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 €GEH?IGHT DEPOSIT 
 
LUCELIA A. LOVEJOY 
 
Beyond The River 
 
 BY 
 
 LUCELIA A. LOVEJOY 
 
 Thru the hand of 
 
 J. D. 
 
 Edited and Published by 
 
 LEWIS PETERSON 
 410 S. 4th St. EFFINGHAM, ILL. 
 

 Copyrighted 191 8 by 
 LEWIS PETERSON 
 
 All rights reserved 
 
 m -8 1318 
 ©CL;l 5 2611 
 
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 tolya lyaa* fattljfttUg laboreb to itH Baraaa 
 
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CONTENTS 
 
 LETTER PAGE 
 
 Frontispiece. 
 
 Introduction 7 
 
 Foreword 25 
 
 1 From Flesh to Spirit 27 
 
 2 Knowledge Is Power 32 
 
 3 The Work of Philip Carlisle 40 
 
 4 Among the Ruins 48 
 
 5 Watchman, What of the Night ? 57 
 
 6 Among the Poets , 66 
 
 7 What Is Home Without a Mother? 73 
 
 8 When You Come Home 77 
 
 9 Heaven a Home for the Homeless. . , 85 
 
 10 Friends Even in Death 93 
 
 11 At the Temple of Art 102 
 
 12 Our Purpose 110 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 The Picture 
 
 HE following momentous events had their incep- 
 tion in the year 1882, A. D. Feeling impelled so 
 to do, I wrote an article which, to my surprise, 
 was published in the Progressive Thinker, a beacon of light 
 published at Chicago, 111. A short time after its publica- 
 tion, I received a letter from a person residing at Carthage, 
 Mo., who manifested much interest in the subject, and 
 requested further light on some points. This I promptly 
 furnished, expecting that to terminate our correspondence. 
 He was at that time practicing the healing art by the "lay- 
 ing on of hands" and manipulation. That letter was 
 signed, Dr. Anderson. 
 
 To my surprise, he again wrote, expressing his thanks, 
 then imparting this revelation : 
 
 "By the way, there is a beautiful spirit, a lady, comes 
 with your letter, who manifests much interest in you. If 
 there is a good medium in your city, find out who she is. 
 If a guide, let us know, and we will take her likeness as a 
 gift from her and us. 
 
 (Signed) Wella P. Anderson, Spirit Artist." 
 
 Seeing that name, I knew that I was face to face with 
 real phenomena. Sometime previous to this, by merest 
 chance, I picked up a book, which proved to be a short 
 biography of some of the older mediums and their work. 
 
8 BEYOND THE RIVER 
 
 On the page at which I opened that book was the copy of 
 a beautifully executed pencil drawing of a spirit being by 
 this noted spirit artist. It stated that he did that kind of 
 work while under full trance, in a perfectly dark closet, 
 the materials used being Faber's lead pencils, Nos. I and 
 2, etc. Such is the process by which the picture sent me 
 was taken and from which the frontispiece is a copy. 
 While the proportions of this picture are faulty, the 
 artistic execution cannot be denied. It is hardly neces- 
 sary to state that the entranced human organism is an 
 unwieldly instrument for so delicate a work. 
 
 At that time I thought it strange, since he manifested 
 no doubt of being able to take her likeness, that he should 
 ask me to find out who she was ; but we must remember 
 that he was only the entranced instrument in this wonder- 
 ful work. I informed him that there was no sensitive in 
 our city capable of giving the desired information, and 
 requested him to see what he could get. The answer came 
 promptly, in part as follows : 
 
 "Yes, she again comes with your letter, bright and 
 beautiful as a dream. It is well that you do not see her, 
 or you might feel like the boy who cried : 'I want to go 
 home !' When conditions are right, we will take her like- 
 ness, as a gift from her and us. We take it in order to 
 cause two souls to rejoice, and two hearts to beat as one. 
 There will be no charges, and no feelings of obligation in 
 any way." (She explains in Letter 4 as to how he was 
 enabled to see her.) 
 
 In describing her, he said : 
 
 "She appears to be about twenty- four years of age (see 
 confirmation of that in Letter 5), and when you see her 
 likeness, you must compare it as with the block of marble 
 alongside of the finished statue. It is impossible to portray 
 angelic loveliness on paper." 
 
INTRODUCTION 9 
 
 THE POEM (in part) 
 
 You ask for the name of your beautiful guide 
 
 Who comes arrayed in white, 
 With glittering sparks all over her dress 
 
 That twinkle like stars in the night. 
 
 You ask why she is with you, 
 
 And you wonder if she is going to stay; 
 
 Well, it takes two halves of an apple 
 To make a whole apple, they say. 
 
 Substance and shadow are always together 
 
 All over this world so wide; 
 You never see one without the other, 
 
 And so with you and your guide. 
 
 I lost no time in letting him know that such a present 
 would be regarded as a gift of gifts. 
 
 Many obstacles came in his way, so that about seven 
 years elapsed, but the picture finally came as a New 
 Year's gift for the year 1900. 
 
 I freely confess that, should I have had to bargain for 
 it and pay the regular price, which at that time was high 
 for that class of work, I should in all probability have 
 regarded it in the light of a commercial transaction only. 
 But coming from a total stranger, except for our corre- 
 spondence, unexpected and unasked for, absolutely free 
 of cost to me, for even the express charges were prepaid, 
 leaves it wholly free from any taint of commercialism, and 
 as there can be no effect without an adequate cause, I shall 
 accept it fully as bona fide. As for the upturned eyes, the 
 inference is so plain that I will let them speak for them- 
 selves. 
 
 The Letters 
 
 About six years after the receipt of the picture, I visited 
 a medium thru whose vocal organs the author of the let- 
 
10 BEYOND THE RIVER 
 
 ters, but previous to that time, had spoken to me, and 
 also the place where I discovered the book which gave 
 me the first knowledge of Wella P. Anderson and his 
 wonderful mediumship. When seeing me, she exclaimed : 
 
 "Oh, Mr. Peterson ! Why didn't you come five minutes 
 sooner ? A young man has just left that you must be sure 
 to meet. But never mind, he will call again, and then I 
 will arrange a meeting." 
 
 In a short time we heard a knock on the door, and when 
 it was opened, there he stood. On seeing him she again 
 exclaimed : 
 
 "Why, what brings you back so soon ?". 
 
 Looking at us earnestly, he replied : 
 
 "I don't know ; I had to come." 
 
 On his first visit he passed four doors, and felt impelled 
 to stop at this one, which was the fifth from the entrance 
 to the second floor. 
 
 For reasons to me at that time unknown, I felt strangely 
 drawn to that young man. I wanted to fold my arms 
 around and protect him from himself and the whole world 
 — an impossible task, for he was in the all-knowing age. 
 
 The unseen forces, however, did their part, so that we 
 spent a portion of the following winter in California, and 
 thirty days of that time in the Peterselia summer cottage 
 at Long Beach. 
 
 When we were comfortably settled there, he asked for 
 pencil and paper, but surprised me by wanting paper of a 
 certain color, which could only be had in manuscript 
 tablet size. When I placed these materials on the table, 
 he sat down and began to write very rapidly, tore off the 
 sheets, and flung them on the floor. Thinking that he was 
 writing letters to friends, and fearing that the sheets were 
 getting mixed, I picked up and numbered them. The writ- 
 ing continued till I had fifteen or more closely written 
 
INTRODUCTION II 
 
 pages. Watching him closely, I noticed that his face was 
 flushed, causing a tired look to appear, and then first did 
 it dawn upon me as to what was going on. Deeming it 
 time to interfere, I asked if he hadn't better rest a while. 
 Hearing my voice, he pulled himself together, rubbed his 
 eyes, and said : 
 
 "Yes, perhaps I had." 
 
 I then remarked that he was a very long letter writer, 
 and asked what the story was about. To my surprise, he 
 said : 
 
 "I don't know !" 
 
 "You don't know ! Could you have written all this and 
 not know what it is?" 
 
 "I don't know what has been written. Read the stuff, 
 and let us find out what it is." 
 
 After the reading, I put it in a drawer, got him out into 
 the sun, and down to the seashore. The next day, and for 
 several days in succession, the same performance was 
 repeated, until we had a manuscript of about one hundred 
 and thirty-five pages, using about one hour of time each 
 day. But to my certain knowledge, not a single time did 
 he ever examine what had previously been written in 
 order to refresh his memory. The closing of the work 
 developed another surprise, and a supremely gratifying 
 revelation, for the living soul, who succeeded in giving 
 her likeness to me, subscribed her name to the manuscript 
 as its author. And thus did she also succeed in getting the 
 letters into my hands. (It must be remembered that he 
 had never seen the picture, and knew nothing of the inci- 
 dents connected therewith.) 
 
 The medium took very little interest in the writing. The 
 subject did not interest him at all. When I spoke of life 
 beyond the grave, he seemed to regard me as several de- 
 grees out of balance, as he remarked ; 
 
12 BEYOND THE RIVER 
 
 "There is no life beyond the grave. When we die, that's 
 the end." 
 
 As the subject matter was the exact opposite to his 
 belief, we are forced to conclude that his mentality did not 
 dictate the writing of the letters. And thus, thru the hand 
 of a comparative stranger, were events in my life made 
 clear, which, up to that time, had been a puzzle to me. 
 
 Now, having told by what means the picture and the 
 letters came into my hands, I could terminate the part 
 assigned me in this work. But, I do not feel at liberty so 
 to do, yet. The world is spiritually hungry; hungry for 
 the answer to Job's question: "If we die, shall we live 
 again?" I must, therefore, not be a shirker, but bravely 
 do my part. 
 
 Wella P. Anderson was one of earth's real noblemen. 
 His unselfish soul and willing hand made it possible for 
 this picture to be produced, and the same remarks will 
 apply regarding the letters. The spirit artist was called to 
 higher duties over ten years ago. The automatic hand is 
 still imprisoned in flesh, thru which we hope to reap other 
 golden truths for man's enlightenment. 
 
 Thru this automatic hand, Wella P. Anderson succeeded 
 in wafting across the mystic barrier one message for me. 
 Yea, even from that bourne they have so persistently told 
 us that "no traveler ever returns." But let us see. The 
 following incidents will, I think, at least furnish food for 
 thought. 
 
 About three months after my brother's demise, I went 
 to Eureka, Calif., to meet our medium, in hopes of get- 
 ting something of value to the world. But having to 
 scramble for a living, which is most destructive to the 
 delicately sensitive state necessary to respond to the higher 
 vibrations, my trip came near being a failure. The unex- 
 pected happened, however, for Lucelia wrote a welcome 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 J 3 
 
 letter from my brother. I cannot refrain from saying 
 that I considered him an exceptional specimen of 
 humanity ; now proven true by his ability to reach the high 
 plane where she and our parents dwell. So she wrote: 
 
 "Having known your parents a long time, and being 
 aware of the new arrival, I concluded to visit them, and 
 also to learn how he liked the new world in which he found 
 himself. He knew me by the picture he had seen. When 
 he saw me, his face lit up with joy, and greeting me most 
 cordially, he said: 'You come very near being like the 
 picture, or the picture like you.' 
 
 "I asked how he had, so far, found things to his liking, 
 and he said that he was agreeably surprised, but not as 
 much so as he would have been had he not read our de- 
 scription of his parents'' home. Said he : 
 
 " 'It is wonderful how familiar your letters made this 
 valley to me. ... I could be well pleased, but they, 
 that is, my friends, have me located in different places. 
 Some fear that I found not my Saviour in the days of my 
 youth, and consequently, well, they judge not. Then there 
 are others who think it is not practical to live, after we are 
 dead. So, I will follow in the footsteps of my father, 
 and with the exception of a payment of the natural love 
 debt due to Mary and my brother, I will try to make 
 myself comfortable here, as per request.' [When alone 
 with him a few days before the change, I made exactly 
 such a request.] 
 
 " 'To be sure, I will not remain idle very long before we 
 will begin to prepare for the building of our new home. 
 
 " 'My friends were all about me, and I realized their 
 emotions. Then I suddenly became aware of the presence 
 of others, whom I heretofore had not seen. I tried to 
 convey this information, but know not if they understood. 
 
i 4 
 
 BEYOND THE RIVER 
 
 I wish I did ! [He tried so hard for a few moments, but 
 the power to articulate was gone.] Then, as I was trying 
 to tell the glad news, I suddenly realized myself to be 
 separate from my body, hovering above it, between father 
 and sister, whom I immediately recognized. The woe of 
 the situation dawned upon me. Our earthly ignorance 
 appalled me. 
 
 " 'They looked upon the clay, referring to it as he. They 
 should have known better ! Too bad that we do not see 
 the spirit, and understand the subject properly. I could 
 not bear the sight of earthly suffering, neither could I 
 speak, nor make myself known. So, I just gave up, and 
 away we went. What followed, I do not recollect, nor 
 until I found myself at our parents' home did I seem to 
 give the matter further attention. Here I seemed to be no 
 stranger. They knew all about me/ 
 
 "But memory soon revived. The pull of earth took 
 hold and there followed a space of sympathetic misery 
 that made this land of joy a place of sorrow. 
 
 " 'You might call their attention to the eight-foot boards 
 and the pickets we split, and by that they will know that 
 this message is all right, as the medium knows nothing 
 of the especial things and incidents mentioned/ [He 
 had never met my brother. The boards and pickets 
 were split in an isolated place, by us two, absolutely 
 unknown to the medium and forgotten by me at the time 
 of writing.] 
 
 "He requested me to write thru the hand of our in- 
 strument his unqualified appreciation of the truth mani- 
 fested in our work, and to speak a word of comfort to the 
 one he left. To say that he would be with her to com- 
 fort and to strengthen. He wants her to look forward 
 with hope to the final reunion. 
 
 "Like all the rest who come from the earth, he came 
 
INTRODUCTION 15 
 
 both naked and bare ; he can here have whatever his heart 
 desires, according to his ability to use. 
 
 " 'The earth is God's and the fulness thereof/ says the 
 Bible. We say : The earth is ours, and the fulness there- 
 of.' It is for humanity to use, that all may be supplied. 
 We hold the spiritual earth for our spiritual needs. All 
 can take and use freely, to the extent of their ability and 
 desire." 
 
 In justice to us, I wish to say that we did know better. 
 But such are trying times, and even tho we feel sure of 
 knowing that the separation is only for a span, we are as 
 yet an embodiment of ancient mental training which con- 
 fines the mind to matter. Instead of being schooled to the 
 joy of their liberation, we grieve at the loss of the physical 
 companionship. To alleviate that sorrow, and to show 
 the brighter side, is the aim and hope of this work. 
 
 Later on, Lucelia favored me with a description of the 
 new home brother spoke of preparing, as follows : 
 
 "He stood at the entrance of a rustic gate, that bore all 
 the marks of recent construction, his arms resting on a 
 post, as I came up. This rustic fence divides a handsome 
 garden from the main road. A pebble strewn path leads 
 to a vine-embowered cottage, just beyond the garden. At 
 the rear of this there is a strip of woodland, and still 
 farther back, the stream that flows past his parents' home 
 babbles musically. The stream makes a bend here, and the 
 road cuts across the country for a short distance, leaving 
 a peninsula-like arm of land. This arm is fenced off, 
 chiefly for artistic effect, and here he has built his home. 
 Here he dwells with his daughter, and his sister has also 
 taken up her abode with him, altho that will not be for 
 any great length of time, as she is about to make a change 
 of location in accordance with the requirements of her 
 education." 
 
l6 BEYOND THE RIVER 
 
 The following incidents also transpired during the un- 
 folding of this drama in my life, and can hardly be 
 omitted : 
 
 Being at Los Angeles, and having the medium with me, 
 I felt a desire to again visit the Petersilea home. Taking 
 the Glendale car, we got there about eleven o'clock a. m. 
 and met with a hearty reception. After an hour of pleas- 
 ant conversation, we arose to take leave, but no. We were 
 pressed to remain for lunch. In a reasonable time there- 
 after we attempted to depart, but again no. Said she : 
 
 "I wish you to spend the night here. You will find the 
 room upstairs just as you left it." 
 
 When time to retire, I took the lamp (there were no 
 electric lights at that time) and started for the stairs, the 
 medium going on ahead. On entering the door, which 
 was open, he gave a jump and a kick, exclaiming, "Get out 
 of here." Surprised, I asked for an explanation, and he 
 said: 
 
 "There was a man standing in the center of the room, 
 and I want him to get out." 
 
 Asking whether it did so, he answered : 
 
 "Yes, he went into that room and out of the window." 
 (The dressing room was lighted by a window over the 
 front porch.) 
 
 When comfortably settled in bed, raps began to drum 
 on the headboard. Being tired and sleepy, he ordered the 
 performance none too politely to cease. The request was 
 respected for a few moments, when again it started. From 
 the bed to the wall, then to the ceiling, and from there to a 
 lot of books in the further corner, it moved. The books, 
 being done up in brown wrappers, which had become dry, 
 the rustling was very lively. 
 
 After a time he passed into a semi-conscious state, and 
 then with a determined effort began to use his vocal organs. 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 17 
 
 Soon, words were laboriously stuttered out in the Norse 
 language, clear enough for me to understand. I answered 
 mentally, in the same language, which was readily under- 
 stood. (The medium does not speak that language.) 
 
 EXPLANATION 
 
 I was brought to Chicago at the age of eleven years. 
 Our parents being of the Lutheran faith, mother took me 
 and brother with her to the Lutheran Church, presided 
 over by the Rev. Pastor Peterson. Confirmation being a 
 part of the formula of that church, Pastor Peterson put 
 us thru that ceremony. The influence that tried so persist- 
 ently to identify itself that night proved to my entire sat- 
 isfaction to be that selfsame Pastor Peterson. 
 
 As these personal experiences seem to be interwoven 
 with this work, I must explain how I came to visit the 
 Petersilea home the first time. 
 
