$( Message FROM l^obept (§. Ji^epsoll ^ranatnitied BY l&utomai'ie spiting THROUGH A ^Philadelphia "Ps^ehie 1904 'rice, 15 Cents. i*RY of CONGRESS j Two Goirtes Received AUG 13 1904 Copyright Enfry GLASS ^ XXe. Ho. ft Message FROM Robert (3. Jtygeiasoll transmitted BY THROUGH A Philadelphia T'z^^hie 1904 [Copyrighted.J *$ \ Q\K Introductory. The following message was received by means of auto- matic writing and is similar to one given by the same inspirer, in a more crude manner, and published in The Sermon of June, 1903. Automatic writing has its defenders, but there are those among them who do not believe that the writer is perfectly free from some influence in the work. The writer has, therefore, asked the inspirer to explain the method and the readers can judge for themselves as to whether the work is automatic or the work of inspiration through telepathy. The following is the explanation given to the request that Robert G. Ingersoll would explain as simply as possi- ble how he accomplished his work : "I will give you what you wish. When you send out your magnetic power to spiritual minds we feel a sensation which is like a call to a mortal mind and we gladly respond, feeling that we are needed in an atmosphere seeking for light. When I enter your presence I seldom fail to find the condition which is absolutely essential for my work ; this is a calm, serene mind, ready to accept whatever I choose to impress upon the passive brain. In whatever form you desire to work I must accept the mode. "The pencil you are now holding is gnided by my thoughts, but it is your physical strength which I use to move the pencil. The writing is inspired by me and I know that the work is as nearly automatic as many inven- tions worked by mortals. "You hold the pencil and call a guide; the guide sim- ply places their hand over yours to start the forces you possess into motion. The thought force we possess keeps the pencil moving until we have finished the work or your own mind beoomes active ; then your thoughts repel ours, or so darken the molecules of your brain that further work is impossible or so discordant that the vibrations would cause the work done to look like a blotted piece of paper. "The two minds, spirit and mortal, can only do good work when they work in perfect harmony ; that is the mor- tal mind being subjected to spiritual li^ht, which keeps it peaceful and calm, while the true spiritual mind is operat- ing the mediumistic forces." "What do you mean by being subjected to spiritual light?" "Just what I say. When you call a spirit you are de- siring spiritual light and in that desire you are clothing your mind with heavenly power or force. "This explanation I believe you will find correct. We do not touch your hand, but we do place our hand over yours, for this attracts two elements which you possess to act in the physical formation. "The former message, while containing the same facts, was given in a manner which often made me feel that you were the greater power and I the lesser light. The manner in which it was taken caused so many interruptions and breaks in sentences that I was often compelled to go back to the work you had done to catch the thread of my own work; but the pencil in your hand helps to keep the thought force in a smoother channel and I believe we are both better satisfied with the present message." — M. E. M. Experience After the Veil Was Lifted. To My Friends of Earth: — Death lifts the veil and parts the gloomy shadows sur- rounding the mortal mind. Brighter and better life enters in as the so-called death steals away the dimmed and dy- ing light Which had been furnished to light the mortal mind until it had furnished the inner light of intelligence with strength to ascend to blissful fields of ripening grain. But my shaking off of the outer covering to my true self was sudden and unexpected, no thought of this so- called death putting me in touch with what God alone knew and made me experience with love, not malice. I am happy to say I am fully aware many of my or- thodox friends firmly believed that the call which aroused my better nature to its true work was given by a just and avenging God, who took this means of punishing one who had not believed as they did. But could all mortals be relieved of the burden of the flesh as was Eobert G. Ingersoll, they would know as I do that it was not malice but love eternal that welcomed the spirit to its true work, repenting of errors of judgment, thoughts and words in regard to the only true God, a God so mighty, so holy, so pure and good that no mortal mind will ever be able to comprehend the power that binds the mortal to the immortal and sinks beneath the waves of love eternal all evil, all errors, all wrongs and all sorrows and lifts to heavenly homes even the unbeliever, whose ignor- ance may not be so far from truth as the believer whose knowledge of heavenly love may have been grafted on a 6 tree of ignorance which could furnish so little sustenance for true knowledge that the fruit never ripens, and is, there- fore, unfit to feed the light of wisdom, which should lead all to the open door of Heaven fully clothed with the gar- ments of truth. The first sensation usually experienced by spirits after shaking off the outer covering is an indescribable feeling of freedom. Hope springs into life so bright and fair that many have told me they felt like shouting with joy, even while conscious of the sorrow experienced by their friends at what they supposed was their endless sleep. But my first sensation was one of surprise and I