve been more a dva nced a nd

fa r superior to your present position, h a d you turned immedia tely

into th e pa th I pointed out. But a s you believed firmly in a lo

calh ea ven, a nd th e tr a dition of pa st a ges, it wa s better fo r you to

ma ke th e sea rch , a nd by ocula r demonstr a tion become convinced

of th e falla cies of your position. Bla me you ! certa inly not. It

wa s not you wh o upbra ided us,but th e blea r-eyed supers tition in

wh ich you were instructed. And th e scenes of th is life were so

new a nd unexpected, a nd you were in such a n excited sta te, th a t

you could not a ct yourself.”

I h a ve sea rch ed long a nd diligently, but h a ve found no such

h ea ven a s th e Bible describes. Th a t book h a s undone me— ut

terly, irretrieva bly ruined me forever . I would th a t I h a d beenborn in a h ea th enla nd, a nd h a d never rea d its soul-destroyingpa ges 1 I h a ve inquired of every spirit I h a ve met, if th ey knewth e locality of h ea ven ; a nd allth e a nswer I received would be a

mmissera ting look, wh ile th ey pointed a round th em,a s much

a s to sa y wh a t you sa idlong a go,“ Everywh ere I

” I h a ve seen

multitudes of spirits simila rly enga ged a s myself ; yet none everdiscovered th e object of th eir sea rch ; a nd I left th em a nd went

alone— beginning to doubt in my mind th e th eory I formerly believed sa crilege to dispute, a nd wh ich I so fa na tically supported. Th e few words you spoke to me came up with redoubledforce, a nd I wa s rea dy to excla im,

Ah th a t I h a d h a rkened toth a t vener a ble ma n wh om I first saw on my entr a nce into th is

world.

’ Th is da y, by some una ccounta ble rea sons, I a rose to a

h igh er pla ne th a n usual, a ndwith out a moment’s wa rning, stood

before you. Your forgiveness is worse th a n your combinedcurses . I could bea r th e la tter , but th is softens me to tea rs .

”

Spea k not so h a rsh ly of th e Bible. It h a s served a n importa nt purpose. It h a s done much for th e a dva ncement

‘

of mind.

It h a s been perverted— misunderstood,a ndth usma de th e occa sion

of grea t evils ; yet allth ese h a ve resulted in ultima te good. It

7 8 son-mes

“

IN THE srmrr-wosnu

bish a nd conventionalisms wh ich concealit,every h uma n h ea r t

h a th a diamond. Circumsta nces m a y dim,or entirely obliter

a te its ligh t ; yet , sooner or la ter , it willbrea k th rough alloh

sta cies a nd sh ine in immortalbrigh tness. So in th is ma n of iron,

th is ma n of th e world, once so nigga rdly to th e poor , so numercifulto th e unfortuna te, wh o used allmea ns to a cq uire rich es

,

tra mpling on socialla w,a nd obliter a ting th e moral— th e gem

wa s stillth ere.

Ar ise ! r everence not me by words, I repea t, but by a ctionsmeet for r epenta nce. You came h it h er alone. Wh ere is yourcompa nion i”

My compa nion ! My wife, so ca lled on ea r th Sh e died a

yea r since. But we loved not ea ch oth er,a nd th e wider we a re

a sunder th e better both a re plea sed. I wish ed h er sa ving, prudent a nd la borious, but sh e would be neith er

,a nd th e result

wa s one continu albroil.”

Enough ; r est you h ere, a nd a s one of us commence th is

da y to a dvance onwa rd a nd upwa rd to perfection. Th e Porticois free to you .

”

As Ma rvin entered its decor a ted vestibule,Leon

, wh o h ad beena dmiring specta tor

,excla imed

Is it possible ! Ma rvin— th e rich,purse-proud, va in, scornful,

bigoted, a r istocr a tic Ma rvin h ere ! a nd th us r egener a ted ! I al

most doubt my senses.”

To one wh o,like mor tals

,h a s become contr a cted with con

ventionalism it a ppea rs stra nge, replied Pyt h a gor a s, but to us

it is a n expected occur rence. Th is ma n wa s once a n innocent

ch ild. His na tur ala bilities were such a s would h a ve r a ised h imh ea d a nd sh oulders a bove allh is contempor a ries, exulting h im

a s much in th e mor ala nd intellectualfirmament a s h e becamein th e r eligious a nd commercial. Hewa s tr a inedunder th e iron

despotism of false conditions. He wa s ta ugh t th a t to be rich

wa s to be grea t, a nd th a t noth ingbut rich es wa s worth striving

omm m m srmm . 7 9

for . Wh en h e a pproa ch ed m a nh ood,h e sa w th ose wh om th e

world pr a ised, fla ttered a nd a dored, were th ose wh o possessed a

few dolla rs more th a n th eir neigh bors ; a nd h e wa s deeply impressed th a t

,to become likewise, h e must do likewise. For a

longwh ile h e wa s troubled with a conscience, a nd h is gia nt in

tellect would rea ct a ga inst th e drudgery h e imposed on it in h isstrife to become rich . If you h a d been pla ced in h is circum

sta nces, you would h a ve done a s h e h a s done ; th erefore, you

sh ould not condemn. His na tur ala bilities a re a s grea t a s ours ;a nd h is na me sh allyet resound th rough th e spirit-h ome. Sa wyou

not h ow rea dily h e confessed h is errors a fter h e h a d fully sa tisfied h imself of th eir falseh ood ! He is now cured of prejudice

,

a nd is like a ch ild, wh ich h e sh ould h a ve been h alf a century

a go. For th is germ, divested of its educa tionala nd a nimalga rb,h a ve I a ccepted h im ; a nd soon you willbe proud to callh im

one ofus. Such a brow a s h is conceals th eworkings of a mind

na tur ally noble and free ; a ndwith proper circumsta nces h ewillma ke a h igh ma rk for h imself, a nd become a monument of ph ila nth ropy.

80 som e rN r a n srrnrr -wonnn

CHA P T E R x I

rm:soomr r AGAIN vrsrr m a m .

Th e grea t city— Its description

— Over this th e Group rest, and view th e cha ngingscene below—They a re a ccosted by th e spirit of a fa shiona ble la dy, wh o wishes toknow h ow they enj oy themselves—Replies—Hor inra nt reflections on th e tra ns

gressions of ea r th— Ignora nce or th ela ws oflife—How th e spir it ca n progress.

Ir wa s such a morning a s is alone beh eld in th e sph eres,wh en

our group of spirits a ga in pa ssed from th eir brigh t h omes tosurvey th e inh a rmonious conditions of ea rth . W e find th em rest

ing over a la rge city, inwh ich were concentr a ted allth e a bomi

na tions of th e world. Fa sh ion h ere h eld h er ba nefulswa y, a ndon h er alta rs of eternally consuming fir e sa crificed h er

'

nu

told victims. Toil,God’

s first comma nd to ma n,wa s eith er ex

cessive or utterly neglected. Cla sses, gr a des, a nd oth er conven

tionaldistinctions, h eld potent swa y a nd error !sin) sa t brooding over all, from th e begga r in h is r a gs to th e ruler on h is

golden th rone. Commerce sa t in h er deceitfulform on th e

qua ys, or h oused h erself in h igh -tower ing walls of brick a nd

stone. Falseh ood, a s a commodity, wa s bough t a nd sold. De

ception, fra ud a nd h ypocr isy, were everywh ere prevalent. Ma nh a d contr a cted h is God-like soulinto th e compa ss of a coppercent, a nd found a n infinite universe in wh ich to roam with in

its na rrow rim. No low a nimalpa ssions were suppressed ; th eseh eld supreme control— a nd wh a t fea rfulcontrol! Allunder

nea th wa s corruption, wh ich filled th e sewers, dr a ins, a nd cess

pools, sending up its poisonous exh ala tions to mingle with th e

mor aleflluvia gener a ted a bove by corrupted ma n,wh o, with

on, e r. IN run srnnnns. 81

God-like powers, walked th e pa vement a mid th e ma ss of cor

rupted elements, unconscious of th eir presence

,pursuing h is

puerile ends a s ea gerly a s a boy ch a ses th e bubble or th e ga udybutterfly.

Th ere wa s noth ing na tur al— no God— none of h isworks— all

a rtificial, bowing to a rbitr a ry a nd conventionalrules. N0 clea r

a s seen wh en r ambling over th e verda nt mea d ; noboundless prospect, such a s exalts a nd exh ila r a tes th emindwh en

on th e sh ores of a tameless ocea n ; no brigh t sunsh ine a wa kening ch eerily th e a ctivity of a nimallife

,bidding th e flowers to

expa nd th eir petals a nd sh a ke off th e dews of h ea ven. No gor

geons sunset beh ind th e western forests , comma ndinglife to be

for th e time dorma nt. Th ere wa s noth ing pure, lovely a nd

truly bea utiful. Brick walls sh ut out th e extended view ; pa vements concealed God’

s ground ; nigh t wa s ch a nged to da y by

th e gla re of poisonous ga s ; stimula ting foods a nd drinks wer esprea d a t every street corner , tempting th e overta sked body toplunge into th e gulf of infamy deeper—s tilldeeper . Th e over

fed gourd jostled th e begga r h e h a d robbed of brea d, fromh is pa th

,with a sneer a ga inst being poor . Monopoly towered

upwa rd in six-stor ied structures, a nd crowded God’s ch ildren

from th e soilrigh tly ,

th eir own.

Oh , misery, crime, ignor a nce, a nd degr a da tion, ca n you be

surpa ssed in th e myth ic h ell! Angels, weep lweep, for yourbroth ers on ea r th

Over th is scene ofmisgovernment,error a nd dea th th e group

in silence rested. With in th eir wide-extended ga ze th e wh ole

va st scene stretch ed out in allth e r a nk deformities of pervertedna ture. Ma rvin

,wh o wa s with th em,

h a d been a specula tor— a

monopolist, a nd h ad pla yed a t th e h igh

-h a nded game of tr a de

in a ma nner superior to th e sh rewdest . Wh en h e sa w h ell-sent

specula tion grind down th e poor a nd oppress th e miser a ble ;wh en h is extended perception saw th e results of th e a ctions of

4*

82 sca n s m m srmrr -wonnn ;

th ose wh o followed h is footsteps , a nd knew th a t h e h ad ca used

equalsuffering, crime a nd wa s, h e called on th e rocks a nd moun

ta ins to fallupon h im a nd concealh im from th e sigh t of th ose

wh o sa w h im in th eligh t in wh ich h e sa w h imself. He coveredh is fa ce with h is h a nds, a nd wept a s th ough th e bursting tempest

would rend every fiber of h is frame.

Wretch ! wretch i wretch h e emla imed in a nguish . Oh ,

th a t I h a d never been born ! I now see myself in th e mirror of

my own h ea rt. Annih ila tion, or th e torments of th e fa bled h ell,a re noth ing to th is. Plunge me, O God, if th ou a rt merciful, into

th e bottomless pit of destruction, burning with fires unquench a blea nd blot frommemory

’s ta blet th e knowledge of th e p a st ! Hope,

th a t once spreMh er balmy wings a round my h ea rt, th ou, too ,h a st forsa kenme, and th e future is a n a wfulscene ofwoe a nd de

spa irHow long h e would h a ve soliloquized in th is ma nner we know

not ; but th e Sa ge, ta king h im by th e h a nd, ra ised h im up, ex

cla imingSelf-a ccusing ch ild, wh y bla me yourself th us 1 Blame no one

for th eir follies, but bla me th e circumsta nces in wh ich you were

pla ced. Th ey were ba d ; popula r opinion, before wh ich you bent,wa s ba d. Alltended to ma ke you wh a t you were. You h a ve a

germ ofna tive goodness in your being, or you would not th us

a ccuse yourself. Arise ! weep no more ! Th e future is brigh t.You ca n retrieve your misdeeds, but must lose th e time wa stedsince a ch ild.

”

Is th a t all! Am I forgiven i”

Not forgiven ; so much is lost. Study a s intensely a s you

will— lea rn untilyou become a god in wisdom— still,so much is

lost. Th e sca r ofwrong willnever h ide itself in growth .

”

Ma rvin m a de no reply, but sa t wr a pped in h is own mela nch olyreflections. Th e oth ers enga ged in conversa tion on th e pa ssingpa norama . Spirit a fter spirit a scended a s freed from ea rth — some

on, LIFE IN THE erm ns . 83

bla ck a s nigh t, oth ers brigh t a s a sunbea m in a cloudless morn

rng. Between th ese extremes were alldegrees of brigh tness a nd

A female figure a rose from a mong th e brick walls,a nd be

h olding th e da zzling ligh t of th e Society, sh e ca me towa rd th em.

Sh e wa s a la mode, with life powers cra mped by a slender wa ist,one h alf th e size of th a t wh ich na ture would h a ve given h er , a ndh er mind disea sed by stimula nts a nd poisons. Sh e wa s bewil

dered by th e new sta te of th ings, a nd wish ed a n expla na tion of

th eir mysteries. Sh e a pproa ch ed, a nd with a fa sh iona ble greeting, cold a nd formala s ma th ema ticalprecision could ma ke h er

,

sh e inquired wh ere sh e wa s .

“ In h ea ven !” wa s th e response.

In h ea ven wh y th is does not a gree with my belief !”wa s th e

surprised response.

Th is is h ea ven, let your belief be a s it ma y !”

replied th e

Sa ge.

Hea ven is a pla ce of enjoyment ; but h ow do you enjoy your

selves in th is a iry region !”

By tr a veling a nd working.

By working !”

sa id sh e in th e utmost scorn ; working inh ea ven ! I never did work, a nd a s for tra veling, it wa s alwa ys

too much trouble.

”

Tr a veling is very plea sa nt,” interrupted Hero ; I ta ke grea t

plea sure in roa ming th rough th e groves a nd a mong th e flowers.”

Th a t ma y be true for you, but it is not for me. Wh en you

wish to become oth erwise th a n a s you now a re, wh a t doyou do i”

Work.”