 I do not remember how long it was after his demise 
 that I received a letter from our medium (we were living 
 in different States at the time) containing a message from 
 Prof. Petersilea imploring me to hasten to his wife, as she 
 was contemplating suicide. Instinctively feeling the force 
 of the message, I lost no time in starting, as it takes sev- 
 eral days to reach Los Angeles from Seattle, leaving my 
 friends to believe that I went to seek bodily health only. 
 
 While speeding south, I cudgeled my brain as to how I 
 should introduce myself. I had an instinctive feeling that 
 the use of the simple truth would have rendered my trip 
 abortive. She would have regarded the statement that I 
 came at his request simply as a subterfuge to gain admis- 
 sion, and shut the door in my face. Having arranged that 
 in my mind, the next task was to find their home. 
 
 When presenting myself, I discovered her to be of a 
 very cautious and reserved nature, so that she opened the 
 
18 BEYOND THE RIVER 
 
 door just enough to permit us to converse. But in a short 
 time she flung the door wide open, and I received a hearty 
 welcome. As I sat at dusk of the evening, listening, while 
 she was bemoaning her sad fate, she said : 
 
 "I have had twenty-five years of happiness. But it is 
 all over now. He is forever gone. I shall never see him 
 again, and I want to drown myself to end it all." 
 
 A startling admission of the genuineness of the message, 
 even to me, who had put full faith therein. Like all the 
 best mediums for mental phenomena that it has been my 
 pleasure to meet, when not supported by higher forces she 
 sank down into the depths of materialism, and was unable 
 to see any further than the grave. I did not dare to leave 
 her, neither could I console her in the slightest degree, and 
 my task proved to be anything but a bed of roses. 
 
 When we became better acquainted, I did attempt to 
 hold out hope that the separation would not be for very 
 long, when her eyes took on a new light, and I saw that 
 she was being overshadowed. Soon she faced me, ex- 
 tended her hand, and in a masculine voice said : 
 
 "Good evening, Brother Peterson. We extend you a 
 welcome to our home. We have been a very interested 
 listener to the consolation you have been trying to impart 
 to our dear one. But we must caution you to use care. 
 She is much the best instrument for us the way she is, 
 mentally." 
 
 That is a great truth of which I was well aware. It is 
 the best proof we have that their own mentality does not 
 enter into their work. I am at liberty to reveal these 
 events now. She has rejoined her mate, on a plane of 
 expression where it is safe to speak the truth, and where 
 the untruthful cannot enter. I have received more than 
 one message from both, in which he expresses his grati- 
 tude for the service I rendered, and she her surprise at 
 
INTRODUCTION 19 
 
 how well I understood the nature of their work and its 
 value to a misguided world. 
 
 After leaving their home we exchanged letters, and later 
 on she wrote : 
 
 "I have been rather despondent of late, and must tell you 
 that Carlisle came yesterday and said that there was a 
 letter in the mail from you ; also describing its contents. 
 Then said I to myself, 'Hallucination at work again !' But 
 sure enough, the letter was there, and his statement proved 
 true in every way." 
 
 And so, in a way, we are indeed "our brother's keeper." 
 When humanity becomes humane, it will realize that the 
 sweetest satisfaction can only be gained thru unselfish 
 service. 
 
 In my dealings with sensitives, I never seek material 
 advice. The pure in spirit, being liberated from and 
 wafted out beyond the confines of crude matter, and hav- 
 ing as many problems before them to solve as we, they 
 have neither the time nor the ability to aid us in our indi- 
 vidual material affairs. But they do have time, and it is 
 a part of their duty, to strive to enlighten us spiritually, so 
 that we may awaken to the wonderful possibilities of the 
 powers of the soul. That was the object St. Paul had in 
 mind when he wrote : 
 
 "There are divers gifts, but the same spirits" (soul pow- 
 ers), and "with regard to spiritual things, brethren, I 
 would not have ye ignorant." 
 
 Indeed not. It is high time that humanity took up the 
 study of self, for the physical frame is not us. Such 
 knowledge would help to banish the monster, Superstition, 
 and fit us to establish heavenly conditions on earth. But 
 unless we are clairvoyant or clearaudient, or otherwise 
 sensitive to their approach, those ethereal beings can only 
 reach us by mental impressions, and the mind, well, we 
 
20 BEYOND THE RIVER 
 
 call it our mind, and let it go at that. If wc would pay 
 careful heed to the voice within, soul promptings, it would 
 become the guide of guides. 
 
 The mental phase, phenomena of mind, is treated of in 
 the letters. And there is another phase called physical 
 phenomena, also spoken of. 
 
 It is self-evident that the coarser substances in nature 
 form the lower stratas ; a natural condition which follows 
 along the line of attenuation in the evolutionary progress 
 of matter, from which man is not exempt 
 
 We are admonished to "try the spirits, to see whether 
 they be of good or evil intent," and we earnestly wish that 
 the world understood the real import and depth of mean- 
 ing in that admonition. We frequently hear people say : 
 "I don't know why I did it !" A true knowledge of real 
 life will reveal the seeming mystery. 
 
 We have to keep an army of guards with gun in pocket 
 and club in hand to protect us from the crude and vicious 
 yet visible to us. How much more the necessity, then, to 
 be on our guard against the same dangerous class who can 
 roam among us at will, unseen and even unsuspected by 
 the large majority. 
 
 The gifted seer, Andrew Jackson Davis, calls them 
 "the meddlesome Diaka." They being of the lower strata, 
 and in close harmony with sordid humanity, find us all too 
 easy of access. That is the class who delight to surround 
 a sensitive (and there are hosts of human beings who now 
 vibrate high enough to be subject to their vicious in- 
 fluence), lower her or him down to their own mental 
 level, and give all sorts of material advice, which cannot 
 possibly be otherwise than worthless. 
 
 Our experience is that it is dangerous business to open 
 the psychic door and fraternize with such company. Were 
 our medium to commercialize his sacred gifts, it would 
 
INTRODUCTION 21 
 
 sink him down to the plane among that class, and he would 
 be lost as an instrument of use for those on the refined 
 plane of spirit, called heaven. Such is the caution our 
 coworkers give to us. 
 
 It is not so much a question of spirit return, as it is so 
 to live that, when we cast off the mortal covering, we may 
 be sufficiently refined, both physically and mentally, as to 
 be able and willing to leave the selfishness of the earth 
 plane and go where harmony and peace reign. But be- 
 fore we can blend therewith we must have developed har- 
 mony — heaven within. And what then? The higher we 
 reach in the scale of refinement, to that degree are we dis- 
 connected from the physical, which naturally increases the 
 difficulty of reaching the loved ones on earth. 
 
 The dense ignorance with regard to real life, life of the 
 spirit, finds its root largely in the crude ancient and selfish 
 teaching that thru man-made formula and arrogated 
 claims of the power of absolution the red-handed mur- 
 derer can be absolved and permitted to drop from the scaf- 
 fold of the lowest degradation into a heaven of harmony, 
 love, and peace. This is a sadly misleading teaching. 
 It is not what we believe, but what we do, from day to day 
 that traces the indelible record on the pages of the book 
 of life. The crude is not converted into the refined thru 
 belief. "Whatsover ye sow, that shall ye also reap," is the 
 inexorable law. The act of forgiving has no power to 
 right any wrong. The indulgent parent may forgive the 
 child a thousand times for tearing its clothes, but the 
 tear still remains as evidence of the mischief done. 
 
 There is no short cut from the crude to the refined in 
 nature's domain. Only by persistent effort and slow 
 growth can we develop the better side in or out of the 
 mortal form. But the inhuman system fostered among 
 us chokes out the better tendencies, and develops only the 
 
22 BEYOND THE RIVER 
 
 sordid greed that makes us inhuman, and lowers us even 
 below the level of the brutes in the forest. It is leading 
 to its ruin, and forcing the terrible house-cleaning now 
 going on. Will there be enough intelligence left of a 
 sufficiently high order to establish a humane system on 
 its ruins? That is the only hope of the race. 
 
 We are, as yet, struggling in the commercial age. The 
 one to follow, should be the humanitarian age. The speed 
 of its coming rests in the hands of man. The world is as 
 good as we make it. It never can rise above that source. 
 
 A study of the social and the spiritual side of man go 
 hand in hand, with the same aim in view — happiness — 
 Heaven. Instead of being satisfied to await the enjoyment 
 of a heavenly state until we have passed thru the gateway 
 called death, we would set to work and develop humanity 
 and intelligence enough to establish such conditions on the 
 earth plane ; then would we also be ripe to harmonize with 
 and help to maintain such conditions on higher planes of 
 unfoldment. 
 
 After having passed thru the "second birth," we enter 
 into a higher rate of vibration, so that, whatever our crav- 
 ings may be, in the same ratio they become more firmly 
 fixed. Therefore, all useless habits should be persistently 
 outgrown on the earth plane. And we assure all who will 
 heed this warning, that they will have eternal cause for 
 thankfulness. 
 
 In personal communications during the progress of this 
 work, they have mentioned some of the later arrivals from 
 the earth. Andrew Jackson Davis, John R. Francis, Prof. 
 Carlisle Peterselia, and, later on, his beloved mate, Amelia, 
 which I take pleasure in making known. 
 
 As the letters were written about twelve years ago, the 
 author, deeming them amateurish in parts, it being their 
 first effort, she has revised and now considers the work as 
 
INTRODUCTION 23 
 
 good as it is possible to describe the spirit state in the 
 crude language of earth, and thru the unwieldy human 
 organism. Earth comparisons must be used, so that we 
 can understand. 
 
 Our very low rate of vibration, as yet, makes the chasm 
 between the two states so wide that the task of communi- 
 cating is more than herculean. To raise the medium up 
 to the desired vibratory rate would have the same effect 
 as the contact with a high voltage electric battery, and 
 equally dangerous to the physical organism. This explains 
 the cause for the squirming of a sensitive when in contact 
 with this higher vibratory force. 
 
 We are at all times wideawake as to any evidence that 
 might point to the truthfulness of the psychic writings 
 given us. Tied to no isms, nor slaves to any creed, we 
 remain unbiased, and retain an open mind. New truths 
 are daily knocking for admission to the intellect of man. 
 
 When Miss Love joy subscribed her name to the manu- 
 script, the first thought was to trace any living relative. 
 She finally helped us by writing that Elijah P. Love- 
 joy was a distant relative, and that he met death at the 
 hands of a mob at Alton, 111. 
 
 Being on a visit to my aunt, at Effingham, 111., a dear 
 soul now in her eighty-fifth year, yet seemingly spry as a 
 kitten, and loved by all who know her, in her home I 
 picked up a St. Louis Post-Dispatch, dated May 4, 191 8. 
 I freely confess that my heart gave a few extra thumps as 
 I discovered therein the following confirmation of the re- 
 liability of her work: 
 
 LOVEJOY PRESS TO BE MOUNTED 
 Alton Mill Will Honor Defender of Free Speech 
 
 The Sparks Milling Co., of Alton, yesterday closed a contract 
 for building a granite pedestal on which to mount the part of 
 
24 
 
 BEYOND THE RIVER 
 
 the printing press of Elijah P. Lovejoy, found several years ago 
 in a corner of the mill building. 
 
 A bronze tablet will be suspended from the frame of the press, 
 telling that Lovejoy was assassinated in Alton, 111., by a mob who 
 were opposed to Lovejoy's idea of free speech and the free press. 
 
 This added evidence is, indeed, most gratifying and 
 came to hand barely in time to be inserted here. 
 
 Tho having many other incidents of interest to relate, 
 I must now bring my part of this work to a close. We 
 wish it understood that we do not care to find fault with 
 what has been. The crude can only express itself in the 
 crude. But the human intellect is rapidly expanding, and 
 notice must be taken of the fact that Justice can be jug- 
 gled with only about so long before outraged nature will 
 surely retaliate. The letters we offer as received, simply 
 having acted as the amanuensis for the Author. It is 
 beyond our power, however, to convey the many proofs 
 we have had that they, tho revealing but the shell of the 
 grander truths within, are real communications from 
 Beyond the River. Lewis Peterson. 
 
AUTHOR'S NOTE 
 
 HE earth's vari-colored disk hung low in our 
 western atmosphere, when Solon made his way 
 from the library to the observatory tower of the 
 academy. To those who knew him it was evident that 
 the great teacher was perplexed to an unusual degree. 
 His head was bent forward as if heavy with the weight of 
 thought, his brow furrowed with stern resolution ; in short, 
 his entire being bespoke courage, faith and purpose. 
 
 The time according to earth's calendar was 1914, just 
 seven years since we had succeeded in delivering a few 
 fragmentary messages to our friends by way of a child's 
 hand in a cottage at Long Beach, Calif. This hand was 
 very pliable at the time, and we had great hopes of bring- 
 ing out some valuable work, then, but things interfered. 
 First of all the boy was penniless, and due to a previous 
 bereavement, broken in health and depressed in mind ; 
 our work aggravated that condition so much that in order 
 not utterly to destroy him we had to relinquish our con- 
 trol. 
 
 This done, he was carried hither and thither by a stream 
 of events. Connection now became next to impossible. 
 Earth's powers held him in thrall. He could not be 
 reached except at rare intervals when we could place him 
 under some mental strain. Then we could get through a 
 few fragmentary lines, but nothing sufficiently lengthy to 
 be of value as evidence of our existence. Thus seven 
 years had passed and now it was the Spring of 1914, 
 shortly before the world caught fire, and yet nothing more 
 than a series of short essays of more or less general mat- 
 ter had been given whose value was limited, so far, to the 
 
BEYOND THE RIVER 
 
 part of giving conviction to one who already had an 
 abundant assurance. More had to be accomplished, but 
 how? 
 
 Already we could see the conflict of nations ripening 
 into flame. Already we saw the tidal wave of woe that 
 was about to envelope the earth and sweep millions into 
 the arms of Death, and other millions away from their 
 spiritual moorings and cast then as flotsam and jetsam 
 upon the waters of doubt and despair. The world was 
 about to be plunged into a baptism of fire and blood from 
 which it was to arise with a new life, made glorious thru 
 the opening of a new era. But in the meantime, the 
 nursing, the comforting, the consoling, the keeping bright 
 the heavens of hope thru the long gloomy night of despair 
 was to be ours. We knew it, but Solon felt it. 
 
 From the window of the observatory he could see the 
 great disk of earth. Here he could visualize all that was 
 about to happen. He knew that it was useless to com- 
 municate and tell the world what was coming; for man- 
 kind does not act upon advice, but upon necessity, and 
 the world woe was a necessity. It came to shear away the 
 old, to make room for the new. Heaven could not stop it. 
 Hell could not add to it. It was as inevitable in the course 
 of things as the pains of parturition, hence it was useless 
 to attempt to say a word. 
 
 It was the nursing of the unripe fruit, it was the con- 
 soling of the bereaved, it was the desire to keep hope 
 alive that brought Solon to the tower. It was his desire 
 to send, not a club to break the lance, but to breathe a 
 word of hope to those who suffer losses, to keep aglow the 
 fire of faith, without which life becomes hopeless, and 
 even victory becomes defeat. 
 
 This war now raging, is not a war against men, but a 
 war of principle. It is the struggle of the "we" against 
 
AUTHOR'S NOTE 
 
 the "I," the battle of humanity against selfishness. That 
 is why we have waited until now when the waves of an- 
 ger have touched the very shores of our bright land, to 
 send out these essays written more then ten years ago 
 to the parents, sisters, brothers and sweethearts of our 
 men who have given themselves as a sacrifice that the 
 world may be made safer, and liberty more certain for 
 the masses of mankind throughout all the coming years. 
 
 LUCELIA A. LOVEJOY. 
 
FOREWORD 
 
 To those who are seeking for light, these letters are 
 inscribed with the hope that they may encourage those 
 who are heavy laden with the burden of fear, and who 
 wend their way through a veritable desert of life, making 
 their days dark, where they should be bright, their hearts 
 despondent, where they should be glad. 
 
 If we succeed or fail, our success or failure is only 
 measured by the comfort, and not the wealth they bring. 
 
 With love to all and for all ; with charity for the erring 
 and hope for the lost ; with kindness pursuing the duties 
 of life, I wish that you may hand to the world such a 
 message as will touch and cheer the hearts in sadness 
 bound, and pour sweet balm into the gaping wounds of 
 sorrow deeply cleft. 
 
 Bring healing to each heart in pain, 
 Repeat the words again — again; 
 There is no Death ; f orevermore 
 We live and love on yonder shore. 
 
 The Spirit Author. 
 
 25 
 
FROM FLESH TO SPIRIT 
 Letter 1 
 
 WAS not aware of my transition from a material 
 to a spirit plane of existence. It seemed as tho I 
 had been suddenly transplanted from one reality 
 into another — from a world of storm and stress to a world 
 of peace and calm ; a state in which there was sunlight and 
 starlight, vital and real. 
 
 The naturalness of my surroundings surprised me, for 
 I had been assiduously and sincerely fed on what to me 
 was an indigestible mass of priest-made mental food, con- 
 sisting not of spiritual truths spiritually discerned, but of 
 human desires borne of the unholy marriage of Ignorance 
 and Greed. I had been taught that heaven was attained 
 only by the few, and that the many were lost. 
 
 I had been told of streets of gold, gates of pearl, and 
 jasper walls. I had been taught to believe in winged 
 angels, and all the other man-made concepts of power 
 and glory. You may therefore imagine my surprise, when 
 I found myself in what might be called a workaday world. 
 It must not be imagined that when I say workaday world, 
 that it is in any way sordid. Labor born of love is never 
 sordid, and nature tuned to vibrate in harmony with the 
 soul is to that soul so attuned, heaven. Heaven is not 
 cloudland nor starland. Heaven is any land where love 
 and joy — twin sisters of God — rule the day and guard the 
 night. 
 