stood by my worn out rags as one dazed by a blow until aroused by a voice of such sweetness that it awakened a blissful feeling in my heart and I felt that an angel was calling me to Heaven. I then looked up and the vision I beheld convinced me that an angel was summoning me to follow her, for the musical sounds issuing from the light surrounding her were not of mortal tone or words. I then said: " I will come with you but must be dressed in proper clothing," and stooped to pick up what I supposed was my body, when a feeling of repulsion entered my whole being and I hurried away from the filth my spirit form could not touch. I was then led by my angel guide into the light above my earthly home and was soon surrounded by many men and women whom I had known on earth, but whom I supposed were dead, as I had seen them put under the ground and well covered to keep them from escaping . For the first time I became frightened, when one man relieved me very much by saying : " Do not be alarmed, Ingersoll, you are in your heav- enly home, a place you never expected to see.' 7 Then one after another grasped my hand so kindly and lovingly that I began to feel happier than I had ever felt before and I know from observation as well as experience that I was happier than the average mortal while on earth . In a short time the spirit forms of my dear father and mother were brought to me and then my cup of joy seemed overflowing with happiness. The mother's kiss of welcome seemed to swell my heart with a life time of love which had grown in heavenly light for my acceptance and eter- nal welfare. The words of love and welcome received from friends and relatives continued to increase until it seemed there was not one absent face, whom I had ever known or spoken a kind work to, who did not stand around me with such love-lit countenances that they looked superior to any mor- tal faces I had ever seen. I, too, began to imagine I must be better than I ever had been, or my friends would not seem so happy in my company. I saw one old friend whom I had known on earth, whose aged and wrinkled face sometimes made me wish I might escape the ravages of time; but his face now looked young, free from care and almost beautiful in its new form. " My dear old friend," I said, "have you found the fountain of youth since I saw you last or am I only dream- ing that I see you with a new face?" "No," he replied, "you see the spiritual formation, which you were too bliud to recognize while in your mor- tal body. You, too, appear, in a fuller light of spiritual growth, much brighter and happier and will learn that spiritual laws, when properly understood, are far superior to physical laws and their trilling evolvements." The pleasure I enjoyed while greeting so many happy looking friends, whose faces 1 never expected to look upon again, kept me from realizing the great change which had caused this wonderful reunion, but quick as my passing 8 out, my thoughts flew to my wife and children , and I said: "I must go back to them." Then I was brought back to my earthly home by my angel guide, whose kindness and sweet words of caution impressed me as really unnecessary for I felt so happy that I feared no evil ; but as I entered the presence of my dear wife and children my heart received a shock which it had never experienced before and never will again. I endured untold agony for some days. I was just as close to my loved ones as I had ever been while in my mortal clothing, but they could not see me nor hear me speak to them. I remained with them during the trial they endured at parting from what they believed my remains, but which I loathed as something so hideous that I never rested until I saw it put out of sight forever. I soon realized that every effort I made to comfort my sorrowing ones only in- creased their grief, and at last I called to my angel guide to please take me where I belonged, as death had placed a barrier between my living loved ones and myself which I could not overcome. "This barrier you will overcome in time," she sweetly rex>lied, "and be able to return to your loved ones without the sorrowful sensations you now endure. Time will wipe away their tears and you will be able to enjoy their com- pany and even comfort them in their thoughts through the spiritual laws, in which you will be instructed by higher spirits." My guide then led me to the most beautiful resting place. No words are adequate to describe the construction and location of my reclining seat or couch. The blissful rest I enjoyed cannot be imagined by mortals; the most perfect peace seemed to enter my soul and I turned to my beautiful angel guide and remarked that this was greater pleasure than I was entitled to receive, for I had enjoyed all the comforts of earthly life and they were rude in compar- ison to the haven of rest I was then enjoying. "All mortals should enter here ready to receive their birthright, the endless love of God, which has prepared the homes for all His children, but which many fail to accept until they are freed from earthly errors." I did not make any reply to this, feeling that I had erred, but supposing I had been fortunate enough to slip in by some accident and had not been observed by the holder of the key to Heaven; but, like many others, held my peace, believing silence might be better than words which would give my true character the light that would stamp me as one who had not really believed in God's love and kindness. The rest and peace which filled my being kept me very happy for some time. Earth and its inhabitants