«i^ 1 icol 1 ^^^ 1 ,"■'*" III nWMSiinnnimi The original of tiiis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924028954141 BF 125 1.026 P5 ^'^'ininiiEmXii>P'iii?JP '''*"^' intercourse : be olin 3 1924 028 954 141 THE PHILOSOPHY OP SPIRITUAL INTERCOURSE; BEING AN EXPLANATION OF MODERN MYSTERIES. BY ANDREW JACKSON DAVIS, AUrnOR OF "nature's divine revelations," " THE GREAT HAEMONIA,' ETC. ETC. "Can there ant good thing coub oft of Nazareth?" — Bible. BOSTON: PUBLISHED BY BELA MARSH, 14 Bbomfield Street. 1868. © -'\v^JTn. :|:.U*NI¥ERSiTY /^pv A Entebed, according to Act of Congress, in tho yenr 1851, By ANDREW JACKSON DAVIS, in the Clerk's Office of the District Ccurt of ConnecticuL PREFACE. Particuiarlt during the last fifleen months, the author has received letters from both ladies and gentlemen of education, respectability, and influence in this country ; all more or less concerning the causes of the wonderful phenomena recently unfolded by what are commonly termed " mysterious noises." He could, not promptly respond to the numerous questions of these correspondents for two 1st. He has been engaged for several months in an interior investigation respecting the nature and miode iof the Divine' Existence ; and while absorbed in these researches, it is both paihfhl aiid injurious to allow foreign subjects or trains of thought to break in upon that concentration of mind wMch is essential to his Superior Condition. 2d. Prior to the writing of this work, the author had not particularly and interi- orly mvestigated or surveyed the to Ao/e field occupied by these mysterious phe- nomena, Buffiiaently to pronounce an intelligent and reliable judgment upon their merits or demerits. Neither had he examined the subject with any special refer- ence to its real or apparent connection with the teachings and developments of the Harmonial Philosophy. In order to properly answer all the letters and questions of his esteemed corres- pondents aright, the author has been impressed to turn aside from the great sub- jeet of his investigations, which are designed for the second volume of " The Great Harmonia," and write and prepare the ensuing pages for pubUcafiou ; they con- tain the author's " Interior Impressions" concerning the philosophy of spiritual intercourse, in its limited and broadest sense. His impressions are partioulai'ly addressed to the reader's understanding. The exceeding happiness which the revelations of the harmonial philosophy have imparted to hundreds of minds in the United States, is a source of lasting satis&ction to those who labor for its dissemination and application to the interests and pursuits of every-day life. For the edification of those who do not compre- hend its nature, scope, teachings, and tendencies, it is here deemed proper to remark that it hath two objects in view — two ends to accomplish, t» which all its scientific, theological, and religious teachings are particularly subservient, namely : 1st. Ti[E HARMONIZATION OP THE INDIVIDUAL. To aocomplish this, it presents an analysis of the human affections and faculties ; it exhibits both the natural and inverted modes of their manifestation ; it discovers the various and diversified causes of evil and wrong in the world, and prescribes the infallible remedy ; it harmonizes the elements of the human soul, to the end that men thus united within themselves, may conspire and form a united race. It supposes that man possesses in a finite degree, the attributes of the Infinite ; that all Development — Architec- ture — Commerce — Language — Science — Philosophy — Theology — Government — Authority — Art — Music— 'Poetry — &c., have their seat, germ, or beginning prin- ciple, in the human soul, and that the development of each one is in actual propor- tion to the soul's growth. This is equally true with reference to the race, as it is in respect to the iNDtviDHAL. 2d. The harmonization of society ; to bring all affections, professions, inter- ests, and pursuits into unity, as the notes of a musical instrument. Unity, as the author is impressed to define it in the harmonial philosophy, comprehends every conception and idea of " Elysium"— " Utopia"— " City of the Sun"— "New Atlantis"—" Dream of Perpetual Peace"—" Celestial City"—" New Jerusalem" — " Millennium"—" Home"—" Harmony"-r" Happiness"- and " Heaven ;" for all the conceptions of which these various terms are expressive, have their origin in the immanent elements of the Soul, and are consequently homocentrical. Tho various sects and systems offeith existing, all evince the conception and impression 4 PREFACE. of a period of Unity sometime in the future. Each sect, howcve. , entertains but partial and in many respects incorrect conceptions of that period, as each does also of God, of Immortality, and of that future Happiness to which mankind indi- vidually aspire ; yet the very existence of such a conception of heavenly happiness or millennial hai'mony among all sects and nations; ind in all periods of human liistorj', proves that the elements and causes of that conception are eternal in Man and in Nature, and, therefore, homogeneous with the constitution and design of the Divine Mind. Unity, in Man and in S'X'iety, includes the full growth and Jiarmonious action of every Passion, Desire, or Love. This is the ultimate of God's design and of human desire ; and when it is accomplished, Man will be in harmony with Himself, with his Neighbor, with the Universe, and with the Usj- , VERBAL Father. Such are the humanitary objects and lofty tendencies of the Ilarmonial Philo- The author is constantly receiving communications from all portions of this , country, (the reception of which he avails himself pf this opportunity to heartily aokuowiedge,)-;— letters, containing convincing evidences that the work of indi- vidual, social, and theological veSormation is strongly and steadily, progressing. The following extract will illusti'ate the nature of one i class of the author's corr,es- ^ pondence: NpRwicH, Conn., January, 1851. " A. J. D.Avis : Dear Sir, * * * The work goes bravely forward * * * The reading of Nature's Divine Revelations has just converted an Atheist here to a belief in God and Immortality. Yours fraternally, * * '.', Hundreds of minds, who can not find sufficient evidence in any existing systems of religions or philosophy to convince their rational understanding of the existence of divine and spiritual things, are being constantly rescued and saved from the darkness of skepticism by the teachings of the harmonial philosophy. Of stiU another cJa»s of letters, containing questions concerning the physiolo^lojil phenomena of death, and the philosophy of spiritual' intercourse, the following is an example: Conway, Mass., Jan. 11, 1851. " A. J. Davis : Dear Sir, — The consolation and melody of spirit which have flowed in upon me from meditations guided by your writings; being yet imperfect in their fullness, urge me to a few inquiries. I afflj often met by those who point to obscurities on the horizon that has been so expanded — to yet some clouds on the very brilliant sky that has been so gener- ally cleared away, and some of these apparent deformities, seem to require the elucidations of the author. 1st. In the account of James Victor Wilson, why does he say that, ' We passed from the earth-sphere through the opening at one of the poles ?' 2. Why, in another place, is it said, that ' it being summer and the doors open you saw the spirit pass out at the door ?' ' 3. By what law are spirits affected by gross matter as indicated in these instances ? 4. How is it that those spirits ' walked' the atmosphere, when, as we pre- sume, it is of such uniform density that there can be no aerial mountains upon the sides of which spirits might walk ? 5. When spirits pass from the earth-sphere, is it to some distant dnd superior sphere from which they often come to guide their learth-friends onward and ^■'-her? p 6. If so, do they affect us only through the spirit; or are there physical and sensuous demonstrations ? Many from whom ' anxiety is not yet effiieed' would rejoice to have these thmgs elucidated. Yours sincerely, » * * u To the public, and eS{)eoially to those numerous and esteemed minds who have solicited from him information upon the great subjects now agitating the religious world, the author respectfully presents the following investigations into the philo- sophy and utility of spiritual intercourse. A. J I) Hartford. Conn., February, 1851. ' ' .', CONTENTS. Faos TEtTH ASD MrSTERT, 1 God's Universai;, Providence, ■. 12 The Miracles of T91S Age, ,.,.,,....,...... 20 The Decay oe Superstition, 33 The GtrARBiAJTSHip of Spirits, 38 The Discernment or Spirits, 40 The Stratford Mysteries, 46 The Doctrine of Evil Spirits, 70 The Origin of Spirit Sounds, 1'7 Concerning Sympathetic Spirits, 91 The Formation of Circles, ...'...■ 96 The Resurrection of the Dead, 125 A Voice from the Spirit-Land, 149 The True Religion, 161 HIM WHO WGUip lOYE AND SERVE THE ONE ONLY AND TRUE QOD WITH ALL HIS HEART, MIND AND STEBNGTH, NEIGHBOR AS THIS WOSK IS AFFECTIONATELY AND FRATERNALLY DEDICATED BY THE AUTHOR. TRUTH AND MYSTERY. The intelligent individual needs not to be informed that this Age is one of unparalleled mental activity. He who reads the popular publications of these times, and has traveled far from the home of his birth, is not startled at the announcement of any new discovery in science, in philosophy, or in theology. And discoveries are being unceasingly unfolded. Realities) more wondrous and mag- nificent than the tales and romances of oriental lands, are being daily evolvied from the deep foundations of nature ; and the familiar developments of modern sciences exceed, in their availability to universal man and in their powers of accomplishment, all the mythical achievements of magic and all the traditional wronders of enchantment. Moreover, this Age, when compared with any of the previous periods which, like mile-stones, mark the advance- ments of Time, and the events of the past, is emphatically one of Thought. The past is stained with blood ; because desire and selfishness have wielded the scepter of power ; and passion, not being well disciplined and subjugated to Reason's admonitions and Nature's immutable laws, has rul^d the world instead of wisdom ; and thus feeling, more than judg- ment, has guided the kingdoms and nations of earth into a vast labyrinth of anarchy, superstition and mystery. Surely, it seems strange to affirm, and it is a thing heartily to be deplored, that mankind have tieen victims to an excess of feeling — especially, when almost always those in power are complained of as wanting in feeling, It is not, in fact, that influential minds are without feeling, but that its excess and misapplication are vicious ; it is with them that undisciplined 8 TRUTH ;.ND MYSTERY. and ungoverned sentiment which in the heart of the roothei causes her to "spoil the child ;" she is not wanting in feeling for her offspring, but that undisciplined feeling, in its excess, sets judgment aside to make room for the unbounded sweep of impulse ; it is that uncontrolled, unholy, and selfish passion which generates a frenzied fanaticism and devastates an empire. But I am deeply moved to gratitude in view of the fact that, without any diminution of affectional and charitable feeling among mankind, this Age is one of Intelligence ; and that passion, whidh is as blind and dangerous with' its impulses in favor oi, as in its oppositibn to, any person or object, is now being subjugated to the wisdom principle. Love and wisdom, or affection and judgment, are becoming more as one — the former supplying the «oul with warmth, zeal, and impulse ; the latter governing those zealous im- pulses, rendering the mind harmonious and happy, thus gradually bringing nations into reUgious unity and political confederation. But here I must utter my impression that many men have not yet acquired sufficient wisdom to keep them from rushing impetuously, like a tiger from his cage, into the commission of horrid crimes and murderous deeds ; they start up at the war-shouf, and their voices echo to the call for blood ; and, though prudence and deliberation begin to adorn the career of public, influential characters, in our own legislations, — though many of their acts are tinted with the conservatism of wisdom, — yet, should the nation become excited upon some great question of national policy, there is ^ not sufficient wisdom and knowledge of nature's laws among the masses to save the Union from a most disastrous term- ination ! It is well to know our internal weakness, both as individuals and a nation, in order to be prepared for all emergencies. As "knowledge is power," so is wisdom a sure safeguard against all error and misdirection. If we allow wisdom to guide us, we shall inevitably be conducted into the presence of Truth, Contentment, and Peace. It is undeniable, I think, that Truth is seldom, if ever, attained when the mind, which is seeking it, is actuated by motives of unkindness, or selfishness, or unrighteousness. TRUTK' AND ■ MYSTERY, 9 Truth miast be bought for its own sake ; not to sustain any position which an individual may have, in haste, or from the impulsions of diesire, taken, and, perhaps, upon some new but unwarrantable basis. The wise man, and the man of integrity and honor, never pollutes his intellectual endowments with attempts to sustain any doctrinal position which he may have assumed, merely because he assumes it, nor from pride of opinion, or nighmindedness ; but he yields his personal desires and material gratifications to the higher aspirations of his nature — is willing to sacrifice his reputation, his life even, upon the altar of Truth^and is ready to be led, by reason and wisdom, into any region of thought whatsoever. Humanity has been steadily ascending to the present ^tage of intellectual activity. But the discriminating ob- server can not but perceive and acknowledge, that the material and evanescent ithings of this present existence are more. sought than the spiritual and eternal realities which pertaia to a superior life. This fact has been proclaimed from the pulpit by the most spiritually-minded and intellec- tually-cultivated teachers of Christianity ; and it is particu- larly deplored by those whose religious sentiments are well developed, and whose souls are yearning after the realities of immortality, and for the unspeakable blessings arising from individual beatification. As a natural consequence of man's inclination to seek for and obtain the material, he becomes more skeptical concerning every thing invisible and super-sensuous in proportion to the development of that materialism which a mere intellectual and outward search after truth are certain to establish in the mind. Generally speaking, this is not a Superstitious age^ but one of Thought — ^it is not an age of religious culture and illumination, birt one of materiality and Science. The spiritual is subjugated ■to the material ; the future to the present. The Faiths and Dogmas of the past are subjected to a kind of intellectually- chemical analysis ; and the monarchical Theocracy of the senior nations of the earth is giving away — is melting like a motmtain of ice before the sun— and true Republicanism is fast becoming the mighty spirit of existing empires ! In the midst of this great social and religious commotion 10 TEUTH AND MYSTERY. and intellectual development of science, I discover a secret decay of man's belief in Immortality. True, the intuition of the soul has been sufficient in all ages to inspire the " untutored mind" with sublime but undefined convictions in a future existence for the human spirit ; but now, in our age of scientific analysis and material development, this intuitive or innate faith demands a palpable and philosoph- ical foundation upon which to base its evidences, its hopes, and aspirations. In all ages of the world there have been slight and exceed- ingly obscure manifestations of invisible powers ; (that is, as the materialistic individual of this age would say, if we can reposei . any confidence whatever in the soundness and v£tlid- ity of human testimony ;) and many individuals, as well as many religious systems of faith, have received what was believed to be revelations from spirits, and from superior sources— even from the Deity himself. "But," says the skeptical mind, " this may be, or may not be so — I would like to hear and see for myself." Hence, the demand of this Age, with regard to a belief in immortality or a future existence of the soul, is, that every dpubting mind may obtain for itself a personal demonstration of its truth. It is proper to affirm, that there never has been pre- sented, in any one era of human progress, any thing like a clear, incontestable demonstration of spiritual presence and power ; because Nature and Reason, dethroning superstition and invalidating human testimony, explain away many of the most astounding miracles recorded in sacred history, as being nothing more than new manifestations of immutable laws, 'not previously understood, or else as being the pious fabrica- tions of interested minds. Thus it is that all faith, in the un- qualifiedly supernatural is fast decaying; for no profound thinker— one who uniformly consults Nature and Reason — can for one moment admit even the possibility of any human or divine manifestations contrary, or superior, to God's un- changeable principles of universal government. Religious education, though it inspires our affections with a belief in God, and in the soul's immortal existence, is, in this intellectual age, thoroughly dissected and " found want- TKJTH AND MYSTERY. II iBg" in its constitutional so;undness and, powers of expansion — its ingredients being, as they are, incomprehensible mira- cles and supernaturalities — contradicting, as they do, all ex- perience and human understanding of truth, are acknowl- edged by nearly all Christendom to be unsafe conductors cf our hopes and souls to climes which have been hitherto, upon the earth, comparatively uninvestigated and unknown. Popular science and. philosophy, being almost wholly material and mathematically demonstrative, are inefficient in their attempts to substitute & faith of. the understanding for a faith founded upon religious education, which is the dying faith of this age. j • Chemistry and mechanical sciences have united tjiejr powers and achievements to the end that railroads and niagnetic telegraphs, and other commercial instrumentalities, might help on the progressive tendencies of this wonderful era. And the surging billows of thought and aspiration, flowing up from the depths of all past times, and swelling mountain high as they approach the shores of the present, threaten to overwhelm and destroy all monarchy and un- righteous conservatisfln. In the midst of all this commotion an4 materialism, the question involuntarily arises : — " What is, in a religious point of view, the want of this age ?" In, accordance with my impressions, I answer — that man requires a demonstration of the truth of immortality ; a sen- suous evidence that the soul continues to exist in a physical or paZpafeZe, organization subsequent to the event of outer dis- solution. When a friend or a relative departs from amongst us to some invisible world, then man flees to his religion for consolation and faith ; but, in addition to what solace he de- rives from this source, he internally desires some substantial^ 'Uustration and evidence of the continued existence of the departed spirit. Yea, there is scarcely a Christian who would refuse to receive some material evidence that the soul lives always, — that friends and relations shall meet, and re- cognize, and. love each other again, in another world, as on the earth. Indeed, such evidence would impart a palpability and an enthiisiastic zpal to his, conceptions of a. future life, — so absolute and strong as to convert bim to the joys and blessings of a new religious faith based npon a svstem of uni. 12 TECTHAND MYSTERY. versal philosophy. Some men do not know, ^and; those Arho do know, will not, dare not, even to themselves alcknowlcdge,) how exceedingly skeptical they are concerning the soul's everlasting life and the existence of a spirit- world. About five-eighths of the Protestant clergy, are, in the secret con- sciousness of their own minds, perfect materialists with re- gard to faith in spiritual existence ; and yet they preach " life and immortality," in combination with other cardinal points in the existing theology, because preaching is their occupa- tion, and because, also, they do not know of any thing better and more elevating to proclaim to the people. As one evidence of the truthfulness of this assertion, let it be remembered that the strongest advocates of those miracles which are said tO' have occurred centuriesj ago, (there being no other proof than human testimony that they ever were performed,) are minds who will not give any credence to the no less wondrous miracles which are of almost daily occur- rence in our very midst. So, likewise, the professed strong believers in spiritual existences are the first to denounce any belief in them, unless based upon the popular foundation of past traditions. In truth, almost every Christian who makes a practice of exercising " private judgment" on religious sub- jects, (though such is acknowledged to be the foundation of Protestantism,) would like to see, in order to believe in, those miracles which the sacred historians have recorded on their pages as faithful accounts of mysterious occurrences in days by-gone. In fact, there are coniparatively but very few minds who enjoy undisturbed confidence in the validity of those accounts ; and the unanimous voice of all Christendom is — " We will believe in miracles when we see them; show us spirits, and we will believe in their existence .'" » GOD'S UNIVERSM PEOYIDEN^CE. God expands himself so perfectly throughout all nature, and breathes the heavenly principles of his own constitution so unchangeably into every department of his universe, that TRUTH AND MYS,TEEY. 13 not even the least thing can properly complain of any inat- tention in all the vast empire of animated existfencei God's providence, like his divine essence, is Universal ! It em- braces the toAoZe, and, hence,' algo' the parts. There is no special interference of Deity in the operations of Nature, of which man is a portion ; but God governs and controls every thing with an unwaviering government, — and, with what un- utterable perfection ! Behold, the bird has its provisions of air, and food, and clothing, — all adapted to the temperature of thfe climate in which it lives, and to its little mission in the order of nature ! See, how means are adapted to ends !' The eye to light; the ear to sounds ; the tongue to speech; the soul to thought and heavenly sentiments. Verily^ there are no desires without their appropriate gratifications ; nO de- mands without their proper supplies. This is surely a law of existence, — an uflmistakeable iand magnificent feature in the universal and perfect providence of Deity. If you thirst physically^ go to the healthi-giving spring ; \i spiritually thirsty, go to the great, inexhaustible' fountain of Truth. If your bodies hunger for food, go seek Nature's luxuriant and whole- some provisions ; her larder is never without the appropriate articles of nourishment. If your Sjpirits call for spiritual food, then seek ye first the "'kingdom of God and its righteous- ness," and all the rest shall be added unto you. Thus, too, are we blessed in the affections of our nature. We have no loves which have not their objects ; no feelings which have not their friendships ; no affinities without ultimate destina- tions ! We want water, and there is water ; we want food, and there is food ; we want love, and there is love ; we want immortality, and there is immortality ; we want a God, and THERE IS A GoD ! And such is the perfection and unchange- ability of this gueat law of universal adaptation, that it is per- fectly safe and' reasonable to affii'm, and also to expect, that when man wants miracles he will assuredly find them ; when he wants to see, and hear, and converse with spiritual beings, he may rest satisfied in the belief that his desire has, some- where in the great providential allotments of God''s immu- table laws, its complete and appropriate gratification ! Undoubtedly, the religious want of this age has its proper 2 14 TRUIS AND MYSTEET. supply. It is an age of sensuous investigation — ^the eatth'a inhabitants desire, and will only believe in, external and superficial things ; hence there are adequate means adapted to the accomplishment of higher ends— to the development of an age of spiritual investigation — ^when the general mind will desire, and will place its affections upon those things only which are interior and permanent ! Now, let me not be misapprehended. I say this age wants miracle, and there is miracle; it wants sensuous demonstrations of the' truth of immortality, and there are sensuous demonstrations ! But I do not regard these undeniable manifestations as the result of an* special plan among the inhabitants of the spheres, nor as an act of special legislation or providence on the part of the Divine Mind ; nor am I impressed to connect the spirit- ual manifestations of this age with any occurrences of an analogous complexion and character which may have been developed in ages past. I am not unconscious, however, of the vast providential scheme which seems to begin with the origin of man and to run parallel with his physical and spir- itual progress and development up to the present hour ; but I am not impressed to attempt the useless task of proving the possibilities or probabilities of spiritual manifestations in this period of the world, by analytically tracing, through the wandering mazes of all past times and generations, the cor- respondential or seemingly similar developments of spiritual power and design. A grand scheme of providential acts and dispensations can be elaborated from existing materials ; the stages, and features, and phases — the links in the chain of all ^oriental and legendary accounts of supernatural manifesta- tions — can be, with niueh trouble and woful perplexity, dis- covered, and delineated, and reduced to that order and system which should characterize a science ; but, after all, would it be a science ? Who would know ? Who could tell ? Sup- pose it were a science, what would be its utility ? — what its application ? We may, in the course of this investigation, disclose the whole law and mystery of all spiritual manifesta- tions, and furnish also an explanation of Salem Witchcraft and of all analogous exhibitibns of mental delirium or of spir- tual power; but would the same explanation serve to solve TRUTH AND MYSTERY. 15 the problepd- of Mahomet's assertion, that he "traveled through ninftyi heavens in one night "? Or, would it psycho- logically explain the particular causes why St. John had so wonderful a dream on the Isle of Patmos? Or, why the good Paul, had a vision so superlatively superb and heavenly as to defy all attempts at expression, and, Jience, to "utter" it would have been "unlawful," or, more properly, unreasona- ble? Yea, the following. explanation of existing wonders in this department of human inquiry may, and I believe it will, be found to cover the whole field occupied by the above men- tioned occurrences, as well a& other similar mysterious events recorded in history ; but suppose or admit this exposition of Nature's laws and phenomena to extend so far — what then ? Are we made intellectually wealthier by an explanation of those oriental and uncertain traditions or relations of super- natural occurrences ? Nay ! the mind grows unhealthy vvandering in the bewildering labyrinths of the uncertain Past, and mystery more and more veils its perceptions, till it loses itself in those uncultured wilds, whence it must wearily retrace its footsteps to the Present to seek the true solution of now existing marvels and of constantly-developing phenom- ena ; which will alone benefit mankind and conduct the in- vestigating soul, not back into the dreary wastes of bygone ages, but beyond into the bright, dazzling, glorious spheres vs^hefe Love and Wisdom flow like rivers of living water! While I do not strive to manufacture, so to speak, from out of all past psychological wonders and spiritual reveal- ments, a system of inspiration, which the world might or might not receive as true ; nevertheless, I feel deeply im- pressed with the conviction, that whatever principles will explain the phenomena of clairvoyance, (or spiritual insight,) and the modus operandi of spiritual communications through sounds (^otherwise, occurring in this era of human history, will also explain all events of a similar character which have occurred in all ages of the world. In taking a retrospective view of the religious history and experience of mankind, the contemplative mind can riot but recognize a peculiar and almost perfect adaptation of all laws and revelations to the existing social and intellectual conditions and requirements Ifi TRUTH AMI MYSTKRY. of the race. Every so-called revealment of the Diyine Will,, and every code of social and political laws that were insti- tjjted and supposed to be an expression of the methods of Divine government, are regarded by most Christians' as un- deniable evidences of special acts and providential dispensa- tions on the part of the Infinite God. Because, as it is alleged, those revealments and codes were particularly adapted to the social and political wants, and to the spiritual or religious necessities, of the age in which they were ob- tained. Thus it is generally supposed, that the " new.dispeh- , sation" beginning with the preaching and miracles of Jesus, was not begun with Moses in consequence of 1;he state of un- preparedness in which mankind were existing at the time when Moses lived ; and, therefore, that the " old dispensa- tion" was especially and perfectly adapted to the govern- ment and spiritual well-being of man up to the birth of Christ, at which event, it is said, the Mosaic dispensation expired. This hypothesis has for its foundation a belief in the special action and interference of God, as indicated in the social and spiritual government of the human race. And here let me remark^ that very many intelligent and highly accomplished individuals^-men who have discovered the erroneous opinions and superstitions of past times — are un- consciously gliding into an opinion or a belief no less super- stitious with regard to the magnetic miracles and spiritual communic9,tioi>s ■ of the present day. Surely, it is neither progression nor wisdom to exchange one form of religious superstition for another ! ^ It is rnanjfestly unrighteous to impute the establishment of * ",9W"or "new" orders and, dispensations to the special prov- i^ence of God, because it is absolutely the result of an erro- neous method of philospphical reasoning. It is reasoning thus: when a tpe is in the twig state it is not pr^ared for the bearing pf fruit, and, therefore, God procrastinates the l?e!_S|t,OT(Vment of ,it until the tree has acquired sufficient strength to, .sustain the weight tliereof ; then he prepares, and attaches to ,the, spreading boughs, sue}?, fruit as in his wisdom he may ordjain the tree to bear, But true reasoning would be this . the tree does not bear fruit while in its twig state, because if TRUTH AND MYSTEEV. 17 has nov yet arrived at the culminating or fruit-bearing point in its development. So, likewise, it is only proper to say, that mankind display simply what they are capable of develop ing. Thii "new dispensation" was not unfolded in the Mosaic en\ because the race could not have then developed it ; but like a tree, mankind put forth just those conditions, iust that code of laws and system of political and spiritual government, which its stage of general development could in that age accomplish, — and nothing more ! If Moses had been as perfect in his physical and spiritual constitution as Jesus evidently was in his, then the political code and sacred com- mandments of the former would necessarily have resembled more closely the charming and refining revealments of the latter. But as the two personages were organized in their bodies and minds, so were their respective disclosures. This truth is easily seen. "An eye for an eye," and blood for blood, is a jurisprudential enactment which expresses the revengeful feelings of Moses and of the rudimental age in which he lived ; whilst, " Love ye one another," and " for- give your enemies," speaks sweetly from the soul of Jesus at a more advanced and progressed period. There is no con- founding these personages. Moses, being educated according to the methods and tendencies of his age, declared precisely what his material and spiritual organization and state of mental illumination would suggest ; and so with Jesus ! The one tree put forth its twigs and branches ; whilst the other blossomed, and by its rich perfume gave promise of fruit in still riper ages. This was accomplished by no special action and interposition of the Divine Mind, but by the legitimate progressive development of their own respective constitutions. When the race is far advanced in social and intellectual cul- ture, its government is no longer Jewish, neither is it monarch- ical, hierarchical, or autocratical, but it unfolds the sublimer and more holy elements of man's nature, and the government is, or will be, Republican, manifesting distributive Justice, Goodness, Truth, Accord, Peace and Unity. In the lower stages of mental growth, " an eye for an eye" is the charac- teristic impulse of individuals amd the mode of government. Action and reaction are natural to that phase of individiial • 2* 18 TRUTH AND MYSTERY. development. But in the higher stages of mental gi'owth, the heavenly principles of" Love ye one another" — "forgive your enemies," are the methods adopted whereby to live,, to govern, and to punish. And righteous action is the intuitive impulse consequent upon a high state of physical and moral culture. The bearing of these remarks on the subject of spiritual communications, will be more readily perceived by those minds who regard the wonderful developments of modern times as the particular manifestations of Divine will and de- sign. I have said that this age wants miracle, and there is miracle ; that it wants a palpable and sensuous demonstration of the truths of immortality, and there is such demonstration; but I do not mean to impress any mind with the belief thai these developments are especially sent by God to the earth's inhabitants. Nay; it is the opposite conviction, the truth of which I desire to establish, that the miracles and spiritual disclosures of this era flow naturally and consequently from the state of mental and moral development to which the Anglo-Saxon portion of the human race has generally attained. If this view of these things be not valid and enter- tained — if men do not consult Nature and Reason, and " try the spirits" by the rigid righteousness of those immutable principles which control harmoniously every thing in the vast doimain of terrestrial and celestial existences — then, there can not be any limits set to the wild fanaticism and superstitious absurdities ijato which the honest seekers after truth and spir- ituality will not assuredly plunge themselves, to the discredit and subversion of all that is beautiful and saving (from dis- ,ieord and error) in tbe new and Harmonial Philosophy ! If Truth is our aim — ^our prayer and aspiration — let us seek it for its own saJie ! " If man" says James Victor Wilson, " has too little truth, he is anxious — he is seeking ; and if truth is- all he desires, he finds it ; but should he seek truth not for truth's sake, but for the sake of establishing an opinion or hypothesis, then is he discontented and unhappy." And he very impressively adds : " This perverted motive sometimes actuates the misdirected inhabitants of earth ; but it never moves the residents of the celestial empire." From the foregoing reflections it will be very readily iu ■ TEUTH AND MYSTERY. Ifl ferred that I am not impressed to regard any manifestations, of a super-sensuous character, as being above, contrary to, or inconsistent with. Nature's immutable and universal princi- ples ; that I do not believe in the existence of any miracles which are not referable to natural causes, visible or invisible; nor in the possibility of any strictly supernatural events, an- cient or modern ; because the Divine Mind can not act in opposition to the eternally established laws of his own con- stitution, of which all the visible universe is a transcript, or an outward manifestation. And when I say, that, to supply the want of this age, there are miracles and spiritual demon- strations developed in i^ur midst, I do not mean that any thing, which is thus vouchsafed to man, is above, or contrary to, or inconsistent with, human nature and its inherent capabilities ; but that man, on the earth, has now arrived at a stage of intellectual and moral development which unfolds these very wonderful things, which alike amaze and confound the unprepared, as well as the believing, individual. And as a period arrived when Christopher Columbus launched forth on the sea of speculation, (for such the Atlantic was to him,) and persevered without trepidation in his voyage even to the discovery of the fertile shores of our own beautiful America; so, now, has the period arrived when the aspiring spirit of man can soar far, far away into the gorgeous realms of the Orbed-Infinitude, and discover that more glorious world — the spirit-land — those brighter homes of holy and happy beings ! And the latter is no more of a miracle than the former. If the discovery of the Spirit Land be called a miracle and dis- believed, on the ground that it contradicts all human experi- ence ; then let it be remembered that the discovery of Amer- ica, prior to the voyage of Columbus, was also contrary to all human experience. The one can not more justly be called a miracle than the othe": ; though the former is a revelation of much greater magnitude, importance and grandeur. THE MIEACLES OF THIS AGE. To dwell upon the many and wonderful mirac fes charac- teristic of this age would not be consistent with the structure and object of this chapter. It is well, however, to remark that wbai 's termed animal or human magnetism, is particu- larly and especially the grand element engaged in developing those miracles. And it is very sa^ and truthful to allege this unseen, and as yet to many minds mysterious, influence to be the principle of " virtue" which Jesus sometimes felt " go out" of him at the moment of performing miraculous cures among the sick and disabled. But the most wonderful, beautiful, and momentous miracle of all miracles, consists in the development of those intellectual powers and spiritual perceptions in man's immortal soul, whereby the spirit-land has been discovered and its vast possessions explored. And I would notice still another miracle — a " Jacob's ladder," composed of magnetism and electricity, erected in this age, planted on earth and reaching into Heaven, upon which an- gels descend and ascend, bringing " tidings of great joy" to man, and imparting to him a knowledge of those great truths which belong to an immortal and progressive existence. But the erection of this ladder can not be of much importance or profit to him who does not understand the philosophical foun- dation upon which it rests, and who is ignorant of the laws which sustain it. Though the mind may have been awakened from the deep sleep of skepticism — aroused therefrom by a "spiritual sound" — to behold, for the first time, he vast hori- zon of a new world of realities ; yet unless that mind can obtain a clear, consistent, and natural explanation of how and why those sounds are made, all mere faith in them is as uncertain and fluctuating as the sand upon the sea shore. Let us strive, therefore, to "enter in at the strait gate" which leads to the attainment of wisdom and knowledge ; for the " broad x&aA" of undefined faith and reckless enthusiasm, TRUTH A\D MYSTERY. 21 is certain lo conduct the traveler into the realms of anxiety and dissatisfaction; and a complete "destruction" oi all faith m spirituality and in heavenly things, will be the almost inev- itable consequence of persistence in such a course. Let us all, therefore, be able to give a reason for the hope within. I will now proceed to lay before the reader's open under- standing the results of my interior observations and critical examination of the phenomena unfolded by what has been termed " spiritual manifestations" — ■' mysterious noises" — " spirit rappings;" &c., with which the public is already more or less familiar. It is not, however, to be supposed that I shall attempt to furnish my readers with a detailed histori(!al account of all the communications, and strange occurrences, which are claimed to have originated with spiritual beings ; because the object of this interior examination is, to ascertain and place before the reader, a generalization of all the truth which, in substance, has come to man through the medium of these new developments. This object, I am impressed, can be better accomplished by stating a manifestation as it exter- nally appeared to the material senses, and then relating the interior or hidden causes thereof as revealed to the spiritual senses of the writer. To render plain and distinct the rela- tions which subsist between spiritual or invisible causes, and material or visible effects, I will carefully explain the causes of every event or circumstance of a mysterious or spiritual character with which I am impressed. About the rniddle of June, 1850, an intelligent gentleman, from Ohio, sought the three ladies, as mediums, who were then sojourning in New York, for the purpose of obtaining a spiritual communication. A circle of ladies and gentlemen, about ten in number, were already formed around the table, under and upon which the sounds were apparently made. The gentleman joined the circle, and, on inquiring whether " any spirit would communicate with him," the sounds were directly heard loud and quite en .husiastically rapid. " Will the spirit spell its name ?" he asked. And there was no sound. Taking the suggestion of another person in the circle, hs inquired — " If I write a column of names, will the spirit rap when I write, or ' point my pencil to, the right one ?" 22 TRUTH AND MYSTERY. To this he received an affirmative reply. And when he wrote the name of a deceased daughter, the response was made ! Again, the same gentleman, anxious to obtain more evidence that the communication was in reality v?hat it purported to be, namely, a revelation from the spirit-world, inquired — " Will any other spirit communicate with me ?" and dis- tinct sounds indicated a willing compliance. Again the gen- tleman wrote, and when he traced his son's name, a quick response was given, — differing so distinctly in sound and loca- tion from the reply of his daughter, as to make it easy to dis- criminate between the two. The father was excited even to tears ; in his joy, he wept ! His thoughts were at once drawn from the lonely church- yard where he in grief had seen the loved ones laid away from him in the cold earth. His children were with him again ! Death died in an instant ; and the parent was not bereft ! He spoke to his own, and his own answered him. Their conversation was in substance as follows : the replies to the questions being spelled out by alphabet through the sounds. " Are you happy?" "Yes!" " Do you visit me sometimes ?" " Dear father, we are always with you !" " Do you love music as • you did when on the earth ? and can you indulge in that delight where you now are ?" " Yes !" and here a tune was rapped out by them together, as they had been in the habit of accompanying each othei jvhen in this world. " Do you desire to have me with you, where you are ?" " Not yet !" " Would you like to return to earth ?" "No I this is a happy world !" The above interview was invested with peculiar and in- tense interest; for many gloomy and erroneous tnoughts associated with death, and concerning the realities of the " world beyond the grave," had frequently overshadowed and bewildered the brighter hopes and contemplations of the father; and those thoughts were, on this very impressive oc- TRUTH AND MYSTERY. 