 I was born in the Southern wilderness, a daughter of 
 pioneering parents. Our home was rustic and rude. The 
 culture and refinement of civilization were to me un- 
 
 27 
 
28 BEYOND THE RIVER 
 
 known. The masters of intellect for me did not exist. 
 Books, music and statuary, speech and song, were but 
 slightly cultivated. I was a child of the wilderness, lov- 
 ing the brooks, the pine woods, and the meadows. I 
 rejoiced in the song of birds and the call of beasts, per- 
 haps to you a strange mixture of wondrous hopes and 
 childish fears, born of familiarity with danger, and of 
 fears instilled by traditional superstition. From all this I 
 was suddenly transplanted into a land of rolling hills and 
 cloudless skies ; from a life of fear and fancy to a calm 
 and Sabbath-like serenity. It was bewildering, to say the 
 least. 
 
 But I dare say that you are more interested in the land 
 I had found, the world of spirit, than in the land I had 
 left, the world of matter. At least, you will feel that way 
 while reading these letters. I can fancy you asking the 
 question: "What kind of a world did she find upon 
 awakening from the shock ?" 
 
 This story is told with some difficulty, not for lack of 
 facts, but for want of words at once familiar to you and 
 me. You know only what your senses report, and they 
 report only the things of matter. Therefore, in order to 
 make ourselves understood, it is necessary to use material 
 terms. It is therefore unavoidable that these terms can 
 but inadequately describe the things among which we live 
 and move. My description can be but a photographic 
 copy of a wondrous masterpiece. 
 
 Upon regaining consciousness, I found that I had not 
 been carried to the sky by angels' hands. As I had lived, 
 so I died, and, carefree, I floated into the zone of my 
 magnetic attraction, and as a carrier pigeon sometimes 
 alights on a neighbor's roof before going to its own cot, so 
 I alighted here in this meadow, as we will have to call it. 
 
 The pines, my joy and shelter on earth, were far in the 
 
FROM FLESH TO SPIRIT 29 
 
 distance, purple against the glistening mountain crags. 
 This term, however, does not adequately describe the un- 
 dulations of the spiritual planes. These mountains are 
 not white with snow and ice. They are a crystalline, 
 ethereal substance of wondrous beauty, and their perma- 
 nence far surpasses that of the mountains of earth, 
 because they are formed of the ether, which is the matrix 
 of all matter. 
 
 As I have said, at their foot is a pine forest, vast in 
 magnitude and forming a purple belt of inspiring beauty 
 between the mountains and the meadows. These meadows 
 are more like a large plane, dotted here and there with 
 modest dwellings, generally surrounded by ornamental 
 groves. I might here remark that the houses are not 
 modest because of poverty ; the reason is to be found in 
 the fact that the inhabitants have to care for them, which 
 makes a large dwelling a burden instead of a blessing. 
 
 Soul types that cannot be happy without servants nat- 
 urally gravitate to the companionship of the servile, and 
 as there is, of need, a contrast between the server and the 
 served, friction always exists, and to the degree that 
 inharmony is found, to that degree happiness must be 
 absent. Therefore we find in this sphere no display of 
 great wealth, but only modest expressions of human needs 
 — such needs as, unassisted, we can easily supply. Such 
 are the reasons why the meadows are not dotted with large 
 and costly dwellings. 
 
 In this sphere there is neither idleness nor stress. It is 
 a land to which the stronger individualized types of man 
 and woman gravitate. Those who, while standing on their 
 own feet, do not permit anyone to ride, altho they may 
 suffer the weak to lean on them. 
 
 When I awoke from my transition sleep, I found my- 
 self in this meadow, under the sheltering foliage of a 
 
3o BEYOND THE RIVER 
 
 cypress-like tree. At my feet sparkled a crystalline brook, 
 and beyond it were trees of many different species, but 
 not of a sufficient density to obstruct a view of the open 
 country beyond, with its sheep-dotted pastures and vine- 
 embowered houses. 
 
 On the other hand, and beyond a magnificent stretch of 
 verdure, I could see the buildings and towers of a large 
 city. This city, by the way, contains no smokestacks, as 
 fire, being a destructive element, has no power here. 
 
 The processes of production are carried on along differ- 
 ent lines, and in many cases for very different purposes, 
 than with you. 
 
 Such is a faint outline of the new land in which I found 
 myself. Unaware of my transition, I sat, at first, ponder- 
 ing over the beauty of my surroundings. Then began to 
 wonder where I might be, and what had transported me 
 here. While thus I was soliloquizing, two men ap- 
 proached. One was a fatherly looking old gentleman, 
 who addressed me kindly and inquired where I might be 
 going. Upon being told that I considered myself lost, he 
 pointed to the great orb, the earth, that hung like a monster 
 moon on the spiritual horizon. He said that my home 
 had been there, and that my folks would ere long fol- 
 low me. 
 
 This frightened me greatly. I had no real concept of 
 the beauty of nature. To my mind, I was a sinner worthy 
 of the worst. So, to realize that the die was cast was 
 nothing less than a supreme shock. 
 
 I fancied the city that stretched like a low cloud before 
 me must be the New Jerusalem, and that these men were 
 God's messengers, come to take me to my reckoning, and I 
 was not uncertain as to the fate awaiting me, as measured 
 by the religious standards of my mother. 
 
 I was so frightened that I paid no attention to the smile 
 
FROM FLESH TO SPIRIT 31 
 
 on the old man's lips. I could only cry out : "Oh, don't 
 take me to that city ; I cannot see God, now !" Said he : 
 "I shall not take thee to the city, nor can I take thee to thy 
 God. Thy God is within thyself, and there thou must find 
 him. But come, let us go to my home, and there thou 
 wilt learn who I am and why I came for thee." 
 
 This old gentleman proved to be my grandfather, whom 
 I had never seen on the earth plane, and his house was 
 cared for by a maiden aunt, Esther. Here I was kindly 
 cared for until my strength permitted me to take an active 
 part in the affairs of this new life. When we arrived at 
 his home, I found my sister, Rosie, who had preceded me 
 by a few hours, and I learned that we were to be followed 
 by other members of the family soon. 
 
 This took place in the year 1834, A. D., of your time, 
 and yet it was but lately that my father completed the 
 journey this far. He had strong earthly inclinations, 
 which overbalanced his love even for us for a time. Grand- 
 father told me as much the next day after my arrival. 
 This was hard for me to believe, but time has proven that 
 he had to play with the chaff of life until he became hun- 
 gry for the grain. He is now with us, drawn hither by our 
 continuous mental efforts, and by him becoming tired of 
 the things that bind the soul. That, in his case, was not 
 drunkenness, nor violence, but just mental heaviness. His 
 soul could love only the concrete — the things of material 
 sense, which held him to the material realm. 
 
 In this sphe r e we have our griefs and sorrows, thistles 
 and thorns of pain. If it were not so, how could we ap- 
 preciate the pleasures and delights? These and many 
 other things I learned during the first few days of my 
 existence in the Summerland. 
 
1 
 
 KNOWLEDGE IS POWER 
 
 Letter 2 
 
 HE new world in which I found myself was in- 
 deed a heaven of rest, but in no sense a place of 
 idleness. Here in spirit land, as in earthly spring- 
 time, everything is young and vital, and breathes un- 
 wearied activity. There is no drudgery, but only tasks of 
 love. Love of doing is the motive power of our existence. 
 
 I, while upon the earth, had loved the wild; not for 
 the wildness, but for the abundance of living forms. I 
 had longed to learn the name of every bird and to master 
 its song. I stained many a page of the old family Bible 
 with the flowers I pressed. I wanted to know every beast 
 and bird. This was my heart's desire. 
 
 I told grandfather of my hopes along these lines, and he 
 decided to take me to a large academy, where I could learn 
 all these things. He proposed that we go at once, but to 
 that I objected. I wanted to earn some money, so that I 
 could pay my way, as it was phrased, on earth. I smiled 
 at his suggestion, saying: "Why, grandpa, only the rich 
 can afford such an education." To which he replied: 
 
 "Child, you are not now on earth. There we buy these 
 things with silver and gold that is taken from the earth. 
 Here we pay with love, that cometh from the heart. In 
 our world matter has no power. Only the silver of sympa- 
 thy and the gold of kindness rule. Love is the legal tender 
 of the soul. Prepare then to go, for tomorrow we shall 
 be on our way." 
 
 Our journey from the midst of the valley to the foot- 
 hills was very interesting. Everything was fresh and 
 radiant. A strange feature was that physical labor seemed 
 
 32 
 
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER 33 
 
 to be nowhere in evidence. Toil seemed to be unknown. 
 Was this, then, a world of perpetual rest ? I asked grand- 
 father in regard to this, to me, so strange a phenomenon, 
 and he said that "physical labor ends with physical life, as 
 a general rule, but that the coarser spirits, mostly savages 
 of all races, could occasionally exert a limited amount of 
 physical force, but that we could not affect physical mat- 
 ter. Having passed beyond the bounds of the physical, 
 we have awakened to the spiritual. Here we labor with 
 the power of the will." 
 
 We now arrived at a point in our journey where the 
 scene changed. The homelike valley with its homes, gar- 
 dens, fields and domestic animals, was left, while around 
 and about us were the foothills of the mountain range 
 toward which we had been journeying. Heavy forest, 
 thick with underbrush, was all about us. Myriad little 
 streams made music far and near. Higher up on the hills 
 we could see a kind of stunted growth, while still higher 
 up the mountainside the crags became quite naked and 
 barren. 
 
 We traveled along a narrow path that led into an almost 
 woodless tract. In the midst of this was a large building 
 of Corinthian construction and partially surrounded by 
 less pretentious but nevertheless beautiful houses. The 
 immediate environs were beautified by large lawns studded 
 with numerous flower beds. A short distance to the right 
 of the main entrance was a large pond, the surface of 
 which was as placid as a summer night — a mirror reflect- 
 ing the ethereal blue of the cloudless sky above. 
 
 What impressed me even more than the buildings was 
 the vast throng of young people that seemed to move 
 everywhere ; in the gardens, on the lawns, by the side of 
 the pond, in the woods, and on the distant hills they moved, 
 as the deer in the forest, carefree and happy. To me it 
 
34 BEYOND THE RIVER 
 
 was a most pleasing scene. But when I was told that 
 these young people were students, and that I was soon to 
 become one of them, an unaccountable fear seized me. I 
 became really frightened, for bashfulness, at that time, 
 was my chief characteristic. 
 
 We entered a rather somber looking hall, furnished 
 with a few plain seats. Here grandpa asked me to wait 
 while he would go and see the professor. In a few 
 moments that seemed as eternities to me, he returned and 
 said that the important personage was ready to see me. 
 The emotions that these words awakened are difficult to 
 describe. Religious awe — well, that might express it in 
 part. His words of welcome, however, banished all fear, 
 and gave me a mystic sense of ease for which I was pro- 
 foundly grateful. After a few irrelevant remarks, he 
 slowly turned the trend of conversation upon the business 
 in hand. He did this so graciously that I was not even 
 aware that I had given him the information he desired. 
 I was expecting to be confronted with questions far be- 
 yond my ken. 
 
 I said that I loved the natural world, and would like to 
 learn all its laws and mysteries. To this he replied : 
 
 "Philosophy ! Child, you are seventy-five years ahead 
 of your time. I, Solon, have been here many, many years, 
 teaching and guiding, but you are the first soul who, at 
 your age, ever manifested any such desire. Well, we will 
 help you. You shall learn all that we can teach, and still 
 more. There is no limit to knowledge. Before you are 
 the scrolls of infinity. 
 
 "A person in spirit life acquires knowledge faster than 
 on earth. Memory is next to absolute. The task of 
 memorizing, so burdensome on earth, is with us but a very 
 slight effort." 
 
 Writing is not done by hand, but by projection. This 
 
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER 35 
 
 way of writing was a great surprise to me. I saw the pro- 
 fessor tear off a piece of paper, and almost instantly it 
 covered itself with writing ; at least that was the way it 
 appeared to me. But I was to learn later that this paper 
 was chemically prepared, so that it turned into a rich 
 amber color when the concentrated thought force of the 
 projector struck it, in much the same way as you would 
 burn tracings upon wood with the aid of the solar rays. 
 
 The professor arose and asked me to follow. He led 
 the way into a lecture room and assigned me to a seat. 
 He then said that, while there were no ironbound rules 
 governing the school, they would have to insist that I 
 master all the elementary branches first, and to master 
 them thoroughly, as a house without a firm foundation 
 cannot stand. I was only too glad to obey. 
 
 Grandpa and the professor now took their departure 
 and left me, I was going to say, alone. Surely I felt that 
 way. I was, however, left in charge of a lady, who pro- 
 ceeded to familiarize a class, of which I was one, with the 
 work in her department. She led us thru a conservatory 
 of flowers, from every land and clime of earth. Mosses 
 from the icebound coast of Greenland, as well as ferns 
 from the dreamy Amazon. She explained the reason for 
 their existence, and why it is that the blossoms are so 
 perfect in spirit life, and why fruit forms seedless here. 
 It was marvelous how many things she told us in the short 
 time that she was speaking. 
 
 An attendant passed us paper, and as she came to me 
 said: "Do you know how to project writing?" I replied 
 in the negative. She explained how it was done, after 
 which I took notes from the lectures given, which I will 
 now use in an effort to give the simple truth to the world. 
 
 Our world, like yours, uses Socratic methods of teach- 
 ing. Questions and answers are the system of education 
 
36 BEYOND THE RIVER 
 
 here. These questions and answers will, of course, in- 
 terest the reader most, as they deal with simple problems 
 of which the people of earth are yet so densely ignorant. 
 
 We were dealing with earth's flora and its spirit birth. 
 The question was asked: "When the lilac blossom falls 
 from the stem, on earth, does its spirit rise up to us?" Of 
 course there was a difference of opinion, which led to a 
 general discussion, the result of which, when under com- 
 petent guidance, was very beneficial to all concerned. 
 Then said the teacher : "We will now demonstrate." Call- 
 ing a boy who had lost an arm in mortal life, she asked : 
 
 "Samuel, when you lost your arm on earth, did its spirit 
 come up to us ?" 
 
 "No," he answered, "I could feel it with me all the 
 time." 
 
 "Even so," she said, "it is with the lilac, the lily, and 
 the rose. So long as their roots live in the earth, the spirit 
 of the plant remains there ; but when the root and plant 
 die on earth, then their life begins here. 
 
 "Here, among plants, as well as among active life, love 
 is the acme of all bliss ; for it brings not after it the pain 
 of birth, as it does upon earth. The plant gravitates here, 
 and its noblest expression is to blossom, as man's noblest 
 expression is to love, with a deep, far-reaching and all- 
 embracing devotion." 
 
 These things were demonstrated by many tests, but it 
 would require too much space to tell in detail even a few 
 of the many things we learned in the preparatory depart- 
 ments of this great school ; for the school curriculum is 
 different in many respects from those we find upon earth. 
 We begin where you leave off, and consign all to the power 
 you call death. After the mortal is dropped, the spirit 
 comes to us, and we study it and the relation we bear to it. 
 
 The vegetable world presented to my mind a vast store 
 
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER 37 
 
 of wonder, especially when in the course of instruction we 
 learned that all kinds of vegetation does not come up to us, 
 any more than all mankind, and that even here immortal 
 principles, in many varieties of the vegetable kingdom, are 
 but slightly understood. These difficulties being, of 
 course, of an entirely metaphysical character, I consider it 
 useless to enter into a detailed discussion of them. There 
 are far more important subjects that lie closer to the 
 human heart, and which are of deeper value to those who, 
 as yet, inhabit the mortal plane. 
 
 As I have stated, we are above or beyond the physical 
 bounds of the material, and are not encumbered by com- 
 pact matter. Yet we realize form, weight, time, as it 
 relates to events, very much as you do. Our conception is 
 keener, the faculty of acquiring and rejecting becomes 
 stronger and more accurate. But all these things need 
 development, so as to be directed into proper channels. 
 This helps us onward and saves many disappointments. 
 That is why the schools are so powerful a factor in our 
 world. 
 
 This world or sphere of ours is purely intellectual ; that 
 is, to us come all who aspire high, whether they have 
 climbed on earth or not. Ambition must find its vent in 
 channels of truth. As soon as we can, we begin to climb, 
 and the schools, with their competent teachers, are a bless- 
 ing that can hardly be overestimated. 
 
 Every mortal cherishes memories, because there is so 
 much that apparently flees from us. And this cherished 
 little goddess is to her or him, everything. This, too, ir 
 one of the things which the school helps us to correct. 
 Strange, you may say, yet it is true. We teach to forget — 
 forget the world, forget the past — for the past can never 
 be eternity, and it would become too long to think about. 
 
 We rather cultivate expectancy. The prospect is every- 
 
38 BEYOND THE RIVER 
 
 thing. The retrospect avails us little. Do not misunder- 
 stand me that we are taught to be careless or loveless. 
 No, no ! We only learn to forget the nonimportant details 
 of our mortal, yes, and even of our spiritual, sorrows as 
 well, from the book of memory. 
 
 It is not profitable for mortals to speculate about spirit 
 worlds, so long as they have but a trivial knowledge of 
 terrestrial things. It will therefore suffice for the present 
 to say that I graduated out of the common branches 
 of Natural Science and was well along in the higher 
 philosophy by the time that true spirit phenomena was 
 recognized by a few mortals on earth. 
 
 Solon's theory of the possibility of reaching the carnate 
 world was proven beyond a doubt. The Fox sisters, at 
 Hydeville, N. Y., were the first to bring the physical world 
 in touch with the spiritual. And as superstition has always 
 been the world's curse, this simple and direct evidence, 
 given thru innocent children, was distorted into the weird 
 phantasmagoria of orthodox theology ; a stain from which 
 it has not freed itself to this day. 
 
 The first writing was projected thru the mediumship of 
 a young girl, who, if yet on the earth plane, would now be 
 an elderly lady, but who is no longer encumbered with 
 that existence. I was given the honor of making the first 
 experiment, under the direction of our great professor, 
 as he in person would be too strong to overshadow her 
 delicate organism. We then set to work and educated her, 
 so that her brain might be developed to the highest state 
 of usefulness. Of course, we only instilled courage, and 
 she gained a fair material education, which was a blessing 
 to us, for without a good development of the brain no 
 lofty thought can be expressed. 
 