seemed to be forgotten and the purity of my surroundings impressed me as something marvelous. I saw angels and spirits mingling and working in such perfect harmony that sin and sinners seemed to have been left behind, and I smiled at the bright lights of love and turned to my guide and remarked : "I hope I will not awaken from this peaceful rest to find I have been ushered into the wrong mansion! " "No," she replied, "you will find mistakes are of earthly growth, but heavenly love works even errors to perfection when the spiritual mind is fully awakened." How long I remained in that peaceful state of mind I am unable to say, as I felt too happy to measure time, even had I been able to do so ; but after some time had elapsed I began to awaken to a strange feeling of unrest or more earthly sensations, and became alarmed, for I seemed to recognize the events appearing before my mental vision as earthly experiences and they became stronger and plainer until I felt very unhappy at some of the things I saw and heard. At last I called my angel guide and requested her 10 to explain this, the first trouble I had felt since entering my new home. "Peace be with you," she kindly answered, you are only reviewing your past life." I then felt better satisfied, but many times during this trying ordeal I called my angel guide and begged her to take me back to earth and give me an opportunity to purge my work of the errors I knew I had made in my efforts to enlighten mankind. "No," she replied, "here you must remain until you are fully satisfied, and purity and virtue will make you free" "I do not understand this, " I replied. "You will later," she answered. "You are now repent- ing of your errors. When you have balanced your errors of judgment against your true lights in spirituality you will find, qgtii believe, that purity and virtue will show a balance over your errors of judgment. This will give you the light to understand the law of eternal justice, which weighs all in the balance. Repent now and try to overcome your er- rors and you will be helped in every way you desire." "Does this work keep me in this beautiful world?" I ventured to remark. "Yes. Your spiritual mind will be fully awakened when you have freed it from all errors, and the spiritual laws will give you the power to work out all errors. You will understand the laws of the universe and be able to travel all over the earth plane with the swiftness of lightning. Re- pent now and enjoy the blessings awaiting the pure minded" When she had finished speaking I thanked her and continued the work of repentance which I felt sure I had been given to do. While my angel guide seemed to be near me her presence did not annoy me, for I seemed to feel Unit, by some strange law or force, I was entirely alone and often, during this trying ordeal, earnestly thanked the mysteri- 11 ous condition which placed me away from the other spirits. Not one spirit entered my presence during my trial. When I realized this highly beautiful light of wisdom, which burns without a flaw, I sent up a blessing to the lights above for this, the greatest judgment ever created — a judgment which all must meet, and yet which carries no disgrace to mark the offender, as none are permitted to witness the re- cord charged up against you. Duty alone bears light, and the searching light of truth burns your soul with the stain of sin. Some times my work was very pleasant. At other times I felt depressed and sad when I encountered an error that made me recognize the fact that my ignorance of this beautiful world had kept me from assisting my fellow-man to greater hope and light. At other stages the events come sailing along in the bright light of purity and love, Then I felt very happy and contented, and in the hap- pier state of mind seemed to forget the darkened condition caused by errors of judgment or unkindness. I am iirnily convinced that not one kind or unkind thought, word or deed of my whole earthly life was omit- ted in this review. Many events I had forgotten all about loomed up like angry clouds ready to deluge me for some angry thought or word toward mortal foe. But the light of reason, now so strongly burning for my guidance, helped me to scatter the clouds and then the raindrops of purer love awakened in my heart seemed to shed forgiveness on my error and it passed out of my sight never to return. In time all these experiences seemed to disappear and I felt relieved to find 1 was still in the same happy condi- tion which had been mine before the weighing of my good and evil deeds had commenced ; as there appeared no re- occurrence of the sensations I ventured to remark to my angel guide: 12 "It is remarkable that I am kept so long in one spot. I feel very restless and have a desire to move about.' 