Work ! I never worked, a nd I never will. W h y, vulga r

people la bor ; th e refined do not. I won’t work— never I”

It is with yourself to ch oose,

”calmly replied th e Sa ge you

ca n not be h a ppy in indolence, wh ile a round you a re th ose a s in

tellectual, a s good, a nd a s refined a s yourself, performing th e ta sks

SCENES IN THE SPIRIT-WORLD

a ssigned th em. You ca n not be contented, or a dva nce. Recall

th is r a sh sentence, a nd supply its pla ce with a will.”

“Never,never ! I decla re I won’

t work ; indeed, it would soil

my h a nds, brown my complexion, a nd injure my bea uty.”

T h a t m a y be true but your h a nds a re no better th a n th ose

of th e millions wh o la bor , a nd if your complexion were browned,your bea uty would be improved by h ealth .

”

“Health !” excla imed sh e ; h ealth ! indeed th a t is none of

mine, unless it be wretch ed h ealth . Such misery a s I endure is

almost enough to ma ke life a burden— such terrible pa ins, piercing me like needles. Don

’t talk to me of h ealth , disea sed a nd

dying a s I a m.

”

You h a ve alrea dy pa ssed th e ch a nge called dea th ; allwill

become h ealth y in th e cycles of eternity. Sick a s you a re, you

never ca n be better untilyou la bor .

”

I won’t work

You willbe obliged to recallth a t foolish decla ra tion. Ar e

you not a sh amed to rema in idle wh ile allsur rounding na ture is

a t work ! You a re a consumer . You must ea t, drink a nd wea rr a iment, wh ile for th e la st th irty yea rs you h a ve producednoth ing. You a re to live th rough allfuture time ; but a ccord

ing to your pr esent determina tion, you never willproduce a ny

th ing. On ea rth — th a t grea t bedlam benea th — pursua nt to esta blish ed conventionalrules, you could use th e ea rnings of a h undred

bro th ers a nd sisters, giving in return no equivalent, a nd ca using

th eir fa milies to live in wretch edness a nd woe. Th ere th e poor

ca n be ma de sla ves, toiling nigh t a nd da y for th e support of idlem a sters a nd mistresses. Th ere, th ose wh o toilmost r eceivelea st,eking out a life ofwa nt ; wh ile th ose wh o toillea st receive most,sleep on down, sup from silver dish es

,consuming a n endlessnum

ber of useless luxuries,wh ile th ousa nds a re living in destitution,

a nd a re obliged to expose th emselves to th e winter ’s bla st. You

h a ve entered a new sph ere of existence. Here th e la ws of righ t

86 SCENES IN TEE SPIRIT-WORLD ;

N0 ; allI know is to live, a sking no questions .

Th a t is a s much a s th e blind devotees of th e world know.

Th ey understa nd noth ing ofma nh ood th ey a re in th eir infa ncy.

Th us you h a ve wa sted yea rs in th e a ccumula tion of useless

worse th a n useless— knowledge. Ma n studies to eleva te h imselffor a few

.

da ys on ea r th . He a cquires knowledge to th a t effect,

a nd not for eternallife. Th e sp ir it is neglected a nd crush ed to

ea r th . Th ey send th eir ch ildren to th e prima ry sch oolto pre

pa re for th e college ! Stra nge th a t th e future is not provided forYou a re totally, totally unprepa red for th e unseen realities beforeon.

”

YI

i

know I a m. Let me go ba ck ! Ah , I must go ba ck to ea rth .

I ca n’t sta y h ere. Wh a t sh allI do i Ah

,h ow I wish I could

go ba ckYou a re wish ing fo r a n impossibility ; you h a ve entered a

new life, a nd must submit to its conditions.

If I sta y h ere I willbe obliged to la bor, a nd you know th a tI do not know h ow.

”

Th ere is a n eternity before you in wh ich to lea rn.

But th ere is no one to tea ch me.

”

Th ere is a circle of th ose like yourself,striving for eleva tion,

a nd to th em I direct you.

”

A circle — allstra ngers a nd I becoming a pupilin a work

sh op ! I won’t do it ! I’llgo ba ck ! I won

’t workl”

At th is moment, a n infa nt spirit, conducted by one long inth e Sph eres, a rose a bove th e smoke a nd dust of th e city. Withalmost a screa m of deligh t, th e lady spirit flew towa rd th em

a nd cla sped th e infa nt in h er a rms. Sh e th en came ba ck to h erformer position in a tr a nsport of j oy, excla imingI don’

t wa nt to go ba ck now. My ch ild is with me. Poor

th ing ! so delica te, pale a nd unwell! Sh e h a s troubled me eversince sh e wa s born. I expected h er to die, but wh ile on ea rth

I drea ded th e event wh ich now gives me so much j oy.

”

on, LIFE IN THE SPEEEES. 87

Yes, sh e is a delica te th ing— nu offspring of your infringement of orga nic la ws a nd th e sa cred principles oflife. Sh e is a

fitting emblem of th e viola tions of ea r th . Delica te a nd unwell,indeed ! How could it be oth erwise wh ere th e la ws of h ered

ita ry descent preva ila nd mould th e ch ild a fter th e th ough ts of

th e moth er ! Wh a tever th ough ts a re excited or depressed inth e moth er, willa ppea r in th e sa me sta te in th e ch ild. Wh en

willmankindloa nth a t th e development of th eir offspring dependsupon th emselves, a nd th a t it is a s possible to rea r ph ilos0 ph ers,sta tesmen, a nd poets—minds h a ving th e ca pa bilities to a rouse

a world— a s such mentaldwa rfisw such poor, imperfectly-formed

You a re a noth er fitting emblem of ea rth’

s errors. Fa sh ion

h a s distorted your form,ch a nged your ma nners a nd your wh ole

bong . God ma de you for h ealth ; you h a ve striven to disobeyh is la ws , a nd h a ve bent before th e silly force of prej udice a nd

conserva tism. Look a tyourself, a nd compa re yourselfwith Hero,wh om Na ture ma de. Bea utifula s your form wa s th ough t to be,

h ow ugly and h omely wh en compa red with one wh o h a s obeyedNa ture’

s la wsl”

Don’t la ugh a t me,

”sa id sh e, piteously.

“ La ugh a t youl— never ! I pity you, a nd your ch ild I pitystillmore. Sh e is a copy of allof your defects a nd of none of

your virtues. Th is is th e result of your viola tion of ma r ria ge

la ws r th e offspring of th ose wh o a re uncong'

enially joined ta ke

th e ba d qua lities of both pa rents in th eir aggra va ted sta te. In

truema rr ia ge it is th e reverse. Ah , men a nd women of ea r th !

a tremendous responsibility rests on you, from wh ich you ca n

not esca pe. Th e destinies of th e future genera tion a re in yourh a nds . Send not into th e world such miser a ble orga niza tions,

with but h alf th e life th ey sh ould possess'

,disea sed a nd suffering

from th e effects of your continualviola tions. Th ink of th ese

th ings wellbefore you ta ke th e responsibility of developing a n


immor talbeing into th e world ! Look a t your ch ild th ere !

its dea th wr itten in vivid h ues on its countena nce, imbecility of

intellect in its va ca nt eye, a n insta bility of purpose a nd a deficient

mor ality in th e contour of its h ea d ! Str a nge you sh ould be

come so nervous on a ccount of h er illness, wh en you took so

little ca re in h er embryonic development Str a nge !”

Not str a nge.

”

!Th e moth er spea ks now, sh e spoke not th en).How could I do better , considering my ignor a nce a nd th e evils

with wh ich I wa s surrounded i” a sked sh e, in a pallia ting tone.

Beca use ma n is surrounded by evilcircumsta nces, h e sh ould

not‘cea se to strive to overcome th ose circumsta nces. He h im

self is th e grea test circumsta nce. Let h im strive to ch a nge

h imself ; th en willallconditions put on a new a spect, a s cloudsch a nge th eir color in th e setting sun. He sh ould not sit down

compla ining of ba d circumsta nces, but ta ke h old ma nfully, a ndwork h is wa y upwa rd out o f th em into th e ligh t. Does th e

m a riner , out on th e wide ocea n, compla iningly sit down in imbe

cility wh en th e storm brea ks over h im a nd th e billows da sh

a t h is feet ! Assuredly not ; but h e strives to overcome th e

externalconditions by th e prepondera nce ofmentalvigor . Th us

sh ould ma n strive on th e sea of h uma n life— strive ever to over

come a nd conquer . Welldo I know your condition wa s a nyth ingelse th a n envia ble, for th e best situa ted a re ba d enough . Here,in th is little being, beh old th e result.

”

Is sh e to bea r fuy sinsl” a sked th e moth er, in a gita tion.

Not your sins, but th e r esults of th ose sins ; a nd th e punish

ment recoils ba ck upon yourself.”

Th is is injustice,” sa id th e a gita ted la dy. My poor Isa bel

to suffer for my crimes ! I ca n not bea r th e th ough t of it. I h a d

r a th er suffer a th ousa nd-fold th a n h a ve h er suffer for a single

h our . It is unjust !”

Not so ; it is but th e extension of th e grea t pr inciples of

equity wh ich lie concealed in th e depth s of na ture. It is neces

on, LIFE IN run srnnnns. 89

sa rily th e result of infringed la w. With out th is punish ment th ela ws would be useless. Pa in is th e police a nd sa fety

-

gua rds set

along th e wa y to drive us ba ck to th e righ t pa th , If not for its

influence we migh t go off on some ta ngent a nd never return.

So we a re compelled to do pa rtly righ t. W e oscilla te with in

given limits. Th us you perceive infinite justice in th e punishments Hisla ws inflict.”

“ Talk of justice to me wh en I see my ch ild crush ed a s a n

opening flower by its iron swa yl”

Yes, I would talk of justice

”

to you, th a t you need not sinkyourself under new viola tions. Your feelings a re overwrough t,a nd distort your rea son. Rememberest th ou th e noble a ncient

wh o ga ve h is eye to sa ve h is sons !Th en th e pa rent spoke.)“ Seek

'

not to ta ke th is punish ment upon yourself, for you willh a ve allyou ca n bea r with out more.

”

Ca n I not retrieve th e errors‘

by wh ich I h a ve brough t th ismisery on h er i”

You know th ere is.

a la w of progress th a t willrelieve you.

And is it possible for little Bellto become h ealth y a s oth er

ch ildren i”

Possible— but a”

long time must ela pse before th is canbefully a ccomplish ed. Na ture once crush ed recovers slowly a nd

with grea t effort.”

If it is possible, I am h a ppy ; a nd a joyfulr a dia nce oversprea d h er countena nce. Ca n not I do someth ing to a id h er

recovery 2”

“You can work. Th is, for th e time, willbe your field of

la bor . You sa id you would not la bor. You mus t.toilh ere, or

your ch ild willpa ss a ges in th e sph ere jwh ere you now beh old it.”

If I ca n do a nyth ing to eleva te my ch ild, I willwork nigh t

a nd da y continually.

”

I sa id you must work. You a re now willing to do so. If

you h a d expended one-h alf th e la bor on ea rth th a t you will

9 0 SCENES IN THE ermrr-wouw ;

be obliged to exert h ere, your ch ild would be very much superior

to its present sta te. You th us perceive Na ture is a gra nd sch eme

of compensa tions, a nd all, sooner or la ter, must perform th e

ta sks a ssigned th em.

”

“ I a m willing— willing to la bor to er a dica te th e evils I h a ve

enta iled upon my dea r , dea r Bell.”

Spea k not r a sh ly, for centuries must intervene before youh a ve a ccomplish ed wh a t you migh t h a ve done in a few yea rson ea rth .

”

Th is a nnouncement ch illed h er courage, a nd sh e wa s verymuch p a ined, but it wa s for a moment only. Her woma n’

s

na tur e, crush ed a s it wa s,a rose a bove selfish ness

, and sh e ex

cla imed“No sa crifice is too grea t for my ch ild. I h a ve ca used h er to

enter existence a s sh e is ; I feelth a t it is my duty now to ma ke

a tonement by instructing h er .

”

Ca n you instruct h er wh en ignor a nt yourselflNo, I h a d not th ough t of th a t. My God, h a ve mercy ! I

h a d a brigh t vision of h appiness, but it h a s fa ded a wa y— goneforever l”

Moth er , with th y loved ba be, h ow feelest th en wh en it is

sna tch ed from th y embr a ce ! Canst th ou feelh er h ea rt’s pannTh en th ou knowest h ow a gonizedwa s th e moth er in th e sph eres,regretting th a t sh e h a d not lea rned someth ing usefulwh ile a

mortal.

Sister , sa id Hero, sooth ingly sister , it is not a s da rk a s it

seemeth . Th ere is h ope. If you ca n not instruct your ch ild,th e circle to wh ich I willconduct you willrej oice to a ssist you.

”

Can I be with my ch ild 1”

Yes, sister , you willdo allyou ca n to instruct it wh ilelea rn

ing yourself. You willbe h er guide, a nd procure such a ss-t

a nce a s you desire. I willconduct you to th a t circle, a nd th en

lea ve you.

”

on, u rn IN r a n srnnnns. 9 1

But sh allI find friends th ere a sked sh e, in grea t anxiety.Th e spirits of th is pla ne a re allfriends to ea ch oth er. W e

know no h a tred or revenge. Th e a nimalities a re for th e lower

gra des .

”

Th ey pa ssed a wa y, a nd a r rived a t th e mentioned circle. Hero

introduced h er to th em,a nd th e a ffectiona te ba nd pressed a round

h er, ea ch striving to ma nifest th e wa rmest friendsh ip. Th e

worldly la dy wa s a worldly la dy no more. Sh e a scended from a

worldling to a superior gr a de of society.

Rea der , we willlea ve h er h ere, toiling in th e pa th of a scension,la bor ing to era dica te h er own er rors a nd th eir fr uits in h er ch ild.