 By this time the English-speaking part on earth became 
 more and more awake to the truth of our existence, and 
 
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER 39 
 
 many great spirits (by this we mean men and women of 
 sincerity and intellect) succeeded in impressing those of 
 earth to reveal the truth, as best they could, with the in- 
 struments at hand. Our accomplishment was not long a 
 secret, and as we carried on a somewhat broken corre- 
 spondence with our friends on earth, the powers of 
 ignorance became aware of it, and began to impress their 
 undeveloped thoughts and conceits upon the minds of 
 men, and representing themselves to be men of genius. 
 
 By the time my course of study was finished, I had 
 developed a love for poetry and art, for my years of study 
 had imprinted nature, in all its grandeur, into my very 
 soul, and the time had arrived that the knowledge I had 
 gained should be brought into use. I therefore went to 
 my beloved teacher shortly after graduating, and told him 
 that I would like to put my knowledge into practice, and 
 he said : 
 
 "You are strong now, therefore you should take your 
 place among those who combat error here and those who 
 work for the emancipation of souls on earth, for in pro- 
 portion that we improve conditions there we improve our 
 conditions here. Therefore, labor in love and patience. 
 There has just been a savage war on earth, as you well 
 know, so that there are many wounds to heal, both here 
 and there. I have taught you how to work, labor then in 
 usefulness. Inspire rather the poet, than the soldier ; the 
 lover, rather than the curate. Look fo. those who possess 
 the greatest amount of knowledge, for they will under- 
 stand that Knowledge is Power." 
 
THE WORK OF PHILIP CARLISLE 
 
 Letter 3 
 
 "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than 
 are dreamed of in our philosophy." 
 
 UR world, how shall I describe it ? It is but earth 
 sublimated, etherealized, so to speak. It is a real 
 world, not inhabited by mortals, for the same 
 reason that confines the fish to the sea. They live in a 
 fish world. Man lives a man's life in a mortal world, and 
 a spirit lives a spirit's life in the spirit world. 
 
 The deep sea fish die when brought to shallow water. 
 
 The northman cannot long survive a torrid clime, and 
 the heavy spirit cannot abide in a plane of refinement. 
 
 Behold the natural law in the spiritual world. 
 
 These and many kindred things I learned during my 
 school days. When they were over, I returned to my 
 home in the valley. After years of arduous occupation a 
 person, mortal or immortal, craves rest and, may I say it, 
 relaxation and quiet. For a time, at least, I wanted to 
 forget earth and its troubles, school and its care, and re- 
 member only mother and those I love ; for in the genial 
 magnetic warmth of unselfish devotion, the soul recuper- 
 ates and is filled with the purest inspiration. This and 
 more I found at mother's home. 
 
 It was a simple cottage, rustically finished, and sur- 
 rounded with lawns and bushes that betrayed no lack of 
 care, and located upon a peninsula-like point of land that 
 was formed by a sharp curve in the stream. (This is the 
 same stream that flows past grandfather's house, some 
 distance below, and which we have described in a former 
 letter.) To the rear is the forest, while in front, beyond 
 
 40 
 
THE WORK OF PHILIP CARLISLE 
 
 41 
 
 the stream, are the meadows. The location is ideally suited 
 to our temperament. It is the embodiment of simplicity 
 externally, while within it is an oasis of comfort and pleas- 
 ure. In all, there was perfect harmony. Without, the 
 harmony of nature ; within, the harmony of souls. 
 
 Within, it was plainly yet tastefully decorated. Several 
 pictures hung on the parlor walls, together with large 
 portraits of grandma and grandpa. Around the room 
 were arranged a few neatly upholstered chairs, a sofa, and 
 in the corner stood a small cabinet. In the center of the 
 room was a heavy wooden table of antique style, and on it 
 was a large vase filled with flowers. Directly over the 
 table hung an old-fashioned lamp. Such was the parlor 
 of our home. (The reason there were so many old-fash- 
 ioned articles was that mother came from Quaker stock, a 
 sect who cling rigidly to the old, and believe that sim- 
 plicity of life is essential to their dream of salvation.) 
 This room faced the open country — that is, towards the 
 brook. To the right of it was sister's room, to the rear 
 of this was my room, then mother's. These three bed- 
 rooms comprised the entire left side of the house, while 
 the parlor and the dining room comprised the right side. 
 The kitchen and pantry were at the rear, and built onto 
 the main part of the house. 
 
 Such is the place I call home. I love it for its simplicity, 
 but most of all for the joy I find therein — a joy that 
 transcends all other pleasures. 
 
 Natural law is ofttimes cruel, or seemingly so, for it 
 takes husband away from wife, or the reverse, according 
 to earthly conception, or parts friends by death or dis- 
 tance ; but one thing it cannot part, and that is the bond of 
 love between a real mother and her child. When I ar- 
 rived at home, mother and sister greeted me at the door, 
 and for the rest of the day we were busy hearing each 
 
42 BEYOND THE RIVER 
 
 other's experiences and in forming plans for the future. 
 When the conversation lagged, Rosie took her mandolin 
 and, I can only say that she proved herself to be an artist. 
 
 In the days that followed we spent much time walking 
 in the surrounding woods. One day straying slowly along 
 a winding path we came to a hut that looked as if it had 
 been hastily erected. Rosie informed me that a man 
 stayed there occasionally who on earth had been called a 
 hermit, but that with us he was known as a prophet, 
 deeply interested in the growing agnosticism of mankind ; 
 for we know that agnosticism bends the mind to material 
 considerations only, and makes it difficult for the spirit 
 to unfold. This, however, does not mean that a good 
 thoughtful agnostic is not more spiritual than a blindly 
 believing church member who does not think. 
 
 We inspected the premises. Rich and rustic as they 
 were, there seemed to be, in the arrangement of every- 
 thing, a strange mingling of poetic ideals and scientific ac- 
 curacy, and the place interested me greatly. While thus 
 engaged in observing and delineating the man's character 
 from his work, the wizard of the forest suddenly appeared 
 before us. I had formed mental pictures of his person- 
 ality, but in these I found myself quite wrong. He ap- 
 proached, and upon recognizing my sister, who had met 
 him before, said, "Be welcome to my house," as she in- 
 troduced me. "Let us go in," said he, "and perhaps I can 
 tell something new about our mother world. I have heard 
 that you take great interest in such things." I urged him 
 to come with us to our home, a proposal warmly seconded 
 by Rosie. She admired the old gentleman very much. 
 
 "I might as well do that," said he. "It would be a pleas- 
 ure to see your mother. And then, I dare say, there will 
 be a little music." Looking at me, he asked : "Do you also 
 play ?" I confessed that I was not very proficient. "And 
 
THE WORK OF PHILIP CARLISLE 
 
 43 
 
 you a sister to Rosie," he chided, smiling. During the 
 remainder of the day we discussed many problems con- 
 nected with the work in which we were mutually inter- 
 ested. 
 
 He had a marvelous grasp on the mental working of the 
 incarnate world, in all its manifestations. He had just 
 returned from an extended stay on the mortal plane, and 
 mother asked how things were going there. 
 
 "There seems to be a general improvement," said he. 
 "Old errors are gradually being critically examined, and 
 much that was held sacred is being discarded. New things 
 are being brought to light. There is a general rush for- 
 ward. A sort of a spiritual anarchy, that defies all 
 guidance, has taken possession of the race. It is, I think, 
 the logical reaction that follows the breaking of the 
 religious chain that for ages past has held the soul in 
 bondage to error. Men have used common sense in all 
 matters save that of the soul. This they have always 
 considered beyond the reach of investigation, and gave 
 it up to blind faith, controlled by the interest of priest- 
 craft. 
 
 "The spiritual emotions have, until recently, been en- 
 tirely the prey of superstition. Then, when men began 
 to investigate, they began at the wrong end. Instead of 
 investigating the spirit within, they began to investigate 
 superstition without, which, of course, was easily proved 
 to be fallacious, and the material or conscious mind came 
 to the conclusion that mortal existence was all there is of 
 life. By this, the already malformed spiritual attributes 
 became for a while hopelessly confused, and for many 
 made life a meaningless existence. Under such a system 
 of free thought only men and women of genius strive to 
 make life ideal. The rest eat, drink, and are merry at 
 Others' expense, often." 
 
44 
 
 BEYOND THE RIVER 
 
 I then asked the speaker if he thought this state of 
 affairs could be overcome, and he answered: 
 
 "Most assuredly ; it is being overcome. More and more 
 spiritual knowledge is being projected from us to the 
 earth plane, and since this knowledge has been dis- 
 seminated thru sensitives or mediums, as you well know, 
 much of the darkness is being cleared up, and while but 
 a comparatively few as yet accept it in full, all are touched 
 by it. 
 
 "The hardest agnostics, and the narrowest worshipers 
 of superstition, feel the soothing influence that it sheds 
 into the soul of mankind, and it brings floods of water 
 upon the lurid flames of orthodox hell, until it is lost sight 
 of in its own dying smoke. 
 
 "We have several people upon earth thru whom we 
 project the truth thru the phase of mediumship called 
 mental. This phase will, I think, become the beacon light 
 of the toiling marines upon the sea of life. 
 
 "There is another kind of phenomena called physical, 
 which is always, or mostly so, brought about by the unde- 
 veloped part of the human race. Those who are anxious 
 to see something mysterious come together, and by so 
 doing they draw the excarnate, who, for want of better 
 employment, usurp the place of those beings who sin- 
 cerely try to help mankind, and masquerade most shame- 
 fully as poets, sages, or even gods. These spirits are 
 people who lived in earth life, with no higher incentive 
 than just to live. Thus unprincipled there, they are the 
 same on their arrival at the densely populated planes of 
 their kind, and gloat over the deception of the mortal, 
 whom they cause to look upon the phenomena with devo- 
 tion. Yes," he continued after a moment's reflection, 
 "they do these things, and their polluted atmosphere often 
 sinks the medium down to their own level, so that even 
 
THE WORK OF PHILIP CARLISLE 
 
 45 
 
 they begin to resort to trickery, and have been known 
 to bodily masquerade as the form of the departed. Such 
 are the conditions upon earth as I found them." 
 
 Mother drew a long sigh, and said : 
 
 "I see, it is the same old world still, full of deception. 
 Thank God I am out of it. Let them go on, I shall en- 
 deavor to forget it." 
 
 "And so shall I," said Rosie ; "I have no more to do 
 with it." 
 
 I, however, had more to do with it, and I knew it. I 
 meant to do all in my power to ease the load until the last 
 earth-cord is broken. 
 
 Rosie brought her mandolin and also the harp, and 
 together we played and sang, "If I were a voice, a per- 
 suasive voice, I would fly on the wings of air." The old 
 man's soul seemed lost in the music. In his deep grey eyes 
 shone the light of sympathetic love, such as includes all 
 things in its fond embrace. When the music ceased, he 
 raised his head and said : 
 
 "What a world of meaning in those notes and words ! 
 But why do you sing, 'If I were a voice, a persuasive 
 voice ?' My dear ladies, you are a voice, soothing, heal- 
 ing. You and I can soar on the wings of air. We can 
 enter the hearts of men ; we can bring comfort and solace 
 to mankind. We must do that, for it is true that only as 
 we labor towards the highest god that we can perceive can 
 we attain the highest reward. 
 
 "I have seen upon earth a man," said he, "who is a 
 power in himself. He breaks down and tears away the 
 ancient errors to which many people have held fast, thus 
 cutting the soul adrift. This brings peace to the intel- 
 lectual only. The ignorant and the sluggish, being thus 
 deprived of hope of reward for honest effort, or fear of 
 the future, start on a downward path. If the voice of 
 
46 BEYOND THE RIVER 
 
 you and me, then, can enter into the hearts of such, and 
 show them the truth of immortality, then shall our world 
 blossom as the morning-glory, and as the azure sky shall 
 our land be bright." 
 
 While we were meditating the problems of bettering 
 conditions upon earth, I heard a slight commotion, and 
 looking out of the window I saw grandfather and Solon, 
 the great teacher, approaching. In pleased surprise I ex- 
 claimed, "Well, well !" and hastened to the door to admit 
 them. Upon entering, my former teacher saluted us kind- 
 ly. Then turning, he saw our guest, who smiled and arose. 
 Solon seemed pleased to see him here, and they shook 
 hands cordially, as also did grandpa. As was his habit, 
 Solon at once proceeded with his business by asking Mr. 
 Carlisle if he had been successful in his latest experiment 
 upon the mortal plane. 
 
 "To a certain extent I have," he answered, "but as a 
 whole the work finds very slow acceptance." 
 
 "Don't talk about slow," said the professor. "Are there 
 not oceans of time in eternity ?" 
 
 "To be sure," replied the other, "but let us take it as if 
 it were an emergency. The earth has been in darkness so 
 long, and even now is far from being in the light." 
 
 "Well," said the professor, "it is with that in mind that 
 I make this visit." Then turning to me, he said : 
 
 "How would you like to do such missionary work ?" 
 
 I told him that my mind had not changed, and that my 
 hopes were as bright as ever along that line. 
 
 He then informed us who were interested, that we 
 might make regular visits to earth, and be on the lookout 
 for honest mediums or psychics, thru whom we could 
 communicate to the world a certain knowledge of immor- 
 tality. Further said he : 
 
 "I will gather around us a number of distinguished men 
 
THE WORK OF PHILIP CARLISLE 
 
 47 
 
 and women who will operate thru such psychic. We will 
 select from those who but lately came to us, as they can 
 state the facts plainer than those who have outgrown mor- 
 tal tastes and desires." 
 
 Mother now entered, and after the exchange of greet- 
 ings the great man complimented her upon our pleasant 
 home and its surroundings, after which the subject in 
 hand was continued. It was agreed that I return to the 
 academy with the professor and arrange matters there. 
 He had been informed that several noted men were about 
 to come up to us, and we desired to arrange for their re- 
 ception. Grandfather now took my hand, and in his char- 
 acteristic way said : 
 
 "Well, child, thou hast labored and prospered, and hast 
 been a blessing to thy mother. Now, then, mayest thou 
 prosper in thy work among our brethren. If I had thy 
 wisdom, verily, I would go and teach, even as thou. But 
 let me be content to w r ait and to learn." 
 
 Then kissing mother goodby, I was ready to go. Our 
 teacher in the meantime had taken leave of the prophet, 
 and had requested him to instruct grandfather, mother, 
 and sister, and explain to them the importance of our 
 work, which he agreed to do to the best of his ability. 
 
 While walking in the shade of the forest, Solon re- 
 marked : 
 
 "There is one thing about your home that appeals to me, 
 and that is its Godlike simplicity of structure and the 
 divine sincerity of those who dwell therein. If I can have 
 my way, earth shall know the story of your home in spirit 
 land." 
 
AMONG THE RUINS 
 
 Letter 4 
 
 "Sweet is the thought of victory, 
 Tho not on gory fields; 
 But rather in pure industry 
 Where toil its harvest yields." 
 
 N arriving at the academy, we found several of 
 those who had been earth's most prominent people 
 awaiting us. Among them were Thomas Paine, 
 Benjamin Franklin, Sir Isaac Newton, Bacon, and Vol- 
 taire. This is not his real name, but I use it because it is 
 best known on the earth. John Stuart Mill and Robert 
 Collier were also among the assembled guests. 
 
 You may think it strange that men of so vast a differ- 
 ence in religious opinion could harmonize here. But that 
 only illustrates the fact that it is not what we believe, 
 but what we do, that counts and raises us to a high level 
 of spiritual progress. 
 
 Religion is the intellectual womb of the race. In it all 
 sciences are conceived and nurtured, until they are born 
 into objective reality, and become a part of our conscious 
 and verified knowledge. Herein lies the difference be- 
 tween scienie and religion : 
 
 Science is what we know to be true, having demon- 
 strated its reality. Religion is what we conceive to be 
 true, but which is beyond the realm of verification. 
 
 All these souls labored earnestly for mankind. Their 
 brains were brilliant as stars on a frosty night. They had 
 the imagination of poets, the sincere souls of children. 
 
 48 
 
AMONG THE RUINS 49 
 
 That is why they were with us. One drop of sincerity is 
 better than an ocean of belief. I was introduced to those 
 I had not met, and to their ladies. You notice that I say 
 ladies, and not wives. The fact is that some of these 
 people had more than one wife or husband upon earth; 
 and some whose wife or husband vibrated on an entirely 
 different plane of intelligence, who, therefore, could not 
 reach them here. 
 
 Physical or temporal existence often brings forth but 
 physical or temporal wife or husband, and that is why it 
 is sheer folly for you to limit eternal harmony to your 
 temporal existence. 
 
 You might think that there were only men present, but 
 such is not the case. Here in this world we meet our 
 due equal sooner or later, and w T e even marry, as on 
 earth, for the sake of convenience, as this soul-union is 
 not likely to be brought about in the lower grades of spirit 
 existence. It is well known to us that some stay in spirit 
 life many years before their soul-mates, as we call them, 
 come up to them, which change, when consummated, is 
 the end of spirit existence ; for after that we develop into 
 angelhood, and gradually lose the memory of our earth 
 existence. 
 
 This, however, never comes about until both are intel- 
 lectually fitted for the change — that is, they must at least 
 have passed the fifth sphere or plane of progression. How- 
 ever, those who marry here and, not being soul-mates, 
 understand each other, when the right time comes, each 
 will join his or her other self, and the one who is left 
 does not feel cast off, but retains the good will of the 
 other, until he or she also meets their due equal. 
 
 Nature is not ideal. One is torn from the other by 
 the inexorable law of change. The one to progress up- 
 ward, and the other to remain, perhaps to associate with 
 
50 
 
 BEYOND THE RIVER 
 
 others, while the one who has progressed may meet the 
 true mate and thus become perfected. 
 
 Love can here be expressed for the right one only. 
 For the other, the association is mere companionship. 
 Nature itself rules in a way that all will understand when 
 they arrive here. 
 