7 "This indicates that you are ready to receive instruc- tions in the spiritual laws," she replied, "but you must call a higher intelligence than your own." I replied that I was not competent to judge and my guide replied : "I will call an instructor." Within a short time my dear mother's spirit form was brought to me and from her sweet heavenly lips I received instructions in the greatest, grandest and most wonderful philosophy in the universe — truth bared of all folly, shams and deception in regard to the only true God, a God so mighty and so kind that all His children will some day learn to obey His laws and enter into their birthright, eter- nal love and peace. The instructions given me by my mother enabled me to move about without a guide, and I then visited my own dear ones very often. While they could not see me or hear me speak to them I soon felt no repelling force on that account, for through the law of telepathy I learned to reach their hearts with cheering thoughts when they longed to have me with them. My joy at this heavenly blessing has been the source to greater light than any other evolvement. The comfort this knowledge gave me lead me higher in the realms of light by the heartfelt thanks I sent out daily towards the eternal wisdom from the infinite source of all knowledge. I was instructed in the power to propel my spirit with such wonderful results that mortals, ignorant of the laws of nature, would be frightened could they see the invisible forms of heavenly homes entering and departing from the higher and lower spheres. The swiftness of light does not express the speed with which we are gifted. Your own thought, when it reaches 13 friend or foe far distant from your side, is nearer the truth than any other comparison I can give in regard to the spiritual power to travel around and above you. The next lessons which my dear mother gave the son she now received with love unhampered with earthly lusts and gross material growths were even more beautiful and elevating. This was the language of love. This language is musical in its tones and no music on earth can equal its sweetness. Tuned in harmony with heavenly vibrations every word or thought, for you can hardly say spoken, flows from the lips of the more highly developed spirits like musical notes so sweet aud pure that no mortal could catch the finer tones without falling on their knees enrap- tured with the sound. To attempt to give you even a faint description of the holy work of my dear mother is useless. The mortal mind is, when compared to the spirit mind, like a block of wood or stone. The only mortals on earth whose ideas are even alive to the truth are those whose whole spiritual natures are aroused and reaching for and receiving light from minds freed from mortal clothing. When I had mastered the arts (from my earthly stand- point of knowledge) of propelling my body properly and conversing in silent language with the higher developed minds I visited all my own friends and relatives, both heavenly and earthly, and learned some wonderful things about the universal light of wisdom and knowledge. When I was developed enough to visit the higher spheres I was guided by an angel chosen for that work, as her power to carry me above my own sphere was so much purer in its light that she could overcome any fear or doubt I might have encountered by my mind not sensing the truth, and thereby keeping me from entering the holi- er states of blissful joy. I will not attempt to give a very minute description of 14 the heavenly spheres. My language is incapable of ex- pressing even a shadow of the truth, and then I fear both friend and foe might question my words and pronounce the description a dream, so unreal, so wonderful and so false, that Ingersoll would be looked upon as the greatest liar who had ever undertaken to decribe the mansions above the skies. All will be plainer by and by and I will give a short description to prepare you for the greater knowledge you will all some day be able to grasp when you lay aside your material minds and come here with the spirit mind pure and strongly charged with spiritual desires. I will try and give a faint idea of my own sphere, and as my tongue cannot grasp the words fitted to give it jus- tice surely no words of mine can portray in fitting beauty still higher mansions of love. My work had only placed me in the third sphere, but I will take this opportunity of informing you that I am steadily ascending and this work will not hinder, but will add lustre to my soul. I have advanced from the third to the fifth sphere and the one I entered I will try to describe. Its location is far above the skies, which mortals some- times believe is heaven, but which we know is only a part of the misty atmosphere around you. The construction of the sphere I am attempting to describe is not composed of silver and gold, as some orthodox ministers are wont to de- scribe the mansions above. It is less earthly and is formed of material which I will liken to unadulterated morality, if you can open your souls to receive such an idea. I fear I could never have grasped this truth, but know the earth plane to day holds many minds so pure in thought and de- sire that my words will not be looked upon as impossible truth. Truth can only enter the mind which is purified by the heart awakened through natural love for all mankind, and this opens the soul to receive the divine light from 15 above and see with almost perfect vision the Almighty love that reaches every heart. This awakened consciousness knows no high, low, educated or uneducated, rich, poor, black or white, Christian or heathen, but understands the law that saves by works, not words; kindness and love, not idle words and forms and creeds. The appearance of the sphere I entered with such pleasure bears no resemblance to any formation visible to mortal vision. Lights seem to penetrate and interpene- trate what seems to be the principal elements forming the heavenly mansions, which you have all heard were not made with hands. This you need have no fear of accept- ing as true, for no mortal could construct or comprehend the constructive art which combined the perfect work. The mind of the originator was perfect and perfect work is the result. The beauties of my own sphere were not composed of simple ornamental work which mortals