Th e spirit a dva nces compa r a tively fa s t under such influences . If

once th orough ly convinced of its errors, it ca n a rise with ligh t

ning speed. Th e a tmosph ere of love in wh ich th e h igh er mind!

dwellis fa vora ble for progression, a nd mind is developed with a

r a pidity ma n ca n not conceive.

9 2 SCENES IN THE e nI'r -wouw

0 HAP TER XII

r a n r oa sm N m 1) DESPISED .

Ma ry—Sh e loves a nd dies, wh ile th e world j ostles on, unh eeding h er sorrows—Th eybury h er form benea th th e old church-ya rd willow—Her sighs mingle with th e wa llof its swa ying br a nches—As sh e sits down on h er own gra ve, a n a ngela ppea rs—Th o

words of th e Sa ge— Th e world wa nts cha rity.

BEFORE th e ba nd h a d finish ed discussing th e idea s of th e la st

ch a pter,a brigh t spirit ca me nea r th em— a female, wh ose ga r

ments were of grea t purity, but over wh ose countena nce rested

th e sh a des ofgrief a nd regret. Sh e saluted th e group with a lowbow,

for th eir da zzling brigh tness sh owed th a t th ey were 0

wisdom a nd purity. Th ey returned th e salute, evidently to h er

grea t surprise.

W h y so a stonish ed !” a sked th e Sa ge.

“We wouldnot mer

it our present position if we ga ve not to th e lowest due respect.W h y so sad ! So good a mind a s yours sh ould never besh a ded.

”

Ah , noble sir , I a m sa d,a nd more th a n sa d ; I am in woe

a nd misery . My h ea r t is bursting with its secret grieW h y is it th a t one so fa ir a nd pure sh ould be th us trou

bled !”

Callmenot pure th ewords burnmy br a in. I am misera blebeca use I a m not pure.

”

“ Wh a t h a ve you done to sta inyour purity or make you sa d 1”

Ah,it is a sa d tale— one wh ich sh ould rema in a secret from

a ny but th ose a s brigh t a nd pure a s you . I wa s a h a ppy girl.Th e daywa s but a round ofh a ppiness. I sa ng in th e old forest

9 4 soENEs IN THE SPIRIT-WORLD

ma n I th ough t I ma rried, I ma rried not. It wa s a sh am, a nd

th e priest wa s a priest for th e occa sion. I wa s des erted, left in

th e h ea rtless world, despised a nd scorned. Of th e ma ny friendsI h a d previously, not one rema ined in th e h our of my a dversity.

Th ey pa ssed me with out recognition, wh ile scorn mantled th eir

lips. I h a d no friends, no society— noth ing but enemies wh o

h a ted a nd despised me !Oh , it is fea rfulto live in th e world th us -to feelcontinually

th e jeering ta unts of th ose once pretending to be friends ! A

fea rfulth ing— one wh ich my frame could not bea r , a nd I sa nk

to rest. A kind moth er wh o h a d been my support wh ile Ilived,h a d me buried benea th th e fa mily willow in th e ch urch -ya rd, a ndpla nted flowers over my gra ve. I wa s th ere wh en sh emoistenedth em with h er tea rs, a nd I wh ispered to h er , “Ma ry lives withth e a ngels.

” Th e delica te breeze wooed th e drooping willow,rustling to my th ough ts, a nd blowing ba ck th e tresses from mymoth er

’s brow, revealed th e ca re-worn fea tures a nd th e tea rful

eye. Oh , I wa s sa d, sa d ! I wa s tra nsla ted into a new world,

ofwh ich I knew noth ing. I sa t down on my own gr a ve, benea thth e willow, a nd 0 wh a t sorrow I endured ! I sa t for a long timewra pped inmy grief, not da ring to stir for fea r of encounteringsome one wh o wouldla ugh a t or scorn me, wh en a female came

nea r me, with th e most bea utifulexpression of countena nce Iever beh eld. Perh a ps I th ough t so beca use it wa s th e fir st spiritI ever beh eld. Sh e took me by th e h a nd, r a ised me up, sa yingin th e sweetest voice, wh ose melody I yet h ea r :

Be ch eerful. Let not such sa ddening th ough ts influenceyou.

You a re no more of ea rth . Hea ven is h ere with its joys.

”

“Oh,sa ynot sol

” I cried. I am a poor, despised th ing, withno one but my moth er to th ink or ca re for me.

”

Th e inh a bita nts of th is world,”replied sh e, despise not th e

unfor tuna te, but pity th ose wh o grieve under a ny circumsta nces,

especially such a s yours. Th e people of th e world crush a nd

0 3 , LIFE IN THE e EnEs. 9 5

th en despise th e bligh ted flower . Th ere, prejudice ma y exist,

but it h a s no pla ce with a ngels . W e love th e unfortuna te for

th eir misfortunes. Ch eerfully, th en, sister , go with me .

”

I ca n not,”I replied. It willca use every one to look with

compa ssion on me. I ca n’t bea r pity. I wa nt to be rega rded

a s wh en a girlI pla yed in th e old forest, or sa ng to th e ba bblingbrook.

”

And th a t is th e ligh t in wh ich we rega rd you, not a s th ose

wh o commisera te.

”

Ah , th en I am h a ppy I” I excla imed in a flood of tea rs, a nd

flung my a rms a round my a ngel’s neck, a nd sh e returned th e

embra ce with th e sa me wa rmth .

Th en a ccompa ny me,”sh e sa id,

“ to th ose wh o willby th eir

love strive to remove every tra ce of grief from your mind.

” I

gra sped h er extended h a nd, a nd soon found myself in th e midstof a ba nd of brigh t beings, wh o ca me forwa rd with j oy on th eir

r a dia nt countena nces,a nd with embra ces ma nifested th eir friend

sh ip a nd love. I could not repress my tea rs ; th ey ca megush ingup from a n overflowing h ea r t. Th e ch a nge wa s too grea t. Th e

scorns of ea rth were stillfresh in my memory. Even now, grea t

sire, a sh a dowy recollection crosses my mind wh en I meet withth ese brigh t beings in my own inferiority, a nd I fea r th eir scorn,yet I never receive it.

”

Nor ever will. If a ny scorn you, th ey a re not worth y ofyour contempt, much less your rega rd. Ea rth ’

s ch ildren h a ve a

grea t lesson to lea rn, a nd th a t is ch a rity for th eir fellows a nd re

ga rd for th eir feelings.

”

If one so eleva ted a s you despises me not, I willnot ca re foroth ers.

”

“ Never let th e th ough t of h ow men rega rd you enter yourmind a ga in. Blot it out by th inking h ow a ngels rega rd you.

You took a false step ; a nd wh o h a s not ta ken one false step !

9 6 SCENES IN THE SPIRIT-WORLD

And isa false step in one direction so much worse th an one in

a noth er !

Th e world rega rds it so .

Rudiments! ma n is governed by h is lowest fa culties. He sees

mistily th e principles of righ t. To sh ow you my a pprecia tion of

you, a nd to dispelevery doubt from your mind, I request you tojoin our circle a nd become one of us.”

I feelso benea th you, I ca n not. It is too grea t a privilege

to a sk.

”

You willconfer a fa vor on us allby doing so, and pla ce yourself in a position for r a pid a dva ncement.”

I ca n not express my th a nks to you by words.

Th is is th e reception th e broken h ea rt receives from th e a n

gels. Th eir discrimina tive powers a re used, a nd th e th ough ts

weigh ed in a n equita ble bala nce. Be ca refulth en, 0 ma n, h ow

you condemn a nd despise th e lowly.

9 8 SCENES IN r a n SPIRIT-WORLD

th eir va rious colors a nd disgusting forms. Ava unt, bloa ted sen

sualist a nd gourma nd ! Sta nd not so nea r , you suffoca te me with

your loa th some brea th . Your presence fills me with disgust.

I ca n not ga ze on th e bloodsh ot eyes a nd ulcerously-inflamed fa cewith out a sh udder .

Here a re beings cloth ed in r a ge, h a nging in ta ttered sh reds

a round th eir forms. All, alla s bla ck a s nigh t ! My pity is moveda t th e specta cle, and keeps me ga zing a t th e scene

,fa scina ted

with its ch a nging h ues. Th ere is no rest, no quiet, no tr a nquillityof th ough t or pea ce ofmind h ere. Allis a nimalexcitement a nd

its a ttenda nt suffering. Th ey wa nder a bout with out purpose or

design. Th eir errors keep th em from th e ligh t ; so th ey ca n notprogress, nor r a ise th emselves a bove th e levelof th e surfa ce of

th e ea rth . Th ey grope a bout in a loa th some a tmosph ere,from

wh ich it is almost impossible to rise. No,not impossible, for

th ose superior to th emselves descend into th is lower a bode a s

missiona ries,to tea ch th em th e wa ys of goodness a nd truth . Th ese

messengers, endowed with exalted ph ila nth ropy, ma ke th e gr

ea t

self-sa crifice with h ea rts overflowing for th eir erring broth ers.

Th ey tea ch th em th e pa th of righ teousness. I ca n beh old ma ny

descend, a nd th eir sh ining robes become more brillia nt by th econtr a st with th ose benigh ted minds. Th ey a re spea king on

reform. Th e h a gga rd fea tures a round th em become more gh a stlyin expression, a nd some a pproa ch th em,

scorning a nd cursing

th em in r a ge, a s th e Jews of old did Jesus th e Na za rene. But

th ey ca n a pproa ch only so nea r , a ma gnetism wa rding th em off

Th ey a re ch a ined, a nd sta nd listening to th e words of th e

a ngels, wh o pa int th e errors of ea ch in turn, h olding th e mirror to

ea ch one’s h ea rt. By turns th ey a re enr a ged a nd ch agrined. Now

th e a ngelfinish es, a nd, unloosed by th e la st sentence, th a t da rk

a udience move awa y, sh outing a nd cursing in th eir bitterness.

Ah ! a few h a ve sta yed. Th ere th ey sta nd, weeping in a gony ;th eir h ea rts h a ve been touch ed ; th ey see th eir errors, a nd wish

on, LIFE IN THE srm ss . 9 9

for th e truth . Th ey h a ve res olved to reform, a nd do not wish to

rema inwith th is da rk group. Th ey now a re going awa y withth e messengers. How brigh t th ey a ppea r ! To ga ze on th em

fills me with plea sure.

I h a ve a risen to a h igh er pla ne— th e sph ere of th e good a nd

j ust. Such a n exalta tion fills me now th a t I find words ina de

qua te to express it. Here is a n Eden of deligh t, with gorgeous

groves a nd fr a gra nt flowers, bea utifultrees a nd crystalstreams .

Th e colors a re resplendently clea r a nd vivid, th eligh t is soft a ndbrillia nt

,pa rta king of th e eth ereality I everywh ere observe.

Th rough out th e groves brigh t beings a ppea r , enga ged in th eir

va rious pursuits, medita ting or conversing, alljoyous a nd h a ppy.

I wish to rema in h ere forever , a nd mingle with th ese intelli

gences ; th e a tmosph ere exalts my soul. But I

must come ba ck to ea rth ; h ow I dislike th ose words ! Ea rth

looks da rk, drea ry a nd desola te .

”

Th e Sage th en controlled th e pen a nd wrote

I came h ere th is evening to instruct you. I h a ve given youth is vision th a t you migh t become impressed with th e opposite

conditions of spirit life. In th e first pa r t you recognize wh a t

willbe your position if you indulge th e ba ser fa culties a t th e

expense of th e moral. If you a re miserly— grind down

th e poor— s pecula te in blood a nd tea rs- a re revengefula nd

cruel if you ma ke gourma nds a nd dnmka rds of yourselves,

you must expect to find a h ome in th is da rk sph ere until

your grossness a nd crudities h a ve pa ssed a wa y. If you would

become a ngels of ligh t, a nd dwellin th e brigh t a bode la st described, you must be good, truth ful, ph ilanth rOpie— not from a

rega rd to youl; own h a ppiness merely, but beca use it is righ t

so to be.

Turn not a begga r from your door, th ough perh a ps h e ma ynot be needy. Better give to a h undred not needy th a n turn

one needy one a wa y.

100 sca rves IN THE SPIRIT-WORLD ;

Th is is th e h ellso vividly impressed on th e minds of th e

a ncient seers a nd cla irvoya nts , wh ich th ey supposed to be a la keof fire. You also h ere find h ea ven— h a ppiness of spirit. Wh ere

mind exists,it ca r ries th e ca pa bilities of eith er sta te in its orga ni

za tion. You need not look beyond th e gra ve for h ellor h ea ven ;th ey a re with you allth e time. Nor sh ould you desire to lea ve

ea rth ; you willbe none too wellprepa redwh en th e da y of ch a ngeoverta kes you, if you live

"

a n a ge. You ca n render your sph erea s bea utifula nd h a ppy a s ours. You ca n enjoy society a s well

on ea rth a s in th e spirit-world. If you enter th is life th inkingto better your condition, disa ppointment a wa its you , a nd you

excla im Ta ke me ba ckl— oh , ta keme ba ck to ea rth a ga in Th e

desire is suicidal, a nd sh ould not be indulged for a moment.

Th is is a bea utifulsta te ; so is ea r th . Ma n is crea ted to enjoyits plea sures, a nd wh ile h e is ma n h e sh ould not wish for a better

a bode. It is th e infa nt sch oolto prepa re th e mind for th e col

legs of eternity. Be pure a nd unselfish in allth ings, th a t you

m a y enter th is life prepa red to pa r ticipa te in its joys. You

willfind it th e grea test of objects to be prepa red a t dea th — one

wh ich few consider .

”

Q UESTION BY r rm Cra cLE . Willyou give us th e ph ilosoph yof your fligh t th rough spa ce, a nd tellus h ow you move fromworld to world

Ss cn. If it were not for th e refined eth er of spa ce, or , in

oth er words,if th e dista nces between th e pla nets were voids , it

would be a s impossible for us to lea ve th e ea r th a s for you .