 These men, as I have said, were awaiting our arrival. 
 When the meeting had been opened, Solon delivered an 
 address, telling us that it was now thirty years of earthly 
 time since men had come into conscious contact with the 
 spirit realm. Because we all know that long before Mod- 
 ern Spiritualism was known upon earth, we could im- 
 press, inspire, and partially control men. But it is only 
 from that time, that our existence has been widely demon- 
 strated and disputed. 
 
 While we build up for the elevation of mankind, igno- 
 rant influences have also entered the field, often actuated 
 by sympathy for someone in the body, in trying to give 
 material advice, and so destroying the beautiful temple of 
 light which we were erecting, by undermining the indi- 
 viduality of men, and furnishing some with an excuse 
 for crime by taking refuge in the theory of obsession, 
 and also breaking the spirit of self -development in others, 
 while waiting for knowledge to be poured into their 
 untutored brain. 
 
 "Spiritualism is falling," said Solon, "from the height 
 of the ideal to the mire of materialism. Alas, our fair 
 city is crumbling into ruin, and where once was heard 
 the angel's voice we now see and hear the fortune teller 
 alongside the worker for the forces of light, both trying 
 to tell what the future has in store for those who come 
 to them. Truth may be trodden down by its oppressors, 
 but from under its dominant feet it shall rise again and 
 stand erect. 
 
AMONG THE RUINS 51 
 
 "We are not the only society that labors for this end, 
 and we do not represent all nations. Kant, Bruno, and 
 Spinoza, intellectual stars of other races, are doing their 
 part to the mental advancement of the world. We call 
 upon them as fellow-workers, that they may give us their 
 advice, for we certainly need their counsel and their 
 wisdom. 
 
 We have now upon the earth plane two writing me- 
 diums who place before the people the truth in two forms, 
 one upon strictly scientific basis and the other in the 
 form of romance, and thru these the world has learned 
 much, of our existence. 1 
 
 "Thru one of these will be given, ere long, the story of 
 my other self [Upon hearing this the assembly ap- 
 plauded], and also the story of our life here, for, tho that 
 opens higher doors to me, I will still work for you all 
 and the mortal world. 2 
 
 "Far from earth-bound tho I be, my actions are 
 prompted by naught but love for the world. From it 
 came I to you, and from it came she to me [A beautiful 
 woman with long, flowing hair, now walked over to his 
 side, and again the audience broke into applause]. 3 Can 
 you blame me that I love old Mother Earth? Can you 
 help loving it ? Can you fail to weep with me over strug- 
 gling humanity that lies in the throes of ignorance, torn 
 asunder by the rough hands of credulity? 
 
 "Now, we will make it our business, with your per- 
 mission, to place before the world the truth, in clear, 
 
 1 This refers to the books of Petersilea, Hudson and Emma 
 Rood Tuttle.— L. P. 
 
 2 This was published as a serial in The Progressive Thinker 
 about twelve years ago, entitled "Solon and Alary." — L. P. 
 
 3 This lady was Mary Anne Carew, the wife of Franz Petersilea 
 and the mother of Prof. Carlisle Petersilea. — L. P. 
 
52 
 
 BEYOND THE RIVER 
 
 comprehensive form, thru the means we have in hand, 
 and it is our hope that all may cooperate with us in this 
 great undertaking. The instruments in hand cannot live 
 forever upon the mortal plane, so we must look for their 
 immediate successors, and to that end I would appoint 
 a committee, who will look for worthy instruments in 
 the interest of unpolluted truth." 
 
 After dwelling upon the various plans deemed advis- 
 able, the meeting was opened for a general discussion. It 
 would be needless, however, to give a detailed account of 
 the proceedings. It is enough to say that we came to the 
 conclusion to do all in our power for the advancement 
 of humanity, and I was numbered among those who 
 should endeavor to procure instruments for present and 
 future use, be they in whatsoever walk of life. The 
 meeting was then adjourned, and after having spoken a 
 parting word to my friends, I took my departure in order 
 to look over the work to be done, and to see what was 
 most sadly needed in the advancement of unpolluted truth. 
 
 Upon arriving on the earth plane, I first looked into 
 the quarters where spirit power was recognized, and 
 there, sad to say, chaos reigned supreme, and so far I 
 had only studied the condition of established spiritualism. 
 On viewing the situation, the words of the professor came 
 forcibly to mind, when he said: 
 
 "In trying to correct any evil, first locate the cause." 
 So here I stood, face to face with a state of affairs that 
 was indeed complicated and pitiful. "What is the cause 
 of this state of affairs?" I asked myself, and was not 
 long in discovering the answer. 
 
 The cause was, first of all, a lack of development. The 
 land swarmed with psychics of various degrees of unfold- 
 ment, most of whom had developed just enough to be 
 able to distinguish between a spiritual impression and a 
 
AMONG THE RUINS 
 
 53 
 
 common, ordinary mind-born thought. Having given a 
 few fairly correct tests, they set themselves up as teachers 
 of life and its unexplored mysteries. Teaching all sorts 
 of preconceived theories, no two of which would harmon- 
 ize, and none of which met the facts, indeed I stood 
 among the chaos of a former glory. Could these scattered 
 stones be restored to anything like an ordinary edifice, and 
 how ? 
 
 To properly develop all the so-called mediums and 
 banish frauds was impossible ; therefore we had to resort 
 to the next best thing, and that was to give as full a vent 
 to the truth as we possibly could thru a few honest, well- 
 developed psychics who were in the field at that time, and 
 further, to be on the lookout for any new light that might 
 spring up. After this had been arranged for, the next 
 thing was to get the partially developed but honest me- 
 diums at work, and thru them get the chain of workers 
 of our society together. This was about the year 1885, 
 A. D., of your time. 
 
 At that time I found that I could operate best thru those 
 who did not purport to be mediums, or those who knew 
 of their gifts but made no public display of them. But 
 none of those could reach the person (L. P.) in whose 
 hands I wanted to intrust the uniting of the links that 
 should bring our workers upon earth together, and also 
 that he might do a legitimate share in keeping the light 
 trimmed and burning to the very end of the old workers' 
 career. 1 
 
 Two things were uppermost in my mind. One was to 
 let the romantic and spiritual-historic work go on with 
 the instruments we were using, and the other was to bring 
 upon the field of action a new light, who should fill her 
 
 1 That was the second object in sending me to the Petersilea 
 home. — L. P. 
 
54 
 
 BEYOND THE RIVER 
 
 place, and who would manifest other phases of legitimate 
 mediumship. But as it was, I had not even succeeded in 
 making myself known to the person (L. P.) who I knew 
 had to cooperate with me upon the incarnate plane. 
 
 I finally solved the problem. By continuous impression 
 I at length got him to write an article which was pub- 
 lished in the Progressive Thinker, and this being widely 
 read by seekers of truth, I brought it to the notice of a 
 man who had considerable seeing power as well as artistic 
 ability. They entered into a correspondence, and seeing 
 that, I knew my work would be a success. I then im- 
 pressed my likeness upon the artist's brain, so that when 
 he came in contact with the magnetism conveyed in the 
 letters from the other person (L. P.) he could see me 
 clairvoyantly, and thus was I enabled to present him with 
 the picture now in his possession. Having thus succeeded 
 in the purpose of my visit, I returned home, satisfied that 
 a step in the right direction had been taken to the uplift- 
 ing of an apparently fallen cause. 
 
 So far, I had only connected myself with the condi- 
 tions of spiritualism, and found it sorely shattered and 
 without center. I would soon return, however, and in- 
 vestigate the spiritual conditions of my race in general. 
 My stay at home was brief, indeed, for I found there sev- 
 eral friends of the academy, and with them I went to the 
 school of learning, where a meeting was to be held and a 
 report of our work made. This being done, I again re- 
 turned to view the spiritual ruins of the world. 
 
 Once more I found myself upon the earth plane. I 
 noted carefully the conditions everywhere. Spiritual loose- 
 ness reigned. The preacher painted lurid pictures of fiery 
 damnation, while many of his hearers looked at each other 
 and smiled. Others were pleading in different directions, 
 and while they succeeded in many cases in arousing and 
 
AMONG THE RUINS 55 
 
 developing some kind of emotional feelings, in the best 
 classes of society, it was looked upon more as a social fad 
 than as a form of power. Men were losing all faith in 
 any future existence, or held ideas in accordance with 
 their own feelings upon the subject. Even among these 
 classes all was chaos, idle and meaningless show. 
 
 The only sign of harmony was found among agnostics, 
 materialists, atheists, and free thinkers generally. They 
 only waited to be confronted with genuine manifestations 
 of spirit power to arrive at an understanding of the real 
 divine truth, that life is eternal. It was gratifying that 
 amongst the ruins and fall of religion this spirit was slowly 
 growing, and I made note of it as only being necessary to 
 present the truth plainly and the world would come to a 
 broader day, as light was already breaking, even into the 
 strongest temples of darkness. 
 
 Rome, old, stale, and rotting in her own unprogressive 
 rut, was working hard to keep her followers enslaved. 
 But she is losing; her ancient structures are crumbling 
 more and more. 
 
 Protestantism also was getting to be more liberal. In 
 short, their God was becoming more of a gentleman. And 
 here, strange to say, we could see from among the 
 tumbling ruins some of the more progressive getting 
 nearer to the truth. Taking the fallen stones, they builded 
 such forms as Universalism and Unitarianism, while those 
 who were still asleep, or as yet fast bound, also took stones 
 and constructed small, petty, fanatical sects. Superstition 
 was falling, Reason was raising her defying head, and 
 from the flash of her searching eyes the monster Ignorance 
 shrank like a hound before his master's lash. 
 
 Such was the condition among the systems that had 
 preyed upon the pious feelings of the human heart. Yes, 
 among the spiritual ruins the soul of men hungered for 
 
56 BEYOND THE RIVER 
 
 food intellectual ; food that should raise them to the truth- 
 ful Understanding of life and its apparent mysteries. 
 
 Science could but partially satisfy them, as it embraces 
 but two-thirds of the field. It taught them all about the 
 organic and inorganic kingdoms, but this spiritual king- 
 dom it recognized not. As for the Church, she recognized 
 that kingdom but knew nothing about it. Thus we found 
 upon the world, then as now, ruin, spiritual anarchy 
 among many, total indifference among some, abject fear 
 among the rest. 
 
 After having made a complete investigation of the situa- 
 tion as pertaining to the churches, I visited one of her 
 great adversaries, and tried to impress him with the truth, 
 but tho he became milder in his denunciation of the ques- 
 tion of immortality, he retained his place in the vanguard 
 of intellectual liberty as long as he lived upon the earth 
 plane. 
 
 Having finished this part of my work, I returned from 
 Among the Ruins. 
 
WATCHMAN, WHAT OF THE NIGHT? 
 
 Letter 5 
 
 "Here the common sense of all 
 
 Shall hold a fretful realm in awe, 
 And the kindly earth shall slumber, 
 Lapt in Universal Law." 
 
 TANDING among the ruins of crumbling creeds 
 and forms, in the midst of the world wrapt in the 
 darkness of ignorance, we behold the rosy-hued 
 dawn of freedom breaking upon the horizon of human 
 intellect. Everywhere is commotion; everywhere unrest 
 and excitement. Surely the athlete Reason challenges to 
 mortal combat the monster Superstition. Men awaken 
 everywhere, shake off the shackles, and become free. 
 Altars and thrones tremble and fall. The voice of king 
 and priest is drowned by the clamor of the masses. Their 
 influence shrinks like shadows before the rising sun. 
 
 "Far up the crystal mountain of human thought we 
 behold the vanguard of the pioneer of intellectual liberty. 
 Satan and Jehovah vanish before it like a wreath of morn- 
 ing mist. Kingdoms of tyranny fall ; republics of freedom 
 arise. Men have come to the state where they realize that 
 they have been deluded by the blackness of ignorance, 
 night. But when the light broke, by its first faint ray they 
 recognized their oppressors to be but weak fellow mortals. 
 They are beginning to learn that they fill a place in crea- 
 tion ; that homage is due to none ; that personal liberty, 
 physical and mental, is the divine right of everyone who 
 draws mortal breath. Such is the condition upon earth. 
 Such is the awakening at the dawn of the intellectual 
 morning. 
 
 57 
 
58 BEYOND THE RIVER 
 
 "Still, not all have seen its radiance. No ! Only a com- 
 paratively few have arisen and are journeying to meet the 
 light. Others, awaking and finding the light but weak, 
 have turned over and again slumber, only to find them- 
 selves far in the rear of human progress. While pitiful 
 to say, there are large masses of people whom it has not 
 yet reached. 
 
 "They lie in the thick-walled temples of superstition. 
 They hear the commotion without, and think it a dream. 
 Therefore we must still let the crumbling go on. The fall 
 must be completed. The most lazy sleepers in the still 
 standing edifices of superstition and faith must be exposed 
 to the storms of thought and action ; must be shaken by 
 the winds of human progress. Yes, they must be made to 
 realize that the earth is already rosy with the dawn of 
 intellectual freedom. 
 
 "Nature is unfolding the brain ; making it susceptible to 
 higher and more liberal thought ; putting into the soul of 
 man a large interrogation point, the image of which he 
 now sees upon everything. No longer can a robed hypo- 
 crite stand between him and his soul. No longer can his 
 ideals be made for him. No, they cannot ! The man who 
 has seen the light has had with that the scales removed 
 from his eyes, and has seen around him the ruins of 
 despotism. He has looked away into the azure depths of 
 the sky and beheld their boundless freedom — boundless 
 purity. 
 
 "No vengeful being peered down at him from the depths 
 of the silver-lined clouds. In the light he saw the infinite. 
 It was great — far greater than he. He could not harm it ; 
 therefore could not be responsible to it. His responsi- 
 bility, then, must be to his fellow mortals. He learned to 
 love all, and the chains crumbled from his soul. 
 
 "In the light of the intellectual morning he saw that in 
 
WATCHMAN, WHAT OF THE NIGHT 
 
 59 
 
 the heavens of thought there was room for every wing; 
 that each could fly to his own level. Therewith he became 
 liberal. The light illuminated the hills of earth and re- 
 vealed their wonders. Truth had written its story upon 
 the rocks in characters that testified to their own veracity. 
 They told of former creations — of other men and beasts 
 that had roamed the earth. The light filled the heavens, 
 and among the stars he read the story of nature's 
 grandeur, and began to form conceptions of the Universe. 
 Gradually earth became smaller as his mind enlarged. He 
 realized that he was part of all. Fear left him. Love 
 took its place. No longer was man lord alone. No, sir ! 
 His wife became 'a lady. She too saw the light, and 
 realized that her husband was not her master, but her due 
 equal, and that she had a voice in the affairs of the world ; 
 and this right she is slowly but surely winning. 
 
 "So the world improves as the light advances. The ice- 
 bergs of formality and creed melt before the ascending 
 sun of science. The school is built from the ruins of the 
 church. The schoolmaster takes the place of the pastor. 
 The library arises from the ruins of the convent. All 
 these changes are taking place. Slowly, it is true, but even 
 now, while yet in the twilight, we can see the shaping of a 
 happier material existence which, we trust, will make the 
 spirit fit to embrace the truths of immortality. Even in 
 the comparatively few years that spirit life has been dem- 
 onstrated upon earth, it has done much good in this way. 
 Tho true, it has been stained and polluted by the grave- 
 dust of antiquated creeds. 
 
 "We have several strong lights, who bring before man- 
 kind, even at this early stage of man's development, at 
 least the partial truth. And while the wicked and the 
 ignorant have taken hold of it for selfish gain, making the 
 phenomena in many cases, to say the least, suspected by 
 
60 BEYOND THE RIVER 
 
 the great mass of the people, yet it is true that even now 
 we have in our ranks some of the foremost leaders of the 
 scientific world. And we know that as the sun rises the 
 shadows will shorten. Men will see farther and farther 
 into the wonders of existence. They will learn how to 
 connect with us, and the laws that govern their being and 
 ours. Then it will be impossible to deceive them, and 
 more, being able to express ourselves fully to the mortal 
 world, we will be able to tell them that it is not well to 
 draw back the spirit and encumber it with matter. This, 
 however, will be unnecessary, for their reason will teach 
 them these things as their minds develop. Then, as they 
 leave the mortal, they will rise above the plane of mortal 
 desire. 
 
 "Reason! Oh, thou white-winged messenger of free- 
 dom ! Enter thou into the homes of men. Wake with the 
 fanning of thy silvery wings the dreamers in the ruins of 
 form. Soar above them, thou beauteous dove of light, so 
 that they may see with thee the freedom of heaven. Let 
 them behold thee above the stormy sea, whose waves wait 
 for no man. Let them behold thee among the mountains, 
 that they may be impressed with their power and splendor. 
 Then teach them to take the stone of crumbling ruin and 
 construct houses where thou canst dwell, thou inspirer of 
 peace and joy." 
 
 Such were the words of our great teacher, as he re- 
 turned from earth shortly after I had made my last visit. 
 This meeting was held in the great park which constitutes 
 part of the forest upon the hill to the rear of grandfather's 
 house. 
 
 It was more than sixty years ago that I had attended 
 a meeting in this park, on our arrival in spiritland. What 
 changes would we have seen upon earth if we visited a 
 place at the age of twenty- four, and again sixty years 
 
WATCHMAN, WHAT OF THE NIGHT? 6 1 
 
 later ! How aged and broken we would likely be. How 
 unfamiliar everything would appear. Not so here. In- 
 stead of having become weaker, we are stronger. Instead 
 of seeing mostly new faces, we saw many that we had seen 
 then, and others with whom we had subsequently become 
 acquainted. 
 
 Age, that fell tyrant of earth, which crumples every- 
 thing into unlovely helplessness, has no power over the 
 spirit and has no power here. Freed from the sway of 
 physical dissolution, the soul unfolds like the morning- 
 glories unfolding in the light of a new-born day. Men do 
 not weaken with us on account of the lapse of time. Even 
 the speaker was the same, not aged, as you would expect. 
 Oh, no ! He was grander and stronger, and had developed 
 to a higher state of being. Still, we beheld certain 
 changes. Great men who had but lately left the earth 
 were present, and told how they had doubted and ignored 
 the spiritual factors of existence. Some of them joined 
 our society and agreed to work thru our mediums. Now 
 they were with us, and expressed themselves in eloquent 
 terms. The meeting continued a considerable time, ad- 
 dresses and music following in succession. 
 