23 casion, swept away; his hopes, no longer obscured, were converted into blissful realities, and already he had met his children on the threshold of the spirit-land. This was a true and beautiful specimen of many, very many spiritual communications of like nature which have emanated from the future home of the soul. And it is for this reason — it being an impressive illustration of numerous instances similar to what the reader may have obtained through the sounds, or seen reported in public prints — that 1 am impressed to select it as the basis of an explanation. But here let it be remembered that I am writing, not what from time to time I have witnessed of these things while in my ordinary state, — ^beholding them at these times, like other minds, only with my outward organs of perception, — but what I now relate is obtained from a very recent interior retrospection of the whole field occupied by these mysterious phenomena, commencing with their birth and following them through their subsequent developments. At this present, I have learned for the first time, by an in- terior and particular investigation, that those "raps" were in very truth caused by the spirits of that father's son and daugh- ter. It is a great truth, that the inhabitants of the second sphere can, and do, at times, communicate their thoughts and sentiments to the inhabitants of the earth. Probably I have more personal and practical evidence — more internal and unmistakable demonstration — of this consoling and elevating truth than the reader, (unless, indeed, his own spiritual per- ceptions have revealed these interior realities to his under- standing,) can wholly comprehend and appreciate ; and I, therefore, expect him to seek substantial evidence for him- self in every possible direction. For what is evidence to me, can not be demonstration to another ; and I say, therefore, "let every one be fully persuaded in his own mind" of the truth of these things ; then there will be no room for skepti- cism, especially if our persuasion or faith, (rather knowledge,) is based upon the everlasting foundation of nature and reason. The father above alluded to, could not see his children ; but they responded when he wrote their names, and that was suffi- cient demonstratipr for him — he was perfectly and pleasura- 24 TEUTII AND MYSTERY, bly satisfied! But was his faith well-grounded? Suppose that, from the silent meditation of his happiness,, occasioned by the sweet communication he had but just enjoyed, a skep- tic should suddenly arouse him, and ask, " what evidence had you that those were your children responding?" The father would doubtless start up and answer, " I do not question it ; I am satisfied !" But let him go out into the world, and en- counter all the opposition which existing materiahsm and supernatural theology openly manifest toward new develop- nients, and he will soon acknowledge that all the evidence which he received that his children were really communica-. ting with him, consisted in some vibratory sounds being made when he wrote their names. Now, unless he be a man well versed in the philosophy of the soul's constitution and immor- tality, — having a knowledge of how the human spirit is organ- ized, and how it can communicate with other and congenial spirits, — it is almost certain that the perplexing interrogations put by positively skeptical minds will eventually succeed in dis- sipating from the father's affections and judgment the beauti- ful, truthful, and soul-expanding conviction, that his children really spoke to him from higher spheres. Nor, without a phir losophical comprehension of the subject of spiritual inter- course, could his faith withstand the discovery of counterfeit communications. In truth, without the requisite amount of philosophical knowledge, his faith could be rendered "sure and steadfast" only by continual additional evidence, in the form of miracle ; because miracle, and not philosophy, was the original cause, and would continue to be the foundation, of his beautiful conviction. * Now I am impressed to regard such a miracle as being valuable in two ways : first, as an effect, that admonishes the beholder, and him who hears, to acquaint his mind with the great philosophy of causes ; and, second, I regard it as an illustration and an intimation of some grand truth, or princi- ple, in the great system of the material and spieitual uni- VEESE, with which the true philosopher has already familiar- ized his mind to considerable extent. The spiritual commu- nication above related, is to me, I repeat, a beautiful illustra- tion of a sublime and world-revolutionizing philosophy ; but, TRUTH AND MYSTERY. 2t5 to many individuals — to tho vast majority of intellects — it is but an astounding effect of some hidden and mysterious causes which the material senses can not recognize or worldly reason comprehend. For the latter class of individuals, especially, do I design this analytical investigation. Let us now proceed. I have said that the sounds were really produced by the spirit-children, with whom the father held converse. But the question now arises, "upon what principles or conditions are spiritual communications made ?" Interior perception enables me to reply, that, in the first place, a good moral or intellectual state is not a prerequisite condition on the part of the individual or individuals who con- stitute the medium for electrical intercourse with spiritual be- ings. This, at the first glance, seems a strange inconsistency. But when we consider that the spirits who communicate to the earth's inhabitants, in this electrical manner, do not, as a general principle, allow their thoughts to flow into the mind of the medium, and thence, by pronunciation, to the individ- ual with whom they discourse ; but, on the contrary, that the spirits impart what they desire to communicate through elec- trical vibrations, alphabetically, — ■! say, when we consider all this, it ceases to be a mysterious inconsistency that good moral and intellectual conditions are not required. If the spiritual communications were made through the mind of the medium, as through spiritually-illuminated seers, prophets and clairvoyants, then constitutional harmony, combined with fine moral and intellectual sensibilities and tendencies, would be the indispensable conditions; but, as the conversation above referred to was not conducted through the mediatorial agency of a subject of spiritual insight, the mind must seek in other directions for an appropriate and adequate explana- tion of the causes of the phenomena. In a words we must necessarily conclude that, so far as the medium (or person) is concerned, some physical condition is a,lone required. And this is true. There was, at the time of the above referred to communication, which was held by the father with his children, an emanation of vital electricity from the physical systems of the young ladies, (who were the medium,) and the intense interest experienced by the entire circle, caused each person 86 TEU? ZI AND MYSTERY. present to contribute largely to the general eleistnc atmos. phere. The most exquisitely constructed electrometer is not capable of detecting the presence of this organic electricity ; it is so exceedingly refined and attenuated. It is a species of spiritual exhalation — an emanation of the inferior elements of the spiritual principle — which, when the mind is constantly and vigorously exercised, is rapidly drawn to the cerebrum to sustain the mental action ; but, in the absence of deep men j tal activity, these electrical elements flow down from tha brain into the nerves, and into all the infinite ramifications of the nerves, and thence into the atmosphere which we breathe. Whenever the minds of the mediums were unduly excited, the sounds, and consequently the spiritual commu- nications, would suddenly cease ; because cerebrial excite- ment caused the brain to absorb those elements which, when no mental agitation existed, readily flowed into the proper external conditions for spiritual communication. That the conditions and principles upon which spirits an- swer, in this manner, to the inquiries of man, are simple and physical, philosophical and rational, can be demonstrated to the candid and enlarged understanding ; because those con- ditions are no more complicated or wonderful than- the prin- ciples upon which the magnetic telegraph is daily operating along our great commercial avenues. And here I am im- pressed to introduce the language of one whose thoughts flowed readily into the truthful channel, while meditating upon the philosophy of spiritual intercourse, through the elec- trical sounds.* He says: — j^ " In order to perceive the analogy between the mode of communicating between the spiritual and the natural worlds by electrical rappings, and the mode of communicating be- tween distant places by magnetic telegraph, let it first be understood that each created thing sustains certain electrical relations to all other things ; that all higher forms of develop- ment sustain positive relations to all lower forms — as the ve- getable to the mineral, the animal to the vegetable, and man to all the lower kingdoms in nature. Ascending still further - — ^ _ • ApoUos Munn. TRUTH 4.TVD MYSTEKY. 27 m the scale of progression, the rule will hold good ; and hence it is evident that the spirit-world sustains a positive electrical relation to the natural world, of which it is a higher form — a further and more perfect development. When spirits leavf» the body, the transition causes them no loss of intelligence or, power. On the contrary, as every step in their history while in the body, is marked by that law of progression which de- velops knowledge and power in exact ratio with the refine- ment of the spirit, it is reasonable to suppose that their power over the refined elements in natuffe, and their knowledge of the laws that govern them, will be greatly increased by their immediate assimilation with the refinement and knowledge which pervade the second sphere of human existence. They can not, it is true, come in immediate contact with gross sub- stances ; but they can and do act upon them with powerful effect, through the agency of magnetism and electricity. Thus it can not be disputed, admitting that the spirit progresses hereafter, that the inhabitants of the spirit-world have the poioer, when natural conditions are complied with, to com- municate electrically with their friends in the body. When nature, by her constant movements toward the refinement of matter, develops mediums through which communications can be made, the spirits will be found ready to respond to our de- sires. These mediums are sometimes furnished by certain localities, usually designated as " haunted houses," where the electricity, from certain causes, has become so rare and re- fined that spirits can there manifest their presence and power in various ways. The young ladies of the Fox family, and hundreds of other individuals, through whom the spirits com- municate, are mediums, because the electrical atmosphere which emanates from their systems contains but little gross electricity. The spirits sustaining a positive relation to us, are enabled through these mediums, or conductors, to attract and move articles of iurniture, vibrate the wires of a musical instrument, and, by discharging by tiie power of their wills, currents of magnetism, they can and do produce rappings, like the magnetic telegraph, corresponding to letters of the alphabet." There are many individuals, who, though not particularly 28 TRUTH AND MYSTERY. moral or intellectual, can perform various and wonderful feats of muscular action and power. And so it' is with the mediums ; so far as they are concerned, in the production of true spiritual sounds, their systems may be regarded as mus- cles whereby the spirits manifest their presence and inten- tions. The vital electricity which emanates from the nega- tive physical system of the medium, may be regarded as a receptacle for tne influx of that spiritual electricity which the spirits, by an exercise of their will-power, discharge in straight lines to the location wheft they intend the sounds, or elec- trical vibrations, shall be heard by the circle of -friends on earth. Another circle of believers and skeptics, on the day follow- ing that when the conversation I have already related occur- red, were seated around the same table, and earnestly solicit- ing spiritual communications ; but the weather was exceed- ingly warm and debilitating, and the young ladies were men- tally agitated in consequence of some slight displeasurable re- mark made by one of the audience, and the sounds were not heard. After several unsuccessful eflbrts to induce the pheno- mena of the " rappings," one of the individuals present queried thus : " If there be such a thing as spiritual manifestations, I do not understand why they are not made when we are so anxious for them." And soon, though not in answer to the gentleman's query, but from other causes, the sounds com- menced. And here, before I proceed to relate the conversa- tion with the spirits, which followed, I desire to explain why the manifestations are sometimes not made when they are anxiously solicited. I have said that a good physical condi- tion, and not necessarily a moral one, is particularly required. But this condition can be altered or vitiated, so to speak, by mental agitation and positive anxiety. Vital electricity is exhaled from the spiritual principle, -hrough the nervous sys- tem, in great abundance, whenever the mind is perfectly passive — when all is still and tranquil within the chambers of thought — and when no emotions or anxieties swell the soul, and cause it to absorb the atmospherical emanations which, naturally surround the outer form. An anxious state is a positive state, which is highly unfavorable to spiritual TRUTH AND MYSTERY. 29 ipflux, eij^QT intQithe receptive vessels of the mind, or into the vital-eleqtriQal medium, or atmosphere, which is the pre- requisite condition through which the sounds are made. More- over the exceedingly warm weather is unfavorable to this electrical emanation. The excessive heat causes a kind of exhaustion, or rather it dilutes the vigor of the mediatorial elements which unite the physical organization of spirits to that which man possesses. And not till the attention of the circle of minds was withdrawn from, the intense desire for manifestations — their too anxious feelings being exhausted by the conviction that no communications would be received during that session — and when the more quieted condition of, the mediums permitted, not till then, could the sounds be made. The conversation now proceeded, and a gentlemaiii inquired : "Is ray guardian angel present?" No answer. " Is my brother here ?" was then asked by a lady « Yes." " Will he give me a test by which I may know that it is him ?" "Yes." And according to the method which had been adppted by many individuals, she wrote down a column of names, including that of her brother, and then pointing with her pencil to each one, she said, " is this his name ? is this it ?" and so on, in order, till she came to the right one, and immediately the sounds were heard. She then inquired : " Will my brother tell me what his age was when he de- parted this life ?" " Yes !" the spirit • eplied. And when she wrote the correct age, the response was quickly given. She again inquired : " Will my brother tell me the name of the place where he was when his spirit left his body ?" "Yes!" She then audibly pronounced the names of different vil- lages and cities, and at the right place, the sounds distinctly indica;ted an alfirmative. Again the, lady asked, "Have you any message for our father and mother, or for our sisters at home ?" 30 TRUTH AND MYSTEPY. " Yes !' ;'eplied the spirit, by sounds ; and tne signal forthe alphabet being given, the following sentence was spelled out : " Tell mother and sister," (correctly spelling the name of one in particular,) " that I am happy, and want them to come here and communicate with me." Following this, there were several other communications, each glowing with intense interest, especially for those to whom the messages and responses were made. And here it is well to observe, that private messages, though the most con- vincing of any received, are seldom published to the world. I have been impressed to record the above intercourse, as the basis of an explanation of another apparently inexplicable mystery connected with this mode of spiritual communica- tion. The lady, while conversing, doubtless believed that the spirit of her brother was somewhere in that room. It was doubtless pleasant for her to think him so near, all unattrac- tive as was the locality of their meeting — there, in a heated, close, and crowded room, in the midst of all the bustle and confusion of a large hotel, situated in a discordant and noisy city, and impregnated with the unwholesome atmosphere of many human breaths, — it was not a place where we should wish to invite a spirit from heavenly spheres. But I find that almost every person whose mind has been deeply im- pressed with the truth of spiritual intercourse, is more or less imbued with the conviction that spirits are always in our immediate presence when communicating ; and by our mis- understanding of them, the spirits are sometimes supposed to affirm it themselves, as in those instances where it is so often ,at the circles asked of them, "do you visit me sometimes?" or, " will you visit me in my room to-night ?" or, " are you near me ?" and the sounds will, by the letters of the alpha- bet, spell out in reply, " we are always with you !" or, " yes, I will come to your room !" or, " I stand by your side !" Now it is well for the leader to understand that, notwith- standing the apparent annihilation of time and space to the immortal soul, there is still time to be consumed, and space to be traversed in the spirit-land. Time passes into eternity; and space into infinity, just as the dew-drop is apparentlv lost in the ocean ; but as the drop of water is not destroyed TEUTH AXD MYSTERY. 31 n the sea, so is there no annihilation of either time t' space. Hence the Spirit- World has a fixed locality ; has maj* itudes and proportions ; has qualities and properties ; has syst -.1 and arrangement ; has axis, diameters, and revolutions ; has a sun and a firmament ; has evenings and mornings, or periods of re- pose and action among its inhabitants ; has its position fixed in the mighty multitude of solar systems or universes which roll in the depths of immensity ! But I will not now dwell upon the magnificent truths which unfold before me ; (I refer the read- er, who would follow me in these investigations, to forthcom- ing volumes of " The Great Harmonia ;) but here I desire to distinctly impress each mind with the truth of this distinction, that Heaven is a Condition, but the Spirit-Land is a Locality. You may be harmoniously situated, you may be happy, (or in heaven,) in the lowliest cottage, or in the fields of nature ; but you canjiot be in the spirit-land, (or in spheres beyond this,) unless you undergo a partial or complete change in the relations which now subsist between your soul and body. Therefore, when a spirit-brother, or any spirit, desires to visit some dear one on earth over whom it lovingly watches, it is permitted the gratification of doing so, on condition that har- mony be established between it and the principle of spiritual gravitation. But there is time consumed and space traversed in the process of accomplishing such a visitation. Almost every one knows the' comparative speed of the diflferent commercial instrumentalities of our age. The steam- boat travels faster than the sloop, the locomotive faster than the steamboat, and the electricity on the telegraph wires trav- els faster than the locomotive ; and, to continue the compar- ison, the human spirit travels faster than electricity, but, yet, except in a comparative sense, there is no annihilation of time or space,--no destruction of any portion of Eternity or Infini- ty ! True, it is impossible to appreciate the existence of anj time or space between two cities, eighty English miles apart, when conversing through the agency of the magnetic tele- ^aph ; so, also, it is impossible to appreciate any time or dis- tance between two friends, ten thousand miles or more apart, when conversing through the agency of spiritual insight or illumination, or even when communicating through the more 32 TRUTH AXZ MYSTERY. inferior and rudimental mode of spiritual intercourse, through the instrumentality of sounds. This is a truth which I have repeatedly seen illustrated. When a person has earnestly interrogated his relative, now residing in the -Spirit- Land, through the prayers and aspirations of his soul^ts thoughts reaching the listening spirit there,^-then, according to the principle of spiritual affinity or gravitation, the angel from afar, lending attention, would answer the interrogator by dis- charging a current of thought upon the swift-winged mag- netic elements which pervade the intermediate space, and the terrestrial beseecher would thereby receive a fresh inspira- tion of sentiments into his own soul, and arise from his devo- tions refreshed and happy. And in like manner the earnest questioner, through the sounds, also receives a necessarily laconic, and often very imperfect, frequently misunderstood, answer from the second sphere of human existence, — a re- sponse, rapped and spelled out according to the letters of the alphabet. At the conversation above i-elated, of the lady with her brother, it is well to remark, that he did not come, as she supposed, locally and physically, within the atmospheric en- velopment of our planet ; but he sought a position upon the plane of his present existence, which would harmonize with the current of terrestrial magnetism and electricity of the earth, and also with the vital-electrical atmosphere which emanated from the " mediums," and the circle in . which the lady, his sister, was located ; and, from his elevated posi- tion, he conversed with her almost, as it were, " face to face," and it seemed to her mind that his spirit was really in the room. In a spiritual senst he was, indeed, even by her side ! and the distance between them was, as it were, anni- hilated. Let me not be misunderstood in this : I do not mean to say that there are not many, very many beautiful excep-^ dons to this statement; but the rule, the principle, is, that spirits do not come within our terrestrial atmosphere wheo they communicate their thoughts to man. Moreover, I have observed that the current of thought which a spirit sends to earth, generally comes from an oblique direction, and scarcely ever at right angles, with the location of the friend, or the TRUTH AND MYSTERY. . 33 *ircle of friends, with whom it is communicating. This truth is susceptible of a very rational and philosophical explana tion. But I leave, for the present, all scientific considera- tions of this particular branch of the subject, as it can only benefit those who are already far advanced in spiritual phi- losophy and experience ; and of this class the number is, as yet, too limited to demand a minute solution of this beauti- ful fact. THE DECAY OF SUPERSTITION. The mighty energies and wondrous attributes of the Omnipotent Principle are just beginning, as it were, to be unrolled and revealed to man ! No ; but man is being refined and unfolded, and is becoming- more and more capable of comprehending the great realities of his own existence and of the nature and perfections of God. No more can the raging tempest frighten him into the paying of homage to soKie supposed angry Deity; nor the rolling thunder cause him ?o tremble, and call upon him with its hoarse mutter- ings, to burn the innocent lamb for a sacrifice to appease the wrath of his god. The deep moan and shrill wail of the storm-heaving sea, shall no more drive the free-born soul into the worship of unknown gods — the unseen dispensers of avenging power ; neither shall he any more bow down before unholy altars', wheji the long-slumbering volcano shall pour forth, in tones of thunder, its burning tide. But man shall learn to calm the tempest ; already he makes the wind waft his ships to foreign shores ! He shall command the ocean ; for even now upon its waves he calmly rides in palaces ! He shall control the lightnings ; for, behold ! how they convey his thoughts from nation to nation, and from sphere to sphere! Verily, mankind hath already attained unto a high eminence, and, while spirits are manifesting their presence and power in our midst, the intelligent ; and pure- minded individual of this era remains wholly unmoved by superstitious awe and false adoration. The , spiritual world 3 34 , TRUTH AND MYSTERY. may shower upon us its heavenly truths, and the two worlds, the material and spiritual, may embrace and unite. Earth may partake of the joys and truths of a higher sphere, and be joined, with it, into one heavenly kingdom of peace ; but no more shall the miracle-expectitig multitudes among men sac- rifice their reason upon superstition's altar. At this point, I am impressed to introduce an apparently trifling incident as a gateway opening to a field of still more interesting explanations of the phenomena now particularly under consideration. I allude to another conversation with spirits, through sounds, which also occurred in New York. A circle being formed round the table, as usual, a gentleman present inquired : " Will my father converse with me ?" To his question there was no response, ^nd each person- asked for their friends, in turn, still receiving no reply. Soon the rap- pings gave the signal for the alphabet, and a sentence was spelled out, directing the young ladies (the mediums) to sing. This request being immediately complied with, the communi- cations subsequently were free and satisfactory. The direc- tion to sing elicited some questioning remarks from the com- pany, and one among them queried : " I wonder if Spirits hear our voices ?" and another said : " I think spirits can not be much dehghted by such music as mortals make." As these remarks were developed by the little circumstance above related, so are the following explanations developed by those remarks. I will, however, state, parenthetica,lly, that the ob- ject of the singing, in this instance, was tg establish a passive- ness of feeling and a harmony of sentiment in the circle. For, as I have already said, the requisite quantity of vital- electrical emanations, which constitute the physical condi- tions upon which spiritual beings can manifest their presence and thoughts,, can not be obtained from the mediums unless mental tranquillity and a degree of physical quietude be pre- served on their part, and also throughout the circle of indi- viduals. An answer to the question, "do spirits hear our voices ?" may be of immense service to many minds. The opinion has long been entertained that man shoula address the Deity with oral prayer — that all gratitude and TEUTH AND MYSTERY. 35 supplication must be pronounced in human language — ihat the mouth I should give utterance to adoration and praise. Audible prayers, both loud and long, are esteemed by many persons as alqjie adequate to arouse and secure the attention of (jod. Now, I do not place any confidence in the supposed validity or soul-sincerity of those prayers which are orally expressed, according to agreement, before and after pulpit discourses in our churches, nor upon any other occasion, which fashion may haye adopted or usage sanctioned. Yet prayer, the mind-uplifting prayer, is not only philosophical, but absolutely essential to mental happiness and to the pro- ^essive purification of the impetuous affections which live in the soul's sanctuary. True prayer is perpetual! The good man prays " without ceasing ;" and there are moments when from "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh" glowing desires and the emotions of gratitude; but. these gushings forth of the soul's fullness, have no stated periods of overflowing, obedient to mere mechanical arrange- ments. Nay, they are spontaneous, welling up from the eternal fountain within us! — But formal and ceremonious prayer is both vitiating and blasphemous ; the mere habit of prayer, though calculated to discipline thought, is never purifying or elevating. Popular theology and, fashion term it a duty ; philosophy and good sense consider it as a piece of mechanism, and a remnant of the ceremonials of the Pa- triarchial Age. Secret charities are as heavenly as secret injuries are diabolical, — so inward prayer is as refining and eificacious, as the merely habitual oral prayers are corrupting and immoral. Now, let me be distinctLy comprehended. I do not repudiate, nor would I suppress, the beautiful and honest utterance of inward sentiments when the mouth echoes them from out of "the soul!; I lave to hear the vocal breathings of the spirit's desires for taruth, and its sweet-toned expressions of thankfulness ; such prayers are natural as the bursting of a rose-bud in a spring morning — as beautiful in the sight of angelic beings as the rivers of truth that ripple through their holy-lands— musical as a strain in the universal, harmonies of nature which reverberate even unto Him the Geeat Authoe of all harmony. Such prayer, such praise, 36 TRUTH AKr MYSTEET. such worship, is, indeed, unlike the ceremonious and lip-deep utterances, (termed prayers,) which too often ernanate from the modern pulpit, and which I am impressed to denounce as being corrupting and demoralizing to both the pronouncer and his audience. He prays, who, in the very center of his heart, earnestly and honestly and continually desires to acquire temperance, and patience, and truth, and love to the neighbor, and love to God; and he prays who feels a perpetual gratitude for all the blessings he enjoys, for the sun's light and heat, for sum- mer and winter, for seed-time and harvest, for the love he is enabled to bear to his enemies, and the forgiveness with which he can forgive them ; for the love which others conse- crate to him ; for the unchangeable manifestation of Divine LOVE — that love greater than all; and Divine will — that will which is without shadow of turning ; and Divine Wis- dom — that wisdom which is universal, — these attributes of the Father spreading throughout nature's boundless territories ; if he be thus deserving and thus thankful, then that man prays " without ceasing" — he prays that holy and glowing prayer which the angels love to gaze upon — that living prayer which sanctifies his own soul ! Such prayers seldom express themselves in words; they incarnate and imbody themselves in righteous deeds ! They are never " full of sound and fury, signifying nothing," but impersonate them- selves in ihe beautiful form of Charity, clothed with the stainless habiliments of chastity, meekness, goodness, virtue, and magnanimity. Her voice is low and gentle, and, like the violet, she only proclaims her own sweetness by the giving forth of her native fragrance ! I am impressed to af- firm, that " a wtJl-ordered life and a godly conversation" con- stitute ihe only real and truthful prayer that man can utter. But here let us understand that the present structure of society is not favorable to the manifestation of such gentle meekness and magnanimous virtues, particularly in those who have inherited an unfavorable organization of body and mind to begin -with, and, perhaps, have received an education no less prejudicial to personal holiness and harmony. Let those, therefore, who have been blessed with unearned riche?, TRUTH AND MYSTERY. 37 in their physical and spiritual constitutions, do all they can to help on the unfortunate to the full and complete expression of those inward prayers which lie hidden and undeveloped in ike most interior sanctuary of the soul ; and let the rich and endowed give unto the poor and bereft ! The belief is erroneous, that spirits can, at all times, hear our voices ; it is a truth, however, that they c"an always see our thoughts. "But," says one who has conversed with spirits through the agency of electrical vibrations, "1 have had spelled out to me the following sentence" — state your desires orally and we will respond — " now, what does this mean ?" The explanation of this is exceedingly plain : there are but very few individuals who can think distinctly without the use of words ; they must talk to define an idea even to themselves ; and hence it is difficult to get at what such mdividuals would say, or to unravel a clear expression from the confusion and disorder of their thoughts. It is only the well-developed, well-disciplined, and healthy intellect that can, distinctly and positively, impress its thoughts, by an ex- ercise of the will-power, without oral expression, upon another spirit. And thus it is that, those who can not think their desires distinctly are requested, by the spirits, to utter them in words, that they may receive a correct impression of what the speaker would convey, and also that he himself may thus better understand his own question, and comprehend the answer. But we are not to suppose that spirits are with us at all times, — always ready to answer when we may choose to call upon them, — for, were it so, and man could gain ac- cess to them and obtain their counsel upon all occasions, through any avenue whatsoever, he would then inevitaoly forget, or refuse, to fill the measure of his own individual ca- pacity^-he would cease to play his part in the sphere of re- sponsibility wherein he is comparatively a Free- Agent — and he would sit " all the day idle," waiting for a " Thus saith the Lord" — for spiritual guidance — as an easy and agreeable substitute for the exercise of his own immortal powers and wisdom-attributes — to inform him what to think, where to go, and what to do ! VM GUARDIANSHIP OF SPIRITS. Interioe experience and observation teach me this as a principle : When human endeavor and aspiration have attained the summit of their abiUty to accomplish — have reached the apex of the mighty pyramid of all material sci- ence, philosophy, theology, and morality, which man, in his own beautiful strength, can erect and climb, then, upon that height, are the deeper spiritual elements of the soul unfolded, and, touching the spirit-world, they receive from the angelic combination of administering spirits in the second sphere, a spiritual philosophy and a divine illumination. In other words, when an individual human mind, in its physical and moral organization and development, reaches nigh unto the spirit-world, then spiritual enlightenment and direction flow into the soul's affections and understanding. But, in our endeavors to attain this organic harmony and moral elevation, let it not be supposed that we are always left to strive and struggle alone. No ! Like ourselves, all spirits and angels were once men. They have lived in corporeal organisms ; have walked upon this, or upon some other, earth which rolls in space ; have experienced the pleasures and vicissitudes — the joys and sorrows — the tears and smiles — of this incipient existence. But now, having passed through the transformatory process of outer dissolution, which man- kind term death, they reside in the spirit-land ; and, in har- mony with the immutable laws of progression and develop- ment, they have transcended all terrestrial imperfections and still they march victoriously onward ! But they who have already attained to celestial heights, as well as those who have not yet advanced far in the spiritual country, they Can behold us from where they are, and in our evening medita- tions ; in our profoundest slumbers ; in our daily occupations ; in our " circles" of fraternal love ; the spirit-friends, whoni our souls most aittract, come to us and breathe their pure and TRUTH AND MYSTERY. 39 beautiful sentiments into our souls. And when, by reading our thoughts, they see us in trouble or in danger, it is reason- able to anticipate the reception (that is, if the vessels of our minds will admit the influx) of some spiritual assistance and direction from the angel's home. Surely, Christians will remember one forcible illustration of this trutl;, — the beautiful account of how the scales fell from Saul's eyes ! A protect- ing spirit, an angel-messenger, watching the moment when the warrior's soul would admit of it, sent into his moral per- ceptions a current of divine elements, which not only made him see the error of his course, but turned his thoughts on high ! And there is, also, another prominent and beautiful instance of spiritual guidance recorded in religious history : it is related that " the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying. Arise, and take the child* and his mother, ' and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word." Now, Jhe majbrity of those who believe, because they have been educated so to do, in this circumstance, though it is said to have occurred centuries ago, will not give credence to similar, and often more complete, spiritual mani- festations daily happening in our very midst. That principle of Nature which could develop spiritual intercourse in past times, is surely capable of doing the same thing in this era ; for there must be unity and system in the operation of God's Unchangeable laws. If it be said, by some objector, that the circumstance above alluded to can not be referred to na- ture's laws ; that it was accomplished by an especial com- mand of God ; then I remind the reader that there is nothing outside of, or superior to, that stupendous organizsftion or matter and mind which I am impressed to term, Nature. Neither are we to suppose that the Deity will do for one inhab- itant of earth, what he will not do for another ; because he is " no respecter of persons," and because, also, according to the affirmation of the highest authority among Christians, "he is without variableness, neither shadow of turning !" There- fore, upon the broad and immovable foundation of Nature and her laws, (which laws are the very elements of God's will.) we should rest the conviction, that spirits can see our thoughts^ and that they do, sometimes, approach us to remove 40 TEUTH AND MYSTERY. the scales of superstition and error from our eyes — thus directing our thoughts toward . the ' Eternal Mind who will hear a sigh's low music 'mid bursting praises that ascend up- ward from a thousand realms '! THE DISCERNMENT OF SPIRITS. Under this head, I proceed to briefly and analytically con- sider the remark of the gentleman who queried as to whether " spirits could delight in the music which mortals make ?" I am impressed to reply, that spirits do experience pleasure in beholding the harmony and other effects which music creates in our spuls ; and it would seem, at first glance, that, being pleased, the spirits must, therefore, hear our voices. This requires an explanation. Spirits can hear our voices, and we can hear their tones ; but the question arises — " how can this be possible ?" And the answer is, that the material senses have corresponding internal and spiritual senses. We do not see with the eye, with the mere visible organ — but by a principle of spiritual perception which, as,a portion of the mind, lives in the nerves of the eye as the soul lives in the body. So the external mechanism and structure of the ear are an exact impersonation, so to speak, of the principles of hearing. And so with all the other senses. The scientific world does not sanction these facts because medical men know nothing about them. Materialism characterizes the sciences of this age ; and hence it is not to be expected that the spiritual truths, which remain in Nature's casket as yet unlocked to men of popular science and learning, should, when revealed, be recognized and acknowledged by them ; every new-found treasure the materialistic intellect rejects, but it is not less a gem of truth, destined yet to shine in the diadem of knowledge ! And, though the oculist and the optician of to-day may not concur in the fact here disclosed, we rest perfectly assured that this philosophy of the internal senses is recognized by reason, and sanctioned by nature, and these are high authorities. TRUTH AND MYSTERY. 41 When spirits speak to us, they address our interior and spiritual sense of hearing. And when we behold spirits we exercise the internal principle of perception or, seeing. It not unfrequently occurs, that an individual thinks his out- ward senses addressed when, like Saul, he hears a voice pro- nouncing his name, apparently, from the depths of the air. And when spirits have been seen, the beholder is apt to be- lieve that the vision was confined or addressed to the out- ward sense of seeing — so distinct and self-e^yident is a real manifestation of spiritual presence. We can, however, be easily deceived with regard to the seeing of spirits, because of the fact that the mind is itself capable of combining and re-combining thoughts and imperfectly remembered circum- stances, personages and scenery, in a new and involuntary manner. And, again, the superficial elements, and the un- quieted thoughts of the mind are sometimes, even uncon- sciously to the individual, elaborated, by the dreamy action of the will, into different human forms and faces, bursting out of intensely black and gray ragged clouds, having all the semblance of an imperfect spiritual manifestation. There are always to be found minds of this description, differing one from another in that the forms which they thus manufacture, as it were, are not always beautiful and heavenly. The mind which dwells on celestial and pure . things, will see seraph faces, whilst the disturbed individual, recalling the lessons of his theology, will often behold hideous-visaged demons, the conjurations of his own brain. Among nearly all religious sects are evident indications that spurious spirit- seeing has prevailed to considerable extent. The votaries of St. Vitus were frequently thrown into paroxysms of enthusi- asm and ccstacy by a kind of reckless indulgence of the spir- itual sentiments amounting almost to religious voluptuous- ness ; and the consequences were conspicuously indicated in the professions which they made with regard to the seeing of their departed friends and acquaintances. Now, I do not undertake to deny that the early disciples of St. Vitus some- times perceived the forms of their friends whose spirits had passed from earth. Nsither do I doubt the truthfulness of many similar profession a ^ong the spiritually-minded " Shak« 42 TRUTH AND MYSTKKT. ers" of our day and generation ; but I am impressed to con-, sider a large majority of the spiritual perceptions and com- munications alleged by different minds to have been enjoyed by them, during their moments of religious excitement, as the results principally of cerebrial agitation. I have stood by the bed-side of the disturbed dreamer, have watched the thoughts of the fanatic, have read the wild fancies of the maniac, and have painfully traced the bewildering imaginings of the inebriate; and have thus particularly and critically examined, with my spiritual perceptions, the mental condi- tions and phenomena which are developed by duplex insanity, monomania, delirium tremens, &c. ; and I can truthfully affirm, that the objects, localities, scenery, and personages which the victims of these maladies profess to see and en- counter, vehemently vindicating their immediate presence and reality, are all of the same class of mental delusion, and are absolutely nothing more than unconscious elaborations of the surcharged brain, which contains all the germinal essences of the internal or thinking principle. An explanation of these ^erebrial projections of objects and scenery, I defer until I come to an interior analyzation of the psychological phenom- ena which characterized the mental state of Baron Sweden- borg. But here let us disci'iminate between what is real and what is unreal in the perception of spiritual beings. To the healthy and discriminating mind there is no confounding of a sub- stantial vision of super-mundane personages and scenery with the dreamy hallucinations of the disturbed intellect. When the interior senses of 'he mind distinctly see a spirit or hear its serene, rich, friendly tones, it is impossible for the thus favored individual to be mistaken. If, however, as it some- times happens, we get only an imperfect glimpse of some guardian-spirit that seeks our recognition and welfare, — and if we can not be absolutely certain and'honest in our convic- tions of that angel-presence, and have not a perfect assurance that the vision was no illusion, — then it is wisdom to keep our understandings open to the reception of more substantial evidence, to the end that the mind may not be conducted into regions of uncertain hypothesis and imagination. A TRUTH AND MYSTERY. 