design to embellish earthly mansions. The ornaments of the heavenly man- sions are living beauties begotten through the heart. All the spirits and angels are clothed in their own good thoughts, words and deeds. This may seem, to the mor- tal mind, silly, but you must admit the fact that even mor- tal ideas, when good and pure, are far more lasting and and even more beautiful than the woven material used to clothe the physical body. The angels and spirits in my own sphere looked beautiful and bright, but as we approached the entrance to the sphere above my own my heart leaped with such a thrill of delight that I placed my hand over my weaker developed power for good, as I felt sure it would not re- main within my spirit form. The spirits inhabiting this sphere looked even more beautiful than the inhabitants in my own home, and their garments were so fine and beautiful that I felt sure angel hands had been the weavers. I spoke to my guide about this and she replied : 16 "Yes, but the work is all done by pure and holy thoughts, not the hands of the weavers. While the work seems very delicate to your vision its lasting qualities will only give way to greater beauty. We will now enter and you will see greater wonders." I never spoke again until I had returned to my own sphere. The wonderful and beautiful works I saw were too much for my developed spiritual mind, and by remain- ing silent I seemed to grasp the fuller meaning of much that was shown me by my guide, whose kind and loving words opened many mysteries of the universe to my better understanding. There were spirits so developed for good work that their thoughts shone out like lights of love and kindness which seemed to penetrate the heavenly mansions, and I was told even reached the earth plane when mortals were touched with the true desire to help their fellow man or woman. Then there were intelligences whose mental lights of wisdom and knowledge had grown in heavenly truth until they, too, looked so wonderfully charged with power that I felt drawn to them by a sincere desire to learn the truth as I felt it existed, not by knowledge gained by man's light, but the knowledge that comes from natural laws. There are minds here so developed that one thought of theirs puts in operation endless chains of knowledge that reach the inhabitants of the earth plane when any mortal desires to accomplish any work which these higher intel- ligences deem elevating enough to require their assistance. When they feel this desire of the mortal mind they touch the key of knowledge and wisdom and send to their weaker power, or mortal mind, just what this mind is capable of grasping. This has given the works called inspired writ- ings, and there should be better light turned on some so- called inspired writings before all such writings will bear the searching eye of truth. There have been inspirational writers and lecturers of 17 the past, and even present period, whose ideas were not always gained from the higher sources, but whose own minds were discolored with rank growths, which destroyed the better thoughts entering from above, and this discord stopped the higher lights and they withdrew their helpful thoughts. The wonderful works engaged in by the spirits work- ing out their own desires awakened in my spiritual mind a desire to accomplish some elevating work in touch with my true nature. There are evolved souls here so beautiful, so bright and so pure in their hearts' desires that they can be com- pared to nothing earthly. Bliss and joy have crowned them and their crowns shine as no brilliants on earth can ever shine. These brighter lights of love and kindness have gained eternal glory, but still send out priceless love to give the less fortunate an opportunity to ascend. Turning from the scenes no mortal could see and live I returned to my own abiding place, feeling that mortal life was indeed full of vanity and woe, and that only the spirit within the flesh was worthy of respect. Could the decaying mortal clothing only be made to serve its true purpose how much misery would be avoided on earth. The beautiful sights I witnessed would turn the basest man into a saint, and the music here enjoyed is so heavenly charged that its notes thrill the hearers with perfect love. The paths to evolve every talent are here open for all pure enough to enter the higher evolving life. The univer- sity of nature is not furnished to enrich the rich. The poorest and most ignorant men and women are here given every opportunity to evolve every talent or gift, whether of the arts or sciences. To these spirits much information and so-called inventions of mortals is due. When spirits have been deprived of the opportunity to complete their gifts while on earth they lose no time here, and then they invariably work out their own ideas through 18 mortal minds, when they succeed in coming in contact with a mind seeking for the light to evolve the same desire. The lower inhabitants of the spheres are symbolical of earthly life. To paint their woes is not my mission, but could you all stand on the unclouded border between the two worlds you would choose the better path and serve the soul's true light and give the baser man and woman within your outer covering no opportunity to work for the evil you should not encourage. There are evil spirits, my friends, and these evil spirits are not the devil's host you have heard of in your orthodox churches. They are simply creations of mortal lives. The familiar spirit is the demon in your own heart and mind, and when you have overcome the evil you