 Great singers were heard, whose voices moved the 
 multitude to laughter and to tears. One of these, who on 
 earth was known as the Swedish nightingale, sang a 
 spiritual song, a song that has not been heard on earth, 
 entitled, "When Our Mortal Cord Is Broken." When the 
 applause ceased, the assembly was dismissed and we 
 returned to our respective homes, newly consecrated to 
 the work of emancipating the world, and it was a good 
 many years, as you would say, before I attended another 
 meeting in the old park. 
 
 In the meantime, it went from bad to worse, spiritually, 
 so far as soul unfoldment on earth was concerned. But 
 
62 BEYOND THE RIVER 
 
 strong scientific interest was aroused in the phenomena of 
 mind as it acts upon matter. This brought the world face 
 to face with unquestionable evidence, and while this 
 brought it down to hard material equation it is, neverthe- 
 less, a blessing to the world, as it is the only way that the 
 fact will be empirically recognized by the rank and file of 
 humanity. 
 
 After many years of continuous effort, I had occasion to 
 go to another meeting in the old park, as it is called here. 
 And among others, I was surprised to see our old friend, 
 Mr. Carlisle, accompanied by two other men, ascend the 
 platform. Looking over the audience for a few moments, 
 he said: 
 
 "Friends, you all know of my labor for the mortal 
 world, and how I strive to uplift humanity. It is needless 
 for me to tell you again the story of my mortal existence. 
 I have told it time and again from this platform. How- 
 ever, one thing I wish to recall to your minds, and that is : 
 I have often told you of a power in mortal life that de- 
 stroyed, broke down, and cut asunder the forms of spir- 
 ituality to which men cling. I have also told you but 
 lately that his shadow was growing very dark upon earth. 
 I predicted here that nature would not leave him much 
 longer upon the plane of action on which he was, and this 
 same prediction have I sent to him thru the instrumentality 
 of a medium of our society. He read that message in earth 
 life, thanked the sender, and shortly thereafter came 
 to us. 1 
 
 "Finding not the kind of world he had been taught to 
 expect, having nothing to settle at Gabriel's office, as he 
 called it when questioning me about the matter, what more 
 
 1 1 was permitted to read that acknowledgment in the Petersilea 
 home by the medium referred to. It bore the signature of Robert 
 G. IngersolL— L. P. 
 
WATCHMAN, WHAT OF THE NIGHT? 63 
 
 can I say than that he labored and expressed the highest 
 thoughts within — yea, expressed them fearlessly. He is 
 now with us, and his brother. As he can do the occasion 
 better justice than I, he will now address you." 
 
 The audience applauded, and the band played a stirring 
 air. When the music ceased, Mr. Carlisle said: "Friends, 
 Col. Robert Ingersoll and his brother." He then left the 
 platform. Mr. Ingersoll began his address in a deep, 
 musical voice that reached all parts of the large gathering. 
 
 "Ladies and gentlemen : I wish to apologize for being 
 here. You see, I expected to travel a farther distance. As 
 it is, the train was a little ahead of time. You will under- 
 stand that the timetables they have at the stations in my 
 home country I did not believe to be very reliable. And 
 the guides are mostly in the business to earn a living only. 
 So you must excuse me if I am a little ahead of time. 
 
 "Nevertheless, as I look about me and see the contented 
 faces, I cannot believe but that all is well. I am here, and 
 have learned another great lesson in the justice of Nature. 
 As I look back along the path of life, I can see but little to 
 regret. Where I have fought, on earth, I have done so 
 with the sincerity of purpose that drove my adversaries 
 from the field. I have done my little best to tear away the 
 fences that bar the flowers of freedom from the hands of 
 men. 
 
 "I found upon the world bondage enough, yea, poverty 
 and ignorance enough, to keep me busy. These things I 
 could see, I could feel, and they made my heart bleed. I 
 could see the smiles of youth, changed by orthodox stupid- 
 ity into the grave sanctimony of fancied meekness. I saw 
 hundreds of children made miserable one-seventh of the 
 time by old, formal religion. I saw mothers, young and 
 beautiful, pressing to their warm bosoms the heads of their 
 suffering babes, trembling lest the fever should be fatal, 
 
64 BEYOND THE RIVER 
 
 and their sweet children not being baptized, should be 
 clutched by a vengeful God and roasted forever. 
 
 "I saw liars, paid liars, tell the mothers before them 
 that they could be happy in heaven while their brave sons, 
 who gave their lives upon the battlefield in the cause of 
 humanity and freedom, were suffering untold torments. 
 Then I heard them read to those people from a book — a 
 book that sanctions slavery and polygamy — a book that 
 makes man a tyrant and woman a slave. 
 
 "Again, I saw blackrobed hypocrites telling young and 
 beautiful maidens that they should not enter wedlock ; that 
 it was considered purity in the sight of the all-wise to shut 
 themselves up in convents. I saw all these things, and 
 shuddered. Then I became aroused and told the people 
 what I thought and what I knew. (I had read Blackstone 
 enough to have a fair idea of justice.) I attacked their 
 doctrines and derided their systems, until against me arose 
 all viperous tongues of slander — all the venom- tongued 
 malice of orthodox hatred. I had to reply, and it kept me 
 busy — so busy that I could not look any further than 
 earth. I recognized it as my country ; I wanted to make it 
 better for having lived in it. 
 
 "I did not deny immortality. I was not acquainted with 
 it, and did not believe there existed a mortal being who 
 was. Consequently I lived on, satisfied of the justice of 
 Nature. I knew the impossibility of infinite punishment 
 for finite crime, and infinite reward for finite virtue. So, 
 I tried to make the best of the world. Now I am here, and 
 in the sea of faces before me I have already noticed those 
 whom I knew on earth. I find that here we are only a 
 step further up in the scale of progress. 
 
 "Yonder rolls the earth, and today, if I were to return, 
 I should find weeping and sorrow. I should see swollen 
 eyes, and hear the deep heart moan of those I love. I sor- 
 
WATCHMAN, WHAT OF THE NIGHT? 65 
 
 row with them, I grieve with them ; but my grief has the 
 consolation of knowing that it is only a question of time 
 until around me in a new home again I shall see them all 
 and they shall see me. For, after all, what would this life 
 be if we did not know and love again the dear ones we 
 have left on earth ? And now, fellow workers in the cause 
 of human liberty, I appreciate your efforts in the work of 
 human betterment, and I can assure you of my hearty co- 
 operation." 
 
 The voice of the speaker grew weak, being as yet young 
 in spirit life. His strength failing, he closed his address 
 and left the platform, amidst applause and music. 
 
 After him, the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher spoke on the 
 subject, "The Healing of the Spirit." His address covered 
 all the various branches of mental affliction, and he pleaded 
 with his hearers that they should all do their part in the 
 correction of those evils, so that the spirit might develop 
 in the body to its normal state of existence. 
 
 He told us that a great many people upon earth, in every 
 walk of life, were spiritually ill. He said, further, that 
 all mania, all vile and unclean habits, all tendency towards 
 crime, all violence and malice were phases of spiritual de- 
 rangement, and also the extremes the other way. He 
 urged the society to bring before the world an interest in 
 psychology, so that, in studying the mind, men might learn 
 to develop a good, all-around individuality, which would 
 lead them to investigate along safe and sane lines. 
 
 Many other speakers were heard, each upholding some 
 theory by which he thought the conditions upon earth 
 could be improved, after which the reports of our workers 
 were read by the watchman of our society, and he, with 
 the speakers that had been heard, told effectually the 
 story, What Was of the Night. 
 
AMONG THE POETS 
 
 Letter 6 
 
 AN is a social being. The work necessary to our 
 existence irresistibly brings us together in what- 
 soever field we labor, be it for our improvement 
 here or for the enlightenment of humanity on earth ; be it 
 amongst the hills and forests or in the field of science 
 and art. All these things bring their own compensation, 
 and by it we exist. 
 
 Upon earth you mold in clay. Here we form in the 
 psychological substances which it is needless to describe. 
 Upon earth the men delve in mysteries and form theories, 
 be they true or false, and their labor brings its reward. 
 Here we ascertain facts, and they are a reward in them- 
 selves. This is our business side of existence. But we 
 have another — that is, the social side of our being. 
 
 Everything progresses as time goes on. As soon as it 
 stops progressing, it is no longer fit for the plane upon 
 which it exists. As in all other things, improvement is a 
 great factor in our social economy. Betterment in every 
 form is the only way by which we can realize our ideal. 
 Therefore the social conditions must be strictly attended 
 to. But upon earth this is sadly neglected. 
 
 The mental makeup of a person always leads her or him 
 into certain classes of society — some even to the extent 
 that their whole time is being taken up by social work. If 
 this work is along the line of human betterment, it is 
 highly commendable. But if it is perverted by vainglory, 
 it is deplorable. It may seem strange, but even death does 
 not purge from all faults. 
 
 We gravitate into social surroundings in accordance 
 
AMONG THE POETS 67 
 
 with our mental makeup. My sister found her place in 
 the society of musicians. My mother, aunt, and grand- 
 father, being lovers of the quiet and home life, moved in 
 their particular society ; while such men as the professor 
 naturally associated with the ranks of science and educa- 
 tion, each being happy in his place. 
 
 I do not wish to give the impression that we are here 
 divided into separate classes. No, no ; far from it. This 
 is only true in general. Many people move and act in 
 various branches. It is not here a matter of money, but 
 of love, harmony and intellectual achievement. There is 
 no scheming for finances, as we can only develop within 
 ourselves. Here we stand upon our merits, and are valued 
 only by the beauty of soul, the beautifying of which lies 
 within our own power. Such are the rules that govern our 
 social system. 
 
 Upon earth I had been a lover of the beautiful, an ad- 
 mirer of all that was rustic, wild, and natural. My mind 
 vibrated in harmony with the forces of nature. To me all 
 nature vibrates in harmony. Only men place themselves 
 in discord with the greater forces, which creates discord 
 within their own souls. Then they say : "All nature is 
 out of tune," forgetting themselves. This harmony had 
 become a part of my life, so that when I arrived here I 
 longed for the same. 
 
 I hied to the solitude of the forest, where, among the 
 stately trees and blossoming undergrowth, I could sit and 
 listen to the music of rippling water, to the warbling and 
 twittering larks and linnets ; where I could inhale the 
 sweet perfume of lovely flowers. There was my society. 
 There, and there only, could my soul attain greater heights. 
 Through the rifts in the green foliage above me I could see 
 my soul ascend to still higher realms. I could see visions of 
 perfect angelhood, a fact of which some are skeptical, even 
 
68 BEYOND THE RIVER 
 
 here. I could commune with my soul, lulled into that 
 divine ecstasy where the spirit, loosed from the present 
 existence, wherever that may be, soars amidst the golden 
 clouds of the untrodden future. Oh, mortals, if you would 
 lay aside your earthly cares now and then and aspire up- 
 ward, what a world of new delight you would find in your 
 otherwise prosy life! Such was my temperament, and 
 naturally it placed me in the society of poets. Men and 
 women after my own heart were attracted to me, and I 
 to them. 
 
 Edgar Allan Poe, the poet of love and sadness, writes 
 here. Having found again his lost Lenore, he sings to our 
 world his newer songs of pathos — those soul-inspiring 
 thoughts, divinely pure. In his home we can see the bust 
 of Pallas, just above his chamber door. But upon it sits 
 no more the raven croaking, for by his side lives and acts 
 that being whom the angels call Lenore. 
 
 I love and admire this man for the tenderness of his soul, 
 for the beauty of his character, for the divine creations of 
 his brain, that cannot help but to draw out the highest 
 emotions of anyone who reads his work. 
 
 Poe is the poet of the human heart. He draws his 
 inspiration from humanity. The natural fires that burn 
 within the human heart are his themes. Therefore we 
 find his home near the city, where he can mingle with men 
 freely. Its plainness is even now suggestive of his earthly 
 sorrow. But within its walls dwells a harmony which only 
 the eloquence of his lips can express. 
 
 "Earth's sweetest songs are those that tell of saddest 
 thoughts." On earth he is maligned even to this day. 
 His deep, brooding soul was pained by the giddy terror 
 of the world's mad-rushing tide, that ground out and 
 crushed the violets and lilies of life with the ruthlessness 
 of death. His eye saw the world's pain. His soul 
 
AMONG THE POETS 69 
 
 wilted under its terrible aspect. He tried to forget, and 
 forgetfulness he bought at the expense of physical ruin 
 and the calumny of the world. But the physical weakness 
 of the architect does not necessarily affect the beauty and 
 truth of his creation. Here also dwells Tennyson, whose 
 heart beats in unison with the infinite ; whose words, like 
 his spirit, are immortal. He still goes on with his grand 
 work, and tho you hear his voice no more on earth, yet he 
 is interested in mortal welfare, and his works here are 
 filled with good will to men. 
 
 Matthew Arnold, Taylor, Coleridge, all of the old 
 world, as you call it, and Whittier, Lowell, Bryant, and 
 Longfellow, foremost of America's poets, these men who 
 drew their songs from nature's bosom, all of them are 
 here. They are children of my native land. They live 
 close to my heart. Our hearts beat as one. 
 
 Such is my society, because by nature I am drawn there. 
 When we come together, we read and hear the words of 
 these great stars of the heavens of imagination. We feel 
 as if, though we were thousands, we would still be as one. 
 Coming together as sisters and brothers, we lose ourselves 
 in the world of the ideal. Each voices the strongest emo- 
 tions of the soul, and so strong becomes this attribute that 
 even those with whom we come in contact upon earth give 
 expression to our vibration to the extent that they are intel- 
 lectually capable, be they consciously sensitive or not. 
 
 From this you may form an idea of my social surround- 
 ings. Now, why do I write thus? Merely to show 
 you how nice things are here with us ? Certainly not ! My 
 object is to teach this lesson that, though you may upon 
 earth be like I was, a poor frontier girl, yet if you will 
 develop within yourself a desire for all that is pure and 
 beautiful, and hold with firm sincerity to those things 
 which you believe to be right, then you will find your ideal 
 
70 BEYOND THE RIVER 
 
 realized sooner or later. That is the way I have found it, 
 so far, and this is the experience of all who have been here 
 longer than I. 
 
 Be your aspirations what they may, music, art, science, 
 or anything that is lofty, you can develop to the highest if 
 you persevere. And you can create around you conditions 
 as near your ideal as it is possible to get ; for an ideal once 
 attained is no longer an ideal. 
 
 I do not wish to create the impression that art, literature, 
 and abstract science are the only lofty development of the 
 human soul, nor yet that they, alone and by themselves, 
 are at all desirable, for they are purely a secondary ac- 
 quirement. The first and foremost power of soul devel- 
 opment is the power of useful service ; for without that 
 there can be no art, music, or literature. 
 
 Ampleus and Excelsior — still more, still higher. You 
 can never develop to high spirituality unless you remain 
 well balanced in all other faculties. Nervous disorders are 
 not spirituality. By development I do not mean that it is 
 needful to become spiritually perceptive — that is, medium- 
 istic. Mediumship is as liable to become a thorn as a 
 blossom. By development I mean simply the soul's awak- 
 ening to a consciousness of its duties, and an appreciation 
 of the beautiful in all things. 
 
 I entered spirit life long before most of the poets I have 
 mentioned came to us. It was during my later school days 
 that I became acquainted with some of them. Others came 
 to us just before I started my humanitarian work. And 
 here, to emphasize the importance of early development, I 
 wish to cite a few instances in point. Take, for instance, 
 Whittier, who upon earth exclaimed: "How strange it 
 seems, with so much gone of life and love, to still live on." 
 
 He came here to find that there was not anything gone. 
 And the poet of field and forest, of home and fireside, 
 
AMONG THE POETS 71 
 
 grieved but a short time for those he left on earth, and 
 soon took up his work with his fellows here, realizing that 
 in the ultimate nature can sustain no loss. 
 
 Longfellow, whose soul is portrayed in the soft, musical 
 rhythm of Evangeline's story, which has brought about 
 more good for the race among whom he lived than all the 
 sermons of hundreds of ministers of ignorance. And 
 Hiawatha's story of the Red Man, portraying how, even 
 among the savage races, holy emotions and spiritual moni- 
 tions are heard. He, too, though he came but lately, went 
 on with his work, and again from his lips vibrate the words 
 of tenderness and love. Sweetly he sings of sorrow and 
 gladness, as he was wont to do when with you. Deeply he 
 drank at the founts of Urd and Misnor, until his soul was 
 filled with all the virile concepts of the primitive childhood 
 of his race. 
 
 These men live in the world of their ideal, and here they 
 find that all can be realized. Now we can see them, as it 
 were, young again, walking by the murmuring streams, 
 standing by the vine-clad rocks, or seated under the elm 
 trees near their dwellings, dreaming of love and purity, 
 listening to the holiest impulses that come to the heart of 
 man. 
 
 But there is another among us, whose name I have not 
 mentioned, who suffered untold agony while on earth. 
 Misunderstood by his fellowmen, spurned by the one to 
 whom he was united, He whose soul was immeasurably 
 greater than those of his traducers. He came to us broken 
 in spirit, forlorn in His sorrow, cut off from the world. 
 Yes, from the cold, unfriendly world, ere His blossom was 
 fully unfolded, He called forth a sigh of sadness from 
 many of the great men of our community. Still, now He is 
 contented, and when He speaks we are lifted with Him to 
 the world where dwells His soul. No place can hold him. 
 
72 BEYOND THE RIVER 
 
 His spirit grasps all there is of life, and expresses it in 
 words that fall like snowflakes from a leaden sky. 
 
 Such are the men of our circle in spirit land — men and 
 women who hold thoughts like mine. Therefore am I 
 found among the poets. 
 