43 truthful and beautiful instance of spirit-seeing was originally reported in one of our journals. It 'well and touchingly illus- trates the naturalness and self-evidentness of spiritual insight, quickened in this instance, as it sometimes is, by material attenuation consequent upon disease ; which attenuation partially emancipating the spirit from its earthly temple, ren- ders it more susceptible to the impression and perception of the presence of guardian angels. "A little girl, in a family of my acquaintance," says the narrator, " a lovely and precious child, lost her mother at an age too early to fix the loved features in her remembrance. She was beautiful ; and as the bud of her heart unfolded, it seemed as if won by that mother's prayers to turn instinct- ively heavenward. The sweet, conscientious, and prayer- loving child, was the idol of the bereaved family. But she faded away early. She would lie upon the lap of the friend who took a mother's kind care of her, and, winding one wasted arm about her neck, would say, ' Now tell me about my mamma !' And when the oft-told tale had been repeated, she would ask softly, ' Take me into the parlor ; I want to see my mamma !' The request was never refused ; and the affecti|?nate sick child would lie for hours, gazing on her mother's portrait. But " Pale and wan she grew, and weakly — Bearing all her pains so meekly, That to them she still grew dearer, As the trial-hom- grew nearer." That hour came at last, and the weeping neighbors assem- bled to see the little child die. The dew of death was already on the flower, as its life-sun was going down. The little chest heaved faintly, — spasmodically. ' Do you know me, darling !' sobbed close in her ear, the voice that was dearest ; but it awoke no answer. All at once a brightness, as if from the upper world, burst over the child's colorless countenance. The eyelids flashed open ; and the lips parted ; the wan, curdling hands flew up, in the, little one's last impulsive effort, as she looked piercingly into the far above. 44 TKri H AND MYSTERY 'Mother!' she cried, with surprise and transport in hei tone — and passed with th&t breath into her mother's bosom. Said a distinguished divine, who stood by that bed of joy- ous death. ' If I had never believed in the ministration of departed ones before, I could not doubt it now !' " Thus the spirits whom our souls most attract, often draw nigh to us, even when through the grossness of our material senses we see them not, and they do " delight in the music we make," for they take pleasui'e in whatever influences us to harmony, tranquillity and happiness. It is not that the words we sing, or the sounds we awaken, can so charm those who listen to celestial strains ; but the spirit of those words, those sounds, live in us, and our guardian spirits love to arouse that musical element in our minds, thereby, in a meas- ure, dissipating the outward discords which surround and act upon us on earth. Hence, when a circle of friends meet for spiritual commuiaications, and find it difficult to get responses to their well-intended questionings, then let them unite their voices and "sing," let them be cheerful together, and the effects thereof, quieting disturbed minds, will delight the attending spirits near ; and such unanimity of feeling and sentiment will, temporarily at least, harmonize the human with the divine. And if we would but carry thence the PRINCIPLES OF MUSIC into our homes, — into our social, politi- cal and religious institutions, — and thus render human society as a musical instrument, I know its chords would frequently be touched by spirit-fingers, and the angel -tones thereon awak- ened would sweetly proclaim the kingdom of heaven on earth! There have been always, in all ages of the world, some slight, exceedingly obscure, and fragmentary manifestations of invisible and spiritual power ; for many individuals as well as various sects have received what they conceived to be spiritual revelations from the unseen, and to the majority of minds, the mysterious and uncertain world. But there never has been presented to mankind, in any one era of human progress previous to this century, any thing like a clear, con- sistent, and incontestable demonstration of spiritual presence and influence ; and the explanation why mankind, in no pre- TRUTH AND MYSTERY. 45 vious age, have witnessed those undeniable evidences of im- mortality and spiritual realities, which are manifested and beginning to be recognized in the present century, is this : mankind in general, with but few exceptions, have never ventured the exercise of their reason principle upon myste- rious and super-mundane occurrences, but have repulsed every attempt on the part of a spirit to manifest its real ex- istence and mission to the earth's inhabitants, with the most suffocating skepticism or 'fanatical superstition. It is surely very evident, that the fear of evil-spirits has hitherto been much more general and powerful than the love of God. The fear of a fabulous devil is, even at this advanced period of civilization, much stronger, in timid and undeveloped minds, than the love of truth and Deity! And the consequence is, that, whenever the inhabitants of the spirit-world strive to manifest themselves to the inhabitants of the natural world,, in which we live, the pioneers from that superior country to this comparatively isolated planet, are deprived an entrance into our homes and communities, — into our affections and understandings, — ^by the superstition and skepticism of the people ; a people made thus skeptical and superstitious by ignorance and error ; they are afraid to receive the spirits in their homes, lest they be not angels from heaven, but agents of the supposed king of darkness, who has mythologically been invested with such terrific power and influence. Skep- ticism and superstition are the legitimate offsprings of ignor- ance and theological error, — and this remark applies with equal force and truthfulness to all Christian and heathen forms of religious worship and education. But the time has now arrived, when the two worlds — the spiritual and the natural — are prepared to meet and embrace each other on the middle-ground of mental freedom and progression. And those who pre most advanced in individual refinement, har- mony, and spiritual truth, will gladly receive and philosophi- cally, intejpret every 'communication which may emanate from the founts above. THE STSATFOEB MYSTERIES Aside from the religious want of the age, there is still another reason why these manifestations and demonstrations of spiritual existence and power ait becoming sg. general at this particular time,^t is this: There has never before ex- isted upon this earth so much mental, and moral, and religious freedom, — never so much actual . goodness and universal love, — we have grown almost to the spiritual world; and the period even now appears brief when humanity will realize its nearness to, and friendship for, the spirit-land ; and man shall aspire to be like unto the angels ! And while we are looking for a full realization of these high convictions and sublime realities, let us "fear not to entertain strangers" either in the form of personages, thoughts, or philosophies, because "they may be angels," or messengers of truth, as was once discovered by an oriental patriarch, whose fame is recorded in the Primitive History. These reflections and admonitions are prompted by the widely-acknowledged fact, that in various portions of the world — especially in America, at this present — there are many indications of the presence and influence of spiritual beings or agencies, possessing intelligence and manifesting extraordinary power over material objects and substances. Many persons believe these sounds and manifestations to be the effect of some ingeniously- arranged machinery ; others believe that they are produced by electrical discharges from magnetic batteries, managed by good clairvoyants to answer such oral or mental questions as only spiritually enlightened clairvoyants could perceive and solve; and there is still another class of persons who believe them to be the experi- ments and caprices of satanic agencies. Now, whether all the singular and mysterious developments ever actually oc- curred at Rochester in the manner alleged by those who claim to have witnessed and investigated them, I am not im TRUTH AND MYSTERY. 47 pressed to say, (for I consider the facts already sufficiently demonstrated to the public understanding ;) nor have I evei been moved to seek any information with regard to the causes of those declared manifestations prior to the writing of this chapter. And I had never witnessed any of these things previous to last spring, when, although much engaged in New York, I was impressed to visit the village of Strat- ford, Connecticut, for the express purpose of observing, with both my natural and spiritual perceptions, a variety of mys- terious noises and exciting, phenomena, occurring there, at a private residence. And now I desire the reader to follow me in the ensuing investigations. FiRST-T— j4s to the facts. Every consistent step was taken, by the proprietor of the house, to satisfy many of his particular neighbors and a few of the influential citizens of the village, that, at least, a great number of the sounds and external appear- ances were not produced by human hands or instrumentalities. Among many other and equally strange things which occur- red there, the members of the family and other individuals have witnessed, (though invariably subsequent to the arrange- ment,) the grouping of various figures, made from articles of clothing taken mysteriously from the wardrobes and trunks ; they h^ve also seen books thrown about; nails, keys, and other portable things belonging to the house, falling in their midst ; they have had black crape tied on the door-latch, and the looking-glasses covered with sheets, as is customary, in some families, when a corpse is in the house ; but the most interesting and, I think, important phenomena, have beeu the writing of various unknown and apparently insignificant char- acters which have been impressed upon the walls of the chambers, and upon the piazza and elsewhere. Now, there were in this house two individuals who seemed to be partic- ularly and inseparably connected with almost every thing which had been, and was being, developed — I allude to a young girl and her brother. A higher class of manifestations usually attended the former ; but the latter — the boy — seemed to some persons to be maliciously and unnecessarily torment- ed by evil spirits. Because his clothing was sometimes sud- denly torn ; his cap, shoes, &c., were mysteriously concealed 48 TRUTH AND MYSTEEY. at times ; aild on one occasion he was suspended by a rope' to a tree ; he would be startled by loud raps suddenly sound- ing under his footsteps as he ascended or descended the stairs ; and he was made sick and delirious by fright and agitation. Second — As to the origin of these facts. The evidence to an unenlightened mind that many of these sounds and appear- ances were not produced by human hands, or by any mun- dane agencies, must necessarily consist in what was discover- ed to be a fact, that it was and still is impossible to trace their primary causes to any earthly source. Of course, nh one will pretend to affirm t]te impossibility of there being any hu- man agency in the performance of some of these mysterious feats ; nay, on the contrary, it is consistent with reason to believe, that almost every thing developed in that house, could have been caused, under favorable circumstances, by the con- certed plans and inventions of some members of the family, But when the existing circumstances did not favor such con- trivances, plans, and arrangements, and when the family were assembled all together in one room, — it being ascertained that the domestics were honest, and for the most part ignorant of what had occurred and was occurring, — then, should a book be thrown from an opposite side of the room, or a full, vibrat- ing, concussive sound be made in the upper rooms, or a win- dow-pane be broken from the inside, or should the legs of the boy's pantaloons be suddenly torn in strips, and he be tied by those strips to the chair in which he was sitting, without his knowledge, and while, as it is alleged, his hands were grasped by his mother, — I say, under such stubborn circumstances, (which render human agency impossible,) should the above- mentioned phenomena occur, as in truth they did, then the only inference is, that those things were caused by an invis'- ble intelligence and potency. Of the laws of mind and matter, the world is comparative- ly ignorant ; and the principles which govern the inhabitants of the spirit-land are still less understood by the generality of mankind. In the midst of all this ignorance, the desire for knowledge moves many minds to ask these great (]uestions: TRUTH AND MYSTERY. 49 " What is a spirit ?" and apprehending spirit to be an intan- gible and an immaterial substance, such minds inquire, "how is it possible for spirit to move inorganic bodies and material substances ?" Again, " why do spirits only visit certain lo- calities, and intimately associate their manifestations only with certain individuals ?" "Why are these manifestations not in all places, and with all persons?" These questions demand, and are capable of receiving, reasonable and philo- sophical answers, — ^to furnish which I will now proceed to state what I know of these things, both from long and unbro- ken investigations into the laws which govern matter and mind, and from recent impressions which I have received concerning what occurred at the house of the gentleman in Stratford at the time of my visits there. 1. A spirit is tio immaterial substance ; on the contrary, the spiritual organization is composed of matter — such as we see, feel, eat, smell, and inhale — in a very high state of refine- ment and attenuation. The spiritual body is vastly more potential than the bone and muscle which its elements can so readily and powerfully move while inhabiting the earthly body ; neither is it impalpable or intangible, except to the material senses ; for, to the spiritual senses, — ^which senses are opened by entering the superior condition, and, generally speaking, at the moment of death.^the spiritual organization is a more tangible, palpable, and substantial piece of reality than it is possible for the unenlightened or materialistic intel- lect to imagine. 2. That spirit can come into contact with inorganic and material substances, is proved by every man's experience. Railroads and steamboats are made and managed by spirit. Suppose you desire to lift a weight ; what is it that performs the labor ? I answer, it is your spirit ! it is that spiritual priur ciple within you which thinks, feeh, loves, and reasons — it is your interior self ! and if the reader will reflect upon and discover how it is that his spirit can raise a given weight, he will receive a reasonable and philosophical answer to the question under consideration. First, your spirit, which is a fine organization of fine materials, desires to raise the weight referred to. Now, I will describe to you the various invisi- 4, 50 TKUTH AND MYSTEltY. ble agencies or instrumentalities which are engaged within your organism to accomplish this purpose :— The first agent is your spirit — the second your vital-magnetism — the third your vital-electricity — the fourth your nerves — the fifth your muscles — and the sixth is the bone which, by acting in concert with the above-named agents, succeeds in raising the weight. Many unscientific persons suppose that muscle does all the labor which they perform ; while, in truth, mus- cle is only one of the agents which the indwelling spirit em- ploys to do its will. Since, therefore, it is demonstrated that human spirit can come in contact with inorganic matter, while living in the earthly body, it remains no longer an un-. philosophical conviction that spirits from the spirit-land are capable, by employing some invisible intermediate agencies, of approaching and moving objects here which our material eyes can recognize. But it is asked — "How can a spirit move a table, or a chair, or a candlestick, and guide the mov- ing article to some particular locality, without the use • of bones, muscles, nerves, &c. &c., as a human spirit can do while in the corporeal body ?" The answer to this question will cover the whole ground occupied by the following inquiry^ — "Why do spirits only visit certain localities and individuals, thus seeming to man- ifest exclusiveness and partiality ?" And I proceed to state, that the two individuals already mentioned, as members of the family I visited in Stratford, Conn., the young girl and her brother, were both exceedingly surcharged, alternately, at the time the manifestations were being developed, with vital-magnetism and vital-electricity. Magnetism, which is positive, and electricity, which is negative, would at different times preponderate, each having the ascendency in their sys- tems. I was one day ascending, with the boy, a flight of stairs, when suddenly there came a quick, loud rap under his left foot, which frightened him exceedingly, because he sup- posed the sound was made by a spirit, and which he was ed- ucated to believe to be an evil spirit. But I instantly per- ceived that his system, like the torpedo eel, had discharged a small volume or current of vital electricity from the sole of the foot, which electricity, by ks coming in sudden contact TRUTH AND MYSTERY. 51 with the elec The modus operandi of these phenomena I design not now to detail ; because, at present, it is deemed sufficient for mankind to know that it is both naturally and philosophically possible for spirits to ap- proach and influence heavy and gross bodies of matter. Of the two mediums we are considering, the boy, Henry, is naturally nervous ; but the young lady, his sister, has been rendered so by the strange and unexpected sounds and phe- nomena that have frequently attended her steps and move- ments. The parents have received the testijnony of young Henry, I believe, as being literally true on all occasions ; but I have discovered that he frequently failed to discriminate, during certain moments of mental agitation, between the sounds and effects which he himself made, and those sounds whidh were produced by a spiritual presence. On one occa- sion 'he was found with a rope passed under his arms and suspended lo "the limb of a tree. When removed from that position, 'he related thai* he " screamed at the top of his voice." But rt was ascertained, that had he in reality done so, the TRUTH AND MY3TEEY. 53 domestics, ^ho had been near the spot, must have heard him. Now, it -(vas not with the intention to deceive that he made this declaration, — he really supposed that he had " called aloud" — as I discovered when viewing the circumstance from my superior condition ; at which time I also learned, that, to control the boy* from effecting some premeditated impru- dence, a spirit near him, taking advantage of the electrical state qf his system, actually made him unconsciously instru- mental in tying himself to the tree ; and in order that he might not escape and accomplish his previously conceived design, the guardian spirit impressed him to feel fright, and to think that he called for help till such time as it was deemed prudent to release him. Those of my readers who are at all acquainted with the recent discoveries in pneumatological or psychological science, or with the symptoms and effects con- sequent upon an incipient somnambulic state, will readily understand how one mind can cause another to feel and be- hold things which in reality have no existence. And in like manner, as one individual can cause another to experience sensations -vvhich are merely imagined by the operator, so spirits can and do effect certain impressible minds to think they say and perform things while they are, in fact, silent and inactive. Spirits can also impress such minds to think they see that which is not, and again not to see that which really is. For instance — it has been affirmed by the parents of Henry, and by others visiting at their house, that many articles have been instantly and invisibly carried from one place to another in the room where they were sitting, and that the articles so moved were rendered invisible while be- ing conducted through the air. Now, although the facts alleged are true, the mode is not. The spirit or spirits that produced the phenomena were very careful to so act upon the minds of those in the room as to render it absolutely im- possible for them to have realized that the articles were pas- sing through the air, or even to realize that their own mental attention had been in the least diverted or disturbed ; they unknowingly yielded to the silent power of mind acting upon mind ; and thus many things are asserted as facts by this family and other individuals associated with similar phe- 54 TRUTH AND MYSTERY. nomena which are, in reality, nothing more than niental dis- turbances. It will be long ere the science of spiritual intercourse will be so thoroughly and universally understood as to render great and sad mistakes of rare occurrence. But to the end that a less deplorable state of ignorance, with regard to these things, may be speedily brought about, the philosopher should study to acquaint himself with the temperament of those who are in a fit physical and mental condition to truthfully receive spiritual communications ; and also he should seek to under- stand the general bodily and mental state of those whose electrical sphere is adapted to the most inferior species of spiritual manifestations — such as the moving of inorganic bodies, &c. &c. Neither is it right for the investigator to believe too quickly, or too fully, the things which excitable persons relate ; because some minds are naturally inclined to exaggerate or enlarge upon every thing which they may feel, see, or hear; and, again, another class of minds are so acted upon by their superstitious feelings and religious education, or by the temptation to make out a favorite doctrine or hypo- thesis, as to even unconsciously misrepresent the character and extent of their mysterious experiences, and likewise the events which they derive from the page of History. We have now established one point in '.!.!. ^quiry — namely, that the phenomena which have occurred at the residence of the gentleman in Stratford, have been in the majority of instances primarily produced by spiritual beings. But the question, at this point, arises : — " Why do spirits visit .mankind in this apparently insignificant manner ?" This in- teresting interrogation was answered in the following singu- lar characters, which were distinctly drawn upon a turnip, which, on the 15th day of the month of March, 1850, fell at the feet of a gentleman who was, at that time, vjsiting the aforesaid house in Stratford, with a desire to investigate these wonderful things. The following is an exact copy of the form, though not of the size, of the characters; which, however, must not be regarded as a style of writing existing in the spiritual world, but only as characters or signs especially designed and pre-eminently calculated to arrest public attention on earth. TRUTH AND MYSTERY, 55 They are, tjbprefore, entirely arbitrary, — having no affinity, in either their grammatical structure or interior signification, with any ancient or oriental language that ever existed among men. They are rather " signs of the times" which mankind may confidently expect to realize when external or terrestial conditions are favorable to their development. '3 X— E When I first saw these figures I recognized them as being, to a certain extent, analogous to some characters* which I read upon a scroll which was presented to my mind on the seventh of March, 1843. The interpretation of the above, according to my interior impressions, is literally as follows : " You may expect a variety of things from our society." Here is an answer to the inquiry, respecting the object of spiritual visitings to present such trifling manifestations. The spirits * When these characters are seen, the questions can not but arise — " How were these letters written ?" — " How can spirits write 1" — " Wlere do they get their ' pen, ink, and paper,' and desk ?" These interrogatories hare been put to me by very many honest minds, and I will, therefore, furnish the answer in all ti'uth and sincerity. When spirits make or write characters, for the pm-pose of arresting public at- tention, they do not employ those instrumentalities Which we use, but adopt alto- gether different agencies. In the tirst place, they concentrate a current of mental or vital electricity upon some particular substance — ^it may be the wall, the piazza, an article of clothing, or a piece of paper ; whatever substance they select, (which is electrifiable by virtue of surrounding physical conditions,) is acted upon by their vrill-power, eZeciro-cSejmcoZZy, and the characters are precipitated, like the sunlight upon the daguerreotype plate, forming a kind of electrotype, impression' These impressions are, at first, very indistinct and shadowy ; but immediately grow more clear and permanent. I have known of characters, or vn-itton impressions, being made, electro-chemically, upon a young lady's arm, but which disappeared in a few days. Practical chemists will understand my meaning when I say, that spirits, (when they themselves write^ produce their marks and figures in ac- cordance with the principles of electro-metallurgy. This term the scientific elec- trician will also comprehend. But the general reader will more readily apprehend my meaning, when I say, that spirits impress vn-iting upon the wall just as daguerreotype impressions are made upon the chemically prepared surface of a plate. In this manner, I am impressed,!^' mene, mene, tekel, ophabbin" were written by spirits on the wall at Beuhazzah's sumptuous and royal banquet See Daniel y. 25. 56 TRUTH AND MyilTEEY. desire to represent "a variety of things;" and it is distinctly obvious, that little things will arrest the general attention and awaken a more universal investigation, while some great development, which could only be addressed to the few intel- lects, might astound but not convince the thoughtless multi- tudes, who would at once pronounce it "past finding out, i and become superstitious. So anxious were the spirits to iptir press the above sentence upon the minds of the members of the family, that the same was written, repeatedly, sometimes upon the boy's handkerchief, on his pantaloons, his coat, cap, &c. ; and it was "always traced with the greatest accuracy and pre- cision — indicating an interior signification. But again and again it is naturally asked : — " What is the object of all these manifestations ?" The proper answers are repeatedly given by the spirits. Thus, on the 31st day of March, 1850, was found traced upon a step of the piazzai the following : — E X— & which, being literally interpreted, according to my interior acquaintance with these characters, would read thus : " Oue SOCIETY DESIRES, THROUGH VARIOUS MEDIUMS, TO IMPART THOUGHTS." Also, on the end of the same piazza was dis- tinctly written the word, " Selah." And directly under- neath this word were the characters which follow — X=E 0-7 The signification of the word "Selah" has never been decided by biblical commentators ; but they generally believe it to mean a term in music, because it frequently occurs at the termination of certain paragraphs in the Psalms of David as recorded in the Primitive History. But the spirits used it in the sublimest sense which our most exalted imaginations can affix to the following words : " Respond'" — " Listen" — " Reciprocate" — " Echo," — ftieaning that they — the spirits- desire to be rightly heard, rightly understood, and cordially TRUTH AND MYSTERY. 57 or fraternally responded to ; or, in other woras, the inhabitants of the Spirit- World desire the earth's inhabitant to be ONE with them!-^they desire to hear a "response" — an "echo" — to their goodness and heavenly principles among the working multitudes and in the moral and intellectual labyrinths of humanity ! The characters beneatl. the word, " Selah," being spiritually interpreted, read : — " Different mediums commu- nicate, FROM our Society, thoughts unto you." On the same day, the following characters were discov- ered, electrically impressed upon Henry's coat : X e y Whi<3h signifies, that, to their "various thoughts unto YOU, they desire a response — AN echo," — or, they would hear the blissful harmonies which they comprehend and en- joy, echoed in the souls and habitations of men, like a sound of music from unseen instruments ! But the most perfect and satisfactory communication among all those which were made, at that housCi from the 10th to the 31st of March, 1850, was traced thus: — E X And this mysterious sentence, being translated into our language, according to my interior impressions, reads : — " A HIGH SOCIETY OP .AnGELS DESIRE, THROUGH THE AGENCY OF ANOTHER AND A MORE INFERIOR SOCIETY, TO COMMUNICATE IN VARIOUS WAYS TO THE EARTh's INHABITANTS." This last message, with' many others, was communicated on Sunday the 31st of March, But the parents, not knowing the meaning of these things, and being exceedingly agitated by the speech of ignorant and prejudiced people, also fearing the effects which, for want of a proper appreciation, under- standing, and management of these visitations, had been wrought upon the son and daughter, deemed it expedient, for the sake of quiet in the house and to arrest the scandal of the village, to remove them (the children) for a time, a sliort dis- 58 TRUTH AND MYSTERT. tance froin home ; and, accordingly, on the subsequent Men- day morning, the boy and girl were sent into the adjoining town to remain a few days. On the Monday following their departure, I again visited the house in question. I arrived there nearly three quarters of an hour before Henry's return from the country with his step-father, who had that morning gone to bring him home. During his (the youth's) absence, no very interesting manifestations occurred ; and it seems that the parents, though desirous of having the boy with them, yet dreaded his presence — fearing it would induce more communications and mysterious sounds, which they termed " annoyances," to occur. On that same morning, however, a short time previous to my reaching the residence, a little child, the youngest daughter in the family, as she was going to school, observed a piece of paper, recently written upon,— the characters not being dry, — ^lying on the ground near the gate ; she ran back with it to her mother, who handed the manuscript to me soon after I was seated in the room ; and the following was the current of thoughts which flowed into my mind, as a partial translation thereof: — " Fear not, when he retm-ns, fear not, all clanger is o'er j We came, we disturbed thy house, but shall do so no more. Believe us not evil, nor good, till we prove Our speech to humanity — our language of love." The characters made upon this paper* resembled the writ- ten Chinese language in some degree ; but yet, on comparing the former with the latter, the difference was distinctly obvious. The communication was especially designed to calm the anxieties of the parents in regard to their fears for Henry, who had once been made nervously ill from agitation, (this was the only "danger" referred to in the above mes- sage ;) and it also conveyed to them the wholesome counsel to suspend all judgment concerning the "evil" or "good- ness" of those from whom these things emanated until the spirits themselves should demonstrate to the family and world their character and peculiar mission. In a postscript to this * The length of this nysterious manuscript prevents me from furnishing the reader with a £ac simile. TRUTH AND MYSTERY. 59 letter, whifch, although written on eSarth, was nevertheless dictated by spirits from a higher sphere, I also read, espe- cially addressed to me, the following : — " You may take this home, the explanation will hereafter come." I accordingly preserved the paper, of which I have received the entire translation. ■The manuscript above referred to contains three different communications proceeding from three different spiritual societies in the second sphere, who seem to be commissioned to assist the earth's inhabitants to attain spiritual light and mental illumination. The first communication, w'hich I was enabled to translate on the morning I received the document, as above related, is an admonition to the parents of these children ; whose physical and electrical state rendered it easy for a peculiar class of spirits to furnish at least inferior evi- dences of their presence, thereby making manifest their de- sire to cultivate a nearer and more intimate and therefore profitable acquaintance with humanity. To accomplish this very desirable object, they sought such " mediums" as they could make generally available, and, through them, accom- plished such manifestations, and produced such phenomena as those mediums would admit of. It is, as I have already said, a species of magnetic telegraph which the religious and theological condition of the world at present requires. For the moral, scientific and intellectual tendencies of the most advanced minds of this age are, to explore the far-extending and all-embracing realms of infinitude ; and such minds can not possibly stop short of the accomplishment and establish- ment of an actual commerce between the natural and the spiritual worlds, as between Europe and America ; and in this the higher spheres of sciences, love, power and intelli- gence, are making every effort to assist them. If in the &e- ginning, some of the means of communication between the two worlds are imperfect and unsatisfactory, then let us help more and more to perfect and multiply those means, to the end that mistakes and misapprehensions may be less fre- quent and less confounding to sensuous understandings. The second communication, recorded on thin paper, is as follows : — 60 truth and mystery. " Who among you will give ear to these things ? Who will hearken, and hear, and ask, concerning the time to COME ?" The third communication, which follows, was written more emphatically than those preceding it, and its interpretation reads : — "Let all the nations be gathered togeiher, and let THE people be assembled; let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified; or lft them hear these things, and say it is truth." From the strength and beauty of the foregoing translations we are led to infer, what many, very many spiritually minded individuals have long believed, that something of importance to the social, religious and philosophical world in general, is to flow through the magnetic channel which is now opened between this planet and the inhabitants of the Spirit- Country. But here it may be asked, by some of those who are following me in this investigation, — " Did you know who the spirits were who made the manifestations in that house ?" To the inquiry of such readers I reply that, with my spiritual perceptions, I was enabled to observe, during my visits at the house in question, five spirits who were delegates from the spirit-land.' Two of these were related to the children — the mediums; but the remaining three approached this family thus, not because they were related according to the ties of consanguinity on the earth, but because of a peculiar consti- tutional or organic affinity, or friendship, which existed be- tween them; the spirits were there, accomplishing their mission, by the principle of attraction and congeniality which draws like to like. At the time I beheld these spirits I was impressed that a train of circumstances would soon reveal to the family who some or all of these visitors were. I described, however, the personal appearance of one of their spiritual friends and visitants — not in accordance with the manifesta- tions of the beautiful form he then wore, but the appearance of his former earthly forni and features, a representation of which he permitted me to see in his memory with the express design to have me give a description of him, as he appeared on earth, which could be recognized by those who knew him TRUTH AND MYSTERY. 61 here. It will be remembered by my readers, that an individ- lal experiences almost immediately — almost in the twinkling of an eye — subsequent to his emergement from the earthly organism, a general alteration and change in the appearance and dimensions of his spiritual orga:nization ; the latter — the indestructible body in which the spirit lives — ^becomes les- sened, and improved, both in form and feature, to an extent proportionate to its want of symmetry and beauty previous to the event of death ! Hence it is that, to ascertain the exact appearance of a spiritual individual according to his former or rudimental existence, it becomes indispensably ne- cessary to read from the tablet of memory, which each spirit can and does present unlocked for that purpose, whenever it earnestly desires its personal history or genealogy traced to some particular period, event, or circumstance, of the past, pertaining to its earthly career. And thus was disclosed to me the lineaments once worn by the father of the children — Henry and his sister ; and, by my brief description thus ob- tained, he was recognized by the step-father as the former husband of his wife. The peculiar trivial and apparently motiveless character of the majority of these manifestations — some of which are seemingly childish and without any distinct purpose — ap- parently so very human — constitute one powerful cause why many persons are moved to regard them as being altogether of earthly origin. In fact, I discover that a few of them are caused by mundane agencies ; because, simply, no gold is so pure that it has not its counterfeit and successful imitation. But, alas, much of the genuine manifestation is rejected be- cause of- the imperfect idea man has of spirit. The ^pader,, doubtless, well knows that the general impression, with re- gard to those who have passed through the process of death, is, that they are, as it were, without form — a kind of melan- choly ghost — gravely emerging from a sepulchre, the spectral apparition of a thin, transparent, cloudy, vaporish combina- tion of something, which may be nothing after all ; or else, a spirit is by most minds conceived of as being wholly imma- terial, which term, when properly analyzed, is only another word for nothing. It is, therefore, a very seVious fact, that 62 TEUTHANDMYSTEEY. the prevalent opinions among mankind, concerning the con- dition and appearance of the departed from earth, are so er- roneous, chimerical and imaginative, that the general idea of a spirit is not, in fact, more real and distinct in. form or sub- stance than the air which we inhale. Even those v?ho, in the brilliant extravagance and partial flights of their ardent ima- ginations, describe angels with wings soaring through the heavens, are but giving to the airy elaborations of their own minds the wings of the eagle — their conception of angels not being emancipated from the animal kingdom in external nature. Many suppose that our breath is our spirit. Hence, it is not surprising that any thing resembling mirth or plea- sure, alleged to proceed from and to be manifested by spirits, isj at first, repulsed by the generality of religious minds as altogether beneath the nature, dignity and position of those heavenly visitants from that unseen and mysterious world which lies beyond the grave. But this opinion — I am deeply impressed to say — is based upon superstition and theological error. The truth is — and it imparts a pro- foundly grand joy to know it — that every faculty of the human mind is expressly designed for good ; and, in the spirit-world, as well as upon earth, these faculties are or should be supplied with the proper means for their right- eous gratification. The merely passing from the natural body into the spiritual body does not deprive us of any of our affectional or wisdom endowments. Nay, our faculties are immortal and endlessly progressive ; and their capabilities are enlarged and refined, beyond this incipient life, to the end that we may the more enjoy the glorious reali-ties conse- quent upon a continued, but more glorious existence. Even the most advanced spirits in the upper spheres are serenely joyous and cheerful ; and others, not so progressed, as they become good and happy, are not the less mirthful. Nor will the spirits — when they can approach us — ^wear a mask of false solemnity ; for they are natural as free ; and, being free, because they " know the truth," we are consequently not to suppose that they will ever treat our " serious" errors as if they were divine truths ; or, that any spirits will come to worship at the* shrines of our idolatry, or pay particular re- TaUTH AND MYSTERY. 