*

Refined a s is th is eth er,so much so th a t you would callit im

m a terial, it is sligh tly denser th a n th e ma tter wh ich composesour forms. Th us being rela tively ligh ter , th e a ction of gra vitation is nea rly suspended, a nd th e rema inder is overcome by our

wills a ssuming a positive a ction. Th en we move wh erever we

Th e existence of th is eth er is proved by th e reta rded motion of

comets a nd of ligh t.

102‘

SCENES IN THE SPIRIT-WORLD

h our . Every moment of time is precious to us,a nd, if our ph i

la nth ropy send us to ea rth , it is a t a grea t sa crifice. Th e spirit

a dva nces by study. Th e more we lea rn th e more expa nsive our

minds become ; we h a ve our a spir a tions, our h opes a nd expecta

tions. We a rdently des ire to become eleva ted into th e brillia ntcircles a bove us. How we desire to sit down in th e groves of

th e sph ere a bove us - one da y’s journey nea rer th e omnipotent

God ! Th e visions from a bove a rise in our expa nding souls

bea utifulsurpa ssing expression.

I would th a t I could impress you fully with th e value of a

single h our of time. Wh a t ca n be done in th e h ours ! Th ere

is noth ing so ruinons a s th e wa ste of time. Th ough life is a n

eternity, th e moments count, a nd wield a potent influence on th ech a ra cter wh o wa stes or preserves th em.

”

CIRCLE . Would you h a ve us gra tify allour fa culties !

SAGE.~ Yes ; every fa culty h a s its a ppropria te function,

wh ich it sh ould be allowed to fillbut not exceed. Th e moral

fa culties a remonitors over th e lower , wh ile th ela tter give strength

to th e former . Th e mind is composed of a nta gonisms, wh ich

mutually compensa te ea ch oth er a nd prevent excessive a ction.

It is wrong for a ny fa culty to a bsorb th e wh ole energies of its

na ture from th e oth ers. Th e socialfa culties a nd a ffections sh ould

be dra wn out by th e intercourse with friends, but th eir cultivation sh ould not become th e end of life. Th e intellect sh ould be

cultiva ted, but not a t th e expense of th e ph ysical. Th e a nimal

orga ns sh ould be kept a ctive, but sh ould not infringe upon th eh igh er functions. Th e result of pure a ffections is to lea d ma n

into societies ; th eir ultima te effects willbe to form a ssocia tions,

communities, etc. It is a s wrong to destroy or neglect a s it is toimproperly excite th e ba salorgans. Th eir gra tifica tion with in

th eir prescribed limits is a s righ t asth e gra tifica tion of benevo

lence or friendsh ip. Th e doctrine wh ich tea ch es th e contra ry

OB, LIFE IN THE SPHERES.

na s descended from tr a ditiona ry va ga ries, a nd h a s‘ignor a nce

stamped upon it. You sh ould strive to h a rmonize allth e fa culties, functions a nd powers of your entire being, a nd, th ough youma y not wh olly succeed, you ca n a pproxim a te th e perfection of

a HARMONIALMAN. Adieu l”


C H A P T E R X I V .

A VISIT TO A DISTANT GLOBE.

Th e ba nd visit a dista nt sun— Their flight through spa ce—Th e meeting— Discourse of

Chr ist—Its bea uty a nd gra ndeur—Description of Christ— Conversa tion— Song.

MARVIN, recovering from h is mela nch oly, proposed a visit to a

dista nt sun th ey sa w twinkling a s a point ofligh t fa r a wa y in th edim blue. Th e proposition wa s rea dily a ccepted, for allwish edto give h im a n oppor tunity to m a ke h imselfuseful, th a t h emigh t

feelmore a t h ome in th eir compa ny, a nd th ey th emselves lea rn

from h is experience. Upwa rd th ey a rose, th e ea rth a ppea r ing tosink from benea th th em,

wh ile th ey a ppea red to rema in sta tion

a ry. Th en, instea d of a grea t pla in bounded by th e h orizon, itcontr a cted into a sph ere, a nd wh en th ey a scended stillh igh er , it

a ppea red a ballsuspended in spa ce. Th e sun a nd pla nets underwent r a pid ch a nges. Wh en th ey rea ch ed th e confines of a pla net

’s a tmosph ere, allth e oth er orbs lost th eir r a ys or scintilla tions,becoming, to th eir vision

,a s balls or points of ligh t. Th e sun

a ppea r ed of brillia nt wh iteness a nd purity, wh ile th e sta rs

a ssumed va rious h ues, owing to th e decomposition of ligh t in

th eir own a tmosph ere. Th e sun, in th eir r a pid fligh t, became a

mere point of ligh t, a nd th en expired beh ind th em in th e in

compreh ensible spa ce over wh ich th ey h a d tra veled. Th eypa ssed a wa y th rough a n Opening a mong th e worlds , a nd sa w a

brigh tening orb of mellow r a dia nce. To th is th ey directed th eir

course. Every moment, a new universe sprea d a bove, benea tha nd a round th em,

redolent with Na ture’s gems. Worlds, suns


th em ma tter depends for its existence, a nd, by th em,it derives

allits proper ties of form,extension, indestructibility, etc.

* Ask

wh o m a de m a tter . I ca n not a nswer oth erwise th a n by myrea son a nd th e rea son of th ose a bove me, wh ich informs me th a tin some of its numerous forms it h a s alwa ys existed.

”

“ If th is be true, a s it wa s governed by th e same la ws, wh ydid not Na ture a ssume h er present form a t first i

”

Sa ying th e laws of th e universe were co-eternalwith m a t

ter,is not a ffirming th a t th ey allbega n th eir a ction a t once.

Ma tter wa s subject to development, a nd wh en th e conditions

were not fa vor a ble to th e a ction of super ior influences, it rema inedin a low a nd nega tive sta te. But, h owever low it ma y be, it

willin time be prepa red for th e a ction of th e h igh er . Th us we

ma y rega rd th e universe a s a ma ch ine governed by h igh er a nd

h igh er principles, a s it is polish ed a nd perfected. In every new

pla ne m a tter rea ch es, it modifies th e previous code of la ws, but

does not set th em a side. Wh en th e necessa ry condition of life

from motion is fulfilled, life is gener a ted. Ea ch era , ea ch a ge

th a t worlds pa ss th rough , modifies th e a ction of previous laws,

a nd new forms of life, peculia r to th ose er a s, a re produced. To

demonstr a te wh a t were th ose conditions, look a t our world.

Ea ch a ge h a s its types,found in no oth er ; a nd its present

forms a re living witnesses of th is bea utifula djustment.”

You spea k a s th ough‘la w were th e primemover ofNa ture,

Th e term “ la w ” is bor r owed fr om th e civilcode, a nd used in th is

sensebeca use th e a ction it r epresents a ppea r s superficially to be simila r

yet th ere is a v a st differ ence. As used in th iswork it mea ns a pr inciple

qf na tur e, blended in a nd confounded with th e existence of ma tter . It

is not used in th e civilsense in th e lea st, a nd, if it were possible to use

cor rect terms, it would be best to th r ow th eword“law entirely a side.

By“ la w wemea n a n a ttr ibute of ma tter wh ich compels it to pur sue

a cer ta in cour se, conditions being simila r , to effect a given r esult. Th us

a stone falls to th e ground if noth ing prevents it ; if susta ined or h eldupby superior force, it does not fall. Cir cumsta ncesmodify everyth ing.

on, LIFE IN THE SPHERES . 107

wh ile I alwa ys rega rded it a s a code of a ction by wh ich a n

intelligent a gent a cted, a nd not in th e sense in wh ich you a ppea rto use it.”

You spea k th e idea s of th e world. You wellknow th a t allour idea s a re compa ra tive. We ca n rea son only by compa rison ofca uses a nd effects. Th e a ction of wh a t is called ‘

a na turalla w’

is simila r to wh a t is called a code of a ction,’a nd, h ence, to ex

pla in th e subject to rudimentalcompreh ension, th e term‘la w h a s

been employed, but not in th e sense inwh ich you ta ke it. As I before sta ted, th e existenceofma tter depends upon certa in principles,a nd th us it must h a ve ever been, for, if itlost a single one of th ese,it could not h a ve existed. Under th e va rious combina tions a nd

conditions of th ese, origina te its properties a nd a ffinities, wh ich

ma ke it just a s ea sy for it to become a living form a s to a ggre

ga te ih th e crystal. Th us you perceive th a t Ima ke no overrulingcode of a ction,

’ but wh en I sa y ma tter existed from eternity, Icompreh end allits properties, conditions,

”etc.

Th e subject a ppea rs pla in in th e newligh t inwh ich you present it. I wa s obliged to reject th e doctrine of necessityon th e

gr

ound urged a ga inst it by th e clergy.

”

I compreh end you— like th e ma jority of ma nkind, you were

willing to pa y th e clergy to do your th inking,wh ile you employedyour talents in a ma ssing wealth . I ca n not sumciently impressth e folly of such a cpurse.

”

“ It is true, too tr ue, I ga ve wa y to th e belief of oth ers, a nd

th ough t I could recognize th e existence of a n overruling power ,sepa ra te a nd deta ch ed from Na ture.

”

Th e impossibility of th is dogma I h ope you willsee. It is

suppor ted only by th e flimsiest falla cies. For insta nce, th ey a sk,Is it not impossible for th is bea utifulcrea tion wh ich sprea ds

a round us,to h a ve come by ch a nce i

’ No one believes it

came by ch a nce ; but I would a sk wh ich is most rea sona ble, t h e

idea of th e universe being born from ch a nce- pure, ungoverned


ch a nce—or of a Being so infinitely superior to it, to crea ting it

fi'om noth ing ; or , la stly, of its existingwith out crea tion ! But I

h a ve not sa id Na ture ca me by ch a nce, but from its own inh erent

principles. I ca n not spea k of th e beginning, I know noth ing of

th a t ; but of th e course of ma tter since th e beginning, I spea k

understandiugly.”

Th a t a ppea rs rea sona ble to me, a nd h a s th e force of

trut

Do you not,” interrupted Hero, feela peculia r a ttra ction

from h ith erwa rd.

I do,”replied th e Sa ge, a nd h a ve for some time. It ca n

proceed only from a n a ssembly of h igh ly-developed minds. Let

us proceed th ith er .”

In a few moments th ey were in th e presence ofexalted minds.

Th ey were listening to th e a ddress of one of th eir number , wh owa s recognized by th e Sa ge a s Ch rist. Wh ile on ea rth , h e wa s

a perfect ma n— h is body a modelof symmetry, h is mind h a rmonious a nd pure, h is th ough ts bea utiful, h is speech eloquent,simple a nd gra nd. Ch rist in th e sph eres is a modelof a ngelicperfection. If h is form on ea rth wa s th a t of a perfect ma n, itwa s now th a t of a perfect a ngel. If h is mind wa s for ma n a

model,it wa s now a modelfor spirits. If h is speech to ma n

wa s eloquent a nd truth ful, it wa s now gra nd a nd sublime. As

th e a ssemblywere a rra nged, h e occupied a sligh tly eleva ted position, like a s h e did in h is a ncient temple— a temple wh ose loftyca nopy wa s th e blue a rch of h ea ven. He discoursed to m a nyea ger listeners. Some of th em were stillimbued with th e falseidea s th ey h ad formed of h im a nd h is doctrines wh ile on ea rth ,

a nd efforts were used to era dica te th em. He-first spoke of th eidolworsh ip of ea rth ’

s ch ildren, a nd compa red th em to h ea th en

isla nders, with wh om a sculptor left a bea utifulma rble sta tue.

Wh en h e wa s gone th ey h ung bea ds a nd tinsel, sh ells a nd decor a tions over it, untilwh en, yea rs a fter , th e sculptor returned,


a s h is th rilling words swept over th eir h ea rt-str ings. He closed

by exh orting th em wh enever th ey h a d th e opportunity, to descend to th e lower societies a nd to ea r th , a nd tea ch th e doctrines

of Na ture. Th ey a ssented to th e truth of th is,convinced th a t

th ey owed th is duty to th emselves a nd th eir fellows.Now h a ve I seen Ch rist wh om I worsh iped a s God,

”sa id

Ma rvin, in bewilderment, a nd if ever a messenger ca me from

th e th rone of th e Grea t Intelligence h e is one.

”

I presume h e h a s dispelled allyour idea s of h is divinity.”

Truly h e h a s, a nd I ca n not ima gine h ow I could h a ve everbelieved so a bsurd a doctrine. I th ink I never did h a rmonizeth e th ree-oneness of th e Godh ea d, but th rew a mystery over it

,

wh ich I th ough t sa crilege to toneMa nkind cloth e th eir ignor a nce by th e a ll-compreh ending

term mystery,’wh ich is but a noth er name for ignor a nce.

”

Wh en th ey find a subjectba flling th eir powers of compreh en

sion th ey a re ever rea dy to excla im : It'is a grea t mystery, beyondth e ken of rea son, a nd it is sa crilege to a ttempt to revealit, for Godh a s concealed it from h uma n efl

’

ort. Ala s for h uma n ignor a nce,

crush ing th e millions down, down th e da rk a nd loa th some wa ys

of dea th ! Ala s ! for h uma n wea kness, gra sping th e sh a dow,

wh ile th e substa nce pa sses by th em unobserved.

”

“Wellma y you excla im th us, broth er ,”sa id Hero. Ala s !

for h uma n ignor a nce a nd selfish ness ; every one beh a ves th emselves superior to th eir neigh bors ; alla re willing to tea ch , a nd

none to be ta ugh t. I h a ve wept over th e'Sodom on ea rth . I

stillweep, pr a ying ever th a t th e m a rch of a ges willrelieve th e

down-trodden, a nd eleva te allfa r , fa r a bove th elevelof th e most

a dva nced minds now on ea rth .