WHAT IS HOME WITHOUT A MOTHER? 
 
 Letter 7 
 
 When in silence I sit alone, 
 
 And dark as night life's ocean seems, 
 
 My guardian angel brings from home 
 My mother's spirit in my dreams. 
 
 A mother's spirit, how sweet the thought! 
 What solace it to my heart has brought. 
 And now I feel it everywhere — 
 A soulful growing, my mother's prayer. 
 
 My mother's spirit, where'er she be, 
 
 It fills my soul with true desire, 
 Whether on earth or in heaven, she 
 
 Keeps my feet from evil's mire. 
 
 | HE home is the center of all true development, 
 socially and spiritually. By the fireside the 
 noblest thoughts are born. Here pure love climbs 
 higher than anywhere else. Here joy is most complete. 
 Take the home away from men and civilization falls. All 
 the labor of science is based upon it. Poets draw from it 
 the material for their grandest inspirations. Artists have 
 immortalized their names by its portrayal. Home, the 
 theme of song and story ! 
 
 You ask the question, What is it that makes the home 
 such a power? And I answer, The mother. Take from 
 out the home the mother, and what is left? Where stays 
 the family ? Like petals from a late autumn rose shaken 
 by the northern blast, one by one they fall ; oftentimes 
 caught by the raging winds they are scattered far and 
 wide. That is so with a family from which the mother is 
 taken ; for she is the center of unity. Around her all 
 
 73 
 
74 BEYOND THE RIVER 
 
 cluster. Her love binds them together and protects them 
 as the leaves protect the fruit. Such is home with you and 
 with us. 
 
 The mother remains the center of the home circle until 
 the time that her children shall have their ideal. Then her 
 responsibility ceases, they having become perfected indi- 
 viduals. And as it sometimes happens that the mother is 
 called higher early, in that case the children are cared for. 
 
 If the mother was united to her soul mate upon earth, 
 both stay in the home. Even if they were not soul mates, 
 but lived harmoniously, they do not separate even here, 
 unless by natural causes. 
 
 Those upon earth who carry this teaching to an ignorant 
 extreme, and hope to embrace their real other self as soon 
 as they arrive here, may make the mistake of their life, 
 and awaken to the fact that they will have to wait until 
 they are morally and intellectually fitted for the change, 
 as natural law attracts the father to the children as well as 
 the mother. 
 
 So you can readily see the justice of nature. For in- 
 stance, the father has been faithless or otherwise corrupt, 
 and has been brutal toward his wife, he, in consequence, 
 cannot rise to the level that she attains, but gravitates to 
 his own kind. If, then, he sees the error of his ways and 
 longs for his family, he can reach them only by purifying 
 himself. It is so with the wayward son or mother as well. 
 And here we come face to face with a sad truth, for, if the 
 mother was immoral, she draws her children to her in the 
 realm of the vicious. In the lower spheres there is no 
 joining of soul mates, for it is apparent that they are not 
 fitted for that state. The mother guards the children, 
 those that are single, until they also are joined to their 
 proper mates, after which she soon finds her coequal, if 
 she has not already done so, and then goes on to a more 
 
WHAT IS HOME WITHOUT A MOTHER? 75 
 
 perfect plane of existence. So far I have given an out- 
 line of the laws that govern our family life, so that there 
 may be no further misunderstanding about these things, 
 among readers of spiritual literature at least. 
 
 Mother has remained the center of our home from the 
 time of our arrival here, and will so remain till the time 
 that I will be perfected. In this law is found the beauty of 
 spirit existence. In it is illustrated the wondrous depth 
 of parental love, and this law brings to earth the 
 great truth that love is immortal. We live in peace and 
 harmony, each striving to make life pleasant. Indeed, we 
 share each others joys and sorrows. 
 
 On returning from a mission to earth, or a distant part 
 of our own realm, what would my home-coming be, though 
 I returned to a place of the greatest splendor, if there I 
 found only the furniture, the pictures, the books, and other 
 luxuries ? It would be cold, cold indeed. But instead, I 
 return to a home that bears all the marks of genuine con- 
 tentment, where neither wealth nor want is known. Here 
 I come, tired with labor and care, and am met by the 
 smiling face of my mother. And thus with her love our 
 plain surroundings blossom like summer flowers. In short 
 the mother is the unit of the home, and without her, exist- 
 ence for the child would be as meaningless as it is upon 
 earth. 
 
 Think of the penalty nature imposes upon those who go 
 through the world childless and alone ; while they that rear 
 children on earth come to us supported and strengthened 
 by the magnetism of their dear ones, and at once set to 
 work to prepare a new home. If they have children who 
 went before, they are met by them on their arrival, and 
 together they work for the good of those who are left on 
 earth. 
 
 But take, for instance, a person who wantonly goes 
 
y6 BEYOND THE RIVER 
 
 through life alone. He has violated a law in nature, and 
 nature has no forgiveness for an offense against its great- 
 est gift. Each person should rear upon earth a home, and 
 live to the height of nature's intention, ruled by an adequate 
 exercise of reason. In proportion that he develops a home 
 ideal on earth will he be able to perfect that ideal with us. 
 
 There is no more powerful term on earth or in heaven 
 than the word Home. Persons born in the better strata 
 of life remember days gone by when by the fireside of the 
 old home all was happiness. And those who were unfor- 
 tunate long that it were so with them. All will here find 
 the reward in accordance with their development. Those 
 who had a home on earth will have it here. Those who 
 were homeless and alone have to gradually develop into a 
 state of perfection. By homeless I mean those who were 
 cast off — children of misfortune — although, if they build 
 ideals upon earth, they will find their place accordingly. 
 
 Those who had childhood homes but went through earth 
 life unmated gravitate to their parents, and stay with them 
 until finally perfected. Those who precede their parents 
 into the spirit realms gravitate to such spirits to whom 
 they are by nature most attracted. It therefore sometimes 
 happens that even parents lose a child simply because 
 some other has a stronger spiritual claim ; not necessarily 
 the blood, but the spiritual parenthood draws the immortal 
 to its own. 
 
 Therefore, build for yourselves homes on earth, and the 
 joys thereof shall cling to you into the eons of eternity, and 
 ever shall you realize the depth of meaning in the question : 
 "What Is Home Without a Mother ?" It cannot be. 
 
WHEN YOU COME HOME 
 
 Letter 8 
 
 VERYONE who travels upon earth for a longer 
 or shorter distance is familiar with that peculiar 
 sensation which creates within the soul a longing 
 for home, or at least to know how things are at home. 
 This feeling we call homesickness, on earth, and it is felt 
 just in proportion that the individual is influenced by it. 
 
 If he have no home, the longing still burns, and it pulls 
 him hither and thither, seeking rest, comfort, and home. 
 It is also exemplified in the salmon struggling upstream 
 to the waters of their nativity ; or as the homer pigeon 
 cleaves the ether sea for thousands of miles to its parental 
 nest. This is not only a natural law, but its influence 
 blends into the world of spirit as the golden dawn blends 
 into the morning skies. 
 
 The same condition prevails here — a longing for home. 
 A desire for a definite place in the world is a fixed attribute 
 of nearly all conscious life. Many who are as yet incased 
 in matter begin to feel a longing for that other home, be- 
 yond their mortal ken, where they may be sure that there 
 is a new life before them. 
 
 Holding this thought in mind, I will try to give an idea 
 of what you (L. P.) may expect upon your arrival in spirit 
 land, as for convenience we will call it. I write now of one 
 particular case, and from that the general public may infer 
 that, though each case slightly differs as to particulars, in 
 general all will experience essentially the same condition. 
 
 This narrative in a sense is personal, and similar expe- 
 riences await each and every one of high ideals, regardless 
 of belief or creed. All who have dear ones here will be 
 met and led to their respective abodes, to be strengthened 
 and instructed in the ways of spirit life. 
 
 77 
 
y8 BEYOND THE RIVER 
 
 You may think it strange that we should undertake to 
 foretell the circumstances and conditions you will find 
 upon your arrival here. But we are in a happy position 
 to do this, however, as there is no great distance, reckoned 
 spiritually, between our home and that of your parents. 
 Distance here, like many other things, is determined by 
 the bond of attraction between the inhabitants of places. 
 
 Upon leaving the earth, you will rise to our sphere. 
 Very likely you will be accompanied by your parents, who 
 have resided here for many years. As you will not be 
 drawn by any closer blood relative — that is, children of 
 your own — you will first be drawn to the next closest. 
 Therefore, permit us to give you a picture of their sur- 
 roundings, as we have those of our own, that you may have 
 an idea how they fared in their journey upward, and where 
 they find themselves now. 
 
 The home of your parents is on the outskirts of the 
 valley among the lower foothills of a mountain range, at 
 the base of which is the academy of science. Going to the 
 academy by the main road, and just before leaving the 
 valley, we come to a path that leads to the right. Follow- 
 ing this are heavy forest covered hills, traversed 
 by the above-described stream. Upon both of its banks 
 may be seen houses of various sizes surrounded by gardens 
 and orchards. 
 
 Upon the gently rippling water may be seen boats and 
 yachts, occupied by happy people. Following up the 
 stream, we arrive at the other end of this beautiful cove, 
 and there find that the hills rise abruptly, forming cliffs 
 and crags upon which, here and there, a scrubby pine has 
 found root. From out the crevices of the rocks flows the 
 beautifully clear water which helps to form the stream that 
 flows down the valley. 
 
 At the foot of these clifflike hills, among the tall pine 
 
WHEN YOU COME HOME 79 
 
 and cedar trees, we come to a neat, well-constructed dwell- 
 ing. About it everything impresses one with an idea of 
 system and order. The garden, lawn, and buildings for 
 domestic fowls betray the system of well-studied plan and 
 arrangement. 
 
 We entered the yard, and found the owner seated be- 
 neath one of the shade trees that surround the house. He 
 is a man of middle age, and arrived here long before his 
 soul was completely developed in the physical form. He 
 rises, greets his visitor in a cordial way, and has the happy 
 faculty about him that makes you feel at home. He de- 
 lights in telling of his adventures in spirit life — of his 
 planning, his study, and his hopes. Such was the state in 
 which I found him when making my first visit, the purpose 
 of which was to secure his cooperation in the work of our 
 society. After I had made myself known, he expressed 
 his surprise, but declined my invitation, saying: 
 
 "No, I think it best not to trouble myself about earth. 
 It has lost all interest for me, except for my boys, and they 
 know the truth, so I had better busy myself here, so as to 
 make happy their home-coming. No, except for my chil- 
 dren, I have but little to draw me back to the world. I left 
 it when young, went to where my race gravitate and strug- 
 gled along for a while, watching the movements of those 
 who were dear to me. 
 
 "I could not rest upon the spiritual plane of my country- 
 men. We differed in opinion on many things, and it was 
 hard for me to understand their movements upon earth or 
 here. Most of them hold simply to literal form and estab- 
 lished status, with but little idea of advancement. There- 
 fore, I kept close to my family, created in them the same 
 restless feeling that I had, and influenced their material 
 surroundings until they finally left the home country and 
 settled in America. I moved with them, and when I as- 
 
8o BEYOND THE RIVER 
 
 cended from there I found that spiritually I was a stranger 
 in a strange land. But things here came nearer to my lik- 
 ing. I roamed about for some time, until finally I came to 
 this valley and settled. I then studied the customs and 
 habits of the people, and finally became rested and sat- 
 isfied. 
 
 "For some unaccountable reason," he continued, "I 
 gravitated to an entirely different plane of action than did 
 my ancestors, so that I found myself alone. I guess I must 
 have been the odd one. Yes, I was alone, while my daugh- 
 ter had gravitated to my relatives. 1 When I got settled, I 
 went over to the — oh, the school, saw the head teacher 
 (Solon), and got his advice upon the subject. I wanted 
 to see my people, and have my child with me in my new 
 home. He told me how it would be possible to come into 
 speedy contact with them. I started right off, acted ac- 
 cording to instructions, and sure enough landed in the 
 very midst of them. Then there was general rejoicing; 
 but when I finally unfolded my purpose things changed a 
 little. 
 
 "I was yet ignorant of the working of natural law, in 
 cases of this kind, and was about to employ earthly means, 
 when the thing practically solved itself. And now, though 
 we are apparently far apart, we come and go with com- 
 parative ease, and I am now happy, having my child 
 with me. 
 
 "This was quite a long time ago. Since then we have 
 improved this place and made it look more like home, and 
 we have improved ourselves intellectua 1 ly also. When I 
 had my child with me, my nature was better satisfied, you 
 know. I had something to labor and to care for. You 
 cannot imagine the loneliness of a wanderer in spiritland. 
 
 1 She had passed over some time ahead of him. — L. P. 
 
WHEN YOU COME HOME 8l 
 
 However, after we got settled, and the little one was placed 
 in school and doing well, time went very fast with me. 
 
 "I constructed all these buildings, gathered domestic 
 fowls, and inclosed the pond in the rear of yonder fence. 
 I made these paths and cared for all these things. It kept 
 me busy — so busy that at times I almost forgot about earth, 
 as well as my countrymen in spiritland, who live far away 
 and move in different grooves of thought. 
 
 "I became interested in the social affairs of this country. 
 Social affairs here correspond to politics upon earth. We 
 have here no politics, each being a law unto himself and 
 living up to the state of development that this plane repre- 
 sents. 
 
 "So time passed on until suddenly I became aware of a. 
 desire to visit the earth. On leaving this realm, I was 
 drawn ever faster and faster earthward by some subtle, 
 magnetic force. I understood that my wife must be very 
 ill or out of order in some way. Finally I arrived at her 
 bedside, but of course unable to make my presence known. 
 I saw, however, that the change was close at hand. I 
 waited alone until the arrival of my daughter. She had 
 received the same call and had come to be of assistance. 
 
 "You may think it strange that I had not taken her with 
 me, but I was not aware of the seriousness of the case, and 
 I would rather, if possible, hide from her the fact that 
 mother suffered. Still a little human weakness, you see. 
 We saw mother and the boys, but no one recognized us. 
 We waited until the cord loosened and the body emitted 
 the soul. 
 
 "As she raised out of her material form, she seemed to 
 be conscious of her surroundings, but spiritual attraction 
 soon broke the last cord and she mounted upward, we 
 following by her side. 
 
 "Soon we arrived at home, and after having placed her 
 
82 BEYOND THE RIVER 
 
 in bed we made further preparation for her comfort. Of 
 course, we knew not how long her forming sleep would 
 last, so that we had to keep a close watch for the reawak- 
 ening. 1 
 
 "Her illness, however, had thoroughly exhausted her, 
 and it was some time before she regained consciousness. 
 In the meantime we had made her surroundings as near 
 like those she enjoyed on earth as possible. So well did 
 we succeed in this that at first she was not aware of the 
 actual change. But when I entered and called her by 
 name, you can imagine her surprise. What further can 
 I say ? She gained in strength very rapidly, and soon was 
 able to walk about. 
 
 "This, however, was long ago. Since then we have 
 lived in perfect happiness, waiting for the boys to come. 
 Yes," said he, after a moment's pause, "they will have a 
 great advantage over what I had. Nature sent me to pre- 
 pare the way. And now you tell me that you also wait. 
 Well, many of us have waited and toiled a long time, but 
 when it arrives the past soon fades from the memory. 
 Let us be patient. It is good that here our permanent 
 choice is fixed by nature, so that there can be no further 
 mistake. 
 
 "My folks are away at present or you could have a talk 
 with them also. I think, however, that they will soon 
 
 1 The forming sleep is a lethargic period thru which the spirit 
 body passes upon its arrival here. It is caused by the inability 
 of the soul to handle the spirit envelope apart from its physical 
 body. This forming sleep lasts from an hour to as long as forty- 
 years, according to the spiritual status of the individual. In old 
 people, it is usually short, and in old people of high spiritual 
 unfoldment it is often hardly noticeable, while in young people 
 it is longer, according to the development or lack of development 
 of the ego. 
 
WHEN YOU COME HOME 83 
 
 return. Would you like to come in and wait? I should 
 be pleased to have you see them." 
 
 I answered in the affirmative, happy to seize the oppor- 
 tunity. We had studied at the same school, under the same 
 teacher, and though I had never met the mother, I felt that 
 our mutual associations gave me a quasi acquaintance with 
 her. 
 
 He escorted me into a fair-sized parlor, neatly furnished 
 and decorated. Upon the walls were three large paintings, 
 executed with consummate skill. They depict the heroic 
 deeds of Norsemen in ancient times, some smaller ones of 
 Norway's rugged coast, and four portraits of spirit beings. 
 
 These portraits were not engraved upon the wall, but 
 were upon canvas and neatly framed, one of which at- 
 tracted my attention. It was the portrait of a child, young 
 and beautiful. I asked who she was, for I could see that 
 she was not his own child. 
 
 "Ah," said he, "it is the baby of my oldest son. Poor 
 thing ! She had a short stay on earth. She is doing well, 
 but of course carries some of the weaknesses due to a lack 
 of mortal development." Then he explained her coming 
 and how she was cared for. In the course of his remarks 
 he said: 
 
 "It was indeed pathetic. She was so young, and her loss 
 was felt intently. But her coming to us has given an 
 added touch to our home, for after all it is not so much 
 the old folks as it is the little ones that make the home life 
 beautiful and real. And now, when they are about me, it 
 gives the same satisfaction that a true father feels on 
 earth when surrounded by his little ones. 
 
 "Then there is the joy of knowing that there can be no 
 more separation that will leave our dear ones in want. 
 Here we think of the happy time when all shall be together 
 again. I have already made plans to enlarge my house for 
 
8 4 
 
 BEYOND THE RIVER 
 
 their reception. Of course, one is a father and will soon 
 erect a home for his family. But the other will stay with 
 us for some time, until he, too, is ready to be perfected." 
 
 The mother and the two girls now returned, and the 
 father stepped to the door and beckoned them in. I was 
 introduced, after which he made known the relation I bear 
 to the family, a fact which pleased them greatly. 
 