63 spect to the theological idols which man, in his passage from savageism to the present era, has ignorantly erected, deified and worshiped. These remarks I have been impressed to make with par- ticular reference to several manifestations which have oc- curred in the reverend gentleman's house at Stratford, during Ihe hours of prayer, especially at the very time when the family members were assembled to perform that ceremony ; and I allude, also, to many very surprising representations in perfect imitation of these conventional gatherings. These tableaued groupings consisted of figures very perfectly made from various articles of wearing apparel belonging to the family ; and each of the artificially formed personages was inoliming or kneeling in graceful and solemn attitudes of prayer. It was necessary to approach them closely to be assured they were not living. These mysteriously ar- ranged exhibitions were discovered in the young lady's sleep- ing apartment, which was situated on the second floor of the building. And sometimes, when the family members were at prayers, books have been violently thrown across the room ; and many noises and disturbances have been, at such times, developed so distinctly and unexpectedly as to beget the impression' — only, however, in superstitious and errone- ously educated minds-^that the invisible beings and poten- cies, in their midst, were positively and unqualifiedly "evil," — having no reverential regard for good things and religious institutions ; and, therefore, the ecclesiastical powers of the village decreed that the spirits should be repelled thenceforth from human habitations. And the people ca,lled them "devils," who had been expressly sent, many believed by God, as a divine judgment upon the reverend gentleman because of the interest he has for several y^rs felt in the phenomena of human magnetism. Now, I am impressed with two reasons why these imitations and disturbances were made — First, in a family where the external ceremony, as well as the internal reality of prayer are esteemed as equally sacred, es- sential and holy, it would be manifestly unreasonable for the public to believe that any members of that household would regard this ceremony as a matteij of no importance-r-even 64 TRUTH AND MYSTERY. to the making of it food for mirth, however harmless that mirth might have been — as their unseen visitors evidently did. And the second reason is this, — the spirits are disposed to gently teach the earth's inhabitants that there is but little reality in the mere ceremony of praying. For the artificially- made figures, grouping in prayerful attitudes, apparently worshiping, though mute and motionless, distinctly panto^ mimed this impressive lesson: — "Behold now, there is no more substance, importance, or reality in the mere ceremony which toe are exhibiting than there is beneath these habiliments which compose us." I am impressed to affirm that spirits, being educated in truth, and in the perfections of Deity, as they are, have no more veneration for our sacred errors than we have for the stone and wooden gods of the barbarian. For seven years I have been more or less in a condition to associate with, and be influenced by, spiritual personages who are advanced beyond this life in every respect — in situation, cultivation and intelligence ; and I know that I am justified by immutable truth in affirming, that spirits are moved to respect only such prayers as are conceived and uttered in the most inward sanctuary of our nature, — in the interior " closet" of the soul, when " the door is shut" against every selfish and worldly sentiment, and when Love reigns over every desire and impulse, — this is the only sanctuary in which prayer is pure and sanctified ! But here the questions arise, particularly in the minds of those who know of the alleged manifestations at Stratford — If fhese spirits design to teach such important lessons to man, why do they not invent some other more dignified and less imperfect mode of communication ? Why do they throw stones, and knives, and forks, and spoons about ? Why do they rend the children's garments, break win- dows, &c., as it is known to a demonstration they have ? The answer to these very natural queries, is exceedingly simple to my mind — it is this : The position which the rever- end gentleman, at whose house the phenomena were occur- ing, professionally occupies before the world, and the respect- ability of his family in society, go toward making up many TRUTH AND MYSTERY 65 strong inducements for the whole household to combine to suppress and hush the many disclosures, (all new revealed truths being unpopular, and therefore rejected by the world ;) and thus the whole family would have motives for concealing from the public, as far as possible, all knowledge of the mys- terious manifestations. But the peculiar and determined character of those apparently trivial transactions were such as to render ariy thing like a concealment of them positively impossible. It will be remembered that the direction to the inmates of this house, was — " Let the nations he gathered to- gether ; let the people be assembled; let them take unto them- selves witnesses, that they may be justified ; or let them hear these things, and say. It is Truth." It is well that the reader should distinctly understand — and I will, therefore, parenthetically remark — that though the proprietor and occupant of this Stratford residence seemed desirous to get all possible instruction and knowledge con- cerning the nature and intention of these mysterious develop- ments, yet — ^because the dominant sectarians of the village admonished him, with implied threats of a church trial in case he did not accede to their wishes not to encourage these " Satanic operations" any more — he refused to hear many of the translations of the mysterious characters read, which was the sole object of my last visit to the house in question. In fact,. Dr. P 's situation was at that time, and even subsequent- ly, in many particulars, extremely unpleasant and unsafe ; with the mob spirit of ignorant and despotic individuals on one side, and the sectarian spirit of scarcely less ignorant and' consummate bigots on the other ; and the members of his family were not exempt from the bitter prejudices and unkind remarks which the so-called religious community of Strat- ford very readily generated. It was principally for reasons and considerations like the above, I think, that the Doctor refused to hear read my report of the investigation, which contained the admonition — " let the nations be gathered to- gether," &.C., which I deemed necessary to the welfare of the family and the world. The house is now, I believe, without a tenant ; and the family have removed to the beautiful city of Philadelphia. 5 66 TRUTH AND MYSTEKT. Whether the phenomena of spiritual manifestations stHl occur in the presence of the youth and the young lady, I anj not now impressed to say ; but I consider them very excellent mediums; and, were I allowed to express my impressions with regard to them; I should favor the encouragement and culti- vation of their vital-electro-magnetic condition, and thereby establish a free and convincing communication between the inhabitants of our earth and those of the Spirit-Land. But this desirable end can not be, in any case, accomplished, while external circumstances, early education, and trifling contingencies, are permitted to act upon the human mind, in the capacity of masters. By the directions — " let the people be assembled — ^let them take unto themselves witnesses" — it will be perceived, that the family were, as they had also, been in other ways and at other- times, distinctly and repeatedly admonished not to "hide their light under a bushel." These so-called mys- terious things must be seen, and heard, and honestly acknow- edged; 9,nd,the "light" which the witnesses thereof receive must be allowed to shine upon all those who desire to see the truth, without respect of pers'ons, or reference to theology, sect, complexions or nations. Aga,in, the question will be asked, — " Why do not the spirits write their thoughts in our language ?" And the reply is, that, as our language can be written by almost every individual in the community, it would be very easy for some designing and mischievous person to commit a fraud; whilst the peculiar style and novel charac- ters which distinguish these written communications from, that which the boy Heney, or any but a most accomplished penman, could execute in their ordinary condition, are suffi- cient to impress any reasonable and intelligent person, (who should see the characters,) with the serious and irresistible conviction, that wisdom and instruction are hidden beneath, and designed to be imparted by, those mysteriously drawn symbols of thought. And I am also impressed to assert, that, when it is clear to a demonstration that written communica- tions can/cmanate from spiritual beings and super-mundane agencies, then the spirits will write in our language. More TKUTH AND MYSTEKY. 67 over, yvhen they are no longer repelled from human habita- tions and minds, by obstructive doubts and superstitious fears,, they may even approach so near as to orally pronounce many suggestive and affectionate words in. the willing and prepared ear. The word "Selah" was written in English charac- ters — perhaps, to manifest their ultimate intention of adopting this method of imparting thoughts and instructions to the earth's inhabitants. It will be asked, — " How do spirits write upon paper?" I am constrained to reply, in addition to the note on this ppint, that I attempted to ascertain who wrote two or three some- what, suspicious commlinications which I have seen from time to time at Dr. P 's house, but I could only feel attached to the sheets, as I held them in my hand, a general sphere which did not conduct me definitely and especially to any Individ^ ual in or out of the terrestrial body. When first I psycho- metrically examined the letter which I have above translated, I experienced something like the "sphere" of a person still living in the earthly body ; and I, then, concluded that I mere- ly felt the influence which the mother's hand had impressed upon the paper when she took it from the child who found it at the gate. The precise manner in which some of the writ- ten communications, as also the representative figures, which have been found in and about that house, originated, I am not now impressed to state. But I will here remark, that spir- its can influence some peculiar organizations so as to induce a somnambulic state of mind, and then can cause the individ- ual, thus afiected, to do what he could not do in his natural condition ; and, upon releasing him from that state, they can, in the twinkling of an eye, efface from his external memory all impressions of the transaction in which he was instrumen- 'tal ; and thus render him totally forgetful of what he has been doing. In this manner it is possible^and my impressions strongly move me to assert the probability thereof — that the spirits have employed some impressible person in that family, or in the Stratford community, to write some of those commu- nications which were there received, also to arrange the ex- pressive tableaux. Whilst I am not permitted, for some good reasons, to be more definit< respecf-ing them, I am positively 68 TRUTH AND MYSTERY. assured that a comparatively brief time will disclose the all- embracing explanation of these apparently inexplicable thmgs which have occurred in the midst of this family ; and, in the mean time, let ifbe duly remembered, that this thing is cer- tain—there is an amount of learning and extraordinary taste displayed in those Stratford manifestations, which, to believe that they all originated with the children, or with any other human agencies whatsoever, requires far more credulity and hypothesis than are requisite to an admission and honest ac- knowledgment of their supernatural, or, more properly speak- ing, their supersensuous origin and character. In a manner peculiar to myself, I have ascertained, and, therefore, llmow, that these wonderful developments were spiritually unfolded. The reader will remember, the already stated interesting fact in natural philosophy, that the physical system of the youth, Henry, at times generates a soft and high quality of vital electricity, which renders him alternately ^os2iit;e and negative, and, therefore, a good medium through which spir- itual intelligences could manifest their willingness and desire to approach, and communicate with, mankind. His sister's physical state is somewhat different. She seems to be more of a recipient, than a conductor, of the predominating ele- ments. It is also a curious fact — one especially worthy of notice and a philosophical application — that the youth's syjs- tem was often suddenly relieved of its superabundant electri- city by the unexpected introduction of a stranger into the room, — the close proximity of certain individuals would inva- riably conduct this element from him ; and, generally speak- ing, the phenomena of throwing and moving various portable articles seldom, if ever, occurred either while his mind was anxious for exhibitions, or when he was very warm and undu- ly excited. Here we are reminded, that, on all occasions, the mediums must remain perfectly passive, as to the time and nature of the manifestations, lest, by acquiring a too positive condition, they should render the demonstrations, for the time being, impossible ; and the same advice is likewise applicable to those who assemble to witness these things, or who may be living in the various localities where they are, or are likely to be, developed. TRUTH AND MYSTERYi 69 There already has been, and there will be again and again, thousands of human things devised and enacted in the world in the midst of these spiritual developments ; but not now can they be all unraveled and philosophically explained. Each :ndividual mind inust first grow into a discriminating knowl- tdge of these things, and be able to distinguish for himself; and, when the mipds of thinking men become duly initiated into the laws and truths pertaining to spiritual life and end- less existence, then — and only then — ^will an easy and simple explanation of all things be found and comprehended. The people must be educated by their own experience. By these manifestations we are solemnly admonished to be cautious, wise, just,, and dispassionate in our investigations, and partic- ularly in our decisions, with regard to those exhibitions which we may hear of or behold ; because the alphabetical and other sounds, — as well as the written communications which friendly guardian spirits can and often will make to us through the agency of some electrical individuals, — are, as I interiorly know, susceptible of an easy and almost an indistinguishable imitation, — the real suggesting the counterfeit. If this healthy and righteous precaution be at first in all cases observed, I am impressed to say that many good and truth-loving minds will be thereby saved from much mortification and disap- pointment. Let all men search out the truth, — ^being " wise as serpents and harmless as doves ;" let them not be content with a mere faith in the seeming, but let them seek a knowl- edge of what is ; and, above all, let not the discovery of the counterfeit cause them to reject the teue. Nay ; for where there is a Christ, there will be false Christs ; where there is gold, there is also its semblance. But let not the investi- gator — he who tries the spirits by Nature and Reason's prin- ciples — be discouraged ; let him not turn back, for " he who seeks shall find ;" and the time has nearly arrived — ^is even now at the door — when the earth's inhabitants may hold com- munion with those whose "places here behold them no more ;" but who, from their exalted positions, may speak to us in our homes, — at the firesides where we have so missed them, — in the " circles " where once they gathered with us, and to which they now return. Let us not refuse to hearken to their voices /O TRUTH AND MYSTEKY. when they call to us through such existing "mediums" here, as they can approach ; neither let us refuse the incipiem means designed to impress the human understanding with a clear realization of their existence and nearness ; for spirits have visited, and will continue to visit, the dwellers of earth ; and, ere long, many other mediums will be developed through whom the inhabitants of superior spheres may communicate their principles of truth and peace, and the most advanced numan minds shall hear and understand ! And to the end that all may become recipients of heavenly messages, let all begin to form true characters, to adopt correct habits, to live just and noble lives. And let it be deeply impressed upon every understanding, that that individual who resists those spiritual influences which flow from the Great Love Princi- ple, God, and who prefers the gratification of selfish and worldly desires to spiritual communion, at last feels those gracious visitings no more upon the earth; and, in those lonely hours which bring reflection, he will contemplate a •'dark valley" before him — dark, because he refuses to see that inflowing and inextinguishable light which dissipates the " shadows of death," and the mysterious gloom of oriental error and theological superstitions. THE DOCTRINE OF EVIL SPIRITS It is true, that nearly all the communications and develop- ments which have been thus far received through electrical vibrations, do not at first appear, to the advanced and gene- ralizing mind, as possessing sufficient importance to demand much attention. The responses have mainly been very sim- ple, and contracted to exceedingly laconic expressions of thought, which have frequently proved unreliable, and occa- sionally almost destitute of signification. These communi- cations are sometimes so trivial, and the replies, in some in- stances, so inferior in point of intelligence to the ordinary information among intelligent and practical men, that many TEUTH AND MYSTERY. 71 believing and earnestly seeking individuals almost despair of ever obtaining any valuable truths through the sounds ; at the same time — in consequence of those trivial responses — skeptics denounce them as arising wholly from human sources and premeditated deception. The general impression is, that the Spirit-World would develop more dignified and soul- thrilling truths, — that spirits would breathe forth only great and lofty thoughts, — that their replies to our questions would be more consistent with what we conceive to be the scope of the capabilities of those advanced beyond this evanescent existence, and who come to us as messengers (or angels) from a higher world ; and thus — ^notwithstanding the constant ac- cumulation of evidences that spirits do in reality communicate through sounds, — the skeptical hnind, which may possess ex- alted sensibilities, is forced to encounter many very uninter- esting and apparently meaningless developihents in this new region of investigation. Now, I confess to you, reader, that these things are trufy great objections to the progressed intel- lect. But, I repeat, the religious want of this era, is a sensu- ous demonstration of the truths of immortality ; and, upon serious and deliberate reflection, I think, the candid inquirer can not but acknowledge that no method could possibly be more adequate or better adapted to the accomplishment of these ends, to the satisfaction of the general mind, than the asking of various test questions, which are daily put to the spirit's, and cheerfully answered by them through the electri- cal vibrations. Do you not think so, reader ? A sound, re- sponsive to your utterance of a loved name, gives sweet assur- ance that the spirit which is called upon, both hears and an- swers. And just for one moment suppose that that answer- ' ing intelligence spells out to you, alphabetically, by- What are commonly termed "raps," given at every required letter, the name of its former place of residence on earth — tells from what locality it departed this life — and mentions tbe disease or accident which caused its departure hence; coUiits you its age when it left the grosser form ; and says how many years, or months, or days, it has dwelt in a highet sphere, — ■ I say, for thes sake of the conclusion, iufet .admit this supposi- tion, and then ask yourself, are hot these, and like answer^ 72 TKUTH AND MYSTERY. exceedingly ccuvincing to those who search fcr a Jiving evi- dence of the spirit's individualization and immortality ? More- over, should the answers be such as the inquirer supposes, at the timcj to be incorrect, but which he afterward, by special reference to recorded facts, finds to be exactly true — as has frequently occurred, — would not such a test be very satisfac- tory ? Is it not convincing, ever, to the sensuous observer and materialist, that the spirit answering is still in existence j, that the friend, with whom intercourse is sought, is not dead, and decaying in the grave ; that immortality is indeed a truth ? And now, reader, what more is required ? Is it that your soul would learn of the bright realities of the Spirit-Home ? Do you seek acquaintance with the conditions and experi^ ences consequent upon spiritual existence ? Does your mind yearn after the nobler truths pertaining to the superior life and world ? If so, then seek deeper sources, — ^because you are prepared to graduate, from the primary school of electric sounds, into higher colleges of spiritual instruction ! Intercourse with the spirit-world through the electrical sounds is^''^the most incipient and rudimental method which can possibly be adopted. Minds of the materialistic order — those individuals who will not believe in, or attempt the in,- vestigation of, any thing which lies beyond the limited sphere and scope of the outer senses — are the proper pupils to attend the primary school of spiritual intercourse ; which school is manifestly designed to educate the external man with regard to these germinal truths of spiritualism, which will conduct the mind progressively onward to the apprehension of more ele- vating realities — to the mighty truths and universal sweep of the Haemonial Philosophy ! And as in a primary- school, where are taught the first lessons of earthly education, there is noise — confusion — triviality ; so likewise^n accordance with analogical reasoning — in the infant schools of spiritual knowledge, where instruction is mainly imparted through the electric sounds and correlative demonstrations, we also hear of disorder — tumult — and discordant results. The manner — let it be remembered — of learning our earthly A. B. C. does not differ very much from the nevj method of learning spiritual things ; only the latter school is attended by " chil- TRHTH AND MYSTERY 73 dren of a larger growth," whose minds are more advanced in age and worldly intelligence. At first glance it seems, that to anticipate high results to flow from spiritual communications through sounds, is to ex- pect ends which the means do not appear adequate to accom- plish ; biit, upon calm and philosophical reflection, it is man- ifestly as reasonable to hope for valuable issues from these small beginnings as to expect oaks from acorns, or to antici- pate the future lofty man when we gaze upon the new-born babe. " But," says the objector, " the communications are mainly without scope and importance, and are frequently contradictory and false," — and he asks — " what is the mean- ing of this ? is it to demonstrate to our senses the existence of ignorant, wicked, or evil, spirits? — to demonstrate and thoroughly prove to us that the Spirit-World is no better than the Earth?" Now here, seemingly, is a great problem — a matter, requiring much research, much wisdom, much explanation ; and yet I can assure the reader, that, to my mind, the real causes of contradictory and false communica- tions are neither beyond the earth's inhabitants, or difficult to explain. And as this is the subject now presented to my mind, I will proceed to its exposition. In the first place, it is necessary to understand that spiritual intercourse, through electrical vibrations, is a discovery as new tO' riiany of the inhabitants of the Second Sphere as it is to the dwellers on the Earth. The inhabitants of Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, (of the latter especially,) enjoy similar and far superior communion with those passed from their planets into the higher spheres. And the fair spirits of those bright worlds — advanced to a brighter land^— confine their inter- course, chiefly, to the dwellers upon the Orhs from lohich they have been translated. And so those individuals who have left our earth, still retain for its inhabitants a more particular affinity and attraction than they feel toward the dwellers on any other world or earth. Hence, those spirits, who now have their homes in the spheres above, return to their respec- tive birth-place planets more frequently and intimately than they visit any other of the inhabited globes of the universe. Though the) mav travel fram star to star in quest of truth 74 TRUTH AND MYSTERY. and knowledge, — though sometimes a spirit, whose genealogy may be traced to earth, is attracted to communicate with one or more of the beautifully progressed inhabitants of the more advanced planets, or vice versa, an angel, passed from a more glorious world into that world's high heaven, may be drawn to seek communion with some mind on our earth- yet the rule seems to be, that spirits particularly visit that world which was the cradle of their existence ; thus to com- mune with those who are dwelling where they once dwelt ^, and who have not yet passed through that process, called death — a translation — which shall admit them, (the earth- dwellers,) also into higher spheres of eternal life. And, therefore, it is, that, while spiritual communications are be- ing, (as they have been for many centuries,) enjoyed through the electrical vibrations and in various other ways — ^includ- ing mental illumination, which is termed clairvoyance — upon the planets Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, the spirits that have passed from our earth have not, until very recently, known that such electrical methods could be adopted in the order of nature. The beatified soul intuitively knows that influx of truths and principles into the vessels of the mind is possible— pro- per — delightful — reformatory — and exalting ; and the past religious history of mankind, as well as modern manifestations of spiritual insight and influence, distinctly indicate the countless efforts made by spirits to convince man of immor- tality and correlative truths. But that they cduld put them- selves into electrical rapport with terrestrial magnetism and thereby establish a positive and negative relationship, (by an action of their will-power,) between themselves and indi- viduals and inorganic substances in this world, is a truth which, by our own earth-born spirits, has but recently, to any extent, been discovered and its practical application studied. And here let me remark, that many, very many erroneous and contradictory communications can be traced to this cause, viz. : — the unadvanced education of many of the spirits themselves in regard to these rudimental things. Such spirits very frequently attempt to communicate their thoughts through the sounds, — a desire; which they necessarily so im^ TRUTH AND MSTSTEKV. 75 perfectly accomplish as to be mistaken and misunderstood on the earth. It is very erroneous for any persons to ittiagine, as so many do, that spirits attain to an almost boundless knowledge as soon as they enter upon their new life. In the higher spheres, spirits must progress in Love and Wisdom, just as, in this ■v^orld, man advances in scientific and philosophical attain- ments. True, there is an expansion of the intellect, in pro- portion to its growth here, when it is transplanted to develop more and more in a clearer and brighter atmosphere ; and so, many thoughts, which have agitated human minds more Or less even since man first moved upon the earth, are readily perceived and comprehended by spirits ; and thus great prin- ciples are rapturously pursued into their endless ramifications, by the inhabitants of the higher spheres. But still there are countless truths which the spirits, in general, do not quickly discover nor understand ; and, as they would "press forward to the things which are before," it is not so agreeable for them to turn to " the things that are left behind" — to contem- plate some of those truths which are rudimental and pertain to mere material things and changeful sciences. When the human soul passes from earth into the second Sphere, it is inclined, at first, to indulge in the gratification of its strongest love or impulse ; but unless it be a pure love, a good (ot rather a rigJtt-directed) impulse, then the means of its gratification — I rejoice to say — are not to be found v^ithin the territories of the Spirit-Land — are not to be found within the range of all those things by which the initiated spirit is moved to learn the immutable principles of Love and Wisdom, and to live a life of eternal obedience to the laws of God, which are unchangeable — universal — harmoni- ous — infinite ! But when the human soul enters the spirit- world with good passions (or affections) and impulses, then — and only then — is their gratification easy and unrestricted ; and progress may be made in one single direction for cen- turies. Some S^pirits become highly educated in that partic- ular truth or science for which they feel the most absorbing sympathy and interest, while respecting other truths and sciences they maj Hr comparatively destitute of information. 6 TRUTH AiV'D MYSTERY. For instance, — in the great truths pertaining to comparative anatomy and physiology as unfolded in the animated king-, dom of Nature — the same great principles and truths reach- ing far and wide in every direction, embracing the form and functions of the universe— in all these you will find Galen, and a host of similarly constituted minds, richly educated and accomplished. But you will not find Moses, or Isaiah, or St. John, possessing the same high knowledge of these scientific truths. This class of minds, having a strong love for moral truths even while on the earth, continue still pro- gressing and attaining in moral and spiritual directions. These great and highly accomplished, minds have advanced" as far in searching out moral truth as Galen has progressed' in his investigations of scientific truth. Their goal is on- ward ; and, therefore, it is not reasonable to conclude that they, the great moral students— the alumni of the spheres — avail themselves of the electrical vibrations whereby to com- municate their thoughts to congenial minds on the earth ; neither would they be likely to understand and skillfully man- age the newly-discovered means and instrumentalities of communication as well as those spirits whose chief attraction and education consist in scientific researches. Neither sup- pose they themselves should communicate with man in this rudimental manner, would it be wisdom to ask Isaiah a sci- entific question, or to interrogate Galen with regard to merely moral subjects, because — though their responses might be truthful — their style of answering would be consist'^ ent with the proclivity and pursuit of their minds, and the inquirer might possibly receive a wrong impression. And should there be a misunderstanding of the answers, then an explanation is not easy. Spirits can not always make the human mind comprehend a subject in all its bearings ; par- ticularly when communicating through the imperfect, uncer- tain, and tedious me'ihod of spiritual intercourse by electrical sounds and manifestations. And inasmuch as spirits are neither infallible or omnipotent, and are compelled to conform, (when they endeavor to impart their thoughts through these electrical agencies,) to the principles and conditions of this new method, which they can not altogether control, it is not TRUTH AND MYSTERY. 77 sate at all times to depend on any given number of " raps" as indicating a positive " yes" or " no," or any other particu- lar word or sentence. Because a spirit — perhaps, communi- cating for the first time, and being one who can not readily, learn the science of thus communing, but who greatly desires to answer a friend here — may not always be able to manage tlie sounds so as to prevent misunderstandings and apparent con- tradictions. Therefore, on the part of the inquirer, great vigilance and care are necessary to the end that the mind may not be misled. And let not any man's sensuous and unedu- cated judgment, with a ready and thoughtless condemnation, accuse those messengers from our future home of "false- hood" and intentional deception; because mistakes may arise, where explanation is now so difficult, in consequence of the infancy and newness of this telegraphic method of correspondence among the departed from the earth, now in the higher world, and in consequence, also, of man's present inability to wholly comprehend the laws, principles and con- ditions of its action here. THE OEIGIN OF SPIRIT SOUNDS. By direct influx or impression from the highly accom- plished spirit of Benjamin Franklin, I learn that we owe prin- cipally to him the discovery of this electrical method of tele- graphing from the second sphere to the earth's inhabitants. The substance of my communication with him, on the 6th day of January, 1851, was as follows. I give his own words faithfully rendered. " In searching out," says that great mind, " the numerous manifestations of spiritual presence among the multitudinous sects and nations of the earth, I perceived that the great gen- eral principle of aromal intercourse had been otserved, but never particularly understood, by spirits (the so-called inhab- itants of this sphere) when they have from time to time com- municated. ■ In compliance with the great, inextinguishable love I feel for scientific research and exploration, I have 78 ^ TRUTH AND MYSTERY. steadily — with calm and fervent joy — progressed from point to point in this attainment by following the principles ofpan- thea, or of electricity into their innumerable windings and diversified modifications, I have contemplated this element's mighty workings in Nature's great nervous system; its pas- sing from constellation to constellatioUj from planet to planet ; its wide and mighty sweepings from the inhabitants of the superior circles of the Second Sphere to the people upon the remotest worlds ; and in all its far searchings and multifarious operations I have seen God. These wonderful and souIt absorbing observations have also been made by individuals far more distinguished for intellectual accomplishments and discoveries than myself; though these minds had not yet studied the application o[ t\ie panthea principles as the means of establishing a communication with the inhabitants of earth. But the time having now arrived when numerous minds upon that planet, the earth, were prepared by the advancements Wfhich the various sciences have made there — the magnetic telegraph appearing as a herald before — I suggested to my companions the propriety of demonstrating, upon that birth- place of the human mind, the doctrine of immortality, to the end that man's ever searching soul might there no more, in its early stages of existence, have its bright light clouded by the " shadows of death," — a gloom of ignorance which we, for want of palpable evidences, had ourselves experienced on the earth. And I proposed the opening of a material instrumen- tality which would be of universal use to those who might desire to hold communion with their friends on the earth ; as all minds might be approached in this way, whilst only the few were approachable and reached by interior or mental communion. I found the German spirits most sympathetic to this proposition, and I informed the whole circle of congenial associates of my discovery, that numerous mani- festations of spiritual powrir had been made to the earth's inhabitants, in ages past, hy the panthea principle of aromal intercourse; but that the scientific method had not been perceived, nor practiced; therefore, that no permanent or essential results had as yet been obtained. I then listened to the serene observations of Fenelon and William Ellery TRUTH AND MYSTERY. 79 Ohanning; who declared that, from their co-equal researches into the moral and spiritual necessities of mankind, it was their knowledge that, in case such aromal communication could be established, the people on some portions of the earth would listen, and be thereby advanced toward enlightenment, wisdom, unity and truth 1 Thus I was assured and positively encouraged that the time had arrived when our terrestrial friends had reached that point or apex of intelligence which would cause them to investigate whence could proceed the " sounds" — to search whence came the " manifestations" — and seek to understand and gradually practice the science of tiiis mipde of " communication ;" and I was assured, also, that the time was now past when these new things would have been ignorantly termed demonism, enchantment, or witch- craft ; and that, in the place of the cross for the hew, the ssfcffold iox the strange and wonderful, there now stood erected, upon the earth, a broad and high platform, from whence the voice of truth went forth over all the land! When I heard thjg, I likewise recognized that the people would not reject what they could not all at once understand, but that they wotild gather together to listen, and to observe the effects pointing toward superior and invisible sources of existence and power. On perceiving all this, I unrolled the principles of my discovery, and immediately proposed to select the proper localities and persons on the earth through which to begin the intercourse. First, I accompanied my numerous German asgociE^tes to a position from which we, (united in purpose as one strong mind,) commissioned and directed, by an exercise of our volition, an aromal current to produce vibrations in the house of a gentleman of distinction and learning in Germany. We slightly moved the bed upon which he was then reposing ! We operated upon his pillow, causing " sounds" resembling the dropping of water ! We caused vibrations or pulsative shocks upon his shoulder, and thus fairly awoke him; whereupon his agitation dissipated the aromal element which at that particular time his spirit exhaled, and which we had taken advantage of for our exper- iment. This put an end to our then communications. Sev- eral times suBSEauENTLY we visited the same place and 80 TRUTH AND MYSTERY. person, but never again found external or terr^trial condi- tions favorable ; and our further attempts a that house and in that portion of the earth were without success. "We now sought other localities. The great vitalizing and energizing essences of all organisms in Nature's ascend- ing kingdoms, are readily recognized by those who perpetu- ally move in harmony with the expansions of the Divine PRINCIPLE. Nature's varied beauty and loveliness — the breathings of the all-controlling and all-potentializing ele- ments of the Great Divinity — are open to the inspiration and inspection of the progressed intellect and enlarged mind. And thus, by realizing our multitudinous relations to, and sympathies with, the electrical conditions necessary to estab- lish the aromal intercourse, we were attracted to various places, — mostly in America. We succeeded in producing some slight " sounds" in Buffalo ; but we could not, at that particular time, effect there the desired results. We then temporarily placed ourselves in sympathetic connection with the most spiritually-minded in Cincinnati ; but we were not able to communicate otherwise than by influx to them, and thus could influence only the few. We did not then find, in that city, the necessary and essential external and material conditions. " We now passed over Western New York. And particu- larly at Auburn and Rochester — perceiving there the required pre-requisites — we opened the first communications which have, to any extent, engaged the world's attention and inter- ested the skeptical intellect. " We rejoiced in the success of our experiments, especially when we found that the sounds we occasioned were drawing numbers to inquire into their origin, and to seek out from whence they came ; but we could not prevent frequent mis- understandings. The people, in consequence of their excite- ment and ignorance of the spiritual causes of the intercourse, would unconsciously to themselves glide into many erroneous decisions and conclusions ; which remain in the world even now uncorrected. Neither ^^nuld we prevent the almost exact human imitations of our vibrations ; whereby occasional sentences were incorrectly spelled out, — contradicting our TRUTH AND MYSTERY. 81 directions ! to the "mediums," and in opposition to several conditions which we specified as being essential to a proper intercourse through sounds. In the midst of our directions and communications "confusion" has bteen "rapped" out, and our characters for good and evitwere, (so to speak,) in a measure often at the mercy of our mediums and terrestrial audiences. I have not myself produced many vibrations. Since this method of sensuous communication has become satisfactorily established, whereby spirits can address the material senses of their earthly friends, great numbers in this sphere are constantly, and with enthusiastic joy, imparting thoughts and affectionate sentiments to mankind. Yea, the joys and gratifications which flow from this new application of the panthea principle,* into the different societies of our divine world, and coincidentally and simultaneously into the hearts and understandings, of many pure and constant minds on the earth, can not be uttered, — only experienced! When the earth's inhabitants concentrate their intelligence and me- chanical skill, and construct vessels and place them under the guidance of enterprising and energetic minds, which gladly attempt the exploration flf new countries and conti- nents — discovering thereby more convenient paths or means of commerce and national intercommunication, — when men accomplish all this, and much more^ and a whole nation is moved to gratitude and internal congratulations in conse- quence thereof, then is manifested, incipiently, on earth some- thing of that joyous sensation which thrilled the souls of innumerable minds in this Divine Land, occasioned by the announcement of the development of this new method of im- parting beatifying thoughts and affectionate sentiments to the dwellers of the earth I If mankind would obtain truth and righteousness through this new method, I admonish all to study the great sustaining principles which organize and con- trol both matter and mind, — to recognize and obey the un- changeable laws that govern the whole system of material and celestial existence. By these principles, — by their un- * By influx, I learn from Dr. Eranklia that the " panthea principle" signified " divine element ;" for Bpirits, he aflarms, consider all elements as modificationa of one great central PRINCIPLE of Love, WUl and Wisdora. 