”

Th e da y ofwh ich th ou Spea kest, sa id th e Sa ge, is close a t

h a nd. Its messengers a re alrea dy r a pping a t th e portals of

ea r th . Th e proph ets sa w its gr a y morning’s blush on th e h ori

zon of mind, with its refulgent coming. Th e gra nd illumina

on, LIFE IN THE SPHERES. 111

tion— th e millennium of mind— is a pproa ch ing on th e wings of

th ough t. Tyr a nny, a na rch y, misrule, sla very a nd false government willbe swept a wa y before its irresistible tide ! Th e sove

reignty of th e individualwillta ke th e pla ce of th ese ; th en sh all

th e love of wisdom walk forth in th e splendor of its morningbea ms.

”

Hero, sing a song to close our sojourn h ere, a nd th en we willta ke our swift course to our dista nt h ome i

”sa id Leon.

With a pa th os beyond th e conception of th ose wh o h a ve not

h ea rd a Spirit song in th e sph eres,sh e sa ng th e following, a s

nea rly a s th e la ngua ge ca n be rendered in th e Speech ofmor tals

Letus t a r ry no longer on th is fa r dista nt sun ;Our j ourney h er e ends, or mission is done

No longer th rough h igh a iry r egions to roam,

We willseek th elov ’d bewa re of our fa r -dista nt h ome.

We h a ve h ea rd th e sweet lessons of wisdom a nd gr a ce ;

We h a ve r a ptur ously ga zed on suns wh irling th r ough Spa ce

We h a ve seen th e br igh t groves of th e spir its a bove,Wh ose minds a r e perfected inwisdom a nd love.

N0 longer to wa nder th rough h ea ven’s a iry tide

No longer to ga ze on th ese scenes a s we glide ;Let us h ome to our bower s, wh er e genialsh owers

Awa ken new life in th e pla nts a nd th e flower s.”

112 SCENES IN THE SPIRIT-WORLD '

C H A P T E R X V

RE-UNION IN THE sp ra rr -wo a m .

Lucia n th e str anger comes ba ck to th e Portico dej ected, and to th e q uestions of th eSa ge rela tes a noth er episode of h is life—Ma ry- Th e union of spirits.

READER , do you remember th e stra nger wh o recounted h is

conventionalma rria ge to th e Society W e designa te h im by

th e name of Lucia n. As th e Society sa t benea th th e Grove h e

a pproa ch ed th em. Th e same ca re-worn expression ma rked h is

brow with pa infuloutlines, a nd th ere a ppea red in h is ma nner a

degree of nervousness, th ough h e str ove h a rd to concealit.

Th ou h a st returned, broth er , from th ey ea rth ly mission !I h a ve

,

”a nswered Lucia n, in mingled a ccents of sh a me a nd

sorrow.

Ha ve you fulfilled th a t mission i”

Speak not of it to me,”sa id h e spea k not of it to me !

How ca n I tea ch wh en I h a ve such sins resting on my sh oul

ders ! I ca n not sa y to oth ers, Do th is, wh en I h a ve done th econtra ry myself.

”

You spoke not of such disobedience wh en I saw you.

”

No, for I did not th en rega rd it a s such ;‘but wh en convers

ing with a circle, I saw my own ca se in one of its members.

Th e conviction burst upon my mind ; I th en sa w for wh a t I h a dsuffered so much , a nd recognized th a t punish ment a s just. Icould sa y no more oflove, wh en I h a d disrega rded its just la ws,a nd I fled awa y confounded. O migh ty Sa ge, a burning h ellh a s encompa ssed me ever since, from wh ich I ca n not esca pe !”

You a re guilty.

”

1 14 sca n s IN r a n SPIRIT-WORLD

suspicion of pa rents or neigh bors is immedia tely a roused. Ma r ry,or sta nd clea r , is th e motto . Th e individualth us deprived of

society, a s necessa ry a s brea th , rush es h a stily into ma rria ge without due consider a tion. Courtsh ip sh ould la st for severalyea rs,instea d of a s ma ny weeks , th a t ea ch ma y become th orough lya cqua inted with th e oth er . Th en it is wellto ma ke th e ties ofth e two souls stillstronger . Love is not a pa ssion, neith er is ittr a nsitory, but it is th e uniting of two souls into one ; a nd verilysuch unions willexist, growing stronger a nd more intima te,

wh en yonder mounta in sh allbe ch a nged to va por , a nd sh allh a ve pa ssed awa y. Th is is true ma rria ge— eu eternalunion of

soul, th ough t, a nd being. Th ere is no pa ssionalfeeling in it,th a t being of a n entirely seconda ry na ture. Animallove ma ybe subdued ; but spirituallove, wh en once drawn out, is a s la st

ing a s time,a nd develops more a nd more in th e spirit-world. It

seeks one object,a nd clings to it with th e grea test tena city

th rough life a nd dea th ; a nd puts forth its bloom a fter th ou

sa nds of a ges h ence, nea r th e th rone of th e omnipotent Mind.

Love is a delicious dr eam of th e soul, wh ich if righ tly directed

becomes a glorious reality in th e future. It a dds power to genius,a nd expa nds th e wings of th ough t to th eir utmost extent. N0

one is wh a t h e sh ould be if h e h a s not loved a nd been loved inreturn. But unreturned love, crush ed ba ck to its secret foun

ta in, stifled down by th e proud soul, is bligh ting, with ering a nd

destructive in its effects .

”

Oh th a t I knew MARY loved me still— th a t sh e did not h a te

a nd despise me 1”

You disowned yourMa ry in th e world, a nd th rough longyea rs scorned a nd despised h er .

I never despised h er ; I loved h er ; I th ough t it friendsh ip,but you wellknow I could not ma nifest th a t in th e jealous worldwith out sca ndal, a nd wa s compelled to a void a ny intercourse

with h er .”

on, LIFE IN THE spnnnss. 115

You th row awa y h er love.

”

But I wa s led a str a y, a nd a fterwa rd compelled to do so . Iblamed h er not for th e course sh e took, nor despised h er for th eresult.”

Did you sympa th ize with a nd pity h er i

Ma y God bea r record th a t I did ; a nd h ow otten I h a vepra yed, th a t I migh t find h er a nd tellh er of my sorrow a nd re

penta nce for th e wrong I did h er !

W h y h a ve you not found h er before th is iI know sh e is in h ea ven, but I ca n not find a ny tra ce of h er

a bode.

”

During th is conversa tion h is eyes were ca st on th e ground, a ndh e a ppea red a s th ough guilty of a h einous crime, da ring not tolook up and meet th e sea rch ing ga ze of th e Ph ilosoph er. Th e

la tter now took Ma ry by th e h a nd, sa ying,Lucia n, h ere is th eMa ry you disowned, a nd crush ed by refus

ing h er love. Sh e forgives you all.”

Ma ry, wh o h a d eagerly listened to th e conversa tion, wa s now

so completely overcome, th a t sh e could sca rcely sta nd. Lucia n

ga zed a t h er a moment, a nd th en ca ugh t h er in h is a rms. Both

were una ble to spea k from th e violence of th eir emotions.

Lucia n recovered th e use of speech first, a nd with grea t efl’

ort

excla imed,

It is not for me to be th us h a ppy I I can not— ca n not a sk

Ma ry to a ccept my love. I am unworth y, a nd h a ve th rown ita wa y once ; sh e must despise me nowI

”

“Not th us,”sa id th e Sa ge ;

“sh ewillforgiveyou a nd forget th e

pa st.”

Spea k,Ma ry, speak— am I forgiven !Yes

, Lucia n, a th ousa nd times,”sa id sh e, in a sweet voice,

smiling th rough h er tea rs.

116 sca n s IN THE SPIRIT-WORLD ;

W e dislike scenes wh ere such nervous suffering is disclosed,a nd willth erefore dr aw th e curta in

, lea ving th e rema inder to th erea der

’s ima gina tion.

Th ere is no viola tion of spirituallaw wh ich meets so severe apunish ment a s th a t ofdra wing out th e confiding love of th e soul,a nd cr ush ing its expa nding bloom. We ca n not pa int th emiserya nd woe wh ich result from such conduct, in sufliciently vividcolors. Th e afl

'

ections expect a return ; th ey send out th eir ten

drils to twine a round some h uma n h ea r t, a nd if th ey find no

suppor t, th ey a re bent ba ck upon th emselves, a nd a re left desola te

a nd alone. It m a y a ppea r str a nge to you th a t love h a s a

simila r a ction in h ea ven ; but you must remember th a t h ea venis a pla ce of love— th a t one of th e supreme a ttributes of God is

unboundedlove,a nd th a t a ngels feelth e influence of th is fa culty

a th ousa nd-fold more th a n ma n. If so, it must h a ve a n object ;a nd h ence we find th ose wh o a re congenially united togeth er, a reunities

,a nd enjoy th e most perfect bliss.

Ca n you now tea ch m a nkind i”a sked th e Ph ilosoph er .

I feelfree to go now. No crime is on my brow. I h a ve j ustfound h ea ven ; its pea ce a nd j oy encompa ss my h ea rt ; I h a ve

been in th e opposite condition ever since I left ea rth . Th e

va ca ncy I felt in my mind is filled. I feelseconded by a noble

being, wh o, in time of need, willgive me a id. Conscience will

not a ccuse me now.

”

You ca n now a dd th is precept to your tea ch ings : Tea ch ers

sh ould follow t h eir own instructions, a nd not a ttempt to tea ch

untilth ey a re th emselves compa r a tively pure.

’

I sh allta r ry no longer with you , but take my mission on

ea

Go ; our pr a yers a re with you for your success.

1 18 sa ns IN r a n SPIRIT-WORLD ;

th rone of God. I h a ve done righ t, a s fa r a s possible, a nd h a ve

gone truth fully, to th e best of my knowledge.

Well, th en, you sh ould be rewa rded for your good deeds .

Come with me a nd enjoy th e fr uits of your good deeds.”

He conducted h im suddenly into th e midst of th e h igh est ao

ciety it wa s possible for th em to gra vita te to. Ha ve you ever

seen a rude boor conducted into th e presence of kings, wh ere

allth e fla sh ing treph ies of a court met h is a stonish ed ga ze i

Th en you ca n ima gine h ow th is spirit stood in th e presence of

th is society. It wa s composed of ph ilosoph ers a nd na tur alists,with lofty brows towering upwa rd in th eir effor ts to understa nd

th e mysteries of th e works of God, sitting in conversa tion on a h

struse subjects . Th e ligh t overpowered h is senses. Th ere wa s

noth ing in common with h im a nd th em . He could not compreh end th eir a ctions ; but in th e brillia ncy of colors wh ich fla sh ed

a round h im,th e forms h e sa w seemed a councilof th e gods met

in consulta tion over th e destiny of worlds, a nd h e wa s completelybewildered a nd confounded. He intuitively unders tood th a t

th ere wa s no enjoyment for h im th ere, a nd h a ppening to ca st h iseye upon h is ga rmcuts, in th e brillia ncy a round th ey were a sbla ck a s nigh t. Th is overpowered h im, a nd h is usually pa ssivesoulwa s excited to a ction

,a nd in agony h e excla imed

Oh ta ke me a wa y ! ta ke me awa y ! I sh allperish in th e intensity of th is ligh t. Ta ke me wh ere I a m equal

,a t lea st

, to

th ose wh o surround me 1”

Come with me, th en,”sa id Leon, ta king th e h a nd of h is com

panion ; you h ere beh old wh a t you a nd every oth er spirit a reca pa ble of becoming.

”

Th ey a pproa ch ed a society of th e same grade of th e a ged

ma n. Th ey were not of th a t sh ining purity of Leon, nor a s

da rk a s th ose described in previous ch a pters. Here wa s a mea n

wh ere pa ssive goodness resided. Th ey possessed not th e cues

getic qualities wh ich ca use crime, a nd were consequently good

on, LIFE IN m sr-sns. 1 19

not beca use of noble virtue, but beca use th ey h a d no inclina tion

to evil. Th ey crowded a round th em,knowing th a t a new mem

ber wa s to be a dded to th eir number , a nd th a nkfulth a t so developed a mind a s Leon

’s sh ould visit th em . Leon, wh en a bout

to depa rt, spoke a s followsYour goodness h a s been of a pa ssive ch a r a cter . So fa r you

never h a ve h a d a ny difliculty with a ny one. You h a ve alwa ysa greed with th e world. So th e Q ua kers strove to live. But Itellyou now,

th a t th is is not th e goodness th a t eleva tes ma n in

th e sph eres. It is no virtue for a person devoid of pa ssions to

be virtuous, nor for a person devoid of a nimalities to be good,for we ca n not mea sure th e goodness of th e ma n untilwe knowh ow wellh e governs h is ba ser fa culties , if h e possessed th em.

Th e morality h a ving noth ing to comba t, becomes dorma nt. Coutentment, or r a th er leth a rgy, is not th e la w of na ture. Every

th ing is striving a nd a spiring to a tta in a h igh er sta te. Th e

infa nt looks forwa rd to youth ; youth to ma nh ood ; old a ge to

th e spirit-world. He wh o sits down content a mid th e scene of

upwa rd strife willspeedily find h imself on th e retrogra de. You

sh ould not be sa tisfied with your presentlot, but strive to eleva teyour minds, th a t some time in th e a ges of th e future you ca n

compreh end th e condition of th ose wh ose presence h a s now so

blinded a nd confusedyou. Strivewith h oly a spira tions to a scendupwa rd forever , to th e compreh ension of finalca uses. Th e

sh a ded ga rments you wea r to-da y willgrow brigh ter to morr ow,

a s you become more a nd more eleva ted in th ough t, a nd a scend

h igh er a nd h igh er in purity.

”


C H A P T E R X V I I .

ADDRESS or THE SAGE.

Th e Ph ilosoph er finds a circle to whom h e ca n fully convoy h is thoughts—He th en a d

dresses them ou th e a ttributes ofMa n a nd Spirit W ha t willeleva te or depress in th espheres, Deity, cr ime, wretchedness , sla very of mind a nd body, th e true man, etcetc., going ra pidly over th ewh ole ground of reform, a nd pointing out th e duty ofma n.