love so much you have then cast from you the familiar spirit your lusts create. The good inherent in all is the higher power, and this good carries the light of love, which grows so strong that the sight of one of these higher developed spirits would frighten an impure mortal far more than the sight of the devil you all fear so much, for the impurity existing in the mortal mind and heart could not endure the strong light of purity shining forth from the pure spirits of heavenly mansions. I will now give a few words of encouragement and ad- vice to my bigoted friends, materialists, deist, Christian and unbeliever, Protestant and Catholic, broad and liberal- minded : Heaven is not ruled by forms and creeds, but true love and God Almighty's laws. Could I reach you with my tongue a thousand times more strong than human tongue can speak I would warn you, encourage you and put into your hearts the light of truth so strong that it would burn into your souls and open the path to true religious ideas — the law of human kindness, which, when obeyed, opens the door of heaven and lets the sunshine of eternal love flow into the evil surround- ing the ignorant and sheds the light of intelligence abroad 19 by recognizing the infinite love imbedded in the hearts of all God's children. Under this law the light of truth shines forth and the shadows surrounding the unfortunate, who have been the victims of man's unkindness, grow dim as the door of heaven opens to receive with sheltering arms even the basest, whose errors are then touched with the love that burns in the hearts of all — God's holy light of eternal life. The beautiful light within the erring one must be quick- ened into life by the nobler lights from the shores of eternal peace. My warnings are not for the wrong-doer alone, but for the Pharisaical Christian, who has much more to repent of sometimes than the unfortunate whose earthly life was devoid of the surroundings and circumstances needed to help him seek for light. The prayers that do not awaken true love for all mankind in your heart are vain indeed. They are dead fruit that poisons the suppliant, for they remain within your inner consciousness and come forth hereafter to mock your soul for believing in your power to reach heaven with shallow prayers not tuned in harmony with its love and light. The errors of judgment, I wish to impress upon all, are the hardest to overcome. In justice to yourselves, as well as humanity, condemn not one soul for not believing as you do. ''Judge not," you have been told by your great- est teacher, is the law, and the one who condemns, by thought or word, one soul to endless misery has placed upon his own soul a blacker mark than any unbeliever or scoffer could possibly do. When men and women use their minds to condemn the good inherent in every mortal born through God's holy law they have placed upon their own souls the judgment that cannot fail to burn with almost the same torturing horrors as the pitiless work of the devil they are serving when they create a hell in their own mind by condemning 20 forever a soul linked forever to the soul of the universe. This has placed in the lowest depths of despair many men and women who are to-day honored and even sanctified by mortals for having done what they supposed great work for their God. But could I lift the veil of the lower realms you would see and hear the victims of their own ignorance cry to heaven to drown the cries of their victims and open their eyes to the light which their mis judgment had placed beneath their feet. You may believe I am drawing a fancy picture, my dear friends, but for the love of yourself, if not your fel- low man, judge not what you do not believe, nor condemn not what is not absolutely wicked in the light of human kindness. Then remember that if man is capable of kind- ness and love the Creator of the universe is incapable of less love and kindness, and you are only a weak and ignor- ant vessel, touched with a spark for greater light, and when you wilfully destroy a human body you have done the utmost in your power. The destruction of the soul is be- yond your power, but you can so blacken your own soul by the desire to send others to your imaginary hell, that when you throw aside your mortal clothing you will see your soul marked with your evil intentions and hellish work, and ages may find you reaping, as you have sown, the seeds of hate and malice, and your victims reaping in your errors all the joys of eternal love in the mansions far above. To the unfortunate men and women, whose circum- stances and environments gave them nothing but care and sorrow from the beginning to the end of life's journey, my encouragement will be given. Life after shaking off the mortal covering gives you the most blissful feelings of joy. Every pain and sorrow seems to have been a means to lift you higher in the realms of bliss, and you feel sure your earthly trials have brought you this crowning reward. Troubles which seem so hard to bear and which have tempted many to shake off the mortal clothing before na- 21 ture has finished her work, must be carried by the ones cursed by earthty environ meets unless they can overcome their evil lot by natural laws. Xo law of nature can be be broken without the offender being punished. To take life, whether your own or another, stamps you as a breaker of the law. Your victim may be placed high by your wicked work, for you have released him by adopting some natural destroying power. But when you take your own life to escape earth's hardships you have simply