6 88 TI'-yTH AND MYSTEKY. varying teachings and lofty tendencies — the comprehensive and healthy mind may decide upon the truth or falsity of all assertions which refer to things beyond the possibility of sensuous demonstration. Let a'l external manifestations be referred to interior principles, which should be by all men considered as the methods of the Divine Existence. Progress in goodness, wisdom and truth ; and Feae not ! "Through thee, I now desire to remind the world of a remark that I once made to a very dear friend, while we were both residing on the earth. A skepticism of the intellect concerning the doctrine of the Immortality of the human mind — in a real and palpable state of existence and identifi- cation — -long occupied my thoughts. I once knew what it is to be a disbeliever in the soul's future life. This doubt I seldom expressed to any one, not even to my most, private friends. Because Ifelt the necessity of a living faith among men ; I desired it more for others than for myself; my under- standing seemed enough for my happiness ; and to apply it well, and without cessation, was the effort of my terrestrial existence. But one day — I remember it well — when my mind was filled with prophetic contemplations and anticipations concerning the scientific advancements, commercial improve- ments, governmental progressions, and the march of educa- tion, freedom and intelligence in the Cdunti'y I most loved, America — I felt a strong desire to behold my country's pros- perity about a century from the time I conceived the thoughts of which I am now speaking. I therefore expressed a wish that some means could be discovered by which my physical body might be kept in a state of preservation — and I, a thinking being, be placed in a species .of sleep — ^for the period of fifty years,, when I desired to be awakened to a full reaUzation of the advancements of Time and of its wondrous unfoldings. Let me now say, to those who "emember this remark, that I have more than realized my evtary conception of future joy; and this signifies much ; for even while on earth, my concep- tion of joy never included the externals and superficialities of existence." The above is a truthful record of Dr. Franklin's statement concerning the origin and early progress of electrical com- TKCTH AND MYSTJJRY, 83 munications, as accomplished by the inhabitants of the Spirit- Land. And, I thinks from his explanation of the unavoidable derangements in the vibrations, that my readers already begin Jo undergland why mistakes and contradictions are evolved fron) this new .method of intercourse between the natural and the spiritual worlds. It will be perceived that one reason is,, that the scientific principles and conditions, upon which the vibrations are accomplished, are not as yet familiar to, and are consequently more or less violated by, the many, very many spirits who avail themselves of the advantages of this new discovery with the desire to impart theif affectionate thoughts and sweet assurances to their earthly friends. And another reason is, the occasional mis- c(pffrehension of tbo|se communications by the recipients here of these messages ; and, then, there is necessarily much diffi- culty of explanation, owing to the tediousness and imperfection of this method of . conversing with the departed. But many minds -vsrill question thus — " Why do not good spirits use pre- cautions to successfully prevent these mistakes from arising?" Let us now proceed candidly and philosopjaically to consider this point. , In the first place, it should be well understood, and con- stantly remembered, that spiritual beings — the inhabitants of the spheres: — are,, like ourselves, subject, in a subordinate degree, to surrounding influences and circumstances ; that they progress in science, in philosophy, in theology, in morals, in spirituality, and in goodness and purity, just as we advance from childhood to maturity; and that, therefore, spirits can not be (in principle) any more infallible than we are, except in a comparative sense or degree ; nor are they superior to some kinds of imperfection ; for only God is perfect, immaculate, and celestial ! And as it would be folly, here among men, to ask a little child some grave mathematical or astronomical question, which the grown man could, hardly solve, and expect from that childish intellect a correct answer ; so is it unreason- able to ask the, as yet, uneducated spirit of those profound trutns with which the higher and more progressed inhabitants of the spirit-land are alone familiar It is true, that what each spirit has learned since it has become a resident in the second 84 TRUTH AND MYSTERY. sphere, is correct and reliable as far as that knou^leUgk extends, but the mere translation of a soul frOni this life doesiiot render it either omniscient or omnipotent ; and spirits are, therefore, as incapable, under some circumstances, of controlling influ- ences and preventing misunderstandings as we are. Conse- quently, for their impartations of thought, the spirits require good surrounding influences through which they can approach us ; and this is as necessary for their communications, as it is essential for our right comprehension and appreciation of them, that we possess minds unbiased by prejudice, free from sectarian bigotry, and open to the reception of truth ! It must not be expected that spirits can communicate their thoughts, and, at the same time, control our apprehension of them ; nay, though they ardently desire to be rightly understood, they can not change the operation of this general principle, namely, that TRUTH, like water, will inevitably and invariably take the form of the vessel into which it flows. Hence, it is not in their power to prevent the vast dissimilarity of impressions which one truth may produce upon many diiferent minds. And there is another essential reason why palpable contra- dictions are so often made through the vibrations or sounds. Such inconsistences are attributable to the large class of sympathetic spirits, — I mean^ those spirits who, though passed from earth, are not yet emancipated from strong ties and terrestrial attractions, and who, consequently, when they approach a " circle'' of friends assembled to commune with them, become so involved in the concentrated " sphere" of the minds of the individuals composing that " circle," as to assent to almost every thing which the questioners desire them to affirm. In evidence of the correctness of this statement, I could adduce hundreds of instances where the spirits, com- municating through the sounds, have said at one time what they subsequently most positively contradicted. Theological interrogatories have been put to them ; and at one session of a meeting of inquirers, and under one class of circumstances, answers were elicited to suit the pre-impressions or predilec- tions of the majority of minds constituting the Circle ; but at another session, and under a new class of influences, the former answers were modified or contradicted to an extent TEUTH AND MYSTERY. 85 generally \proportionate to the ^ preponderating conT:'ictions and doctrinal education of the questioning and listening minds. On several occasions, (which I will not now particularly de- signate,) I perceive occurrences something like the following : A circle is organized for the purpose of eliciting a, certain kind of theological communication ; a member — in behalf of the association^nquires : — " Will any of the Apostles com- municate with us ?" Rap, Rap, Rap ! Or, three sounds, meaning, as they, com- prehend it, an affirmative. "Is St. Paul present ?" Raps, supposed to signify, " yes." Then follows a succes- sion of sounds, punctuated by different distances of time be- tween some of them, regarded as " his signal." Now, the secretary of the meeting produces his well-writ- ten and well-arranged sentences, in the form of interrogato- ries, and, reading one of them at a time, he asks : — "Is,4his true?" Three Raps, (or yes,) are his answer. Again, commg to a question, which all the circle expect will be negatived by the spirits, as being unqualifiedly untrue, the secretary inquires, with a doubtful emphasis : " Is this also true ?" A single " Rap," meaning " no," is the immediate response ; and the record thereof is accordingly made. The above has been presented to me as a general represen tation of the manner in which a great variety of theological and doctrinal questions have been put to spirits, and responded to by them, in accordance with the preponderating " creed " of the circle which is organized to receive the communications. And I am here impressed to answer a question which must involuntarily arise in the reader's mind : — " How is it that a spirit like St. Paul — so positive and so advanced as .he neces- sarily must be-^should respond to questions thus sympatheti- cally ?" This point I have been led to carefully investigate ; and at no one of the circles referred to do I discover, upon the most critical interior retrospection, a single communication from the veritable apostle Paul, nor from any one of his glori- ous compeers. But I find a friend or a relative of some per- 86 TEUTH AND MYSTEKT. son or persons in the circle, in sympathetic coinmunication witth the members at the meeting, and answeriiig She ques- tioner. In human magnetism or psychology, this sympathy of one mind with another is clearly exhibited. Arid the same law which acts in that case, is universal and binding, as with a golden chain, the material and spiritual universe into one har- monious whole. For further illustration of this point, I refer the reader to " Great Harmonia," Vol I., p. 199, where this phii losophy is more particularly explained. But let it here be un- derstood, that, as an individual in the outer world can be mag- netically and sympathetically acted upon by surrounding influ- ences and individual minds, so are a certain class of loving, but undeveloped and unadvanced spirits, in the inner world, capa- ble of being acted upon magnetically and sympathetically bv the positive idiosyncracies of anxious persons who enter the cir- cles for spiritual intercourse through the sounds. If the prin- ciples and conditions of these electrical communications were not so very material, as they have been shown to me, then sympathetic or affectionate spirits would not get so readily and thoroughly involved and psychologized bjijthe positive magnetic mental sphere of the circle and the interrogator Those spirits who dwell more in divine Love than in divine Wisdom — if young in spiritual growth — ^iare easily influenced to feel precisely what the majority of minds in a circle feel and think. Now St. Paul, having nearly attained to "the fullness of the stature of the perfect " spirit in the second sphere, and dwelling there in divine Wisdom, — should he, that glorified spirit, really attempt to impart his thoughts him- self through electrical vibrations, there is no doubt but he would be more positive than any circle of friends that could be formed to receive his impartations of exalted truth. But the Apostles do not, themselves personally, come into electri- cal relations with any earthly circle ; they do not seek to con- verse with mankind in a so material and imperfect manner ; but, clothed with ambassadorial authority, they visit subordi- nate societies in the second sphere, and they instruct the spir- its there — in those societies — how they, (the latter spirits,) through the new electrical method, may demonstrate to their friends on earth the real reality of a spiritual existence, and TRUTH AND MYSTERY. 87 of the happir/esses and sublimities consequent upon a passage from the first to a second sphere of life ! And this is the one great object of the so-called spiritual ." rappings," and other demonstrations of the same class. For when it becomes uni- versally believed that the Spirit- World is near in its influence to our earth, and that spirits from that land are with us and about us, — that their watchful love overshadows us, that their aflections enter in at the open doors of our hearts, so that our homes are no longer closed against them, — then will the higher results of that blessed belief be manifested in greater • and sublimer developments of Truth, wisdom, and spirituality among men. Self-love, which now so governs in the world, will then expand into univeirsal affection; and the present developments of mere externality and materialism will change to progression in spiritual wisdom ; and the sun of righteous- ness shall have arisen in its glory on the earth, — the coronal manifestation of this philosophical connection and delightful correspondence between the spheres! In the present state of the world's belief, many intellects will think that they must be " evil spirits," who come announc- ing and representing themselves to be other than they are, and assenting to doctrines and thoughts of which they have no certain knowledge, thereby leading the people astray, and contradicting themselves. But I am impressed to assure my readers that this whole problem can be truthfully solved with- out admitting into the premises either "evil" or necessarily "ignorant" spirits; only those, among our departed friends, who are kind, affectionate, and very impressible, — ^as the most tenderly loving dispositions almost invariably are, — and this is the class of spirits which are mostly drawn to seek intercourse with the circles of friends and relatives here who assemble for communications. Nor must we admit into, our reasonings or faiths any thing like the existence of ." evil spirits," or spirits who wish to lead or seduce mankind into false and dangerous directions ; because there are no absolutely evil or false spirits in any department of God's beautiful universe. To the reader this may appear only in the light of an unwarrantable asser- tion ; but to me it is a known truth. On this head, erroneouslv educated minds — those who have 88 TRUTH AND MYSTEKY. notoutgrowr their early imbibed educational prejudices— will exclaim: "But how do we Tinow this? — we, liavQ;;not our • spiritual perceptions ' opened, and can not therefore gaze into the innumerable abysses of infinitude, and decide for ourr selves, — how, then, shall we know that there are no evil spir- its?" And I would answer those who have thus hitherto based their faith upon the traditions of the past, that it does not require a particular spiritual insight to decide this ques- tion ; for, as has been shown in other portions of this volume,*,, there are no elements in the soul which can be proved to be 'intrinsically evil — no affections which entertain any real sym- pathy for unrighteous things ! This position I know to be invulnerable. Hence all the evil and corruption in this world ai'e referable to a misdirection and a wrong application of ihtrinsically good and divine elements or impulses which re- side in the human spiritual constitution. I am consequently constrained to assert, that man is a temple of the Holy Ghost, and the Holy Ghost is in man. Moreover, it is positively unrighteous to term misdirection " evil " — because, the latter word is immersed in unphilosophical and erroneous associa- tions. We are educated in the past and present world-estab- lished church to associate "evil" with a "devil," or with de- moniac beings, which are altogether mythological ; and thus, by retaining and using " old bottles," we can not but keep at least the flavor of the " old wine " with them. But it v/ould be, well, since we have " new wine," to break the old vessels and; procure " new bottles ;" for this is the only way to prevent an admixture of truth and error in our philosophy of evil. Dropping the metaphor, I simply mean that we should reject the term "evil," and substitute misdirection in its stead; be- cause the latter term is truthfully and philosophically express- ive of the cause of those falsities and corruptions which swarm human society. Let us now follow this subject of evil spirits still further. The reader will surely remember — and I know his reason can not but acknowledge the naturalness of the statement — that all spirits and angels were once men like ourselves ; that God has unfolded and populated the spiritual • Reference is here jnade to " Great Harmonia," vA. 2, — soon to be issued. TKUTH AND MYSTERY,. 89 worlds by operating upon and through the material universe, — just as the luxuriant harvest is obtained from little germs, or as the gorgeous summer flowers unroll from beds of stone and clay. Therefore, since there are no spirits — no angels or archangels-^which have not had anearthly or rudimental origin ; and since it is incontestably demonstrated that there are no intrinsically evil or fiendish principles, passions, or impulses in man's interior nature, we are constrained to con- clude that it is impossible that there should be evil spirits ex- isting in any of the great realms of the spiritual universe. In this age of man's progression and development on the earth, let the oriental doctrine of " total depravity " be banished from our midst. Surely, no advanced mind now entertains a belief in that myth, because it is known to all healthy reas- oners that all the falsities, corruptions, and contradictions in human society are truthfully explainable only by reference to their three great and lamentable causes, namely — ignorance, MISDIRECTION, and MISUNDERSTANDING. How, then, can the intellectual mind, in this era of human knowledge, be so un- reasonable and unphilosophical as to rush into the mythologi- cal doctrine of evil spirits as the only possible method of ac- counting for falsities, contradictions, and inconsistencies, in the so-called spiritual rappings ? Surely, the mind, resorting into that maze of ignorance, would find a much more difiicult problem to solve, than he who intelligently perceives how plainly truth unravels these seeming mysteries. Truth is sublimely simple, and leads into no intricacies ; and those who follow in her paths — with but the natural perceptions — will doubtless perceive that spiritual insight is no more required to decide the question of evil spirits than the Bible is neces- sary to the discovery of a ninth planet. But the logical in- tellect, which can readily understand that the spiritual uni- verse is an out-birth of the material universe, — and knows that the spirit-land is peopled by spirits whose genealogical liistory can be traced to some earth in space, — such a mind must acknowledge, that, inasmuch as the doctrine of " total depravity" is false in the natural world, so the philosophy of the existence of evil spirits in the spiritual world can not be true. 90 TRUTH AND MYSTERY. But there are different degrees of enlightenment and spu'- ituality in the various societies' of the spheres beyond life's' first stage, even as there are different planets from which spirits emanate ; and from each and all of those planets the myriad souls, — amoving in the vast ocean of human exist- ence, — are dissimilar one from another, differing in brightness and in beauty. Several centuries ago this truth in our phi- losophy was impressively stated, and we were eloquently told that every thing has a purity, a "glory" of its own; and, by that glowing orator whose words have reached to our day, we are counseled not to denounce earthly things as evil or coiTupt merely because they are earthly ; for every created thing hath its own perfections and glories. And he proceeds to say, that, "there are celestial bodies, and bodies terres- trial : but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another." And, as if to illustrate by metaphor the different degrees of perfection and divine enlightenment of the spirits in the spirit-land, he tells us that " there is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another' glory of the stars ; for One star differeth from another star in glory." And again, va enforce the sublime doctrine of eter- nal progression and development, — to illustrate that the hu- man soul is perpetually ascending from one degree and scale of perfection to another, and to explain to us that man, when his body dies, leaves his moral misdirection and misunder- standings principally on the earth, as he leaves his physical pains and diseases, — this fervent teacher affirms, in these words : " So is the resurrection of the dead : it is sown in corruption, it is raised in incokruption ; it is sown in dis- honor, IT IS RAISED in GLORY ; it IS sown a natural body, it is RAISED A SPIRITUAL BODY. * * * _/Ynd as wc havB borfie the image oS the earthy, lue shall also bear the image of the heavenly. * * * For this corruptible must put on incor- ruption, and this mortal must put on immortality, * * * then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory !" This impressive passage I quote from Paul — not because he is supposed by Christians to be above Nature and Reason in authority — but because his analogical reasonings, assisted, TRUTH AND MYSTERY. 91 at that time, by his newly awakened intuitions, moved him, centuries ago, to the eloquent utterance of those truths which lie within every human soul. It is a joy to find, in past eras, the existing intuitional perception of those glorious truths which have become matters of demonstration in this more progressed period of the world. In Paul's style of analogical reasoning, we may continue to say, truthfully,'^-" We are born in ignorance, but we shall progress unto knowledge ; we are dwelling in misunderstandings, but we shall obtain wis- dom ; we live in this world in misdirection, but we shall at- tain unto harmony ; we believe in evil here, but we shall know better hereafter ; we live and move in darkness on the earth, and stumble into many errors, but in the spirit-land we shall have light, and the immortal radiance of truth shall guide' us forever." Thus, sentence might be added to sentence in amplifying the philosophy that all evil is hut imperfection tend- ing to its ultimate perfection. But enough has been already said to satisfy the logical rnind that, even without entering the " superior condition," — to investigate upon a higher plat- form what the spiritual eye can see of these immortal truths, — the intelligent natural perceptions — the material senses — here discover to us, and innumerable facts demonstrate, that the doctrine of evil spirits is fabulous, and, to the rightly educated, truly religious mind, it is blasphemous and prejudicial to the progression of thought and intelligence. CONCERNING SYMPATHETIC SPIRITS. ^ In pursuing our investigation of the subject of sympathetic spirits, let me not be apprehended as affirming that all com- munications, received through the vibratory sounds, emanate fi-om this class of minds in the second sphere, or that even those impressible spirits are under all circumstances governed in their decisions merely by sympathy. Neither do I affirm that all spirits, thus communing, can be involved or psycholo- gized by the positive mental sphere of a circle ; but I am im-' piiessed to Heolare the fact, that there is a certain class of un-' 02 TRUTH AND MYSTERY. advanced spirits who, under peculiar circumstaBceSi — the very electrical medium of communication favoring the pro- cess of psychology, — will say precisely what the questioning minds of the circle may ardently, and, therefore, positively desire ; and this is one reason why palpable contradictions are softietimes spelled out through the electrical vibrations. And here many will say — " it is sad that we can not more implicitly rely upon the spirits." To such 1 would reply, — let us not blame them, but rather ourselves ; for we — or some other members of the circle — do not comply with the condi- tions upon which the spirits promise to faithfully respond to us. Again and again are we told, that perfect passiveness — a subjugation of our prejudices and anxious feelings — is ne- cessary that we may obtain truthful and reliable communica- tions ; and, when these conditions are not fulfilled, a disap- pointed experience reminds us that we have violated and de- ranged the prescribed laws of these communions. In truth, when we are anxious or impatient, we become intellectually positive, and then we exhale a magnetic atmosphere, while we inhale the necessary electrical emanations which rapidly ex- hausts the presiding medium, and the communications are thereby deranged, — becoming, as many persons have frequent- ly observed, contradictory and confused, and, perhaps, for the time being, altogether arrested. Affectionate spirits, — those dwelling in the Love- Circles iu the second sphere — are most negative, electrically speaking, and are therefore more readily influenced to approve the de- sires of the hearts of those with whom they commune on earth ; whilst, on the other hand, those spirits that dwell in T;he Wisdom Circles, are very positive, and are therefore in- capable of being involved in the mental atmosphere of any earthly minds. This principle of sympathy is illustrated in all divisions of human society ; it is daily exemplified in our midst. In our homes, the infant will, by virtue of its cries and positive entreaties, captivate the affectionate, and, per- haps, intelligent mother ; who consequently will forthwith coincide with her child's desires,— submitting her judgment to its powerful appeals,; whilst at the same time, the, resolute father is unmoved by its tearfui entreaties — he only consid- TRUTH AND MYSTERY. flS ers what' is best for its welfare, and acts in accordance with his convictions. We would not hence charge that mother with a moral obliquity, nor are we to esteem the father as possessing a greater moral rectitude. The explanation of the yielding tenderness of the one, against the unbending stern- ness of the other, is to be found in the respective organic conformations and mental developments of the parents. Again, let us, from our homes, go into the popular revival religious meetings and further observe there the workings of this great psychological principle of sympathy. The clergy- man, with "his big, manly voice," is positively and dogmati- cally enforcing the doctrine of his creed : the awfulness of Divine justice ; the awfulness of Divine vengeance ; the aw- fulness of hell ; the terrible awfulness of hell-punishments ; the awful magnificence of heaven ; the awful necessity of salvation ; and the awful pivotal means upon which the whole scheme turns ; whilst he threatens the fearful consequences of not accepting those means forthwith. These and similar themes are represented by the speaker, the powerful psycholo- gist, to his audience, his generally passive and attentive subjects, with all the glowing beauty of brilliant language and the sublime strength of a positive temperament. Fasci- nated by his intellectual power, one after another draws nearer to the altar. Near by sit two equally honorable men ; both intelligent, but differently constituted. The one listens and meditates with an almost provoking indifference; the other is moved to the center of his soul — his gesticulations express agony — the preacher has drawn a picture of awful terrors and has powerfully daguerreotyped it upon his mind, he sees the awfulness there represented, and the shadow is to him as a reality. Now let us examine into this. The un- moved individual has a cold, resolute, positive, intellectual organization — he is more positive than the speaker ; and therefore that speaker can not awaken in him false compunc- tions of conscience. He can not convince the honest man that he is an " awful sinner." But this good man's equally good and honest neighbor possesses a fine, impressible, elastic, affectionate organization— he is vexy negative to the eloquent' preacher,^ and hence " feels fev^ry thing the minister says to 94 TRUTH AND MYSTSRY-. be true." Those very positive speakers always affirm what they pronounce; it gives weight to their words,; sand invests them with a seeming authority. And what is the conse- quence of this psychological result ? It is simply this : that good man, that impressible and affectionate mind, is thrown into a frenzied state of moral contrition. He has hitherto been superior to the uttering of what was untrue; but now he rapturously pronounces falsehood after falsehood. . He says— ^" I'm under divine condemnation," which is not true. He says^"rm hiwardly depraved ;" which is not true. He says — " I 've been always a great sinner ;" which is not true, for he was once an innocent child, and of "such is the kingdom of heaven." He says — " God is angry with me ;" which is not true, for " God is love," and bitter and sweet, or love and hate, can not flow from one fountain. He says— " God's spirit is striving with me ;" which is not true, for he is simply psychologized, by the speaker, to see every thing re- specting his own state invested with awfulness, and himself as under the divine wrath and condemnation. At last he calls aloud-^" 0, I see the Holy Spirit !" which is not true ; his vision is only affected by mental delirium, tremens, arising from the excessive intoxication wiiich the powerful preaching has produced upon his nervous system. And now, still moved by the controlling influence in the assemblage, he exclaims — "O, thank God, I am forgiven ;" which is not true, had he sinned, for no transgressions against nature's laws can be for- given, they can only be outgrown by personal progression,, and development. And thus the highly honorable and truth- telling member of society is captivated by the positive sphere of the clergyman, united with that of those of his congrega- tion who think with him, and is thereby made to utter many falsities and contradictions which, I trust, no one, at this day of scientific enlightenment, will attempt to account for on the ground of moral obliquity, or total depravity. Nor will any minds, except those who believe in mythological theology and supernatural interpositions, pronounce the other individ- ual to be incorrigibly wicked and graceless, simply because the exhorter was not sufiiciently positive to throw him also into a psychological state. There is no doubt, however, that TRUTH AND MYSTERY. 95 if that firm and calm temperament could have been affected by the united mental force of numbers so' as to have been made to feel " what the minister said" was true, he would have arisen a spiritual Sampson in his strength, and with a still more powerful eloquence, he would have psychologized many other minds,— he would have completely subdued all those who had already been sympathetically acted upon -by the clergyman,— t;hey being negative to this accomplished convert, and yielding readily to his influence. Thus an en- tire congregation could be, by the propagation or dissemina- tion of this sympathetic magpetism, thrown into unparalleled emotion ; and the whole phenomenon wbull be ignorantly attributed to the direct interposition of the " Spirit of God" or the Holy Ghost. , Let the advanced intellect correctly understand, rightly appreciate, and not condemn this action of mind Upon mind ; let us not call evil those kind spirits from the second sphere who sometimes impart contradictory thoughts through the sounds, because they are no more to be blamed for so doing than was the impressible good man, above mentioned, to blame for yielding to the power of the preacher. The con- tradictions only admonish us that we have inadvertently, or otherwise, deranged the equilibrium of the physical conditions on which the communications are made. Surely, there is nothing in all this to attribute to demoniac agency ; there is nothing evil in such sympathy ; it is the golden chain which binds all sentient existences together; and, if we would pre-^ vent all misunderstandings and mistakes in our communings through sounds, let us conform to the great positive and neg- ative principles according to which all sympathy is harmony. It is a beautiful link in that everlasting chain — a principle, whereby those spirits, who are as yet but members of the Love- circles in the second sphere, respond sympathetically to the heart's desires ; like the fond mother they would bestow a present joy ; and this same principle- of sympathy which has so often moved aflectionate spirits to coincide with the wishes of the positive questioner, is the same as governed Ruth when she uttered those magnanimous expressions of tender devotion—" Whither thou goest, I wil. go ; and where thou 96 TRUTH AND MYSTERY. lodgest, I will lodge ; thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God." As you would not pronounce Ruth evil for this beautiful manifestation of affectionate sympathy, so should you not term evil those loving and impressible spirits who have acquiesced in our wishes and convictions because influenced so to do by the posiliveness of our questions and entreaties. Thus it has been shown that there are three ac- tive causes of contradictions in these spiritual communica- tions, namely : 1st. The ignorance of many of the spirits concerning the science of producing the vibrations ; 2d. Our frequent misapprehension of the precise thought the spirits design to convey through the sounds ; 3d. The presence of affectionate spirits who unconsciously glide into sympathy with the feelings and desires of the inter- rogator. THE FORMATION OF CIRCLES Let us now proceed to consider how circles may be so formed as to avoid misapprehension and discord. We are taught that, in order to obtain good and lofty communications, it is positively essential that our thoughts and intentions be also good and elevated. A child-like simple-heartedness, a mainly, open, and free-mindedness, combined with an honest love for truth, are indispensable pre-requisites. Moreover, it is essential that the circles be always organized and in- ternally constructed upon positive and negative principles. As there are twelve elements and attributes in every human soul, abstractly considered, so should there be twelve persons constituting a circle ; the twelve consisting of six males and six females. This distinction Df male and female is not so essential to be observed with regard to sex ; but six of the number should possess the feminine attributes of character which are negative and affectionate, and the others should be decidedly masculine, having the positive and intellectual tem- perament. Male and female are positive and negative prin- TRUTH AND MYSTERY, 97 cvples ; and the terms should not be applied and confined exclusively to mere organizations ; for some individuals who wear the physical vesture of the male are, in their characters, females ; and vice versa. And first, in forming a circle for individual improvement and spiritual communion, the "medium," through whom "sounds" are made, and the clairvoyant who can discern spirits, should be situated at the head of a table. Then let the person whose electrical temperament is usually indicated by cold hands, and who possesses a mild and loving disposi tion, take his or her position on the immediate right of the medium or clairvoyant, upon whose immediate left should be seated one of a magnetic or warm physical temperament, being a positive and intellectual individual, and so let all the six female principles be situated on the right, and all the six male principles having their places fixed on the left, of the ' particular mediums, not exceeding two in number at a circle ; which mediums do not count among the number of twelve above specified. It is necessary that each person of the re- union be temperate in all his habits, free from intoxicating or stimulating beverages ; not suffering from pains or aches, and passive as to the results of the meeting. These circles should not make their sessions more frequent than twice a week ; because those things which become too familiar are thereby deprived of their sanctity, and hence also of their power to benefit the assembled individuals. The masses know not how to always associate respect with famil- iarity. For this reason it is good for most people, that " angels' visits are few and far between ;" because, were they as common as sunlight, or the possession of all our senses, many minds, I regret to say, would not only fall into a state of ingratitude, but they would neglect to properly appropriate the perpetual blessings flowing therefrom. Therefore^ it is necessary to be careful that a too great intimacy with these things does not occasion an inappreciation of them. Let the sessions of these circles of Love and Wisdom be conducted with a religious dignity and harmony; v^hich high conditions do not at all prohibit cheerfulness, intelligent mirth, or con- versation. Let music, elevating and gladdening, also enliven 7 98 TRUTH AND MYSTERY. and lift up your hearts, to the end that spirits may paiticipate in the mciody of your souls, and echo in heaven the harmony of earth. Let your assemblages be indeed hartnonial circles, where discord may not enter ; carry not there any unkind feelings ; take not there, to mar the beauty of those meet- ings, any sensations of envy or jealousy; let no feelings of unforgiveness against a brother or a sister, be found by the angels in your souls, darkening the light within; and remem- ber that not for these occasions only can you divest your- selves of selfishness, envy, jealousy, unkindness, and unfor- giveness — there is no occasional dress for the soul; if you would substitute, for those deforttiities, the beautiful spiritual vesture of love, and gentleness, and purity, then you must make sUch your familiar attire. The mind has no particular Sunday habiliments ; therefore as you clothe it for every-day- life, thus must it go adorned to the sanctuary. I am impressed to further direct that the rooms where the circles meet should, as much as possible, be retired from all noise and interruption ; that they should also be darkened, so that the persons present, not having their minds attracted and d'iveirted by external things, may the more easily concen- trate their thoughts upon the object for which they have met together. Moreover, it would be well for the members of these circles of Love and. Wisdom to provide themselves with a fine magnetic cord. This will entertain, and amuse, and at last, perhaps, develop their mental powers. The Directions for making and using the Magnetic Cord. — Get about five yards of a three quarter inch rope ; cover this rope with silk or cotton velvet; and wind around it, parallel with each other, two wires, one of steel and the other of silver or copper. Have the space between the wires about one inch and a half, and let them be wound about a quarter of an inch apart. The harmonial circle of friends may sit uniformly around the table, and let the magnetic rope lie on their laps, their hands upon or grasping it, and the one which is constitutionally most susceptible to spiritual influx of emotion and influence, will feel a throbbing in the hands ; and ultimately, by repeated experiments, some one among the company may be rendered clairvoyant. I am not im' TK,UTH AND MYSTERY. 99 pressed topaake any distinction witjb regard to the age of the individuals who enter into these spiritual associa,tions. But manipulations will assist the impressible person to receive the, propagative magnetism of the CTcle; they will, also, grfis^tly augment the mental tendency of the subject to enter one of four states, for which hi^ organization may cherish, a normal predisposition ; viz. the sympathetic, the neurological, the psycjjometrical, or the superior condition. In addition to the foregoing directions, I recommend the above diagram as representative of a " model circle" which should be formed in every community and in many families. After one circle is constructed, and the members have had a few evenings' experience, it will' then be very easy to adopt such new measures and modes as the spirits, communicating through the vibrations or by influx into the understanding of a clairvoyant, may suggest and direct. The diagram repre- sents a table, with two mediums at the lower end, and twelve members — six positive and six negative principles or persons. The fine line, which connects the individuals, represents the " magnetic cord," the influence of which is to establish and preserve an equilibrium of vital electricity and vital magnet- ism throughout the entire circle. L^t it be understood that the undeveloped mediums, or the already developed clairvoy- ants, are not to grasp the magnetic cord, because they are the substances or needles, (if I may be allowed the expression,) which the magnetism and electricity of the twelve members are to act upon, just as the horse-shoe vjagnet acts upon the piece of iron or steel. As soon as the circle of positive an,d negative principles or individuals shall have fully charged those who take the position of " mediums," then the latter will 100 TRUTH AND MYSTESy. inevitably be thrown, by the descension of the higher influ- ence of spirits upon them, into a proper condition to impart " impressions" to the circle, or else to become the medium through which our invisible visitants from the spirit- world will cause electrical vibrations to be heard, and thus commu- nicate their thoughts to man. When the cord has been held for one hour, the niembers may then cast it aside and join their hands. Another good method is, — all the members may lay their hands on the table, palm downward; and each per- son in the circle allowing his left to remain uAder the right, and his right to rest upon the left, hand of the contiguous individual on either side of him. Do this for a period not less than twenty minutes. In the midst of these re-unions when the electrical sphere of the circle is rich and harmonious, the members may rest assured that guardian and affectionate spirits will descend, and sometimes come personally in the room. I have ob- served, with my spiritual perceptions, as many as eighteen spirits present at one session of a circle in the City of Bridge- port, Connecticut ; and, at the time of their actual presence with us, there was a large congregation of friendly spirits who, from a distance of eighty miles, (about thirty miles above the atmosphere of our earth,) directed a mighty column of vitai electricity and magnetism, which current, penetra- ting all intermediate substances, passed through the roof and walls to the apartment where we were seated; and there, by a process of infiltration, entered the fine particles of matter which composed the table and raised it several successive times, three or four feet from the floor! This circumstance of the table being so raised, can be testified to by the members of that circle. It is not, however, my object to prove the fact of these spiritual manifestations, (for of the facts of such occurrences thousands are already convinced by the' exist- ence of sufficient evidence ;) but my impression is to furnish the philosophical explanation of them ; and hence I seek, no particular or individual testimonies, because the entire phe- nomena now before the world, whose light may not at this day be hid, constitute one grand living demcnstration that spirits do communicate with mankind. TEUTH AND MYSTERY. 101 There are two classes of spirits who generally visit the at present established terrestrial circles. First — such spirits as have, in those circles, relatives according to the law of natural consanguinity, and such as feel attracted to us by ties of con- jugal and spiritual paternal affection. Second — those spirits that are delegates from the higher circles of wisdom and pro- gression in the second sphere— -I mean, (as Swedenborg has expressed it,) representative or " subject spirits," who come to communicate, where a few have met together here, those messages to man which emanate from the superior societies of the inner world. The higher angels do not themselves come into immediate electrical relation with any terrestrial association of minds, but mediately, by and through represent- ative spirits. This mediatorial manner of communicating would not be adopted in higher circles here, could they at present be formed, consisting of spiritually enlightened and illuminated minds ; because, with these conditions existing, an immediate ^communication could be established between those higher angels arid the members of such a truly harmo- nial circle, by direct spiritual influx and impression. To attain to this eminence the circles formed should press for- ward to the attainment of knowledge ; no fetters of creed and doctrine should stay their steps in progression. Truth will lead them into the broad fields of infinitude — into the illimitable expanse of Nature. And who among you will weary thus advancing — there investigating ? Who will let. a bolt or a bar, which superstition or bigotry may have placed in the way, arrest the mind's far searchings after God ? — Who will clasp close the clasps of his bible, and say, " thus far will I go and no farther," in seeking after truth ? Who will thus pronounce sentence against himself, and rest satisfied ? Will any man remain contented with words — words,' which are at best but the drapery of truth — the shroud which " darkeheth counsel" ? No ! man's ever-searching, never-resting, eternal mind will not thus confine its investigations ! " Words with- out knowledge" shall not set bounds to thought. The undy- ing soul shall be taught forever from the everlasting volumes of Nature as one after another they unfold to its growing capacity. And mind shall study those books which are never 102 TRUTH AND MYSTERY. closed, never "clasped with a clasp," — the ever operi pages of God's Eternal Word ! This education can not be too soon commenced; and spirits from higher spheres will assist in such tuition of the human mind, and will pour knowledge from above into the expanding intellect of the young immor tal here, who by his own virtuous efforts reaches unto them, and thus becomes a pure recipient for the inflowings of truth ! Thus can the angels teach man ; though, on the earth but few, as yet, have been so taught to any extent, because of the as yet generally materialistic intelligence that only seeks for knowledge in the outer world, which pursuit diverts attention from the inner-life ; and thus all the avenues and receptive vessels in such minds are kept closed against an influx of thoughts and impressions from spirits who would otherwise impart to us of heavenly things. Let us go to the earth- formed circles for spiritual communications aS to angel- schools. Let us not go there with positive minds to impress our teachers, but let us attend as passive pupils that we may be impressed ; and then, according to our capabilities ol reception, will be imparted to us a higher or a lesser knowl- edge. Let us wait patiently the impartatiohs of the spirits, and not anticipate too ardently. Let the very impressible person present be careful that, by an over-officiousness of his, accompanying a quick perception of what the spirit is about to do, he does not interfere to assist in accomplishing that design, by which act the spiritual manifestation would be forestalled or ignorantly and unintentionally interdicted. One of these circles for improvement and investigation was recently formed in the City of Hartford, Connecticut, at which was present the " medium" who had presided at the meeting of friends in Bridgeport, where the above-related interesting occurrences were developed ; but, notwithstand- ing the harmony of the positive and negative arrangement of the different individuals in the later organized circle, no such startling manifestations occurred, in consequence of the me- dium being, during nearly every session of that circle, exceed- ingly susceptible to the mental sphere and magnetic power of spirits. By this magnetism his perceptions were quick- ened, and he would at times instantly perceive, and sympa- TRUTH AND MYSTERY. 