Ir wa s a splendid evening wh en th e spirit ba nd ca me down

from th eir eth erealh omes to re visit th e scenes of th eir ea r th ly

life. Th e spirit, wh en it visits ea rth , feels like th e tr a veler wh o,a fter long journeyings, rea ch es th e pla ce of h is na tivity ; newplea sures a re a wa kened, a nd th e a ssocia tion recalls th e incidents

of rudimentallife. Th e Society pa used for a long wh ile, survey

ing th e fa milia r scenes a round th em in silence. Leon interrupted

th e stillness.

Th is scene ca uses a mela nch oly sensa tion to stealover me,wh ich I would gla dly th row off

,a ndyet it th rills my being with

indescriba ble emotions.

”

Mela nch oly is often a mournfulplea sure of a h oly ch a r a cter .

”

I wish I could experience its influence,”sa id Hero

,with a

smile.

Your ligh t h ea rt would be crush ed. But our mission is not

h ere ; let us fulfillth e object for wh ich we ca me.

”

Th ey moved on to a ma nsion, in wh ich a la rge circle h a d con

vened. Wh en th ey entered th e a tmosph ere th e'

Sa ge smiledwith sa tisfa ction, excla iming,I h a ve long desired to meet with such a circle, a nd for some


journey th rough spa ce. W e direct our course to a dista nt sta r,

beh ind wh ich no oth ers a ppea r . As we move onwa rd, points of

ligh t sta r t out from th e da rk ba ckground, a nd wh en we rest on

th e dista nt orb, th e dia monds of th e blue expa nse fla sh out to

welcome us th ere. Aga in we ta ke our fligh t to a pale, glimmer

ing point of fla me ; a ga in th e blue a rch is redolent with constel

la tions. Wh en we rea ch th e confines of one system,a noth er is

rea dy to fla sh out a nd welcome us. Th ere is no beginning, noend— allis one migh ty eternity of systems a nd forces.So with wisdom. Ma rch onwa rd in its pa th forever , a nd for

ever more is wr itten before you. Your pa st toilbut illuminesth e endless wa y, exh ibiting more clea rly its unima gina blelength . Th us wa s th e universe formed. No finite being ca n

compreh end its va st propor tions, or a rrive a t th e gr a nd a ttributes,th e FINAL CAUSES

,wh ich lie a wa y fa r down in th e depth s of

Na ture,a nd underlie a nd r a mify th rough out crea tion.

Th e m a tter composing our ea r th wa s very low a t first, a nd

wa s developed by degrees. Th e ga seous ocea n of th e beginningwa s th e necessa ry germ, combining allth e elements in its va pory

ma ss. Th e igneous nucleus,or center , wa s necessa ry to give th e

ea rth its globula r form,its diurnala nd yea rly revolutions, a nd

prepa re it for th e next sta ge, wh en th e wa ter condensed a nd

formed th e th ermalocea ns, wh ich boiled a s ca uldrons on a h ea ted

furna ce. Th e co alera clea red th e a tmosph ere from th e supera bunda nt ca rbon, a nd fitted it for th e support of life. Th e

sa uria n types of a nimals were th e representa tion of th e pecu

lia r combina tions a nd conditions existing wh en th ey flourish ed.

Th e ch alk forma tion freed th e ocea n from surplus lime— a o of all

a ges. Ma n came la st, beca use In h im a re combined th e essencesof th e ma terialworld— of zooph yte, fish , liza rd, reptile, bird a nd

bea st. Ma n’s br a in conta ins finer a nd h igh er ma terialth a n th e

brute’s, wh ich r a ises h im a bove th e instinct of a nimals . In h im

Na ture h a s a dded one more link to th e endless ch a in— h a s

on, LIFE IN THE SPHEBES . 123

formed th e key-stone of th e a rch of mind

,wh ich prevents th e

wh ole from falling, a nd sh e h a s th us given h im a n eternitybeyond th e gr a ve, th a t h is mind, h a ving a th irst for unboundedwisdom,

m a y h a ve a n eternity of time to seek it in. Th e per

fected spir it is th e end of crea tive Na ture. For it, th e ga seous

ocea n of th e beginning existed ; for it, th e igneous ballrolledth rough th e va st Spa ce for a ges ; for it, one form of life a fter

a noth er came, type following type, a nd degree succeeding de

gree in endless muta tions . Ma n is th e bud, th e spirit, th eunfolding flower ofNa ture, wh ich willgo on unfolding its powersuntilit rea ch es th e th rone of th e Omnipotent Mind.

Th us, you perceive, th ere is no end to th e a cquisition of wis

dom, a nd th ough th e wea ry soulpitch es its ca mp ea ch da y a

da y’s journey nea rer God, th e number of th ose da ys’ journeys a re

a s countless a s th e lea ves of th e forest, or th e sa nds of th e sea

sh ore. Ma rch forwa rd a s fa r a nd a s fa st a s you will, a nd you

need never specula te on th e consequences of a rriving a t a point

wh ere progression ends.

Dra w a circle a bout you tod a y, a nd to-mor row’s circle will

encompa ss it. Th e growth of th e soulis like th e growth of th e

tree, by consecutive circles, ea ch new growth encompa ssing all

th e rest. Th e soulis exogenous a nd endogenous in its growth ;

it grows not only from with in, but also from with out. Ea ch

a ge dra ws its circle a round allth ose wh ich a re pa st. You ma y

th ink coh esive a ttr a ction a grea t force— its Sph ere compreh en

sive— yet gr a vita tiondra ws its circle a round a ttra ction, a nd a th ou

sa nd forcesbeside ; a nd gra vita tion itselfis fa r from a fina lca use.

Some gia nt mind will, in th e dista nt future, stretch for th h is

h a nd a nd describe a circle wh ich willinclude gra vita tion a nd all

its a nta gonistic forces. You must lea rn to compreh end grea t

principles, a nd cla ssify fa cts. By observing isola ted insta nces,

you loose th e connection a nd become confused. Na ture is a

wh ole, a nd sh ould be studied a s such .


Men a re striving to descr ibe circles a round th eir predecessors.

Th e circle wh ich bounded th e mentalh orizon of th e a ncients

h a s become, a s it were, th e center , a point in th e circle of

to-da y, wh ile to-da y’s circle willbe lost in th e effor ts of th e

future. A circle wh ich ca n not be outgrown in a ges, exists only

in th e ima gina tion of unprogressed minds. Wh ith erwa rd tend

allth ese efforts ! Th ey tend to mingle in th e gr a nd circle of

OMNIPOTENT MIND. Th e men wh o dra w circles a round th eir

fa rms a nd cotta ges, a round th eir stores , th eir wa reh ouses, o r th e

countries to wh ich th eir sh ips go out ; th ose wh o circumscribe

th e r a nge of th ough t to th e ea r th , or in th eir effor ts a fter wis

dom include th e sta rry h ost in th eir migh tily-expa nded sph ereall

,alla re for th e sa me object- th e a dva nce ofmind in its effor ts

a fter th e una tta ina ble.

Th e sa va ge r ea ch es out into th e future sta te,a nd feels th e

presence of a supreme intelligence Oper a ting on h is undeveloped

fa culties. Th us h a s ma n progressed, by t h e effor ts of h is intu

itiou , in receiving impressions from th e OmnipotentMind. Th us

allr a ces,in wh a tever clime or country, h owever disa dva nta geously

situa ted, in every a ge, h a ve a cknowledged a n incompreh ensiblewisdom. From th is

,too, ea ch na tion h a s its own peculia r my

th ology. Even th e h alf a nimal,na ked sa va ge, on th e blea k

rocks of Pa ta gonia , h a s a glimpse of th a t Infinite Spirit wh omh e ima gines sigh s in th e evening breeze, a nd ech oes h is th under

ing voice in th e h oa rseness of th e m a d wa ves wh ich forever la shth e rock-bound sh ore of h is inh ospita ble olime.

Th e h uma n intellect h a s th e most a stonish ing

.

powers. It

gr a sps a sola r system a t a th ough t. It would exer t its powersa nd solve th e mysteries of th e Divine ch a r a cter . Th e unde

veloped mind feels th a t th e externalworld is controlled by a n

invisible force wh ich it ca n not compreh end. And from th is

a rises th e idea of th e cosmos, or universe, being a m a ch ine, with

a superior intelligence to direct its motions. Of th e ch a r a cter of

126 SCENES IN run SPIRIT-WORLD

nea th th e weigh t of a ges of superstition, th e h igh th ough ts a ndh oly a spira tions of our na ture willfla sh out like bea utifulsta rsfrom beh ind th e rolling clouds of th e a ngry storm . In olden

time I lived in a civilized la nd, a nd often to myself uttered th esentence

, Wh a t, a nd wh ere is God 3” Civiliza tion sent ba ck

its sullen ech oes in a h ost of a nswers ; individuals a nd cla sses

a ssa iled me for a sepa ra te h ea ring ; allwa s uproa r a nd con

fusion ; but a bove th e universaldin a rose th e voice of th e

priests, th a t God wa s a potenta te in th e h uma n form,dwelling in

a fa r-off sta r,sea ted on a n ivory th rone, with priests a nd a ngels

sta nding in va st numbers a round, forever Singing h is pr a ise. Th eydescribed h im to my mind a s a compound ofgood a nd evil, h a te,revenge, pride a nd a mbition. One th ing a ppea red self-evidentth a t none were sa tisfied, even with th eir own a nswers.

I wa ndered over th e sa nds of th e deser t, revolving th e grea tinquiry in my mind. A son of th e wild wa ste stood before me.

Here is a ch ild ofNa tu re, th ough t I ; h e ca n not be prejudiced toso grea t a n extent a s th e previous na med persons, by th e myth sof th eir fa th ers. In th is

,h owever , I wa s mista ken ; for none

a re a bove th e prejudice instilled into th eir infa ntile minds by th einstructions of th eir pa rents . For a moment

,free th ough t broke

th rough th e clouds wh ich h ung over h is mind, a nd Na ture spoketh rough h im

Beh old,”sa id h e,

“ th ese sa nds a re bordered with pla nts .

Th ey grow a nd give me sustena nce. In th eir growth I beh oldlife a nd wisdom , a nd, in proportion a s my mind expa nds, I beh old intelligence. Look a broa d over th is wa s te. See yondermoving pilla r of sa nd. God h a s moved h is brea th to do h is bidding. I feelh is presence in th e bro a d sunsh ine a nd in th e

serene nigh t. Th e sta rs reflecting th e dim sh a dows of th e wa ste

remind me t h a t h e is fa r off, yet nea r .”

Turning to th e India n, wh o pa sses h is life awa y ch a sing th edeer th rough th e forest , or pursuing th e bea r to h is den— wh o


dwells most with Na ture, a nd h a s never been led a str a y fromh er truth fulness— we present our bold inquiry. For a moment

h e is a m a zed a nd confounded,wh en h e excla ims

“ View th e m igh ty forest, th e birds ca roling in th e bra nch es.

I h ea r . h is voice mingling with th e wa ilof th e Spirits of myfa th ers In th e breeze. In th e ech o of th e th under h e speaks tome. Wh ere is h e ! You a re now in h is presence. He is everSpea king to you, for h e dwells in everyth ing, a nd is everywh ere.

”

Untutored ch ild of Na ture, from wh ence h a st th ou derived so

much truth ! Th eologia ns h a ve long striven to gra sp th y simpleexpla na tion, a nd fa iled. Preconceived opinions a nd tr a dition

exercise grea t influence over th e mind, a nd, alth ough fully convinced th a t th e Deity is a n intelligent principle,

*our th ough ts

willpersonify Him in th e ima gina tion. Rea son alone ca n set

th e m a tter righ t. So soon a s you personify a nd give God a

sh a pe, you circumscribe h is limits a nd power . So soon a s you

mea su re h im by ma n,in power or sh a pe, a nd th us bring h im

down to finite compreh ension, you ma ke h im a finite personage.

In th e la tter field much la bor h a s been performed in va in. You

must not compa re h im with ma n in th is wa y. Th e fa ct”

th a t

ma n sta nds a ppa rently a t th e h ea d of crea tion, is no evidenceth a t th ere ma y not be inh a bita nts on oth er pla nets differing en

tirely from h im in form, yet a s fa r exceeding h im in compreh en

sion a nd power of th ough t a s th e most a cute ph ilosoph er on th is

globe exceeds th e Hottentot wh o ima gines th e h orizon to be th e

bounda ry of th e universe. Th efinite ca n not compreh end th eInfinite. Th e idea of God’

s personality lea ds us immedia telyinto th e idea th a t h e is of th e h uma n form. Th e Ca uca

sia n th inks h e is a Ca uca sia n ; th e India n, 9. red ma n ; th e

Africa n,a bla ck ch iefta in ; a nd so to th e limits of intelligence,

wh ere God’s existence cea ses to be recognized. It also compels

Wewould refer to th e expla na tionof“law ” in a previous ch a pter .


th e a ssigning of a locality. If God is local, h e ca n not be

universal; h e must be finite, a nd not infinite. A finite beingca n not controla n infinite empire— th ence th ere would be sys

tems of worlds, with allth eir intelligences a nd forms, situa ted

fa r,fa r beyond th e controlof such a God. Th e grea t code of

principles crea ted th e ea rth in its present form,a nd so fa r a s th ey

a cted in cr ea ting, th ey now a ct in controlling. God is eternal;so a re th ese a ttributes. Th ey a re cc-eter ual, cc-existent with

ma tter, a nd ca n never be annulled or alte red. As m a n’s soul

a nd body a re one, so is th e Infinitemind a nd th e wh ole universe.