darkened your spiritual formation and deprived it of light to ascend, and suffer far more after passing out in that manner than you did while in the body, for you have added murder to your other ills. Bear patiently the trials of life and seek release from errors of judgment and ignorance by looking beyond the narrow confines of your environments and the journey will end in a joyous light of freedom, which will carry you so far above earth\s sorrows that you will look back over the paths your weary mortal feet had traveled and thank every hardship you had endured for the experiences which had broadened your understanding, without which you would not be able to accept the light so freely offered your spirit when it receives its freedom by nature's work. To explain all the mysteries of life is not my privilege. I have sought and found much light, and know that the mortal whose earthly life was perfectly free from care and unclouded with any evil surroundings does not enter into the fullness of the spiritual light as readily as the less for- tunate, whose life had been lived in toil and poverty. The secret of this may be hidden within the lesser inheritor of heavenly riches. There seems to be elements in the hu- man heart and mind which can only be aroused by hard work and sorrow, either for material help or in efforts to help the less fortunate bear their burdens. The sorrows of earthly life are not burdens when the light of heavenly love penetrates the true intelligence. 22 Every sorrow endured by the poor and afflicted opens the seeds of wisdom, which should ripen for all. These seeds are the evolving lights, and when not given any attention they sink the possessor down in the path of selfishness and even heartlessness. The heart that never felt the loss of some loved one is incapable of human sympathy unless it is naturally alive to humanity's needs. Draw to the surface the seeds of love and kindness and let them ripen in the light of truth, the wisdom that finds strength in sorrow and pain, and you will bless every pain, sorrow and care you endured on earth, for you will come here prepared to reap as you have sown, and the harvest will be so abundant that you will long to shout aloud the glorious truth that out of evil some good must come to the reap- er who sows no tares of ill-will. The heavenly mansions are lighted with love. These mansions are waiting for all the children of earth. Di- vine love has created every mortal, and this divinity links together every soul born through God's love. Bright and beautiful appear some links. Base and vice eaten many others, and the better soul sometimes seems to be completely hidden beneath the rust and frith, which, like the outer covering of the body, hides the light within. But though centuries may elapse before the purity is uncovered the spark from the infinite source must be brought forth and purified with God's love, the only purifying light that never dies. The heavenly mansions are bright with love that tarnishes not. The law of kindness and love rules every heart. The lower spirits obey the 1 higher and all are brought into the fold of rightousness through the law that governs and never offends, even the basest. There are attracting forces which direct the footsteps of all. The law of attraction draws together kindred souls and the repelling force disobeys the elements and scat ters the inharmonious, and through these two powerful 23 forces the harmonious life here is never disturbed. The attracting power feels its true guide and heaven is heaven indeed, for all are in their natural abiding place and never offend or are offended by ones in opposition to their own lights of understanding. The law of attraction binds together the elements which link the highest and lowest, like rays of light tinged with heavenly love, and this love never ceases to bear fruit until all are purged with true spiritual knowledge, which leads all to the highest realm of bliss, never again to enter the earth plane except as thought force charged with heavenly light. For the benefit of the writer, whose kindness and patience enable me to sent out this message, I have this to say in regard to God Almighty, whose personality she questions, as her own knowledge depends not on what she has heard and read: The light of truth is entering your soul from higher intelligences than mine and you need not fear to accept whatever they bring to you. The Almighty Love of God is true, but as you do not comprehend even the soul that animates your own mind how much more difficult must it be to comprehend the soul of the Universal Mind. I know that we are all destined for higher evolve- nient through the mighty love of God Almighty, but to try to define this mighty light of love I would have to be wiser than the wisest who ever lived on earth and holier than the holiest mind capable of communicating with and through the mortal mind, which is not evolved light, but evolving light for a perfect mind and heart. This message, which I have inspired through the kind friend whose courage and patience may meet with condemnation by the ignorant and bigoted, is the work of my own mind and all who doubt the source will learn in lime that I am not dead nor sleeping, but have entered into the true life, which is not formed of destructible, but of imperishable material. Here I will welcome with true' brotherly love even the earthly foe who may deny me a heavenly rest, for heavenly love is now my strength and welcoming power is* my light. ROBERT G. IXGERSOLL. 21578 m 0; MRRARY OF CONGRESS 022 175MSJ