103 thetically. perform, what the spirits, contemplated to do them-! selves, and thus, by his quick action, arrestiid their necessarily s.ower accomplishment of the design. This circumstance gave rise to many doubts and a few evanescent misapprcr. hensions ; but it was nevertheless a deeply interesting dem- onstration of the power of spirits to influence, under some, circumstances, the human mind and direct its faculties of volition. We have noticed the power of this influence on the boy at Stratford^ Connecticut,, who, like the. medium just, referred to, would often sympathetically do what the spirits desired themselves to enact ; and, at times, he was so mag- netically afiected by them as to be made to accomplish some things which, though particularly designed to do him and others good, were not always, at the time, regarded with a favorable eye. This leads me to briefly notice a very inter- esting kind of spiritual magnetism which some persons of a peculiarly negative temperament and organization are adapted, to receive. I refer to spiritual communications which some individuals receive by. sensations rather than by sounds,, through, the electrical medium which pervades the nervous system. Such persons do not exhale, from the galvanic bat- teries of the nervous organization, a sufficient quantity of vital electricity whereby spirits can make the sounding vibra- tions. There is a certain state of mental susceptibility in which man's nervous system b exceedingly impressible ; and those, spirits who are now pursuing the study of these things, and discovering to what extent their powers can operate upon organic and inorganic objects, will address such a sen- sitive mind through a breathing impression, or a, wave-likes, vibration made upon the sea of nerves in the physical organ- ism. A person, subject to this psychological phenomenon, can converse with spirits and obtain answers from them, by vibrations or waving breathings which pass through the ner- vous system up to the brain, and awaken there thpvights by impression. It is a happy and useful combination of condir tions, when an enlarged intellect and, truth-seeking mind are united to this peculiarly susceptible nervous temperament; for in that case heavenly results will flow therefrom. The spirits of the various planets in our solar system are 104 TRUTH AND MYSTERY. in different stages of refinement. And those that are on the higher have the privilege of descending to the lower planets, and immersing their thoughts into the spirits of "the inhabit- ants at will, though the latter in many cases know it not. In this manner do spirits descend to, and dwell on, the earth, when they have a peculiar attraction to some relative or fiiend ; and they are ever ready to introduce into his mind thoughts of higher things, and suggestions that are pure,' though these may seem to the person to flow independently from the workings of his own spirit. Spirits from any sphere may, b?j permission,* descend to any earth in the Universe, and breathe sentiments into the minds of others which are pure and elevating. Hence it is that there are times when the mind appears to travel in the company of those it knows not, and has visions in its dreams that are actually true, and some- times come to pass with remarkable accuracy. At other times, dreams are incited by the influx of thoughts from spirits, but are not defined, because they are not duly directed. There is, however, a species of dreaming which is uncaused by any thing except an eixcitement of the nervous medium or consciousness of the body. Such dreams are only unquieted thoughts, and wild and fantastic formations of thoughts pre- impressed into visions and fancies. It is a truth that spirits commune with one another while one is in the body and the other in the higher Spheres — and this, too, when the person in the body is unconscious of the influx, and hence can not be convinced of the fact ; and this truth will ere long present itself in the form of a living demonstration. f And the world will hail with delight the ushering in of that era when the interiors of men will be opened, and the spiritual communion will be established such as is now being enjoyed by the irJiabitants of Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, because of their superior refinement. When the reader comprehends the philosophy of spiritual intercourse, and understands the great principle of mental affinity or gravitation in accordance with which all commu- nication between the inhabitants of the Material and Spirit- * That is, on conditions that the prinoiples of spiritual affinity be complied with, t See " Nature's Divine Revelations," page 675. THUTK AND MYSTEKT. 105 ual universe must uniformly be developed, tnen ne can, with an understanding heart, turn to t'.ie Primitive History and read: — "Now, concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. * * • * * * There are diver- sities of gifts, but by the same spirit* And there are differ- ences of administrations ***** gut the manifesr tation of the spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the spirit the word of wisdom ; to an- other the word of knowledge by the same spirit ; to another the working of miracles ; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits ; to another divers kinds of tongues ; to another the interpretation of tongues" — and thus the reader will begin to see, (through the clouds of words and diction which surround and obscure thoughts,) the great harmonial principles of spiritual intercourse as intuitively conceived of by those whose contemplations have'been, and are, lofty and exalted. One type of intellectual or psychological phenomena which the inhabitants of this world may expect soon to witness, is very properly described in the following letter which I re- cently received from a very worthy and intelligent gentle- man, residing in the state of New York. During the last eighteen months I have received numerous letters, describing singular and positive instances of spontaneous somnambulism and trance, which instances naturally arrange themselves under the head of involuntary clairvoyance. And the directions which I have been impressed to institute in this pamphlet, for the purpose of eliciting spiritual communications, will apply very properly to nearly all subjects of these mental and spiritual phenomena. The writer of the following letter accompanied his statements with reference to various citizens of New York City, and otherwise furnished sufficient external evidence that his averments are perfectly truthful. It will be perceived that this case, (which the gentleman describes, *The good Apostle, by farticular influx, mforms me that the sentence — " but oy the same spirit," should be every where read, " hut by the same Principle." — ^ihus giving mankind to understand that all spiritual manifestations sri but modifications sai divei-% led developmsnts of one universal and unohangeaUe law of Natura, * 106 TRUTH AND MTSTEEY. without intendirg his communication to appear in print;) presents the most certain and unmistakeable evidence of the existence, in the mental constitution of man, of discerning- powers far excelling in their scope and quality the vision of the outer senses. The finding of the "mourning ring" which "had been in the earth a great many years," and "other gold pieces," is a practical and sensuous demonstration of spiritual perception of facts, and things, without the aid of the corporeal organs of discernment, which the external and su perficial investigators of this era have so. long and vehemently demanded. But this is only one instance among hundreds which might be cited as evidence of the actuality and prac- ticability of faculties of interior vision, immanent in every human mind. Watee^oed, N. Y., 3d Feb., 1851. Me. a. J. Davis : Deae Sie, — I am influenced solely by a motive of public good in ad^ dressing you. I will be brief. There is now living on one of my farms, a lady of most extraordinary magnetic condition. I was made acquainted with her in the summer of 1849 ; and spent most of that summer in her house. She is entirely, (or nearly so,) uneducated, and has been afflicted with what her physician denominated "hysteric fits." She had been treated by him, without the least success, for four years. At the time I speak of, her symptoms were as follows : She would sud- denly lose all her consciousness of the identity of those , around her, (their appearance being changedi) her coun- tenance flushed — wildness of the eyes-^and every thing ap- pears to her of a green color. Sometimes the hand will convulse so strongly that she can not let go of whatever she may have grasped. Other times, the convulsions will run down the arm into one hand then into another, and pass from one member of the body to another — to and from the tongue, arms, &c. &c.— with the velocity of electricity. In this " waking state" — she is often very fluent in conversa- tion — filled with lofty sentiments of honor. Her bearing is proud and exalted; Her countenance often transcendently TRUTH J»ND MYSTERY. 107 bnghtjitier eyes beaming with a sweet and almost super- human luster. Suddenly she drops from this condition into a kind of mesmeric sleep — when convulsions frequently en- sue» and then, after a short time, she awakes. I have held her hand at such times, and the sensation is like tlie shock from the galvanic buttery. I said she lost the identity of hei friends. Yes, but while in this condition, without seeing a per son, the moment her friends touch her hand she knows them. I invited this lady to my house, satisfied in my own mind, that it was a case of " Self-Magnetism" — or " Spon- taneous Magnetism." She had been at my residence, per- haps, an hour, when she went into this condition. I have: no time to relate what occurred, — suffice it to say — that she became lucid, and truthfully related the transpiration of distant events ! She also stated that she saw a gold ring, and directed us to it ! We found it, in the road by her personal aid on the spot, ten inches below the surface, in the hard ground. This road runs over a place that, forty years ago, was a burying ground. This ring is an old-fashioned mourning ring, and bears evidence that it had been in the earth a great many years. She also found other gold pieces. But I can not go into details — I am fearful of troubling you. But what I wish to bring more particularly before, your mind, is this : — While under treatment for " hyster- ics" (!) she greatly surprised me one day by her steady gaze, and the extraordinary expression of her countenance — no- thing can surpass the beauty of that expression. She said, when questioned, that she saw her father, (who was dead,) and described the " Spirit- World," (on her recovery from this condition,) in a style peculiarly your own. Is there not something in this case, that may be made of benefit to mankind? The name of this lady is Mrs. Hannah . She is highly esteemed for her many virtues. Pray, sir, let me hear from you on this subject. . Yours, truly, P. J . The class of spiritual phenomena to which this lady's state and manifestations properly belong, is one that should arrest the attention of scientifis men — men, who are not altogether 108 TRUTH AND MYSTERY. absorbed in the ejff'ects of principles, but rather in the interior moving causes. It will be perceived, by those -who read works on psychological science, that history contains many similar instances of spiritual magnetism and spontaneous illumination of the internal powers of the understanding, primarily caused by nervous impressibility and disease. For instance, — I find many important discoveries and revelations among the Germans,— o^'vag very much to their peculiar habits of thinking, and of investigating all seen and unseen laws and operations of Nature ; afad among them have been persons whose interior perceptions were so unfolded as to en- able them to recognize the reality of the spirit-world, and its close connection with this rudimental sphere. One should De noticed particularly, because her mind vf&s in a condition occupied by all at the period of death or transformation. She is known as the Seeeess of Prevorst — and has re- vtealed many truths, concerning the connection between the natural and spiritual wbi'ld, and between the soul and body ; and concerning the powers of spiritual perception, and the medium by which the spirit is united with the form. Her interior and natural state were, however, too frequently con- fused and blended to elevate her conceptions of the other life much above her early education ; and her intense suffer- ings were, also, lamentable barriers to a perfect ascension of her spirit into the tranquil sphere of Truth. These things are too important to escape the attention of any inquiring mind ; for they manifestly involve evidences such as man- kind at present need to satisfy them of the powers of the soul, and of other physiological truths.* If the reader desires to comprehend the principal causes of what is customarily called Salem Witchcraft, (as it occurred many years ago,) then iet him investigate the phenomena of spirits acting upon human minds hj first addressing their will and electrical elements to the nervous system of the subject. This process, though no mystery now, was a few years since — especially in Salem — regarded as the open manifestation of Satan or of some strange malady, closely connected * Sec " Nature's Divine EevelatioBs," page 584. TRUTH AXO MYSTERY. 109 with (lemonism or enchantment. In former periods of the world, the subjects of these spiritual communications either tlirough the mediatorial agency of the nervous system, or the electrical vibrations, would legally be condemned and com- pelled to pass through the trials whi(3h the unfortunate Salem meaiums experienced. But the age of religious intolerance is past ; the rack and the rod are uowerless means of secta- rian torture ; and the honest man is now permitted, (partic- larly in America,) the gratification of thinking and speaking as his reason and conscience dictate. The human mind is now more than ever the Lord of Creation. The physiology of the mind, — its laws, tendencies, forces and functions, — should early engage the attention of him who, according to popular standards of judgment, takes the position, and acts in the important capacity, of a physician. I am persuaded that the lady, who has been so long treated for " hysterics," is more capable, in her moments of extasis or illumination, of prescribing for herself than any physician in the country. In order to develop her powers harmoni- ously, I refer those who can take charge of her interesting case, to the directions for forming circles, which, if fol- lowed, will quiet her present state of excitement and bring her mind into a high state, favorable to periodical and useful illumination. Let her be a member of a circle ; and, in a few sessions, she will doubtless yield to its soothing magnet- ism. Manipulations are not in such cases required. ■ Miss , of Connecticut, has recently experienced the influence of spirits upon her physical system. Yielding her mind to passiveness, she has received several very inter- esting communications. The origin of this phenomenon in her own case she describes as follows, — I introduce a brief history of her experience in this place as illustrative of a principle of action which any impressible individual may adopt with the indwelling wish to obtain personal evidence of spiritual presence and power. At the suggestion of a female friend, who supposed she had been similarly acted upon by spirits, Miss , after retir- ing for the night, laid her arm on the outside of the bed, with this desire — ''if there be any spirits near me, will they mani- J.10 TRUTH AND MYSTEKY. fest their presence by moving my hand?" A few nights passed without any results. At length one night, as her arm lay carelessly and passively on the bed, she experienced an invisible attraction operating upon her hand, and, by not in- terposing her will to restrain its motion, the unseen power moved her arm about in various directions. This interesting evidence of spiritual presence was furnished her repeatedly, and uniformly at her request. Having become almost per fectly convmced that her experience did not proceed from her own volition or imagination, she resolved to venture fur- ther, and requested the invisible beings* to supply her with appropriate "signals" for a. negative and an affirmative, XhaX she might hold converse with them. This desire was imme- diately responded to by the spirit who acted upon her arm and hand, conveying the latter to her chin and then to one side in an almost horizontal direction. She concluded that one motion signified " yes," and the other " no ;" but did not know exactly how to understand them; and asked — "does the first motion mean an affirmative ?" and her hand was di- rectly conveyed to her chin, and then, as before, moved pff in the side direction when she desired a negative. She now . believed that, if these motions did in reality originate with spirits, her hand might as easily be conducted to the different letters of the alphabet. Accordingly she chalked out the alphabet on the cover of a chest, and placed herself near it, in an easy posture and tranquil state, with the quiet wish that something might be spelled out to her. Soon her hand was moved and placed upon a letter, which she recorded ; then upon another, and another, until a clear and consistent sentence was constructed. She affirms; that at first she did not preconceive of the letter to which her hand was being conducted ; nor did it then occur to her what word the spirits designed to spell out in this novel manner. However, after a little experience, her mind readily conceived of the letter, and then of the word, which was to be given her ; and thus, by direct mental impressions, many very beautiful admoni- tions and affectionate sentences or communications have come from the spirits of the departed, through her, to^ their friends and acquaintances on the earth. She has received XaUTH AND MYSTERY. Ill numerous " signals," each of which indicate the immediate presence or influence of some particular spirit. These sig- nals consist of divers motions into which the arm, hand, and fingers are carefully and gracefully thrown. She says she can easily resist these motions by an exercise of volition ; "but such resistance is almost invariably attended with heavy achings and, pain in that member of her body which the un- seen power had previously manifested a disposition to move. I am impressed to consider this lady's experience* as typical of a class of spiritual phenomena which many persons will ere long develop and present to the world. And I am also impressed to regard her manifestations, not as demonstra- •tional evidences that spirits are near this earth, and can com- municate with its inhabitants, but rather as an illustration of a Truth with which numerous minds are already sufficiently impressed — and who, consequently, are no longer in search of "tests" and "evidences," but who desire to hear from friends in the Spirit-Land, and to live in constant harmony with the immutable, principles of Love and Wisdom, by which alone the heavenly hosts are actuated and governed. The following passages will illustrate the character and impressiveness of most of her communications, — ^the two first which follow purported to come — as I know they did — from the spirit of a gentleman who recently died in California, ad- dressed to a brother in this world, and were received on the 8th and 9th of February, 1851 : — " My brother dear ; the spirit-world is indeed a world of harmony ; and where harmony is, there is happiness ! In the pursuit of knowledge, let wisdom be your guide, and you will progress to meet me in the second sphere. Let love prevail over all unkindness ! Love and hatred can not dwell together -^one will consume the other ! "My brother, — there are beauties in. the spirit-world far ex- ceeding. human conception, and language is too feeble to give them utterance." * She does not feel it to be her duty to devote her experience to the world, and hence I purposely conceal from the piiblie her name and residence. I could ad- duce the testimony of her most intimate friends to substantiate these statementi^ but tliis-is deemed unneoesssry. 118 TRUTH AND MT3TERY. To the reader the above communication can not pos^bly contain any thing like that internal evidence of truthfulness and signification which the earthly brother /eZi, and knew it to possess, on its reception ; also he was deeply impressed with the following : — '' Will my brother remember thai I am ever near him ? I love him with such love as angels feel who have no uncongenial influences to retard their progress ! " O, my brother — could you but feel life's harmonious breath- ings as I now experience it, you would rejoice with joy UTispeak- able ! Dear brother, when troubled, think of me /'' These communications illustrate how noble and affection- ate, intelligent and holy, the inhabitants of the spirit-land become subsequent to their emancipation from earth's slave- ry, trials and temptations. But it is not strange that spirits are so loving and wise! Nay, we ourselves could be nearly as good and enlightened if, as in the spirit-heavens, "the Sun of Righteousness" had arisen in our interior firmament, — spreading light and freedom, love and intelligence, over the souls and habitations of men ! The following is from the spirit of a Mother in the spirit- land to her daughter in this world : — " My daughter, I love to be near you ! Angels will protect you from all harm ! Mother will ever be near her dear child !" When the above was communicated, January 7th, 1851, the lady, through whom it came, in the manner heretofore described, had her hand differently acted upon, and the father of the daughter announced his presence, and desired to com- municate a message, (the following,) which is entirely char- acteristic of him as he was known while on this earth. Even this very sentence he frequently used ; but the medium was never acquainted with him, and hence did not know any thing with regard to his manner of speaking : — " Overcome evil with good, my child ; may every blessing attend you."' Thirty-two days after the above was communicated, the Father again came from the spirit-land. He announced his presence by his " signal," which the medium instantly recog- nized by the peculiar motion which he had before given to TRUTH AND MYSTERY. 113 her hand and arm ; and the following was imparted by him to his daughter, word for word : — " I am near you, my daughter, — a father's love will never cease in its influence over you ! Will my daughter remember that a father's love, is not diminished by a residence in the spirit-land ? The love of angels far exceeds the love of earthly minds ; for as the mind expands, we take a more comprehen- ive view of the height and depth of the beauties of Harmony. " Let not the trials of earth disturb the spirit of my dear child; let a holy influence steal over her mind as she contem- plates the beauties of Divine Love and Divine Wisdom ! " The mission of my child is a mission of love. Go on, dear child,-^the consciousness of having done good to the world, will greatly increase your happiness. Let the golden chain of love unite soul to soul; that all unkindness maybe overcome by Its sweet influence." The following, from a grandmother in the spheres to her children in this world, was received through the same medi- um, (Miss ,) by the peculiar process of having her finger placed by the spirit upon the different letters of the alphabet, which, when combined and punctuated, read thus : " My children dear : all spirits have been subjected to trials in the flesh ; they are now free, and will do all in their power to alleviate, those who are now in bondage. Spirits joyfully sustain their dear friends, even when they know it not, under Lcwe's sweet and holy influences." The medium's grandmother has been for many years in the Second Sphere, and consequently possesses much enlighten- ment concerning the preparations which many spirits have made, and are constantly making, to communicate their high truths and affectionate sentiments to man. And one day, as Miss was asking herself the question — " how do spirits do this ?" — she received from her grandmother the following philosophical explanation : — • " You have a mind susceptible to spiritual impressions ; and spirits are joyfully endeavoring to keep you in subjection. Fol- low spiritual direction, and you will progress and be happy." From another spirit, which frequently communicates with her, she received the following interesting passage which, like 114 TRUTH AND MYSTEEY. all the foregoing and succeeding impartations, is particularly adapted to the moral reformation and encouragement of the reader. " Very enlightened spirits will teach you truths so that you can communicate to others. Seek wisdom to guide you. Soon shall truth triumph over error; and Nature's laws shall be OBEYED ! Universal love shall triumph over selfishness ; and soon truth will save enslaved minds from bondage." Those who afRrm that nothing c^ any importance has as yet emanated from these spiritua. manifestations, should calmly meditate upon the comprehensive injunctions and moral admonitions which these few sentences embrace. There is truth enough in these communications to reform and purify the world. On the 18th of January, 1851, the medium experienced a new action of some unseen influence upon her hand and arm. Presently a male spirit, who did not give the name by which he was known on earth, spelled out through her the following : — " Sweet and truthful seekers after spiritual truths shall be spiritually enlightened. Spirits are joyfully seeking truthful mediums. Keep a calm and serene mind, ever susceptible to spiritual impressions, always faithful to Justice, Truth and Deity." ' Again, on the 30th day of January, 1851, and when the medium was not expecting any communications from the interior world, her arm and hand were strongly acted upon, and the following was imparted to her, word for word, as it is written. It is truly a voice from the spirit-land — a sweet , message of encouragement to a pilgrim here. It comes from a very dear brother, according to the laws of consanguinity, who passed from this rudimental existence in infancy, and who, consequently, has progressed, grown up, and received an education, in the midst of those immaculate beings and heavenly influences whicl| distinguish the spirit- world from the scenes of earth. " Tell sister dear, I am ever near her ; and I love her, with the love of an angel-brother. When she is troubled, tell her to think of me! I will be with her in sickness and in health , md will speak to her of bright scenes beyond earth." TRUTH AND MYSTERY. 115 He will "speak" to her; he will breathe into her soul thoughts of the spirit-land; de9,th has not divided them, and the grave is no barrier between souls that are attracted one to another. Is not this a happy thing to be learned in a world which ignorance has hung in mourning for the dead ? It is lifting the crape, and revealing that there are no dead ' And yet it is asked — " what good can these things do ?" Admitting that there are such things occurring as mysteri- ous "rappings" and unaccountable manifestations — "what benefit is to be derived therefrom ?" " Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth ?" Such is the language of the skeptic and of the incipient inquirer ; but these are gentle words, and silver sounds, compared with that voice, upon the earth, which cries out against every new messenger of Truth, the sound of which reverberates from Calvary, repeats from mount to mount, echoes from age to age, responds from tongue to tongue, and mutters now, " Away with him, away with him." — "Crucify him, crucify him." Yes, the same voice of ignorance and sectarianism that spoke so loud eighteen hundred years ago, still hoarsely whispers its anath- emas. The same spirit of intolerance yet lives, to revile, to judge, and to condemn. What matters it that one, whom sectarians have crucified, has told them to " revile not," to "judge not," to "condemn not" — ^what matters it to them? The spirit which once nailed him to the cross, to-day would pierce his hands and feet, and thrust the sword into his side again. Still the religious bigot would kill the guiltless ; would shed innocent blood ; would slay the " Lamb of God." Yea, erroneously educated and prejudiced minds would destroy him who .comes to bring more light into the world, For more light would reveal their errors — it would •show the rottenness of tneir cherished idols, and hidden things would thereby be made manifest. They who are thus in the dark shrink from more light — they would put out the light, and their cry is — " away with it, away with it." Accustomed to darkness, educated in it, and erroneously taught that God's gift, the light of reason, must be shrouded and entombed, the human soul gropes through its night of existence here — the spark o: heaven within smothered lest it should illume a 116 TEUTH AND MYSTERY. different path than that which earth's custom and popular opinion sanction — ^lest it reyeal what deified priests have not taught, what a canonical book does not inclose, what a certain theological creed does not circumscribe ; in a word, lest it teach that to which opinion has not set bounds, and that which the walls of a church can not confine. He who dares to look beyond these sacerdotal inclosures, who has the courage to be guided, by the light of God in his owil heart, away from this mythological darkness which mankind have in the infancy of the race created ; he, who is thus daring, is emancipated from slavery — " the truth makes him free" — and henceforth he walks in light, and light, more light, is bursting ever upon his liberated mind. The few are thus strong and are thus blessed ! but, alas, to the many — " Opinion is an omnipotence — whose veil Mantles the earth with darkness, until right And wrong are accidents, and men grow pale Lest their own judgments should become too bright, And their free thoughts be crimes, and earth have too much light." Lest man, made in the image of God, should grow too much like unto God ; should learn to " know good and evil ;" and " put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and live forever ;" lest he should become " perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect." Yea, lest by the light of reason, man, progressively growing more glorious, may feel and conse- quently proclaim himself to be " the son of God" — and, feel- ing how beautifully, how harmoniously, how philosophically, ^how truthfully he is a part of the Great Whole, the elevated mind can not but exclaim, " I and my Father are one.'' This is the light which the world now rejects. " It shinetl in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not." Buf even centuries ago, ignoi'ance and sectarianism could not ex tinguish that light ; notwithstanding the temples, through which it beamed, were destroyed ; and all that man, in his ignor- ance, could do to prevent its development and expansion waa done ; and notwithstanding, for many succeeding ages, the cross, the rack, the dungeon, the stake, and the gallows, were employed as instruments to put out this " light which cometh TEUTH AND MYSTEHY. 117 4 into the world," still it burneth brighter and brighter. And ever are found pure and indomitable persons ready to be crucified, to be consumed, to be broken on the wheel of tor- ture, to mount any scaffold, there to hold up aloft, for the gathered multitudes to see, the Ligh* which is Life and immor- tality, and which death can not destroy. But not thus, to- day, do the sons of God perish from the earth because of the light that is in them — no more are the temples of the Holy Ghost (or divine spirit) thus desecrated, because their inward light shines — nay, for already from the most enlightened parts of the earth truth has swept away the external instru- ments of torture, — those implements of darkness which the past cherished, untill light shining on the world revealed their existence and exposed . their hideousness. But still the elements of sectarian bigotry and persecution lie hidden in many human minds, especially in those intolerant intellects from whence the wild cry goes forth — to "burn" — to "hang," the unoffending " medium" of light sent from .above. Yes, the language which now falls from the lips of the professing and dogmatic Christian, is — " hang the witches" — " burn the sorcerers." These misdirected minds would rejoice in be- holding " agony, and bloody sweat," till they could, if possi- ble, wring from their helpless victims (the children of our heavenly Father,) the despairing cry — " My God, my God — why hast thou forsaken me ?" But times are changed ; the world's progress will not now permit these sectarian feelings, (which, the present inherits from the past, and which man has not yet outgrown,) to be carried into public and outward execution. Such despotic sentiments must now remain in the unhappy intellect which gave them birth, and there tor- ture the mind that nourishes them. They who indulge such thoughts will find but little relief in merely giving them lip-utterance, and hearing them echoed by the ignorant — or, perhaps, lisped by their little ones, into whose hearts they are ingrafting curses instead of blessings, hate instead of love, stifling the harmony of their natures, and stringing their souls to discord — such, from out of the mouth will pray to God « Thy kingdom come," and then do all they can to prevent the development and progress of that kingdom on the earth ; 118 TRUTH AND MYSTERY. 9 they will set the lamb against the lion, and the lion against the lamb; they will not let them "lie down" in peace together. But we should pity the unkind individual that reviles, judges, and condemns. Because within that misdirected and undeveloped mind there is a dungeon and a scaffold ; there is darkness there — and death, for no man hath passed from death unto life unless he loves the brethren. And the victim in that prison, the executed there, is the reviler who reviles — the judge who judges — the condemner who condemns ! for when the unhappy fanatic, the wretched victim of misdirected passion, would imprison, burn, hang, crucify — then, the prison is in his own soul, the flames consume his own bosom, his own life is suffocated, the nails pierce his own quivering nerves. These tortures go not forth from him to reach the pure in heart who only seek to see God — they come not where he treads, guided onward by the angel, of the mind, through " paths of pleasantness" and " ways of peace" — for, should the sound of revilings fall upon his ear, it would only awaken pity in his heart ; pity for the suffering and contracted soul from which it issues ; for such are to be pitied, — they have no heaven! But he who loves God most, and his " brother as himself," rejoices whilst he pities those who " persecute and despitefully use" him ; whilst grieving that they shut themselves out o firm and unchangeable organization — the spiritual body — and thus leave the earthly form destitute of life and animation. Nay, you can not confine the spirit of man ! It will rise tri- umphantly superior to all earthly bari'iers and imperfectionSj and will manifest its powers of vigor, of expansion and sub- limity, throughout all spheres. Let death come to the slave, and he bursts his chains ! It releases the prisoner ; it sets free the condemned,— -for the soul knows no destroyer ! The question — " how can the spirit of a man escape ks earthly confinement ?" — is one of much weight to the student of Nature.* But to the mind of him who has never examined TEUTH ANU MYSTERY. 135 into the foundation of his faith, concerning the nature of spirit and the principles of immortality, this query may seem irre- ligious and unnecessary. Such a person has set bounds to his knowledge. Therefore, I speak now in reply to the bold investigator, — to the manly seeker after wisdom — to the im- mortal soul whose deep searchings would penetrate the mys- teries of godliness — to the end that his spirit may draw nigher unto the Father, and drink in the inspirations of his unutter- able greatness. I have been frequently questioned as to the supposed dead being buried alive, and have been asked, " in what way the spirit in a vault escaping from its natural body and organizing therein, would pass out of that dark prison-house ?" And again, — " how, if put under ground, the spirit wOuld escape the precincts of the grave ?" To this last inquiry I have re- plied in describing the emancipation of the man from the well. Generally speaking, the spiritual elements escape alike the grave and the vaulted tomb, or the dungeon, (when one dies imprisoned,) 'previous to organizing. But should the living particles unite and form within the earthly body's burial place, it is because there are means of escape at hand. I will relate an incident in illustration of this fact : By the guiding influence and promptings of some guardian spirit, I was once impressed to visit a particular cemetery in the State of New York, and to watch there one of Nature's interesting processes. That I was then, and often, thus fa- vored, I have learned, was not for my own individual benefit alone; but it was, also, for the future happiness. of the many, that my impressible and susceptible state was taken advan- tage of, as it were, by messengers from higher spheres, where- by to teach me, anS others who sought to know of these things, and whose present material organisms did not admit of their immediately receiving a more direct instruction. From this digression I proceed to represent the lesson which, so to ex- press myself, I joyfully learned from the "mouth of the sep- ulchre," which never speaks to me of gloom ; for the ceme- tery is to me one of earth's brightest places, and every grave is a vestibule to the spirit-land. Not knowing why, at that time, I was particularly attracted to this my favorite resort 136 TUUTH AND MYSTElfi'. and place of meditation, I resolved to continue in mind per- fectly passive ; and allowed myself to be conducted, by the unseen but controlling influence, to the vicinity of a large vault, in wliich the supposed dead body of a young man had been deposited only the day before. It was a beautiful September afternoon, and, I think, about four o'clock in the day. A sacred stillness and serene tran- quillity pervaded this hallowed spot of heavenly portals, and every thing seemingly conspired to add external charms to the spiritual scene which I was led there to contemplate. Im- mediately on my arrival at the tomb, I experienced the sweet, familiar, and benign magnetic influence of my guardian spirit,* steal over my nervous system; and, in a few seconds, I passed thoroughly into the Superior Condition. My spiritual senses being now opened and directed within the vault, I per- ceived there the living spirit timong the dead bodies. It was not a mere corpse which had been the day before conveyed to the tomb ; but it was a body from which- the spirit had not yet departed. The spirit had, subsequently to the interment of the body, escaped the material temple by penetrating the boards which confined it ; but the spirit had organized within the somewhat spacious vault. Yes ; there, within that tomb, beside the coffin wherein lay the grosser form he had worn only twenty-four hours previous, — there, I beheld the libera- ted spirit, calmly standing in all the majesty of immortal beau- ty. I was made to perceive that he was but just prepared to quit the earth-sphere ; and it was that I might witness this interesting departure that my guiding spirit had brought me thither. I was now to be shown the illustration of a princi- ple which runs deep in pneumatological science. It was very natural, under the circumstances, for my mind to spontaneously inquire — " How now will that glorious being escape from his material confinement ?" This question was involuntary, because I had previously learned that the spiritual form could not pass through solid walls and iron doors ; and, therefore, the fact that the spirit before me was indestructibly * See a small work by the author, entitled, " Ths Philosophy of Special Provi- dence," p. 19, et sen. TRUTH AND MYSTERY. 137 organized within the tomb was, I concluded, a sufficient in. ferential evidence that some other method of escape would be soon adopted. He stood, for a few moments, upright and unmoved by any disquietude. Presently the newly awakened intellect began to examine surrounding conditions, and to re- alize its new existence. There was nothing of death in this scene ; it was all life and intelligence ! As soon as the spirit realized the "new birth" which he had but just experienced, and when he ascertained something of the higher sympatliies and attractive destinies which were waiting for him in the spirit-land, then he calmly and affectionately exei'cised his penetrative vision upon the earthly scenes and friends he had so recently left. No walls could obstruct the passage of his vision ; and I, being at the time in a similar condition, (for the "spiritual state" is a partial emancipation from the body,) could follow his perceptions, and, at the same time, could maintain a conscious sympathy with the thoughts and emo- tions of his mind. He had been, in this life, a clergyman of the Baptist denomination. I followed his sympathies to the homes of those he loved ; and it gave me great joy to behold that, although he left many ardent friends and sweet associ- ations on the earth, there was nothing to sadden his departure hence. There were loftier attractions descending into the deepest recesses of his nature from on high. He was drawn toward the spirit-land as the magnet attracts the needle, — a principle of spiritual gravitation actuated his newly awakened being, — and he soon realized that his true position was only to be found in the tranquil realms of a greater and a higher world. But he, as a personality, was still within the tomb ! Withdrawing now his perceptions from the habitations of his earthly friends, and obeying an impression received from a guardian spirit near the cemetery, he at once placed his vision upon the sexton who was the individual last at the tomb on the previous day. The object of this I did not comprehend, until I, also, saw that the sexton was exceed- ingly anxious to find an implement (it was a shovel, I be- lieve,) which he had mislaid and very much required that afternoon. It seemed he had already spent much time in boking for the missing article ; but,' ju?t as he was about to 138 TRUTH ANi: MYSTERY. give up further search at that time, the spirit, iai the tomb, sent an impression which darted Hke the lightning through all- intervening substances, and, w^ith a soft breathing like the evening zephyr, it passed over the sexton's moral faculties and quickened his memory. And I distinctly sawr Ms tlimght, it read — " Why, I really believe that I left my shovel in the Rev. Mr. 