But you sa y th is idea of Deity willlea d to Pa nth eism. W h a t

if it does ! Ca n th ere be no truth in Pa nth eism ! I ca re notfrom wh ence truth is derived. I never trouble myself a s

to th e origin of a n idea . If r ea son a pprove it,I a m

sa tisfied. Pa nth eism m a y conta in some correct views. Eventh e lowest depth s of Ath eism res t upon some truth s. All

er ror begins in myth , a nd would be immedia tely condemned ifnot fo r th e few truth s upon wh ich it rests . Men wh o da re not

use a new tru th,for fea r of being styled infidel, a re in wa nt of

mor alcoura ge. Such a re willing to skim th e surfa ce, never da r

ing to go deeper th a n th eir predecessors a nd cotempor a ries .

But h ow ca n you worsh ip a principle, or a code of la ws !

If th e a ncients called th ose a ttributes ma nifested in Na ture byth e term God, a nd we now recognize in wh a t th is Deity consists,a nd if our devotion th us cea ses, it is no a rgument a ga inst our con

ception. Th is objection is simila r to th e plea for ignora nce, beca use th e lea rned do not feelth e sa me degree of a we a nd wonder

a s th e sa va ge wh en ga zing on th e fea rfultempest, or th e ro a ringca t a r a ct. If

,

increa se of knowledge destroys devotion, th en itsh ould be destroyed. But does it do th is Th e m a n wh o re

ga rds Deity a s th e Omnipotent Intelligence, willnot falldownwith blind zealor bigoted devotion— with fea r a nd trembling— a s

in th e presence of a n a ngry tyra nt. Perh a ps h e willh a ve no

1 3 0 SCENES IN THE SPIRIT-WORLD

th e h idden wa ys of th e Omnipotent mind. Th e field is open, a nd

th ough“ Infidel” willbe br a nded on allwh o pa ss th rough its

por tals, followers a re not wa nting. W h y h a s th e pursuit of th ena turalsciences alwa ys been th ough t da ngerous to th e mind !

W h y h a s ma terialism been sa id to be th e result ! Simply beca use

such investiga tion opens th e pa th to free th ough t— free communica tion with Deity.

God’s a ttributes a re revealed in Na ture

,a nd constitute th e

justice, benevolence, wisdom a nd love of th e externalworld, fromwh ich spring h a rmony a nd progression. From th ese ma n

a bsorbs th e a ttributes h e possesses. If th ey h a d not existed in

Na ture, th ey could not exist in h im. His idea s a re alla bsorbedin th is ma nner . His conception of ma th ema tics is derived fromth e precision h e recognizes in allth ings. He observes th a t ma tter pursues certa in fixed courses to a ccomplish given results

,a nd

h e calls th ese la ws} So of a stronomy a nd ph ilosoph y— all

idea s of wh ich a re derived from observa tion of celestiala nd ter

restrialmotions. So, too, of allscience. Na ture is th e “All,

”a nd

from h er crystalfount, mind a bso rbs a s much a s it wills,a nd still

th e clea r strea m flows a s bountifully a s before, in never-endingcurrents of truth , love a nd intelligence.

Hence, in allyour pursuits a fter knowledge, you willma keNa ture your text-book, a nd Rea son your guide ; a nd lea rn fromevery ba bbling brook, from th e m a jestic river, rolling its tr a nquilwa ters to th e ocea n in its sublimity ; lea rn from every mound,

towering mounta in, tumbling wa ter-fall, a nd fruitfulpla in. Th e

na me of a wonderfulintelligence is m a rked on every flower . Its

Signet-ring is impressed on every Sh ellof th e sea a nd on every

lea f of th e forest. Even every dew-drop conta ins a lesson of

crea tion. He wh o Sees not th is intelligence in sh ella nd lea f,is

blind. He wh o h ea rs it not in storms,a nd in th under

,is dea f.

Lawlies beyond th is, h owever .

os , LIFE IN THE SPHEBES. 1 3 1

He wh ofeels it not a round a nd with in h im,Spea king allth e time,

h a s not clea r intelligence to feel. Th us is Deity ever present,

a ddressing man a nd spirit from a ge to a ge. You sta nd foreverin th e presence of Jeh ova h . He is your tea ch er ; allyour mentality a nd mor ality a re a bsorbed from h im. How,

th en,Sh ould

you a ct ! Act true to th ose a ttributes. How you ca n do so, Iwillnow inform you : Ch a rity is th e ba sis of grea tness. P ur e

Ch ristia nity clea rly tea ch es th is— yet few Ch ristia ns h a ve suffi

cient ch a rity to cover a multitude of sins.

You prea ch Temper a nce a nd Abolition, yet you sh un th e

drunka rd a s you would conta gion, a nd th e negro , wh om you h a veso sh a mefully wronged, with disgust. You a re a ga inst ca pitalpunish ment a nd th e ba rba rous a buses of th e criminal. W h y do

you not use allyour influence to a bolis h th ese a buses ! Let your

words a nd deeds be consistent.

If you were in th e circumsta nces of th e drunka rd, Sla veh older ,or criminal, you would a ct a s th ey .do. Considering th is

, you

sh ould h a ve ch a rity for crime in allits forms.

Th ere a re th ousa nds of poor in your cities— in every town a

few. How ca me th ey poor ! Let th e ca pitalist a nd monopolist,

th e sa va ges of society, a nswer .Th e infa nt must tr a velth e sa me roa d— must go over th e sa me

ground h is pa rents h a ve tr a veled for th ese th ousa nds of yea rs.Th e roa d is a bea ten tr a ck, a nd ea sily followed ; h ence, under

fa vor a ble circumsta nces, a t th irty th ey h a ve tr a veled over th ewh ole va st spa ce. But one ma y be h indered, or entirely stoppedon th e wa y, a nd th en h e becomes a sa va ge, a ba rba r ia n, or

h alf civilized, a ccording to th e point h e rea ch es before en

countering th e obstruction. W h o a rrests th e upwa rd journeyof th e ch ild ! Society a nd society must bea r th e recoilof its

a rbitr a ry power .

How h a ve th e pa st a ges trea ted th e criminal! Huma nity,

sh udder a nd h ide th v blush ing fa ce Look down to th e loa th

1 3 2 SCENES IN THE SPIRIT-WORLD ;

some dungeon, wh ere a bundle of stra w on th e dirty floor is th e

resting-pla ce of wh a t migh t h a ve been a ma n— a mouldy piece

of brea d a nd a bottle ofwa ter h is only sustena nce for da ys toge

th er . Look yonder a t th ose sta te engines, th e gallows, th e

gibbet, th e guillotine, th e inquisitorial prison, wh ose secret

ch ambers a re th e portals of h ell; wh ose officers a re inca rna te

demons !

You turn from th ese in disgust, a nd blush — blush to own yourr a ce ! But enormities a s grea t sta re you to-da y in th e fa ce,

from wh ich you with dra w your ch a rity. An a ge of iron called

for blood. Th ese th ings were necessa ry concomita nts of th e

struggle for civilfreedom. Your j a ils a nd pr isons, a nd th e

ma nner in wh ich you trea t your pr isoners, th ough mild, com

pa red with th e pa st, a re h a rsh , wh en compa red with th e sta nda rdof h uma nity a t th e '

present da y.

Society h a s a righ t to protect itself; but it h a s no righ t to

infringe on th e just righ ts of th e individual. If a ma n th rea t

ens s

yon with injury, you a re justified in restr a ining h im,a nd if

gentle means willnot do it, in using strong mea sures ; but nevera re you justified in ta king h is life, or ma iming h im intentionally .

Th e fa ct th a t h e injured you yesterda y does not justify you inretalia ting to-da y. Revenge is th e ba sest of th e a nimalities.

Ch a rity h a s a lesson h ere to lea rn. In th e undeveloped sta te

of th ings now existing, th e ma jority a re born with ba d orga niza

tions. Th ey a re found in allcla sses of society. Rea red from th e

embryo in th e worst conditions, surrounded by circumsta nces

calcula ted to excite alone th e a nimalities, ca n you be a stonish ed

th a t men a re a s th ey a re ! Th ey a re surrounded by objectswh ich excite th eir a cquisitiveness ; by compa nions wh o allure

th em on to crime. Th ey a re bred amid filth , vice a nd corruption, with sca rce food enough to susta in th e life with in th em ,

or

fuelto keep th em from freezing ; wh ile alla round is wealth ,luxury a nd comfort. Blame th em not, broth er ; you would

1 3 4 scnuss IN THE SPIRIT-WORLD

fresh from prison. Both feelth a t th eir m a nh ood is forever lost ;a nd

,do th ey never so well, th ey feelth a t it is almost impossible

for th em to retrieve th eir former position. You sa y th e murderer

is pa st allh ope, a nd you h a ng h im for a n example. Once, a nd

th a t but a sh or t time since, h e wa s sea ted on h is coffin, a nd

pa r a ded th rough th e streets , a nd th e gallows occupied th e most

conspicuous position in every town. Crime wa s th en more pre

valent th a n now. Such scenes do not intimida te a nd frigh ten

th e lower fa culties, but r a th er excite a nd feed th em . You

now a cknowledge th is, a nd h a ng th e poor culprit in one corner

of th e prison ya rd, out of sigh t of everybody. In none of th ese

proceedings is ch a rity exh ibited. Ta ke th e drunka rd a wa y fromth e influence of h is a ssocia tes ; ta ke th e poisoned cup from h is

burning lips, a nd a pply h ealing balms to h is wounds. Bringth e subject h ome to your own h ea rts. Study ca use a nd effect

a ttentively, a nd th en a ct true to your convictions. If you re

str a in men from revenge a nd retalia tion, a nd if your object is tointimida te o th ers

, th en a pply th e la sh a nd invent tor tu res a t

wh ich a demon would sh udder . But if your object is to reform

th e unbala nced, a nd send th em h ome to th eir friends.

a nd to

society regener a ted men, ca pa ble of struggling h onestly withth e a dversities oflife, th en a grea t ch a nge must be ma de in your

prison system. Th e offender’s morality a nd intellect sh ould be

a roused, a nd.

everyth ing wh ich excites th e ba salor a nimalpro

pensities a voided.

Ha ve ch a rity for th e poor a nd distressed. Do not sa y th a t

in th eir present circumsta nces th ey ca n do better , but pla ce yourselves in th eir pa th , a nd become a new circumsta nce in th eir

lives, to ch a nge th eir‘pover ty to a ffluence, th eir distress to plea

su re. Th is willcallout a nd exercise your benevolence. It will

be a source of plea sure to give to th e needy a nd suffering. Copybenevolence from th e externalworld. Th e r a in falls equally on

t h e just a nd th e unjust. Gifts a re bestowed alike on th e sa va ge

on, LIFE IN THE srns a ns. 1 3 5

in h is wild forest h ome, a nd th e most refined Ca uca sia n in h is

bea utifulma nsion.

I willnot spea k of love or justice. If I sh ould, I could but

repea t truisms ; for you allknow h ow to be just, a nd h ow to

love .

Aga in, you a sk How ca n we become exalted in th e

sph eres l”

He wh o“

seeks exalta tion for its own sa ke willbe deba sed.

Genius ma y soa r on ea gle’s wings, tireless a nd strong, but

th e sa me wings wh ich ca rry it to h ea ven will,wh en used by a

perver ted mind, depres s it downwa rd to perdition. Grea t mena re necessa ry, a nd to th em th e r a ce a re loyala t h ea r t. Geniusma y trea d secure in its upwa rd ma rch a mong th e precipices of

fa me, a nd so long a s it keeps its eye stea dfa stly fixed on th e

r a dia nt orb of truth a nd love, it m a y go on untilit rests its wea ryform upon th e summit ; but so sure a s it looks down with con

tempt ou th e m a sses toiling below, wh om it h a s outstripped inth e r a ce of life

,with scorn or egotlsm,

so surely willit growdizzy a nd fall, ma ngled a nd crush ed

,on th e rocks below— its

ligh t put out wh en in its noon-tide glo ry, lea ving only a bla nkto spea k of its existence.

Men of geniusla tremendous responsibility rests on you .

Strive never so h a rd, a nd you ca n not more th a n a ccomplish th ework m a rked out for you. T h e towering mounta in w h ich overlooks allits neigh bors is a sublime specta cle to beh old . From

its cr a ggy sides flow ma ny crystalstreams, to wa ter a nd fertilize

th e wa rm valley below ; wh ere th e flower blooms in fra gr a nce,a nd th e gr a ss sprea ds its downy ca rpet over th e h ills ; wh ere th ecoolbreeze wa ves th e sigh ing forest, a nd ruffles th e bea utifulla ke. Awa y up on its gra nite brow th e storm a nd th e sleet bea tin wild fury, a nd th e a vala nch e plows grea t fur rows in its j a ggedsides. Th us genius, wh ich towers a bove common men, must

1 3 6 SCENES IN THE SPIRIT-WORLD ;

expect to live in a different clime, a nd encounter storm, tempest,h a il, snow a nd driving sleet, wh ile th ose on a lower pla ne enjoy

th e wa rm sunsh ine. Th e responsibility is, to ma nfully comba t

allopposing forces, a nd, like th e mounta in, resting on its strong

ba sis,present a gra nite front to th e ba ttle.

Common men, too, h a ve t h eir responsibilities. Th ey allh a ve

duties to perform to th eir fellow men. It is in va in for th em to

cry, I a m not my broth er’s keeper ; th ey a re recognized a s

such by th e Lord. Present th e subj ect in allligh ts, a nd stillit

is th e same. Ma nkind a re a grea t broth erh ood. Th e depreesion of one individualdepresses all

,a s a blow of th e h a mmer

moves th e ea r th . So th e eleva tion of a single mind is felt by

all. You ca nnot progress with out dr a gging th e wh ole world

a fter you . Are you envious of th e fa me of th e grea t discoverer

or inventor ! Be not so th e ligh t is not sh ut from you, for by

th eir efforts h a s been Opened a la rger field for your resea rch .

Most men ma ke th emselves prominent by putting out oth er’s

ligh ts . Th ese do not a pprecia te th e truth , th a t by bringing th e

world with th em,th ey ca n a ccomplish a n infinitely grea ter good.