's vault, which I fastened up last evening — Til go and see this minute." In pursuance of this impression, he proceeded immediately to the place, opened the vault, and, as he entered it, the lovely and h .^h destined spirit glided forth, through the unclosed door, into the soft, still atmosphere which then pervaded the cemetery. He was now free from all material barriers ; his thoughts and desires yielded an angelic passiveness and spontaneous obedience to the supe- rior attractions which emanated from celestial realms ; and his spirit, — that indestructible organization of perfected ele- ments which, thus united, rendered him a harmonious and IMMORTAL BEING, — passcd away to that magnificent sphere which lies embosomed in the depths of immensity ! O, what an instructive and divinely impressive scene ! And that message — so beautifully conveyed, so' softly winged into the sexton's mind, not a thought ruffled thereby — how perfectly it illustrated to my understanding the power of one mind to act upon and influence another mind ! How sweetly it revealed to me the truth that the freed spirit can approach earth's weary traveler — can find out the grief-stricken and exhausted pilgrim in this rudimental state of human existence, and drop a thought in his heart, which will revive and refresh •his fainting soul ; or else senu down, even from some high heaven, an impression so divine, lovely, and energizing, as to illumine his future with a grand and undying joy ! The sexton doubtless believed that the thought of visiting the vault, in order to find his shovel, originated in his own mind ; but / saw that thought deposited, or rather evolved, by the magnetic influence which was sent into his memory by the spirit. This is an impressive exemplification of the prin- ciples of psychological science, with which science manj minds are already acquainted. As soon as the liberated sp'.iit had, together with his con TRUTH AND MYSTERY 139 genial companions, the beautiful Immortals, (four in number, who were calmly waiting for him over the vault,) glided far, far away toward the second sphere, I inquired, of my invis- ible guide and magnetizer — "How could that spirit have escaped from its confinement, if the sexton had not been thus susceptible to impression, or in case he had not left his shovel at the tomb ?" To this question he replied : " that, then, some one of the many relatives of the deceased could and would have been magnetically influenced to come to the vault that afternoon, with the intention to visit the dead, when the door would have been thus opened for the egress and final emancipation of the spirit." My guide further instructed me, in substance, as follows : "in case neither sexton or rela- tives could have been thus magnetically influenced to open the vault, then the four guardian angels, attending his (the young man's) spiritual emergment, would have foreseen the circumstances, and so acted upon the external atmosphere above the tomb as to have caused the spirit to organize itself in space. The spiritual influence which pervaded my nervous system, — and which had conducted me into the superior condition, in which the spiritual senses are opened, — was now naturally ^ivithdrawn, and, in a few moments, I was again in the outer woi-ld, restored to my ordinary state. The impression of what I had seen was indelibly impressed upon my mind — to be afterward recalled with all its original vividness ; and my understanding of magnetic and psycho- logical principles was much educated and enlarged by observ- ation of the phenomena which attended the departure of that spirit from earth. By the above related circumstance, the questions concern- ing the passage of the spirit-form through hard subsiances, are satisfactorily answered ; the conclusions being : first, that when individuals are buried in the ground, alite, then the elements, which compose the spiritual organism do, after death in the grave, emanate through the intermedin' ate or intervening substances, and organize the incorruptible, the unchangeable, thi immortal body in the external atmos- phere. 140 TEUTH AND KS?TEEY. Second, That when a person dies within a room,*' within a dungeon, or a vault, and when the spiritual organization is con- structed and elaborated therein, then the new-bom being him- self, nr it may be the guardian-angel of that newly awakened spirit, (who is in attendance to guide him to his home ■ above,) will influence some highly impressible and very accessible indir vidual,in the natural body, to open the door ; thus rendering that person unconsciously instrumental in assisting the spirit to liberty. I would particularly call the attention of my readers to the fact that persons are often buried alive ; the dead are apt to be too soon hurried out of sight; the apparently deserted temple should be watched with care; for the living spirit may but have absented itself for a time. If the umbilical cord] of vital electricity be not severed, the soul may yet return to the natural body ; because, in such an instance, all the living elements have not yet emanated therefrom, and the seeming dead are but in a state of catalepsy, which state may continue for many days. Such a transitional or transic con dition may be considered as a threatened premature birth ; but the spirit is only truly born out of the natural body into the spiritual body, when all the elements of the living principle are released. Then the soul no more returns to its earthly tenement ; but completes its final emancipation from the cor- poreal organism, by a powerful exercise of the will-power, which energetic act of volition severs the cord, and the liber- ated spirit glides away. It sometimes occurs that this power- ful effort on the part of the spirit, to achieve its freedom from ^the corruptions of the flesh,^ — ^this latest struggle into the new birth, — is manifested in the material body, which is, by those strong efforts, made to move and to indicate apparently pain- ful muscular action, even after it has been supposed that the last motion was over. In continued pursuance of the investigation as to how spirits, passed into the higher life, revisit us here ; and in further illustration of the method whereby they enter I'ooms, also to elucidate the fact that harmonial circles are, and will * The above explains the passage found in " Great Harraonia/' Vol. I. p. 172. ■{ See " Harmonia," Vol. 1, p. 196, TRUTI AND MYSTERY. 141 be, attended by delegates from thenigher spheres ; I will here introduce another instance from my memorabilia. Some three years since, as I was about recovering from a severe illness, an impression came to me, clothed'with all the positiveness which naturally emanates from the sphere of a mind conscious of the possession of knowledge and truth, that I must write upon the great problem of social evil, its cure, and how industry may be made attractive and remunerative to the toiling millions which people this globe. It was, how- ever, a question yet unsettled, whether my communication should be more particularly addi-essed to the people them- selves, or to the shepherds of the people, the clergy. Had this matter been determined by the impression, which 1 re- ceived that I should write upon the subject, I should have had no after query about it ; but, as it was not thus decided for me, I could not resist- the spontaneous and involuntary effort of my mind to decide the question for itself; and this thoughi was the burden of my deliberations, when I was made sweetly conscious of the princely presence of the lofty spirit of Solon, the Athenian Lawgiver, in my room. He was accompanied •thither by the, also, highly exalted spirit of Pisisteates, his present friend and associate in the better life, though once, in this world, his strongest enemy. In a few minutes I passed into that state of perfect ab- straction, the superior condition, which separates my spirit from the influence of the physical body and world, and was soon in direct communication with the mind of Solon, the more progressed and enlightened of the two. My room was situated in the third stoi-y of the house ; and, it being winter, the doors and windows were closed. It is naturally ques- tioned, by those who now understand that spirits can not pass through walls, — " how, on that occasion, did Solon and Pisistrates penetrate to my apartment ?" I will explain, as it was afterward shown to me by tbem. The two spirits arrived at the entrance of the dwelling at the precise moment when a gentleman was passing in. uut, as the gentleman closed the door rather too quickly behind him to admit their passage, one of them impressed him to re- open it, and wait the approach of his little daughter who was 142 TEUTH AND MYSTERY. 'ihen engaged at play in the fi Dnt yard. This he did, immedi- ately; but supposed, like the sexton above mentioned,, that the impulse to do so originated within his own mind. . As he ad- vanced from the doorway, a few steps, to meet his. child, the spirits glided, past him into the hall, and thence without further obstruction up the two flights of stairs to tlie thres^ipld of my apartment, the door of which was quite closed. They would, doubtless, have impressed me^ to open it for them, had I sufficiently recovered from my illness to have readily left my couch. There was, however, in the house a young girl whose busi- ness it was to convey things to and from my room, and at- tend to my wants ; she was immediately mentally and mag- netically impressed, by the positive and povverful will-power possessed by Solon, to leave the kitchen and come up to my room, to inquire if I was in ne^d of any. thing. This injunc- tion she forthwith obeyed, on the supposition that she was discharging the duty assigned her of attending to my wants. When she opened the door of my ropm, the spirits entered, and did not make me aware of their presence until the girl went out and descended the stairs. Now every thing was still and tranquil, and a quiet holiness reigned there ; iny mind drank in the beautiful instructions of Solon, and my spirit bowed to the wisdom of this hjgh messenger. His, then, impartations of thought do not enlighten the present investigation ; I do not, therefore, give them in this publica- tion. I have related what occurred at that time, thus far, to illustrate the method which spirits frequently adopt when- ever they desire to be present, in propria persona, at the "^^circles which form to receive spiritual communications through the medium of vibrations, or through illumination, at the bedside of the weary, the diseased, and the dying. My own interior experience is rife with instances of special providence or interposition on the part of guardian spirits. They frequently approach me to impart that which instantly changes the train of thought in my mind, introducing new and unexpected ideas ; and I not unfrequently have received, from these guardians, impressions which, when implicitly obeyed, have saved me from pain, illness, and accidpnt; In- TRUTH AND MYSTERY 143 deed, twenty-four hours seldom go by without furnishing me with some beautiful illustration and philosophical exempli- fication of the magnetic power and the close guardianship of spirits. Nor are these interior happy experiences enjoyed by me alone ; for there are numerous instances on record, showing the providentia. interposition of ministering angels, and declaring to us how frequently they have produced im- pressions by influx of thought, whereby many persons have been saved from terrible accidents and disastrous misfortune. These impressions are sometimes termed presentiments, of which, misnamed spiritual interpositions, I am moved to introduce a few illustrations from the pen of an author who probably never designed them to elucidate and confirm our philosophy of spiritual intercourse. First instance. — " I have heard of several cases of people hurrying home from a presentiment of fire ; and Mr. M. Cal- derhood was once, when absent from home, seized with such an anxiety about his family, that, without being able in any way to account for it, he felt himself impelled to fly to them and remove thetn from the house they were inhabiting ; one wing of which fell down immediately afterward. No notion of such a misfortune had ever before occurred to him, nor was there any teason whatever to expect it ; the accident originating from some defect in the foundation." ■ Second instance. — " A circumstance exactly similar to this, is related by Stilling, of Professor Bohm, teacher of Mathe- matics, at Marburg; who, being one evening in company, was suddenly seized with a conviction that he ought to go home. As, however, he was very comfortably taking tea, and had nothing to do at home, he resisted the admonition ; but it returned wiih such force that at length he was obliged to yield. On reaching his house, he found every thing as he had left it ; but he now felt himself urged to remove his bed from the corner in which it stood to another ; but, as it had always stood there, he resisted this impulsion also. How- ever, the resistance was vain ; absurd as it seemed, he felt he must do it ; so he summoned the maid, and, with her aid drew the bed to the other side of the room ; after which he felt quite at ease, and returned to spend the rest of the even- 144 TRUTH 4N3 MYSTERY. ing with his friends. At -.n o'clock the party broke up and he retired home, and went to bed and to sleep. In the middle of the night he was wakened by a loud crash, and on looking out he saw that a large beam had fallen, bringing part of the ceiling with it, and was lying exactly on the spot his bed had occupied." Third instance. — " One of the most remarkable cases of presentiment I know, is that which occurred not very long since on board one of her Majesty's ships, when lying off Portsmouth. The officers being one day at the mess table, a young Lieutenant P. suddenly laid down his knife and fork, pushed away his plate, and turned extremely pale. He then rose from the table, covering his face with his hands, and re- tired from the room. The president of the mess, supposing him to be ill, sent one of the young men to inquire what was the matter. At first Mr. P. was unwilling to speak ; but on being pressed, he confessed that he had been seized with a sudden and irresistible impression that a brother he had then in India was dead. 'He died,' said he, 'on the 12th of August, at six o'clock : I am perfectly certain of it.' No ar- guments could overthrow this conviction, which, in due course of post, was verified to the letter. The young man had died at Cawnpore, at the precise period mentioned." Here, also, I am impressed to quote another similar fact related as occurring in our own country; thousands such could be collected ; but I select this as a Fourth instance. — "Joseph Wilbur, a celebrated Quaker preacher, who lived at Trenton, Washington county, New , York, ran to his barn in a great hurry, one day, about ten years since, to saddle his horse, saying that ' Thomas Searl, our neighbor, is now fixing up a rope behind his barn to hang himself. I see the whole thing before me distinctly. Let me hurry, or I shall be too late.' Thus he dashed down the road to have an interview with his neighbor Searl.^nd just arrived as the unhappy man was about to jump from a crotch of the tree, with a noose about his neck. Joseph talked to the man, and saved him from certain death." The pihenomena* of spiritual clairvoyance or mental illu- mination have also been more or less familiar to well organ- TRUTH A\D MYSTERYfc 145 ized and impressible minds in all ages of the world. The high enlightenment and prophetic power possessed by most of the Bible authors ; and the serene, discriminating penetra- tion of some philosophical intellects, into the profound mys- teries of science and moral truth ; are alone referable to that development and expansion of the internal senses, and to that quickening of the interior and intuitive faculties of the human soul, which constitutes the true superior condition. As inde- pendent testimony of the essential verity of these remarks, 1 quote an English authoress, Mrs. Crowe, who has very care- fully detailed many interesting instances of unequivocal clair- voyance. The dissimilar spiritual appearances presented to different persons, while they are experiencing the various degrees of enjoyment and comprehension which result from spiritual perception, are owing to the different degrees of the advancement of their minds ; also to the state or degree of the freedom of their spirits from their bodies, by which they are sometimes, by a very partial emancipation, only in a transitional state; when the same thing "presents & different appearance from what it does to one more liberated and fully in the superior condition. This is beautifully illustrated in the following : First instance. — "The late Mr. John Holloway, of the bank of Englandj brother to the engraver of that name, related of himself that being one night in bed with his wife and unable to sleep, he had fixed his eyes and thoughts with uncommon intensity on a beautiful star that was shining in at the window, when he suddenly found his spirit released from his body and soaring into that bright phere. But, instantly seized with anxiety for, the anguish of his wife, if she discovered his body apparently dead beside her, he returned, and re-entered it with difficulty (hence, per- haps, the violent convulsions with which some somnambules of the highest order are awakened.) He described that re- turning, was returning to darkness ; and that while the spirit was free, he was alternately in the light or the dark, accordingly as his thoughts were with his wife or with the star." Second instance. — " Plutarch relates, that a certain man, called Thespesius, having fallen from a great height, was 10 146 TRUTH AND MYSTEKr taken up apparently dead from the shock, although no exter- nal wound was to be discovered. On the third day after the accident, however, when they were about to bury him, he unexpectedly revived; and it was afterward observed, to the surprise of all who knew him, that, from being a vicious re- probate, he became one of the most virtuous of men. On being interrogated with respect to the cause of the change, ne related that, during the period of his bodily insensibility, it appeared to him that he was dead, and that he had been first plunged into the depths of an ocean, out of which, however, he soon emerged, and then, at one view, the whole of space was disclosed to him. Every thing appeared in a different aspect, and the dimensions of the planetary bodies, and the intervals between them, were tremendous, while his spirit seemed to float in a sea of light, like a ship in calm waters. He said that the souls of the dead, on quitting the body, appeared like a bubble of light, out of which a human form was quickly evolved. That of these, some shot away at once in a direct line, with great rapidity, while others, on the contrary, seemed unable to find their due course, and continued to hover about, going hither and thither, till at length they also darted away in one direction or another. ******** Thespesius was then informed by one of them, that he was not dead, but that he had been permitted to come there by a Divine decree, and that his soul, which was yet attached to his body, as by an anchor, would return to it again. Thes- pesius then observed that he was different to the dead b) whom he was surrounded, and this observation seemed to re • store him to his recollection. They were transparent, anc. eiivironed by a radiance, but he seemed to trail after him a dark ray, or line of shadow.* These spirits also presented very different aspects; some were entirely pervaded by a mild, clear, radiance, like that of the full moon; through others there appeared faint streaks, that diminished this splendor ; while others, on the contrary, were distinguished by spots, or stripes of black, or of a dark color."t * See " Great Harmonia," vol. 1, p. 168, — description of the nmbilioal cord. + See " Great Harmonia," vol. 2,; — a vision concerning ihe origin of^ evil, sooi U> be issued. TRUTH AND MYSTERY. 147 Tliird instance.^-" Dr. Passavent mentions a peasant-boy who, after a short but painful illness, apparently died, his body being perfectly stiff. He, however, revived, complaining bitterly of being called back to life. He said he had been in a delightful place, and seen his deceased relations. There was a great exaltation of the faculties after this ; and having been before rather stupid, he now, while his body lay stiff and immovable and his eyes closed, prayed and discoursed with eloquence. He continued in this state for seven weeks, but finally recovered." Fourth instance. — " The case related by Lady Fanshawe, of her mother, is very remarkable, from the confirmation fur- nished by the event of her death. ' My mother, being sick of a fever,' says Lady Fanshawe, in her memoirs, ' her friends and servants thought her deceased, and she lay in that state for two days and a night ; but Mr. Winslow, coming to com- fort my father, went into my mother's room, and, looking earnestly in her face, said, " She was so handsome, and looked so lovely, that he could not think her dead ;" and, suddenly taking a lancet out of his pocket, he cut the sole of her foot, which bled. Upon this, he immediately caused her to be removed to the bed again, and to be rubbed, and such means used that she came to life, and, opening her eyes, saw two of her kinswomen standing by her, (Lady Knollys and Lady Russell,) both with great wide sleeves, as the fashion then was ; and she said, " Did you not promise me fifteen years, and are you come again already ?" — which they, not understanding, bade her keep her spirits quiet in that great weakness wherein she was ; but, some hours after, she de- sired my father and Dr. Howlesworth might be left alone with her, to whom she said, " I will acquaint you, that, during my trance, I was in great grief, but in a place I could neither distinguish nor describe ; but the sense of leaving my girl, who is dearer to me than all my children, remained a trouble upon my spirits. Suddenly I saw two by me, clothed in long white garments, and methought I fell down upon my face ifi the dust, and they asked me why I was so troubled in so great happiness. I replied, ' O let me have the same grant that was given to Hezekiah', that I may live fifteen years, to see my 148 TRUTH AND MYSTERY. daughter a woman !' to which tney answered, It is done !'— and then at that instant I awoke out of my trance!" And Dr. Howlesworth did afErm that the day she died made just fifteen years from that time.' " It is j)roper to understand, that the influx of principles into the minds of certain individuals is a result of the peculiar constitution and development of such minds ; and there is no direct and immediate influx of revelations from the Central Soul of the Universe, the Divine Mind, as is supposed and taught by theologians. Therefore, he whose mind, is unfolded, . or whose spiritual perceptions are extended to a higher sphere of knowledge, can comprehend more of the material and spir- itual universe than ordinary minds can conceive of; because simply such a mind perceives and understa,nds all that exists beneath his exalted sphere of investigation. Thus every mind sees, comprehends, and expresses truth in proportion to its degree of development, and on a plane with its intellectual and spiritual elevation. Hence, all, true inspiration must be spontaneous ; it must spring from the deep foundations of Na- ture, and seek an expression through the human soul and tongue, as the ten thousand rivulets, starting from the preg- nant side of stupendous mountains, converge and mingle in the distant valley, and form the mighty ocean. Every mind will see just that class of truths which his degree of spiritual exaltation will enable him to see ; and nothing more. I per- ceive in the world very many contributions of truth, — hun- dreds of tributaries of immortal principles flowing up from J^ature's mighty depths through Musicians, and Mechanics, and Artists, and Scientific men, and Chemists, and Electri- cians, and Philosophers, and Poetic Moralists, and Theolo- gians, and Politicians, and through men of religious enlighten- ment aqd elevation, — the inspirations and contributions of each, tending toward a Unity, which unity will ultimately form one grand system of social, philosophical, and theologi- cal Revelations ; thus becoming the Light, the Experience, and the concentrated and systematized Inspiration of the whole world! TRUTH AND MYSTERY. 149 A VOICE FROM THE SPIRIT-LAND. Before the discovery of America there were almost innu- merable speculations concerning the existence, geography, extent, beauty, commercial advantages, wealth, magnificence, and inhabitants of the unknown Continent beyond the great waters, the restless Atlantic, whose limits had not then been ascertained. Plato allowed his intelligent love, for republi- canism and the happiness of the people, to inspire his intui- tive and conceptive powers, and he imagined a harbinger somewhere in the distant and undiscovered realms of this planet — a New Atlantis, where art, and science, and philoso- phy, and industry of all kinds, would be taught, justly remu- nerated, and cheerfully embraced by every inhabitant of that blessed country. Xolena, too, whose desultory meditations upon the glories of " An Enchanted Isle," or upon " The Kingdom of the Gods," so closely resembled the prophetic contemplations of the Isaiah of the Primitive History as to have become affiliated or blended with the writings of the latter, and thus voted canonical, and whose biography and thoughts are therefore buried in the history of other persons, — this philosopher, indulged his hopes that some new continent would ultimately be discovered, where righteousness could alone exist, where a generous, immaculate, philosophical King, (whose genealogy could be only traced to the royal races of the skies,) would rule the multitude, and disseminate perpetual blessings and concord over his divine kingdom, and where a free commerce would be enjoyed between the gods of the firmament and the inhabitants of the Enchanted Isle ! These were truthful prophecies. But of what ? Surely the Ameri- can continent has been discovered and populated. Its gigan- tic mountains, its rolling valleys, its charming lakes and riv- ers, its rich soil, its wide-extending prairies, its commercial advantages, its geological wonders — all, have been sought and found ; but where is the " New Atlantis ?" — where the " En- chanted Isle ?" — where the " Promised Land ?" — where the " Kingdom of the Gods ?" — where ? Listen ! Echo re- sponds, " Here '"' But whence proceeds that silver sound ? 150 TRUTH AND MYSTERY. Whence that deep, rich, joyous voice ? Lo ! it is a voice from the Spirit- Land, — the revelations of one who has surveyed the country beyond the grave ! Let us henceforth cease our imaginary speculations with reference to the appearance of the home of the soul ; let us hurl to the ground all fragmentary and false analogical reas- onings concerning the condition of the inhabitants of tlie spheres — ^reasonings, which compel us in our conclusions to locate a perfect hell here, a partial hell there, a moderate heaven on the left, and a complete heaven on the right ! Yea, let us be still ; let us listen, with our understandings open, to the revealments of him who has sought, and found, and re- turned with fruit from, the promised land — the kingdom of the righteous ! My readers remember, I presume, the interesting spiritual communication which I received from the pure and highly enlightened spirit of James Victor Wilson, and which com- mences on page 176, 1st vol. of the "Great Harmoni'a." They will, also, recall to mind his then very impressive concluding observations.* He says : — " The society of which I am a member is in numbers innu- merable. We are fond of traveling through the different societies and portions of the Spirit-Home. " On earth I was fond of mathematics and kindred studies ; my desire for these acquirements is now totally satiated. Spiritual affinities are my studies now ; and, ere long, I will disclose what I have learned." I then informed the reader that his concluding words feferred to some future disclosures concerning spiritual things, which, when I received them from him, should be faithfully presented to the world. I am able to present those disclosures now ; for, on the morning of the 25th of November, 1850, he caused me to feel his personal nearness and desire to enter the house in which I am at present residing. Accordingly, I proceeded to the door, opened it, and admitted my fraternal • The author is strongly moved to counsel the inquirer to read Mr. Wilson's first communicatidn in connection with his second relaftion, given in this work ; for there is probably no one circumstance so illustrative of the law of progress ai the contrast, in point of intelligence, between these communications. TRUTH VND MYSTERY, 151 visitor. By previous request, the family granted me the ex- clusive use of the parlor for this spiritual interview; we entered this room together, closed the door, and thus passed into the sacred sanctuary of interior communion. In three or four minutes, I abstracted my mind, by an act of volition, from outer things ; resigned my whole being to the invisible magnetism which descended upon and pervaded me ; and readily glided beyond the trammels of the body, and became as near a spirit as a person can possibly be and maintain his relationship to the physical organism. My brilliant visitor stood affectionately by my side ; though his feet did not de- scend lower than eighteen inches above the floor, — ^because a stratum of atmosphere, more or less dense, ia always neces- sary for the spiritual organism to walk or stand upon. • I was sufiiciently in sympathy with him, to hear, to understand, and to enjoy, all he so musically dictated ; and, at the same time, I had the requisite control of my physical system to act in the capacity of an amanuensis. All conditions being now pure end proper, he thus addressed me : — "Again, my brother, I come to thee — again to tell thee of my heavenly treasures ! To tell thee of Love's exceeding loveliness, ' and of Wisdom's unutterable magnificence and infinite harmony. But my thoughts can not readily flow into earthly words ; because heavenly truths require a heav- enly language to reveal them. "O, what gorgeous Truths — what celestial Principles — what divine Powers and holy attributes uphold the Universe! I have seen innumerable beauties, and experienced unutter- able joy. I have gazed upon numberless firmaments ; and and have become wealthy in the mighty blessings which they unfold. " I have had my being unrolled by the spontaneous work- ings of Eternal Principles, as the sun unrolls the flower; and now I come to divide with thee ihe happiness which I expe- rience — ^the inexpressible riches of my endlessly progressive life ! " Yea, truly, there are no bounds to this glorious Universe ; there are no limits to the Infinitude in which it rolls " Accompanied by friendly spirits whose attractions were 152 TRUTH AND MYSTERY. analogous to those my spirit feels, I have \isi'L jd worlds upon worlds, — have already gazed and walked upon more planets, bedecked with immortal life, than I had believed in being, — and yet, my lovely companions, some of whom have lived in the Celestial Lands for many centuries, say ' that I have inhaled but the fragrance of a few of those flowers which grow on the margin of the Infinite Ocean !' ' "Yea, there are no bounds to the spheres in which we live — no death in the Homes of the Angels ! " I have seen unfold universes of immeasurable magnitude ; and, upon them, I have seen move countless constellations of minds, developed by eternal principles and endowed with an inheritance of endless duration. " And, my brother, how omnipotent and omnipresent is the Law of Love ! How holy is that Great Divinity which breathes, throughout the angelic lands, an element of univer- sal joy, — a principle of eternal attraction and infinite happi- ness ! To meditate upon, and to study, the innumerable and infi'nite ramifications of this Great Love Principle, fills th^ searching soul with indescribable satisfaction. " The principle of Divine Love develops and determines all spiritual affinities. These affinities I have sought out and studied assiduously; and the heavenly consequences which ,they unfold spread themselves out before me in countless varieties like the bespangled wings of the distant firmaments. " But the poverty of thy language, my brother, is a great obstruction to my revealments. How can I tell thee, in terrestrial words, of the beauties, the blessings, the joys, the perpetually unfolding happinesses, which the Law of Love displays before me ? " 0, what joy to be emancipated from the slavery of self- love ; to be introduced into the glorious Liberty of universal principles ! And the workings of these principles : — what soul-subduing music ? What soul-refining harmony ! " What inexpressible joy to behold, according to the opera- tions of these principles, the quickness and beauty of our marriages ! " Individuals are attracted to one another from all woriJs ; and where true adaptation exists there is a true maiTiagp -a TRUTH AND MYSTERY. 153 union of soul with soul ; and so perfect and enduring is it, that all the attractions and enchantments of the spirit-world act always upon the conjugally conjoined as upon one living soul. Thus in the celestial empire " they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but they are as the angels," who find their eternal associates in accordance with the universal principles of spiritual affinity. "The God-joined spirits are never sundered; but what man hath joined, by no other authority than custom or in- clination, is here severed; foi nothing but Truth— Holy, Eternal Truth — can exist in the Homes of the Angels'" Here I individualized a thought, and mentally asked fnend Wilson the following question : — " Have the angels any em- ployments analogous to those on the earth ?" And he. smilingly replied: — "Nay, for the angels are not in Slavery !" Thinking friend Wilson referred to the political, physical, or mental slavery, with which our earth abounds, and not perceiving their bearing upon his reply, I again mentally inquired : — " How does slavery give mankind employments unlike the occupations of spirits ?" He answered : " Thou understandest not my thought. The inhabitants of your earth are in bondage because they are immersed in things too material. A beautiful exterior is the chief desire among them ; or else, their desires are bounded •by thS circle of self-love, and their lives are devoted to per- sonal gratification. Therefore I mean, my brother, that man- kind labor to accumulate and cultivate the externals of life ; and thus they toil to acquire that which is exceedingly mate- rial, and passeth away like the evening breeze on the wings of night. The real joys and permanent realities of existence are unpurchasable ; for they constitute the life and happiness of the angels, — both on earth and in the Celestial Homes. We have, therefore, only those things which are real, elevat- ing, and eternal, and we labor not ; but mankind are in slavery ; because, not being advanced in pure Wisdom, they seek those things which are not real and permanently benefi- cial ; hence their search is always attended with exceeding labor and dissatisfaction. 154 TRUTH ANt MYSTEKY. " Behold the wide-spread earth, rich with supplies for numan wants ! Behold the bright and brilliant sun, sheddifig 'ts light and heat abroad ! Behold the gorgeous magnificence of the wide-expanded firmament ! — surely, these things can not be purchased ; they exist for all !" Here I inquired : — " Why do you call the inhabitants of the spheres, angels ?" " Because," he replied, " the chief employment of spirits is the transmission of Thoughts, Truths, and Aflections, from circle to circle and from sphere to sphere. Happiness and progression consist in receiving and imparting — in unfolding and assisting others to unfold — in seeking the Great Divinity, and in imparting to others the results of our celestial investi- gations ; Angels, therefore, are messengers of^ Thoughts, Truths, and Affections ! " Think not, my brother, to find happiness and progression in the sphere of Self-Love, nor in any thing which subjugates the spiritual to the material ; for I have learned, that the individual must lose itself in the general sphere of being and affection ere happiness is attained or progress made. " 0, what joy — what unutterable joy — to be emancipated thus from earth ! And yet the sublime principle of spiritual affinity causes me to/eeZthe exact relationships or friendships which subsist between me and the inhabitants of your planet ! Tell this,* my brother, to those dear friends and relatives who knew me on the earth. ' " O, what ineffable delight to be an angel — to see with spir- itual eyes — to hear with the spiritual sense — to inhale the •holy fragrance of immortal flowers, (the fair emblems of Purity and Truth,) — to understand with a spiritual under- standing ; to search the inexhaustible truths of an Eternal Father — to enjoy the divine Life of his nature, which is Love, and Love only, forever ai^d forever ! "0, the music of the universe, — how melodious, how inex- * The author has never seen the friends and relatives of this departed brother, and does not, therefore, know where they reside. But should they see this eom- munioation from their (to them) "deceased relative," they will at least read what he direots me to say to them. — If they believe it, it will pour gladness into their hearts. TRUTH ANU MYSTERY. 153 pressiWy sublime and stupendous — are the silent, still, musi- cal workings of Immutable Principles ! To me, my brother, the universe is a musical insti~ument on which the Great Divin- ity is perpetually expressing the infinitely diversified harmonies of his nature which is immeasurably deep and altogether un- changeable I " I speak of the Universe, my brother, as if its dimensions and sublime realities were known to me ; but I have as yet seen and comprehended only a fragment of formation. (I do not use the word " Creation," for there is, properly speaking, nothing absolutely created.) The Whole System is a volume v?iiich even the highest seraph has not altogether read. " In the center of all formation is the Fountain or Love ; it floweth forth throughout all existences ; and we drink from it as from an ocean of pure water ! " And our Law is Love ! From this Law we never flee ; wheresoever we go there it pursueth us ; yet we feel the action of wo Law external to ourselves. For each "is a Law unto himself;" and, I repeat, there is no antagonism here, only a divine emulation ; no absollite discord, only relative degrees of harmony. Yea, in all the love-circles, and in all the cir- cles of wisdom, wherein the principles of spiritual affinities perform their work so musically, there is no discord, only joy and peace — -Eternal Peace 1 " The angel's home is truly a " house of many mansions." The spirit-land is indeed a country of undying charms and positive attractions. It is brilliant with innumerable socie- ties; and like sparkling rivers flow forth the different mani- festations of love they bear-to one another ! And, my brother, I will disclose to thee an arcanum : — Those spirits which emanate from the earth, or from any other planet in the universe, are introduced into that society for which they entertain the most congenial sympathies or affections. " The love-circles and the wisdom-circles also, are just six in number — six grand divisions of spiritual holiness and inex- pressible joy! In the first three spheres, or spirit- worlds, all the innumerable societies are termed Spiritual Circles, because they form an IMAGE of the Great Divinity ; but hose societies in the three higher spheres are termed Celes- 156 TRUTH AND MYSTEEY. TiAL Circles, because they contribute a LIKENESS of the Great Divinity, the Infinite Father— from whom proceedetb Love and Wisdom, and unto v(?hom floweth, through all, yea all, spirits on all earths and in all spheres, the countless joys and emotions which form the sum of all sentient existence 1 " Undeveloped individuals who are interested more in per- sonal gratifications than in causing happiness to others, are, immediately after death, by the principle of spiritual aflinity, introduced into the first sphere or circle of the second spherej; which circle is termed Self Love. "And lonely individuals — or those who are unmarried in truth, (though they may have been attached on earth by human laws to some companion,) and who are yet seeking, (because they feel drawn toward,) their proper and eternal associate — such, are introduced into the second circle in the same sphere ; and this circle is called Conjugal Love. " And thus, my brother, the spheres are peopled and be- decked with harmonious associations. These glorious as- semblages of angels call to, and answer, each other ; and spontaneously they mingle their innumerable voices into music and harmony. The third circle is called Parental Love ; the fourth circle Fraternal Love ; the fifth circle. Filial Love ; and the sixth circle Universal Love. The sixth is particularly redolent with inexpressible Holiness and pure Wisdom. But they all are crimsoned and infinitely variegated with heavenly pleasures.* To behold all this, and to feel all this, fills my soul with unutterable ecstacy — a se- rene, sweet, philosophical joy, which none but angels know !" (Brother Wilson's face and head were glowing, when he uttered the above, with a soft clear light which quite dazzled my spiritual perceptions, and moved my mind with sympa- thetic pleasure. This light is visible at the hour of departure from this sphere, enveloping the head of the dying. See page 165, vol. 1, " Great Harmonia." Brother Wilson thus continued :) "What an infinite system of education! How sweetly * For a more minute consideration of these '•' circles," I refer the reader to "The Phihaophy of Happiness and Progl'ession," in a fortliooming volume. TEC'TH AND MYSTEElf. 157 are we taught ! How quickly do we learn the suolime mys- leries of life — the secrets of happiness !* " Some minds learn great truths in a few days ; tut many, who pass from the earth into the spirit-world, I have seen^ are very slow to disrobe their minds of error ; and such are detained in the first circle until all their theories are displaced by Truths ; their /ai«^ by Knowledge ; their pride by Humil- ity ; their uncharitableness by Fraternal Love ; and their terrestrialism by a perfect realization of Spirituality and permanent realities. " Tell the earth's inhabitants, my brother, to free them- selves of all rudimental things— of all unkindness and terres- trialism — ere they depart for this blessed and beautiful coun- try! Because we can see the motives, the state, and the intentions of every mind that comes to dwell among us. " Should any misdirected individuals desire to bring with them from their earthly habitation (what they can not enter here) the seeds of hypocrisy — of envy or jealousy ; of hatred or animosity ; of prejudice or retaliation ; of discord or dis- *It is sometimes thoughtlessly and recklessly said, in substance, by those whose minds are not elevated above prejudice and selfishness — " Why, if I believed these things as you profess to, I would take my fill of sin — I would steal, and murder ; and, if I should get, in any manner, embarrassed or fatigued witli life and sensual gratifications, would commit suicide and glide into heaven." To such uneducated and misdirected minds I am impressed to say, — ^If you had my faith you would act altogether different. In the first place, you would not sin because you would know that vice injures yourself, disturbs your neighbor, and brings misery and despair upon the soul. Sin is self-punishing and self- destructive ; it is this decay which renders the sinner miserable. In the second , place, you would not commit suicide because you would Jcnow that heaven is a condition of mind, and not a locality ; therefore, that you could not obtain happiness without that righteousness of motive and propriety of life, which alone render the soul harmonious and capable of heaven or enjoyment. In the third place, you would strive to be a man of Principle. For a person who could thus thoughtlessly express himself, is virtually acknowledging himself to be an unsafe member of society ; that he never does good for the love of doing good, (which he would do if he had my faith,) but that he acts from fear alone ; serves God because he fears the devil ; is good because the red waves over his back ; in a word, that he is a poor, unhappy slave to his prejudices and selfishness, and deserves the compassion of all good and benevolent minds. Whilst, if he had my faith he would forthwith strive to rise above those evils and errors wliich afiliot society, and set his standard of progress and improvement as high as Friend Wilson counsels him to do in the succeeding paragraphs. ,58 TRUTH AND MYSTEKY. t*ite ; we quickly perceive and pity the condition of; such minds, and, as far as external aid can avail any thing, we assist them to unfold the sweeter elements of their nature. But we are still more secure from the invasions of terrestri- alisms (or earthly corruptions) than I believed previous to leaving the earth. Our great security consists in this, (and my soul throos with serene joy to relate it,) the seeds of dis- cord and misdirection can not germinate here because we have no soil in which to cast them. " Tell the earth's inhabitants, my brother, that should any of them come here with thoughts of unkindness burning in their mouths for utterance — tell them, those thoughts must remain unspoken, and be left to burn themselves to Purity. For we have no language whereby to express untruths, neither unkindnesses ; and no one amongst us will give audience to unheavenly things. This is a glorious truth — a grand and happy truth ; one that I early learned, and now rdate with joy ! " No one here misunderstands another ; for we are all trans- parent; our interiors are seen by the inhabitants of each society; and Righteousness prevails throughout the Spirit- Land. " No one here misappreciates another ; for, being well un- folded in pure wisdom, we judge with a righteous judgment ; and Justice pervades all the habitations of the angels. Jus- tice presides in our Father's house, and reigns throughout its many mansions. . " Like a peaceful river. Wisdom springeth up and floweth over all the subordinate circles or societies which are in num- ber innumerable. It is like a mighty receptacle in which are deposited those everlasting pearls, the choice thoughts, affec- tions, and memories of these Celestial Jjands. " And we have contemplations so exceedingly immense, so immeasurably great and beautiful, that the Love and Life of the Universe appear open to our thoughts, and we drink of their infinite depths and thirst no more with the thirst of anxiety. " As a tree spreadeth its branches over the weary traveler, and delighteth his sense with sweet perfume, ever while he TRL'TH AND MYSTERY 159 smitelh it'to obtain its fruit, so do the angelic spheres — the spirit-worlds — spread themselves over the earth's inhabitants, yielding them, in the stil' hours of life's repose, joy and holy inspiration I " Yea, my brother. Time and Space, prejudice and misdi- rection, discord and other terrestrialisms, which are known on the earth, are to us, as it were, annihilated, for we are free ! — ^free, as truth maketh free her disciples ! And the Light which Truth giveth can not be extinguished — it is the Life of the Universe . " Behold ! my beloved companions have now come for me! To-day we visit a constellation of peopled planets in the south- east expanse of the firmament. Our mission is angelic ! we go to open, for the first time in that department of the side- real heavens, a free spiritual commerce between the second sphere and the inhabitants of those Orbs. "■sFor a time I leave thee. Let all mankind feel themselves as a harmonious congregation in the sanctuary of the Great Divinity; let them prepare for an emanation of immortal truths from our spheres ; let them tune their souls to that sil- very cadence which mingles with the music of the spheres, is echoed by the angels, and vibrates in the' bosom of the Father ; let them send forth their voices in thanksgiving and joy ; for, in harmony with the convictions of many among them, the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand !" Our angelic brother thus concluded his second impressive and sublime discourse. It will be very readily perceived, by comparison of the two communications, that his spirit has tidvanced far in the Sphere of Wisdom. O, that the reader could have seen the radiant expression of his countenance, when he exclaimed — " Behold ! my companions have come for me ; our mission is angelic," &c. This unexpected ex- clamation diverted my attention from the act of writing, and directed it to the observation of_^i;e personages who had just that moment arrived from the second sphere. They were evidently to accompany him to the "south-east portion of the sidereal heavens." All this apparently was done to make me realize the entire and complete ^naturalness of the habits of the 160 TRUTH AND MYSTERY. inhabitants ;f the spirit-land, and the gentle and pleasing character of their consociations. On completing the record of his sweetly breathed commu- nication, I immediately proceeded to open the doors for friend Wilson's departure. With my spiritual perceptions I wit- nessed his egression ; also I saw him meet and salute his five beauteous companions, who were associated in conversation together near the house. When he joined and embraced them, they, with their eyes sparkling with undying friendship, and their countenances beaming with the soft brightness or radiations of entire devotion, expressed much joy, and exhib- ited the sparkling reciprocations of intelligent affection. I stood as calmly as I could, and contemplated those harmoni- ous minds in their deliberations. What an association of great, good, and wise beings ! Even physically speaking, this heavenly tableaux was inexpressibly beautiful. Each one seemed like an embodiment of personal beauty — of symmetry and proportions indescribable. There was an exquisite em bonpoint about the anatomical developments of these beings, so unearthly and yet so completely an amplification of the rudiments of that personal beauty sometimes seen on earth, that to attempt to describe it would be to carnalize the most significant element of spiritual elegance. I dwell on the beauty of these personages, because they were isolated or re- moved from the presence of far more princely beings, whom I have also seen, and because the contrast between them and the forms of .earth was so intensely favorable to the proper appreciation of their angelic loveliness, that I could not resist a few critical observations. As I have said, I contemplated those concordant minds' while they were engaged in their premeditations with regard to the objects and incidents pertaining to their blessed mis- sion. When they were all in readiness to depart — their num- bers being coupled, two walking together — friend Wilson gave me a parting glance beaming with fraternal love, and the whole party passed very rapidly away in the direction of their assigned duties. Immediately upon beholding this, I returned to my ordinary condition. Since the above recorded interview with him, friend Wil- TRUTH AND- MYSTERY. 161 son has promised me another communication, which, he says, will particulai-ly refer to the analysis of the causes of social evil among men, with special reference to the arrangemen of human society in harmony with the structure of the heav enly associations, — ^thus unfolding literally the kingdom of heaven on earth — thus, finally, responding to the prayers of the philanthropic and the righteous who have for centuries asked, though seldom with an understanding heart, the su- pernal powers to hasten the imj)ending millennium. With regard to this future communication, I can only say, that, when our beloved brother is ready to impart it, I will endeavor to be faithful to my occupation as his amanuensis, and a cor red account of his pure and elevating thoughts shall be pre sented to the world. WHAT IS TRUE RELIGION? Actuated by the profoundest convictions of duty, theolog- ical architects have constructed, from a combination of right and wrong materials, a vast doctrinal labyrinth ; and now, so far from being in the simple truth, they seem irretrievably lost in the mysterious windings of this amazing immensity. Centuries ago, and about the retii'ing of the period of deifica- tion — when fathers, chieftains, kings and other superiors, were feared and worshiped by inferiors — the opinion was consci- entiously entertained and promulgated, that the patriarchs were supernaturally endowed and commissioned to convey requests to, and receive communications from, the great Jehovah. That uninterrupted intercourse with the Deity might be secured and preserved, pyramids were founded, embodying the sacredness of the catacomb, the monument, and' the tab- ernacle. Many generations of incessant toil were required for their consummation. And the devotion, the sanctimoni- ous solemnity, the honest conviction of duty, and the purity of motive, which characterized, prompted, and nerved each person to labor for the accomplishment of the holy end, have 11 162 TRUTH AXD MYSTERY. nowhere a parallel. The materials employed were of quantity sufficient for the construction of a beautiful city ; the amount of labor bestowed, would, properly organized and applied, have gardenized a wilderness ; and the mass of wealth ap- propriated and consumed, might have enriched a nation, and alleviated the wants and gladdened the hearts of thousands. For a succession of centuries after their completion, the pyramids were sacredized monasteries, consecrated to the exclusive use of deified priests and revered patriarchs. And the supposition universally prevailing that these men received unmeasured knowledge from mysterious sources, the untaught individual voluntarily imposed upon hinftelf arbitrary ceremo- nies, gloomy incarcerations, and sanguinary inflictions. But time marched on, and the scene was changed. The experience of ages, traditionally preserved, demonstrated the inutility and unrealness of long-fostered convictions. And multitudes, emboldened by familiarity with the sacerdotal orders, and no longer confounded or amazed by their preten- sions unestablished and unredeemed, boldly interrogated those long supposed founts for religious illumination. But no voice was heard. The holy retirements were searched, and naught but lifeless bodies embalmed and interred, and a melancholy desolation, were visible to the seeker after truth, in the place where, alone, it was once believed to exist. And now they stand in desolate grandeur, untenanted by priest or prophet- useless, except as marks of humanity's growth; and unadr mired, except by the intelligent antiquarian, who gathers therefrom lessons of oriental architecture, and food for his 'excited imagination. And yet the Egyptian Pyramids are not destitute of an interior signification. Although once the dormitories of heli- opolesian prophecies, they are now evidences that error is essentially mortal and self-destructive. They briefly represent the history of the supernatural pyramids, which, composed of mythology and theology, received their last addition, and at- tained their greatest magnitude, when dawned the nineteenth century. And in them^ too, is uttered the fearful prophecy, which will be fully verified in the corresponding abandonment of all long-established theological superstructur|iSjiWhose an- TRLTH AND MYSTERY. 163 gular projections wound the sensibilities of every harmonious and well-balanoed mind ! A voluntary departure of their present sacerdotal inhabi- tants IS not m the least anticipated ; for these have an en- tailed right to occupy their mysterious apartments ; but that the people will demand spiritual light and knowledge not in their possession, and that they will silently escape, and leave their systems desolate, is of all things the most absolutely certain. And as the ancient Egyptian pyramids have no place in the sacred affections, and are only objects of wonder • in the present age ; even so will modern systems of theology lose their influence upon the mind, and be known only as monuments, indicating the death and burial-place of imper- fect forms of thought, to the intelligent interrogator in future generations. There are many questions concerning the principle of right- eousness and the nature of human responsibility, yet unsolved. Present them to the clerical profession, considered by the- majority of Christendom as spiritual guardians and unerring teachers of wisdom, and their whole body would be convulsed with protracted discussion, in character the most complex and unprofitable. Hence, it seems unwise to seek information where, as in the pyramids, so little is possessed; and it is unkind to. increase, with perplexing questions, the expiring struggles and writhing contortions so manifestly racking the entire or- ganization of the supernatural faith. As, however, it is agree- able to prudence,' kindness and reason, to institute inquiries where alone can be found substantial and lasting satisfac- tion, we are justified in opening our understandings to the influxions of good and truth, and in venturing to ask — What is religion? In the structure of the material universe are manifested a dis- : tribution of geometrical proportions, in order and completeness the most unspeakably {)erfect and beautiful. Every particle ' in the vast empire of visible creation, is impressed with a har- moniousness of position, distance, density and movement, alto-' gether beautiful and tranquilizing to the contemplative mind. Besides the reciprocal relations existing between every atom in being, there is an equilibrium of forces presiding over and 164 TRUTH i\D MYSTERY. actuating all worlds. These forces have their exiression in the stupendous revolutions which all suns and planets make around the great Central Orb of all existences. Here are presented the first indications of the true religion. But approaching nearer ourselves, we can not but perceive the beautiful chemical relations, and the religion of individual compounds, that serve to make and embellish our present hab- itation. The generalizing mind is irresistibly led to admire the friendship of particles in chemical composition — the gen- tle tendency to separate or coalesce according to existing conditions and affinities. And the constant exchange or re- ■ ciprocation of matter and life in the flowering vegetation of our earth — rtogether with the unvarying justice displayed be- tween all ascending forms, from the simplest germ to the de- velopment of man — is eloquent in proclaiming the true reli- gion. And concentrated in man are those principles of equal- ity, and attributes of distributive justice, which constitute him a being of unequaled perfection and beauty. Man is, above all created forms, capable of a just concfep- tion and appreciation of harmony ; for treasured in the human mind are the most beautiful sentiments, which demonstrate it to be the highest representative of universal creation — in- deed, that it is a miniature universe. A constant predispo- sition to individual harmony and happy contemplations, is implanted in the spiritual heart of man, whereby his interior and external relations are determined, and his aspiring affec- tions are directed to the meditation of infinite love and ever- lasting righteousness. • It is the rehgious sentiment that enables the mind to rightly perceive, and thoroughly enjoy, the exquisite harmony exist- ing between odors, sounds, and colors — to admire their devo- tional arrangement and appropriateness in the order of Nature, and to justly perceive their adaptation to human require- ments. It is the aspiring and venerating element that ena- bles the mind to say, with conscious assurance of truth, that the same principle which unites any two atoms, and produces right relations every where in the physical world, constitutes the religion of the soul. Religion teaches man to discriminate and judge between TRUTH AND MYSTEET!. 165 right and wrong ; to desire happiness. It teaches him to love the lofty rhount, the flowered valley, the waving forest, and the fragrant meadow. Religion, in its U oadest and most com- prehensive sense, is the principle of righteousness, which gov- erns in harmonious concert, the world of matter and the world of mind. It is the moral and just relationship universally ex- isting between all men, spirits, angels, loorlds, and the Deity, hi a word, it is Universal Justice. Religion, then, is an integral element eternally establisiied in the human mind ; and, like other associative faculties or ele- ments there, it develops itself into a variety of manifestations, according to the favorableness or wnfavorableness of the cir- cumstances by which the mind is surrounded and influenced. The great diversity of religious institutions, and the numerous rites, ceremonies, and obligations imposed by them, prove that this sentiment has had, and has now, an incorrect development. It may be asked — What was the first mis-direction of the religious sentiment ? To which I am impressed to reply, that — ^reasoning per- ceptively, and having no principles of systematic interpreta- tion, the early inhabitants of our earth believed creation to be the fantastic production of invisible beings, in disposition the most capricious and revengeful. The storm, the earth- quake, and the volcano, gave rise to the most terrible appre- hensions. Feeling a sense of inward responsibility — a reli- gious obligation to some unknown and omnipotent power — they instituted a system of material worship, and relieved the adoring sentiment, by acknowledging dependence upon, and promising loyal obedience to, their lifeless images. Altars were erected, and no sacrifice was omitted that was supposed to be pleasurable to the gods. And the misdirection increased every where. Empowered by the false assurance of right, the mother and her child yielded to the consuming flame, that Elysium might be perfumed and the gods appeased with their sacrificial incense. Personal and national invasions were reciprocated ; and, each one believing himself instru- mental in fulfilling divine purposes, rushed into the arena of conflict with enthusiastic emulation. Such manifestations as these, together with the casting of the unoffending infant 166 TRUTH AND MYSTERY. into the Ganges; breaking the father beneath tlie itnighty car ; causing the brother to be trampled upon by men and horses ; and the brutal subjugation of females ; were e-vi* dences of religious misdirection. History, and the dearly purchased experience of nations, justify the conclusion that, in the Barbarian Period, the first, general form of religious misdirection and worship, was Superstition. What was the second mis-direction of the religious senti- ment ? Customs being continually changed by the lapse of time and the diversity of circumstances, and new modes of thought and expression being consequently developed, these things exercised a powerful influence over this system of sensuous veneration. The successive modifications of this form of worship, in its passage' up to and development into a differ- ent organization, were almost innumerable. The experience of ages having demonstrated that long-revered objects and images were unworthy of veneration, the unsatisfied senti- ment radiated in another direction, which was quite necessary and perfectly legitimate. The chiefs and rulers, fathers and prophets, were now adored and elevated to the highest possi^ blei eminence in human estimation. Temples of worship were founded and splendidly embellished ; and the perform- ance of religious ceremonies became the supposed sacred duty, and the general custom. Manifestations of deferential regard, resolving itself into idolatrous adoration, to the parental heads, became frequent. In truth, every real and imaginary obligation was acknowl- edged, and every transgression, however unimportant, con- fessed, accompanied with importunities for absolution, till indigence and religious servility became almost universal. The fathers and the temples were mediators between God and His people; and all possible authority was supposed to be in their possession. Mental servitude and voluntary submission to existing in- stitutions and priestly authorities, were the legitimate and unavoidable consequences. In their ignorance, they seriously believed that Jehovah's spirit was incarnated and incorpo- rated in priest and temple. Every curse and blessing, every TRUTH AND MVSTERY. 167 condemnation and forgiveness, .herefore, was pronounced in the name of the Lord. And, jealous of cotemporaries, and elevated by inferiors into god-like potentates, ambitious chief- tains formed immense armies, and battles were fought and victories achieved that Jehovah's will might be done in the earth. Hence, self-imprisonment in doctrinal dungeons, and external rites, and ceremonies, and wars, were generally re- garded as expressions of religion, as essential to future hap- piness, and as highly pleasing to the Lord ; for in his name, and with his undoubted approbation, all deeds were per- formed. Substantiated by ecclesiastical records, the conclu- sion can not be escaped, that the patriarchial form of religion was Fanaticism. What is the third mis-direction of the religious sentiment ? The misdirected religious sentiment, and its ramifications throughout the historical tissues of past times, at length be- came so wearisome and uncongenial, that the more strong and' philosophic minds unchained, while others had tram- meled, themselves, and prominently assumed an antagonistic position to all received opinions. The chain being thus severed, similar minds rushed into mental and religious lib- erty quite unprepared. Having been, like their ancestors, all their lifetime subject to bondage, and being now emanci- pated into a sphere of thought with which they were wholly unacquainted, these intellects employed their time and talents, not in building a more glorious system of faith, but in attack- ing and demol'shing the old superstructures. And judging superficially, these minds imbibed the belief that all religious phenomena, and all sacredized rules, institutions, and cere- monies, were conceived in, and developed from, the fertile womb of the imagination. And these persons losing their fellowship with, and sympathy for, those authorities and obli- gations so revered by the disciples of antiquated Theology ; and disregarding those duties and precepts considered so es- sentially necessary to present and future happiness ; the clergy were arrayed against them, and they against the clergy. This diametrical opposition ultimately resolved itself into a supposed duty,— a balance-wheel thus being formed that, by its philosophic weight, the superstitious and fanatical ma- 168 TRUTH AND MYSTEEY. chine, constructed by learned and unlearned theological me chanics of previous ages, might move with less irregularity The sense of duty being thus inverted, the beautiful truths of immortality and of one great central Cause, v^ere almost ob literated from the human mind. The third form of religious misdii'ecti jn, then, is Skepticism. Thus it is made manifest, I think, that the wrong develop ment of the sentiment of Justice was, in the Barbarian Period Superstition ; in the Patriarchal Period, Fanaticism ; and in the Civil Period it is Skepticism. As in one family, there are the old and young, the parent and child ; so are these three forms of religious growth discoverable in every town, country and kingdom of the present century. It is quite unnecessary to consult history in order to ascertain the truthfulness of this statement ; for an excursion of a few leagues into the in- terior of either of our principal states would supply the mind with numerous confirmatory illustrations. The disease is every where existing, and is contagious ; but it is modified in symptom and aspect, according to the great diversity of temperaments and circumstances existing in men and society; for superstition is a, fever which gradually increases into the transition paroxysm oi fanaticism, of which skepticism is but the extreme, the inversion, the chill. Do the Barbarian and Patriarchal forms of religious gov- ernment still exist ? Yes, but with certain modifications. It is true that, unlike the barbarian, we have no God of caprice, but we have of miracle ; we have no fears of volcanic fire, but we have of ,an unquenchable Gehenna ; we have no speechless idols, but we have deified Books ; no altars whereon to sacrifice our physical being, but we have altars upon which to resign and crucify our reason ; there is now no crushing of the, bodies of men by ponderous cars, but their minds are crushed' by pre- judices ; and, unlike the barbarians, we trample not on men with horses, but we do with dogmatic Theology. Chronicled upon the memory of every mind are experi- ences, more or less confirmatory of the truthfulness of this comparison ; but no less perfect is the analogy between the second age and the present. For, unlike the patriarchs, we TRUTH AND MYSTERY. 169 have no temples, but churches ; no adoring and potentializing of men because of their age, but we venerate ideas and re- cords because of their antique origin ; we have no religious invasive hostilities, but we have clerical warfare ; no period- ical passovers, but we have eucharists; we have no mental restrictions, but we are privileged to live and move loithin the circle of a creed. Probably the phenomena of religious misdirection have never presented themselves so conspicuously as at this day ; but that tliey have existed, to a greater or less extent, in all previous ages, is plain and undeniable. Although those rites and cei'emonies, and ordinances now in use, are of no im- portance in reforming and making men happier ; yet wisdom prescribes their continued use, as safeguards against a greater misfortune — religious anarchy. The truth of this remark will appear most obvious to every reflecting parent. It is well known that children, becoming accustomed to play with articles of a particular kind, are exceedingly clamorous, and will weep excessively, if suddenly deprived of them. The judicious parent, therefore, in order to avoid the creation of more disturbance than is unavoidably caused by their use, will kindly persuade his children to put them aside, and will engage their attention with more profitable matters. Now, notwithstanding many men have acquired the character of being learned in the science and metaphysics of Theology, the fact can not be disguised that they are like mere children in the primary school of Nature ; and thus they are ever seeking for, and are highly delighted with, marvelous stories and supernatural manifestations. Moreover, as necessary appendages and members of their religious organization, the ancient fathers bequeathed a number of ordinances, in the child-like veneration and use of which the children are alone quiet and content. The persuasive admonitions of wisdom, therefore, will ever instruct; but never urge the adoption of any measure, having the least tendency to wound the misdirected worshiper ; for when such minds grow " to the fullness of tie stature of & perfect man," they will volun- tarily abandon present usages, and '-put away childish things" forever. 170 TRUTH AND MYSTERY. Let us now inquire — What is the first correct development of true, religion ? The answer is simple. Residing in a material body, per- fect to the adjustment of an atom, the spirit fexperiences a deeply impressive consciousness of entire symmetrical pro- portions — a sense of self-harmony. Accompanying this most perfect, and beautiful of all rudimental sensations, is an intui- tiv(i perception of the natural Laws of life, and a simple, clear understanding of what constitutes a correct action. How to live so as to secure the general order and har- mony of one's own existence, is the first natural consid- eration. To preserve internal health, so as to enjoy external wealth spontaneously bestowed from the inexhaustible repositories and treasuries of Nature, is the constant and central study of the duly balanced mind. The tenderest regatd for per- sona] happiness ; the simplest means for its attainment ; the natural privileges to which body and mind are ever entitled, are correct subjects of contemplation and desire, and a due attendance thereunto is prescribed by the interior sense of self-responsibility. « And seeking a harmony of objects, forms and colors, pre- sented in the wide-spread fields of Nature, to supply the eye with its appropriate gratification; or inventing melodious sounds to gratify the ear ; cultivating the science of agricul- ture, or arranging and combining articles of food, that a har- mony of flavors may please the taste ; courting wood-lawn flowers or the violet's fragrance to charm the smell; and l!ving in the most simple and natural manner, doing nothing to disturb, but every thing to augment the harmony of per- sonal existence, are the ceremonies and sacred obligations imposed upon man as growing out of, and associated with, the true religion. Deep within, reposes a sweet conception of the Great Spirit Father. This interior light refreshes the mind, and tints its every thought with celestial beauty, and inspires it with immortal aspirations. The untaught mind utters no sound, but breathes the fervent prayer of gratitude and reli- gious veneration, by living right. And the text, growing out TBUTH AND MYSTERY. 171 of the true sentiment within, is, at first, "know thyself;" and the admonition to personal justice, or the maxim that " char- ity begins at home," is the legitimate discourse. The mind Is internally convinced, that the duty due its Creator, is dis- charged in religiously observing and devotionally obeying the natural rules of life ; in rightly using every individual endowment. Therefore, the first development of the native religious element is Self-Justice. Let us again inquire — What is the second correct develop- ment of true religion 1 Well comprehending the material and spiritual relations and unity of its self-hood, the mind intuitively recognizes a harmonious relationship which should subsist between every man, and the sacred ties that should inseparably unite, and constitute of the whole, a Brotherhood. That a friendship may subsist between all, and that each may live in reference to the interests of the whole, is the constant desire and the object of the greatest of all interior affections. The tenderest regard for general desires and interests ; the establishment of the means to render kindly offers reciprocal ; the security of the natural rights granted to every man by his Maker, and the universal happiness of mankind, are objects sought by one prompted by the unfolded sentiment of the internal and true religion. And studying the harmony of temperaments, and the con- geniality of individual spheres, to gratify the holy sentiment of conjugal affection; securing homes, and surrounding them with natural and elevating enjoyments, to improve and delight the parental affection ; inventing productive ma- chines, and making improvements in, and advancing the interests of, every science and useful art, to satisfy the fra- ternal affection ; employing all deferential expressions in addressing the retiring generation and treating them with constant and delicate propriety, as prompted by the filial affection; and imbuing with goodness, and strengthening with truth, the immortal life-springs of the human soul, so that a melodious instrument, composed of individual and general interests, may be constructed to concert the beautiful harmony o^ human affairs, to gratify the universal affection 172 TRUTH AND MYSTEaY. ' — ar3 the true baptisms, the true sacraments, and the saving ordinances of the internal religion. , And now, the conception of God, and the confidence in His eternally- fixed laws and universal providence, expands and towers above the religious harmonies of tej restrial crea- tion ; it grows majestic and sublime. It is made distinctly manifest, therefore, that the text which is appropriate to this stage of religious development is, " love thy neighbor ;" and the spontaneous sermon is, "do unto others as you would have others do unto you." Hence, the, second growth is Fraternal Justice. If it be asked — What is the third and highest development of true religion ? I reply that, after understanding the laws of Natui'e, and the unchangeableness of their operation in personal and general existences, the mind adopts the principles of right- eousness, and urges their application. The social relations of men are investigated, classified and harmonized. Prompted by justice, each man studies himself,; his physical and spirit- ual qualifications, his fitness and relative attractions to' the nearest, or most distant, neighbor ; and a voluntary spon- taneous unity is the result. Considered as immortal impulses to pure action and pleasurable industry, the innate desires are provided with pure and congenial gratifications. Religion being thus above every thing, descends to all departments of human life and action ; for commercial interests uniting with the agricul- tural laboratories of every town and state, capacious store- lii)uses will be established, and filled with food for general consumption. Land-privileges and home-comforts will be guaranteed to every inhabitant of the earth. True religion will develop its true likeness ! A suitable home, and an appropriate tract of land, secured to each indi- vidual according to his actual want and capacity to improve ; and well-constructed edifices for the accommodation of all ; will be the churches, the convents, the monasteries, and the charitable institutions, of the true but at present unloved religion. In truth, working out in universal society that exquisite harmony which is represented in the general struc- TRUTH A>fD MYSTERY. 173 turo of the hoiy and mind, is the highest possible^ manifesta- tion of the religious sentiment. In this stage, the conception of God has grown into an idea, grand and beautiful. The idea is that God, together with His material, universal Body, is a vast, glorious, majestic, kind, and affectionate Personality — and that all men, spirits, and angels, are His dearly beloved and eter- nally progressive children. Accompanying this idea, is a knowledge that a relationship and correspondence subsists between all worlds, forms, and existences in being. That the " Lord God omnipotent reigneth," is the fixed but growing conviction. Indeed, the sublime assurance that God is very Man, comprehending within Himself the "all in all," blooms Hke an immortal flower in the Heavenly garden of the religious mind. The third growth of the religious sentiment, therefore, is Universal Justice. An immense contrast is here presented — the misdirection of the native religious element on one side, and its correct development on the other. The one is superstition, fanat- icism, and skepticism ; the other, self-justice, fraternal jus- tice, and universal justice. There is a Heaven-wide differ ence between them. But it may be asked — How shall we discriminate between the wrong and right ([&i}elopment of the religious element ? 'The intelligent Pilgrim will perceive, I think, that the difference between the wrong and right development of th^ religious sentiment consists in this, that the one is the broad, popular road which leads to the destruction of harmony and desolation of mind ; and that the other is the straight and beautiful path, which leads to all present and future happi- ness. This religion originated in the bosom of the Divine Mind ; it was deposited by Him in the human soul, and will live forever. It is every one's guardian spirit ; it is an unextinguishable interior light ; it is, like every other spirit- ual sentiment, an angel teaching us our duty to the body and mind, the parent and brother, the universe and the Father. It lives and will live majestically, independent of churches, books, and creeds. It has caused, in "ts misdirected and 174 TKUTH AND MYSTERY inverted operation, all we most regret and deplore ; and it has caused, and will cause, in its proper development, aU that we most love and admire. To ask what a man believes, that we may know whether to trust and respect him, is not wise. The most religious man, the man nearest the kingdom of Heaven, is one who lives consistently with himself, in harmony with the neigh- bor, and consiAers justice his spiritual companion. The simplest idea of self-responsibility will grow into a compound one, and embrace the whole fraternity of human creation ; and acknowledging universal relations, the mind will expand through all spheres, a devoted disciple to the good and the true. To cultivate the true religion, we must be free, very free from every prejudice and circumstance that can trammel or impede its primary operation. Nothing must be allowed to reverse or prevent its upward tendency, First, then, "know thyself;" secondly, "love thy neighs bor ;" thirdly, " be good, be truthful, be just, love God, and be happy." I know this to be the true but unloved religion., With regard to truth and mystery, and the necessity of reliable spiritual intercourse, James J. G. Wilkinson, in his recent classic biography of Swedenborg, the Swedish philos- opher and seer, says : — '' We study the spiritual world, because one of us has been there, and reported it ; and we study the natural world, because it is given to us, and our senses are given to it, in short, because we did not make it, but it is a divine fact. Whatever we have made ourselves, we do not study, which is a sufficient demolition of sub- jective knowledge. Thus from the spheres a blackness is departing. Mystery, the mother of the abominations and harlots of the earth, is unrolling from theology, philosophy, and science ; and soon the practical, the only sublime, will be all in all. For time will not wait long, after marrying the mind to experience, before the importance of daily life will not only suggest but allow or disallow every theory, upon whatever subject put forth. * * * * The lowest experience of all time is rife in spiritual intercourse already; man believes it in his fears TRUTH AND MYSTERY, 175 a,nd hopes, even where his education is against it ; almost every fami y has its legends, and nothing but the wanting courage to divulge them keeps back this supernaturalism from forming a library of itself. Yea, and every mourner, by a freshly-opened grave, shoots with untamable love toward departed friends, and bespeaks them, while the genius of grief is on him, as persons of real and presentable stuff. At such a clever time, burial services are but the background on which the heart delineates its native skies. This is the sense of universal mankind. Science, too, is infected with these vulgar apprehensions ; it can not shake them off, though if can not adopt . them. What would it not give to be i id of mesmerism, or even of magic and astrology, which it has never known how to exterminate? This is hopeless now. These griffins of knowledge have bitten into its substance, and must either become sciences, or science dies of them. The positive school is precisely that which can least resist the invasion of supernaturalism. Many materialists already have fallen before it, and sunk, as might be expected, into a peculiar unreasoning superstition. Nothing can save them but atten- tion to spiritual experiences. Add to which, that the scien- tific men, with their deep breaths and fixed objects, are taking the path to seership in their own bodies ; * * * for science itself is the appointed Seer of the Future. " Old experience doth attain, To something of prophetic strain." Again, if we turn to the arts, electric telegraphs make spii'itual presence between distant » places ; London and Edinburgh commune in spaceless conversations. Another medium, glowing hotter with world-friendships, will give mutual sight to the ends of the earth. Only sink into the air-mine of community, and India and England shall be permanent natural apparitions to each other. The mirage is a true sign-post of this consummation. Distance is dying, and will be only represented in the altitude of the human perceptions. Magnetism itself, in its instant rounds, derides and desjHses it ; the very stones appear to each other by its 176 TRUTH AND MYSTERY spiritual communications ; and siiall men, who are one in a nobler magnetism, be reproved by the friendships of the ground ?" In conclusion, I feel impressed to remark, that the era oi mythology and superstition is fast decaying. Ignorance, bigotry, skepticism, fanaticism, intolerance, spiritual depres- sion, and all slavery — the great evils which now beset man- kind — are rapidly dispersing ; they shall recede entirely from the earth, never again to enslave and degrade humanity This world of thought and affection, and of social relations, shall be progressively purified, until there shall be unfolded a new heaven and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness. And the evils which now exist, shall be known only to those who will trace the history of our race ; which they will do with mingling feelings of pity and regret. By spiritual intercourse we learn that all men shall ultimately be joined into one Brotherhood ; their interests shall be pure and reciprocal ; their actions shall be just and harmonious ; they shall be as one Body, animated by universal Love and gov- erned by pure Wisdom. Man's future is glowing with a beautiful radiance. The mental sky is fast becoming clear and serene ; and the scene is one of grandeur and sublimity. Truth will consume all error and artificial theology, whose power is weakened, and whose corruptions are revealed, by the divine light of Nature's manifestations. Yea, all evil and error will be finally subdui, J and banished by the triumph of the principles that are good, divine, and unchangeable ; %,nd unrighteousness shall be no more ! Streams of good and healthy inspirations will spring up, and flow down, to cleanse and refresh the moral world, on whose advancing tide the whole race will ascend to intellectual and social harmony, and to a nigh state of spiritual elevation ar.d intercourse. Mill !i ii '"■ 1 llllliiiillliilliill'" iHIIill iiilj!|:i'iiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii|i|;|iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii[iiiy^ ii;t'til>!lj,|i|;j| I I liilillllll! !!li|!il!iili lillll!!l! mm mm 51 iH I Hii 'I II 'nl ■ii''-"ii'',l|!,„.,„ I liili.. ... ^^ lilllllllilllllllllllllllllflllllU