Th e N a za rene understood th is. His precepts,h is ph ila nth ropy,

h is pure life, embr a ced th e r a ce, a nd h e lives forever . If a ny one

would spea k th rough th e coming a ges, h e must do likewise.

Th us you perceive wh a t exalts th e ma n. Need I tellyouwh a t depresses h im i Th e pursuit of wealth h a s no correspond

ence in th e Spirit-world. Th e miser a nd specula tor a re men of

th is world. Th ey a re respected, a nd called grea t. Allth eir

powers ofmind a redirected in one ch a nnel,a nd th a t th e a ccumu

la tion of wealth . In th eir h a ste for r ich es th eir intellect is per

verted,a nd th e r a nk weeds of error luxuria te in th e neglected

mind. After dea th th ey a wa ke th e same in every minutia of

th ough t ; but h a ving no realobjects upon wh ich to exert th eir

selfish desires, th e only ch a nnelth r ough wh ich th ey ca n receive

enjoyment, is closed, a nd th ey a re misera ble. On ea rth na ture

1 3 8 SCENES IN THE SPIRIT-WORLD

of th e family circle is broken by discord ; th e lower pa ssions ofth e

’

ofl'

spring a re continually influenced by th eir sympa th y withth e ' pa rents. T h e more spiritualth e mind, th e more discrimina

tion it possesses in th e recognition of its true ma te,a nd th emore

deba sed, th e less discernment it possesses.

If you would exalt your ch ildren th rough life a nd th rough

eternity, ma ke th e fa mily circle h a rmonious a nd pur e— ma ke ita prima ry sch oola nd college In wh ich ma y be lea rned lessons

ofwisdom a nd virtue.

No pa rent sh ould be instrumentalin bringing into existence

a n immortalbeing, if th ey a re not fully a ble to give it a good con

stitution a nd a n a deq u a te educa tion, so th a t it m a y be a ble to

gr a pple with th e difficulties of life. Th ey commit a n outr a ge on

h uma nity wh o h eedlessly th row th eir offspring upon society

with disea sed constitutions, a nd with wh a t little life th ey possess,wh olly unprepa red for th e trials of th e world. Wh a t ca n you

expect from a nta gonistic unions,wh ere th e ch ildren a re bred

from th e beginning in a n a tmosph ere of a nim alpa ss ions ! Ca n

a ny oth er th a n co a rse, low-minded men a nd women proceed from

such a source ! True, th ere a re th ose now a nd th en wh omnoth ing ca n cor rupt— so eleva ted in th eir sublime spirituality

th a t th ey ca n wa lk th rough th e depth of depra vity unsca th ed ;

but such a re exceptions. Th e grea t multitude a r e allsubject tosurrounding circumsta nces. Exercise your ch a rity th en, broth ers,in ch a nging th e condition of th e miser a ble, a nd eleva ting th e

wretch ed.

To th is end, unite with a congenialmind. You sa y allstr ive

to do so. Yes, but th ey only strive with th eir a nimalinstincts,not with th e a ttra ctions of th e Spirit. Th ere a re numerous posi

tive a ttr a ctions in th e essence of th e soul, wh ich , if followed, will

find th eir proper nega tives. You sh ould rise a bove allconven

tionalregula tions, a nd follow th e dicta tes of rea son a nd wisdom,

a nd become pa ssive to th eir impressions. Th e Spirit desires to

on, LIFE IN THE SPHERES. 1 3 9

find its ma te. If it fa ils it is like th e turtle-dove ; It mourns

nigh t and da y, over h illa nd dale, to find th e counterpa rt of itsbeing. Th e ceremony is noth ing ; th e h ea r t is all.

You a sk,wh a t is th e condition of Spirits !

He wh o doeth wellenjoys th e sa tisfa ction of th a t well-doing.

Th e spiritualbody perva des th e externalform. Bone perva des

bone ; muscle, muscle ; nerve, nerve. Th e spiritualis a simile of

th e ea rth ly body. Wh en th e ea rth ly dust is brush ed off— wh en

it rises into th e brigh t da y of immortality— it finds itself th e sa me

entity with simila r th ough ts , desires, pa ssions, a ffections a nd

emotions. Th is being true, rest is required. Th e mind tires ,

a nd th e spirit must rest. Th us a re th e ea r th a nd Spirit-worldrela ted, being intim a tely blended, with out a ny ch a sm betweenth em so th a t th e individualwh o h a s obeyed th e la ws of h is

na ture, quietly pa sses, a s it were, from one room into a noth er ,

calmly a nd ea sily, a s th e ripened a pple falls from its pa rent stem.

Allmust pa ss th rough th is ch a nge. Everyth ingma tures a nd

dies, or r a th er ch a nges. You m a y regret th is. Oth ers h a ve

considered th e ea rth a ta r rying pla ce, wh ere th ey a re compelledto a bide a long wh ile with out profit. In th is th ey a re wrong.

Th e a pple sh ould not be plucked wh ile green, from its pa rentstem ,

nor ma n imma turely depa rt from ea r th . Often h a ve Ipa used over th e ba ttle-field wh en th ousa nds were enga ged in th e

strife of murder, wh en th e ca nnon th undered loudest,a nd th e

ca valry ch a rged fea rless of dea th . Th en h a ve I seen th e da rkspirits of th e sla in wa rriors a scend th ickly a s forest-lea ves blownby a utumn winds. If I could th en h a ve sa t down a nd wept form a n

’s folly a nd ignor a nce, gla dly would I h a ve done so . But

such a crush ing weigh t of h uma n error ca me upon my mindth a t I could not weep. Ma n sh ould not die untilr ipe a ge brea ksth e cord wh ich connects h is spirit to its form or body

,a nd h e is

fully prepa red to enter h is new a bode.

A sta te of immortality is rendered necessa ry a nd certa in by


th e principles of mind. Every individualh a s th e germ of a n

intellect wh ich , if properly developed, would tra nscend youridea of th e knowledge of a ngels. Sh allth a t germ be crush ed,

a nd never be allowed to develop ! Na y, th ere is no soulma de

in va in in crea tion, a nd if ma n ca n not become developed on

ea rth,h e willh a ve a n eternity in wh ich to expa nd h erea fter .

Men look on th e surfa ce wh en th ey spea k of grea tness. Veryfew kings, lordlings, or a utocr a ts, a re really grea t ; but h e alone

is truly grea t wh o not only h a s love, not only ph ila nth ropy, notonlywisdom,

but allof th esecombined into one h a rmonious wh ole.Th en h a rmonize your being ; ma ke th is th e object of your lives.

Er a dica te your peculia r evils one by one, with a firm fa ith in

success. Your position, estima ted by th e world’s sta nda rd, is

noth ing. Th e poor begga r sh allsta nd on a h igh er pla ne th a n th eproud king, a nd m a ny a poor Africa n willbe more eleva ted th a nh is m a ster .

You ca n not be too fea rfulof sla very of body, but oppose toth e u tmost sla very of th e mind, a s you would th e wa y of dea th .

Little ch a rity a s is exh ibited in th e sla ve-system by a na tion of

pretended fi'eemen, yet th e system wh ich fetters th e mind is

incompa r a bly more ruinous.

A grea t incubus h a ngs over th e America n na tion sta nd from

under wh en th e weigh t falls, for fea rfulwillbe th e cr a sh . Th a t

incubus is a smallcloud compa red to th a t wh ich rests on th e

mentalfirm ament. Ma nkind a re ever rea dy to dra g th e corpses

of th eir dea d idea s a fter th em, tr a veling slowly onwa rd, but

looking wistfully over th eir sh oulders a t th eir old superstitions,a nd h ence a re verylia ble to stumble in th eir course. Howloudly

you pr a ise your free-th inkers ! But h ow free a re th ey ! How

you clamor a bout your reformers Your free-th inkers a re bound

by superstition,a nd your reformers h a ve th eir strong prejudices.

Here is one wh o a ttenua tes h is idea s untilh e runs th em into th e

ground— becoming a s befogged a s th e fogies h e h a s deserted, a nd

142 SCENES IN THE SPIRIT.WOBLD ;

bungling, a nd inca pa ble of with sta nding th e rough wa ves of th etroubled ocea n of reform. Th e reformer sh ould cea selopping ofl

’

th e bra nch es, a nd strike a t th e r oots of th e monstrous tree of

error wh ich sh adows th e world. By so doing youlea ve h uma nityfree to commune with th e infinite God. Th is is allth a t is requiredof you . To be grea t sh ould be th e a im of every individual. Not

grea t in crime, like Caesa r , Alexa nder , or Na poleon, wh o mer it

th e scorn of th e world ; not grea t in intellect alone a s La pla cea nd Cuvier; or in mor ality a s Confucius, Menu a nd Howa rd

th ough th e la tter species of grea tness is superior to th e oth ers

But be grea t in allof th ese, with a gia nt intellect supported by apure mor ality, a nd put into a ction by well-controlled ba sal

orga ns . Th us orga nized, th e grea t mind willnot look downwith

contempt on th ose benea th , nor with envy on th ose a bove. Th ere

willbe noth ing a rbitr a ry or conventionalin such a mind, but

serene a nd plea sur a ble emotions, a nd th e h igh est enjoyment of

life. In th is wa y Jesus Ch rist wa s th e grea test of men. He

wa s a n exalted mor alist, a profound ph ilosoph er , a nd possessed

th e energy to pu t allin a ction. So superior w a s h e to common

men, th a t in th ose superstitious times it wa s na tur alfor men to

believe th a t th e Deity h a d descended into h im,a nd th a t some

th ing ma rvelous h a d ta ken pla ce a t h is bir th .

In th e development of th e r a ce it m a y be wellfor th e minds

wh ich constitute th e a dva nced gua rds to be dra wn out in a

ta ngent in some pa rticula r direction from th e circula r . But

to th e individual h imself it is injurious. Th e perfect mindis represented by t h e perfect circle. Ch emists, na tur alists

a nd ph ilosoph ers dr a w out th eir minds into pa rticula r di

r ections untilth e circle is nea rly obliter a ted, a nd th ough th e

development of th e depa r tment of science h a s in t h a t wa y been

a cceler a ted, th e individualh a s suffered by h is zeal. Th e nea rer

th e h a rmonialcircle you a pproa ch , th e grea ter willbe your powers of a nalysis a nd ca pa city for th e reception of truth .


Th ere must be positivena ss in goodness, not nega tiveness. Th en

we h a ve th e truly grea t ma n wh o, with th e truth before h im

,

scorns allperil, a nd with venturous energy climbs to th e summit,

a nd sta nds up like a tallmounta in from its gr a nite ba se, sendingits impregna ble spires into th e region of storm,

h urling ba ck th eth under-bolt with defia nt ech oes, gr a sping th e storm-cloud with

h is science,sa ying,

“

go no fa rth er -with sta nding th e sh ock ofth e elements

,a nd continuing h is onwa rd course to Eternity

Th us h a ve I gone r a pidly over th e importa nt subjects th a t youa nd allmen sh ould understa nd

,so th a t you ma y a ct in a ccord

a nce with Na ture. Perform th e ta sk a ssigned you on ea rth th a t

it m a y not ch eck your progress h ere. Do righ t, a ct justly, loveyour r a ce. Th en willyou softly close your eyes in sleep wh ena ge h a s settled on your ea rth ly form . No sh a dow willda rkenyour soul, but pea cefully willth e internalunfold itself, a nd youwilla wa ke in h ea ven a n a ngelof ligh t.

T H E E N D .

a ttritgr 36 3 3 rifiun’

r Spiritualiiihrurq.

Oun list of Boone embr a ces allth e pr incipalworks devoted to Sm ur

lu msu , w h eth er publish ed by ourselves or oth ers, a nd willcompreh end all

works of value th a t ma y be issued h erea fter . Th e rea der ’s a ttention is

pa rticula rly invited to th ose named below , allofwh ich ma y be found a t th e

Office ofTHE SHEKINAH a nd SPIRITUAL T ELEGRAPH. Th e rea der willper

ceive th a t th e price of ea ch book in th e list , a nd th e amount of posta ge, if

forwa r ded by ma il, a re a nnexed.

By S. B. Britten, Editor .a nd oth er writer s, is devoted ch iefly to on Inquiry into th eSp i r itualNa ture a nd Rela tions ofMAN. it tr ea ts especially of th e Philosoph yof Vital,Mental, a nd Spir itualPhenomena , a nd conta ins interesting Fa cts a nd

pr ofound Expositions of th e Psych icalConditions a ndManifesta tions now a ttr a ct

ing a ttention inEur ope a nd Amer ica . Th is volume conta ins, inpert , th e Editor's

Ph ilosophy of th e Soul; th e Interesting Vieone of Hon. J. W . Edmonde ; Livesa nd Por tr a its of Seer s a nd Eminent Spir itualiete ; Fa e-simile: ofMysticalW rit

inge, in Foreign and Dea d La ngua ges, th r ough E. P. Fowler , etc. Publis h ed byPa rtri dge a nd Britten. Bound inmuslin, price 02 50 ; elega ntly bound inmorse

cc , lette red a nd gilt in e style suita ble for a gift book, price 0 3 00 ; posta ge 3‘cents .

Na ture’s Divine Revela tions, etc.

By A. J. Da vis, th e Cla ir voya nt. Price, 02 00 ; posta ge, 43 cents.Th e GrewHa rmonie, Vol. I.

Th e Physicia n. By A. J. Da vis . Pr ice, 01 25 ; posta ge, socents.

Th e Grea t Ha rmonia , Vol. 11 ,

Th e Tea cher . By A. J. Da vis . Pr ice, 01 00 ; posta ge, 19 cm

Th e Grea t Ha rmonie, Vol. 111 .

Th e Seer . By A. J. Da vis. Pr ice, 01 00 ; postage, 19 cents.

By A. J. Da vis. Pr ice, 50 cents ; posta ge, 9 cents.

€¦ · 22 scenes in the spirit-world ; wh ich i h a ve tra veled, ea ch yea r, ea ch h our of wh...

Documents