 We now resumed the conversation along general lines, 
 speaking mostly about the different races of men, and how 
 each race will make for itself surroundings according to 
 its individuality. I again led up to the necessity of work- 
 ing to raise humanity to a higher level. With this, how- 
 ever, I could make no impression on the father of the 
 house. He answered by saying : 
 
 "Yes, that is very good for those so adapted. I, how- 
 ever, am done with it all. I do not keep posted on material 
 affairs, so would be of no material assistance ; neither do 
 they look for it. One thing I would like to have you do for 
 me, however, and that is, if you ever find a way by which 
 you can satisfactorily communicate with the boys, tell them 
 that they will find a home with an open door and parents 
 with extended arms ready to receive them. Tell them that, 
 though I was cut away early, and thus could give them no 
 support physically, I have tried to replace that sad misfor- 
 tune by preparing for their homecoming." 
 
 The mother now invited us into the dining room, where 
 we had a light repast, while I told them that I had an 
 efficient instrument through whom I would give this nar- 
 rative to their children. 
 
 We next went and viewed the grounds, the girls taking 
 special delight in showing the beauty and variety of their 
 flowers. After spending the greater part of the day with 
 them, I returned home, determined to give this letter as a 
 Christmas gift to our dear ones on earth. 
 
HEAVEN A HOME FOR THE HOMELESS 
 Letter 9 
 
 NE day as I was wandering about in the meadows, 
 fresh with morning dew, and studded with blos- 
 soms white and golden, I suddenly felt a desire to 
 visit the rustic woodland home of my friend the hermit. 
 Why such a thought should enter my mind was beyond 
 me. But as it is always best to heed one's impressions, I 
 started, confident that he wished to see me on important 
 business, although I had no idea what it might be. 
 
 With this thought in mind, I crossed the stream that 
 separates the meadow from the forest, and as it was no 
 great distance I walked leisurely. This forest path was 
 lined on either side with large trees, and banks of the most 
 fragrant blossoms, the morning dew dripping from the 
 leaves, accentuated the beauty and freshness of the 
 flowers. 
 
 Birds twittered and poured forth their songs of gladness. 
 In fact, the scene impressed me to such an extent that I 
 almost forgot my original desire. 
 
 In a short time I arrived at the home of my friend and 
 stopped for a moment under a spreading elm. I felt silly, 
 and hardly knew what excuse to make for my visit, though 
 feeling sure of a welcome, no matter when I came. I 
 rapped on the door, but to my surprise there was no one 
 at home. I lingered about the place a short time, then 
 concluded to walk down the path toward grandfather's 
 house, to see how he and Aunt Esther were progressing. 
 But instead of taking the path following the brooklet, as 
 was my custom, I decided to take the mountain road until 
 out of the forest, then go down the valley to the park, 
 
 85 
 
S6 BEYOND THE RIVER 
 
 which is just at the rear of his home. Emerging from the 
 woods ,1 looked upon as beautiful a scene as nature affords 
 anywhere. 
 
 Standing in the shadow of the woodland kings, before 
 me lay the open country, dotted with houses and checkered 
 with fields green, blue, and golden. Across the open 
 country in the distance I could see the timber on the other 
 side of the valley, a dark green band against the alabaster 
 summits of the mountains. The breath of peace and con- 
 tentment reigned everywhere. 
 
 To the left was the park, its giant trees and the large 
 auditorium plainly to be seen in the distance. Between 
 me and it there was a large tract of grazing land, where 
 ranged wild and domestic animals of herbivorous habits. 
 Animals destructive to life upon earth cannot come up to 
 us. Neither can the low and vicious among the human 
 family. Here we are free from all such evils, which must 
 be outgrown and overcome on the lower planes of spirit ; 
 for unfortunately very few, indeed, succeed in so doing 
 under the vicious system prevailing upon the earth plane. 
 
 Taking the entire human race into consideration, we 
 have taken the highest possible step, due to purity of life 
 and high aspiration. But there are millions who only step 
 out upon the animal or lower plane of spirit. 
 
 Carnivorous habits breed viciousness. Vegetarian 
 habits cultivate mildness of spirit. We do not mean meek- 
 ness. The meek are trampled under foot upon earth, and 
 their souls become dwarfed and degraded, until they float 
 through existence as leaves blown by the autumn winds. 
 We mean the great, noble, and heroic souls who climb 
 upward on their own merit, with love and tenderness for 
 all and malice toward none. 
 
 Therefore, I say that the innocent fawn playing in 
 earth's thick jungles or upon her barren crags, caring only 
 
HEAVEN A HOME FOR THE HOMELESS 87 
 
 for itself and harming none, is purer in spirit than the 
 doctor of divinity who will shoot it down with hellish de- 
 light. Therefore they come to us, together with some of 
 the horses, cattle, and other domestic animals that fulfill 
 their growth upon earth. 
 
 (You do not realize the terrific psychic vibrations that 
 are set up by the storm of destruction caused in your 
 slaughter houses. What a deluge of undeveloped life you 
 pour forth to mix in your atmosphere, causing your unde- 
 veloped mental phenomena of crime and insanity, injustice, 
 and avarice. Slaughter of animals and human beings fills 
 the earth atmosphere with thoughts of vengeance — the 
 natural thought of unripe souls, animal as well as human.) 
 
 I paused for a moment to admire the scene before me. 
 Lovely it was indeed. Creation's beauty unfolded itself 
 as the pages of a magic book in the hands of a wizard. 
 Looking over the scene, I exclaimed: "All nature is 
 song ! Why should not I sing ? I then left the mountain 
 road and followed the path leading to the park. This path 
 meanders through the meadows across many tiny streams, 
 and between ponds and lakelets surrounded by tall grass 
 and rushes. Flocks of ducks swarmed the air, and wild 
 geese flew back and forth between the various bodies of 
 water. Everywhere was life in abundance. 
 
 While walking along (for remember that spirits fly not, 
 and that we are just as much bound to our plane as you 
 are to yours, I drew near to a growth of water-willow 
 trees upon the bank of a streamlet. The earth around 
 them was covered with young, sweet grass, and sprinkled 
 with a variety of buttercups and daisies. It looked so 
 attractive that I felt a desire to see the other side of the 
 group. 
 
 As I did so, I was surprised to see two lambs sleeping 
 in the sunlight. They looked very natural, eyes closed, 
 
88 BEYOND THE RIVER 
 
 ears drooping, and noses touching the ground. Such a 
 picture ; I exclaimed : "Innocence ! Innocence ! How 
 sweet is thy presence !" (Ah, world ! If you would cease 
 to confound ignorance with innocence, how much nearer 
 you would be to us I Instead of being ignorant of life and 
 its beauties, of love and its duties, of honor and its re- 
 sponsibilities, you would be innocent of crime, of decep- 
 tion, of faithlessness, of hate and blood. How much 
 happier you would be, if only you were innocent ! ) Again 
 I looked at them. One had apparently been awakened by 
 my movements and had arisen. It was stretching itself as 
 if tired, then looking curiously at me as if in reproach 
 for having disturbed it, it again lay down. 
 
 I was about to leave the scene, when my attention was 
 attracted to an object that looked like a person seated at 
 the further end of the group. How could I have over- 
 looked it, and who could it be? Of course, I had lived 
 here a long time and knew most of the people around us. 
 Perhaps it was a new arrival to our world. That seemed 
 to be the natural explanation as it suggested itself to my 
 mind. It probably was some homeless, friendless soul 
 that had been wafted into eternity by the glad hand of 
 old mother earth, and on approaching nearer I saw that 
 my conclusion was correct. 
 
 The person was a girl perhaps sixteen years of age, but 
 imperfectly developed and plainly showing every mark of 
 ignorance and toil. Her hair, a rich blond, hung loosely 
 about her shoulders. Her eyes were swollen with tears, 
 and her face was haggard and pale. In a word, she looked 
 the picture of misery. She was seated upon the bank of 
 the ditch-like little stream where the surrounding willows 
 grew, her feet dangling above the water and hand buried 
 in the grass by her side. She seemed dazed, and evidently 
 had just awakened from her forming sleep. 
 
HEAVEN A HOME FOR THE HOMELESS 89 
 
 Now, you may wish to learn what becomes of the home- 
 less and friendless souls who are so fortunate as to reach 
 our plane of unfoldment. Upon their awakening, they 
 generally find themselves alone. But invariably they re- 
 ceive every needed help from the first person who discov- 
 ers them. Thank heaven there is no money here, which 
 closes the hearts of those who have it, so that they will 
 not aid, and those who do not have it cannot aid. No, 
 there are no such problems here. 
 
 I approached and gently placed my hand upon her 
 shoulder. She looked up and, catching my eye, immedi- 
 ately lowered her head. "Where do you live ?" I asked. 
 
 "I have no home, ma'am," was her reply. 
 
 "But where do you stay? Can you tell me that?" I 
 continued. 
 
 "I herd sheep for Mr. Moose, in the hills. I felt very 
 sick this morning, but he said he couldn't afford to keep 
 sick people, and so I had to go out. It was so cold, miss, 
 and the sheep kept a-runnin' and a-runnin*. Soon I fell 
 and lay for a time. 
 
 "One old ewe stayed behind with her lambs. They were 
 cold, too, very cold. I covered them with my jacket to 
 keep them warm. The sheep were now gone out of sight 
 over the hill, and the rain was turning to ice, miss, and 
 sleet, too. I kept my lambs close to me, and tried to get 
 up, but I couldn't. I didn't mean to let the sheep run 
 away. Soon the cold left me. I became hot, and could 
 see nothin'. I could only hear the wind howl and feel 
 my clothes soaked with water. Then I fell asleep and 
 dreamed, then knew no more. Then I felt myself lifted 
 up and came to myself. I saw Mr. Moose bending over 
 me. I could only say: 'Don't hurt me!' I was sick, 
 sure, miss. Then he said : 
 
 "Why didn't you leave those lambs with the ewe? 
 
90 
 
 BEYOND THE RIVER 
 
 Now she won't own them, and they will have to be killed. 
 Ah, but you're a smart un, you are.' 
 
 "He said some more, miss, but I forgot it. Then I 
 went to sleep again, and when I awoke the sun was 
 a-shinin' ; I was here. I must have been left here. Don't 
 know where I am. Don't know this pasture. Don't know 
 where the sheep are. Oh, oh!" she sobbed, "I am so 
 afraid to go back to Mr. Moose. What will he say ?" 
 
 By this time I had knelt beside her and, gently arranging 
 her hair, said : "Dear one, do not think about him. He 
 will not find you here." 
 
 "But, but, the sheep," she stammered. 
 
 "Never mind the sheep, they will be all right," I an- 
 swered. 
 
 "What is your name ?" I asked. 
 
 "Liz, yes, Liz they call me," she answered. Then slowly 
 turning to me, she asked. 
 
 "Why do you ask all these questions ?" 
 
 Placing my arm around her, I said: "Because I love 
 you, and will bring you to true friends, where Mr. Moose 
 cannot come until he shall have learned to take his gar- 
 ments and shield the innocent. No, child, you shall not 
 see him again until he is poor, like you, and you can help 
 him." I drew her to me until she resisted no more and fell 
 back into my arms. 
 
 Then I asked if she would like to know where we were, 
 and she answered, "Yes." Looking into her clear blue 
 eyes, which for the first time drank at the fount of love, I 
 said: 
 
 "My dear child, you are now in the realm called heaven." 
 She gave a start, then said : 
 
 "Guess I can find work here." 
 
 "Ah, yes, you can. But come now, we will not speak 
 about that. First we will find you a home and happiness." 
 
HEAVEN A HOME FOR THE HOMELESS 91 
 
 While I was speaking, one of the lambs came and sniffed 
 at her elbow. With a start, she drew herself together, 
 took it into her arms, and hugged it to her breast. Then 
 looking at me with a smile, she said : 
 
 "Can I keep these now, or do they belong to Mr. 
 Moose?" 
 
 "They belong to no one, dear. If you want them as 
 companions, it is well. You may care for them," said I. 
 "But now, let us go, for I know you are weary." 
 
 She arose, picked up one of her pets, and asked me to 
 take the other. We went straight toward the park, and 
 from there down the hill to grandfather's home. We 
 found him and his friend walking in the garden. Around 
 the garden were the stately forest trees, among which 
 murmured the brook. As we entered, grandfather turned 
 and saw us, exclaiming as he did so : 
 
 "Bless my soul, child! So thou hast come to see me. 
 Well, well ! And who mayest thou have with thee ?" 
 
 Then said I : "Grandpa, let us put her to rest. She has 
 just come to us." 
 
 "Verily, verily, this shall be done." Then seeing the 
 lambs which we had placed upon the ground, he continued : 
 "And have these come with thee from yonder world? 
 Come, come child, come George, come all, and let us spread 
 a feast unto the Lord." 
 
 We entered the house, and after my young friend had 
 been introduced to Aunt Esther she bade us to be patient 
 until a repast could be spread. Grandpa took the little 
 stranger upon his knee, for she was but a mere child, and 
 petted her kindly while she told him of her cruel treatment 
 and death. 
 
 In the meantime, I could see that his friend, George, 
 who had also been a lonely and homeless child upon his 
 arrival (he was found by grandpa, and has been with him 
 
9 2 BEYOND THE RIVER 
 
 ever since), became very much interested and almost 
 excited. Finally he said : 
 
 "Child, you shall no longer be abused ; that is all past 
 now. We shall make for you a home such as you have 
 never known." 
 
 "Yes, George," assented grandpa. "Verily, thou hast a 
 noble chance. She shall not leave here, but be thy ward, 
 and thou canst make her life what it ought to be, happy." 
 
 By this time Aunt Esther had prepared food, and our 
 little charge ate heartily. After the repast I kissed her 
 goodbye and returned home, satisfied that I had helped 
 this poor soul on the road to happiness. 
 
FRIENDS EVEN IN DEATH 
 
 Letter 10 
 
 "Still o'er these scenes my memory wakes, 
 
 And fondly broods with miser care; 
 Time but the impression deeper makes 
 As streams their channels deeper wear." 
 
 OETRY hovers near death until the end, then 
 draws away in terror." The writer of these 
 lines knew but little of the real nature of this 
 wonderful transition or he would not have said these 
 words. He would have said that poetry finds its highest 
 expression in the liberation of the soul from mortal thral- 
 dom. 
 
 Death is a climax in our chain of existences. It is the 
 dropping of the curtain on one scene in the eternal drama 
 of evolution. Death the destroyer is also the liberator. 
 Death the breaker is also the transformer. Death the 
 taker of life is also the giver, and gives more abundantly 
 than he takes. 
 
 The music of the soul is profoundest silence to the mor- 
 tal ear. The jar and clatter of earth's ponderous elements 
 are deafening to the ear of the spirit. To commune with 
 the infinite you must seek the mystic silence of your cham- 
 ber, the deep shade of the forest, or out into the reaches of 
 the desert. There, in the stillness of infinitude you may 
 hear the grander harmony to wmich the mortal ear is deaf. 
 
 This is the story of a lonely soul. Upon earth there was 
 but one who had an unselfish interest in her. Together 
 they had bloomed unseen in a wilderness of superstition 
 and ignorance — in a spiritual graveyard where real truth 
 had not a home. Here they grew as off-colored flowers in 
 
 93 
 
94 BEYOND THE RIVER 
 
 a deserted garden, happy in the sunshine of each other's 
 smile; dreaming, planning, hoping, and loving the world 
 for its own sake. 
 
 Life they loved for its sweetness, which in fact they 
 poured into it from the golden fountains of their youthful 
 souls. Thus they were bathed in the sweet waters of love, 
 when the reaper came and cut from the plant its blossom. 
 Thus they were alive upon the banks of the stream of 
 inspiration, when the gathering angel called and took her 
 home. And as she was a lonely soul to the world, the 
 world gave but a few flowers, shed a few common tears, 
 and forgetfulness swallowed her memory for all but one. 
 
 It is not our purpose to give the material details of this 
 transition. Why should we open healing wounds afresh? 
 Why paint pictures of lonely sadness filled with sobs, 
 sighs and gloom ? Better be it that we tell the brighter side 
 of the story. 
 
 A few years ago, according to your reckoning of time, I 
 had occasion to visit my grandfather, whose home is not 
 very far from the place where I awoke to a new existence, 
 under an ancient cypress-like tree. That tree is no more 
 upon this plane. Its place is taken by a plot of verdant 
 soft grass that came to us as the result of plowing a field 
 upon earth. 
 
 When going to my grandfather, I visit this place. It 
 has for the spirit a charm somewhat like a childhood home. 
 The life of the region has changed since last I saw it. 
 Some of the trees are gone, some of the houses changed. 
 The city seemed larger than now, which is not an actual 
 fact, but a sense delusion, due to familiarity with the sight. 
 For the rest, it was the same. At my feet still ripples the 
 brook, and in the distance, looming majestic against a 
 soft azure sky, were the alabaster summits of the moun- 
 tains. 
 
FRIENDS EVEN IN DEATH 95 
 
 When reaching the place, I sat down in the grass, toying 
 idly with vines and flowers, as I dreamed a poet's dream 
 of life and love, of sweet, sad loneliness, and of eager 
 impatience — emotions which, by their contrast, make this 
 life what it aright should be, a reality and not a dream. 
 
 As thus I toyed and dreamed I noticed the forming of 
 a group of fresh flowers at the edge of the grass plot in 
 which I sat. There were a few violets and carnations, 
 in the midst of which arose a stately hyacinth. The 
 hyacinth grew and unfolded with extraordinary power 
 and beauty. It had more than normal strength. By this 
 I knew that it was sent upward on a mighty spiritual wave 
 of love, agony and devotion. 
 
 The spirit in which we do a thing affects the thing 
 through which we do it, as well as the one we do it for. 
 These flowers, fresh from earth, convinced me that I 
 was in the presence of work to be done and must cease 
 my dreaming. Too much dreaming is not good, even 
 for us. 
 
 I walked down through the woods by the side of the 
 stream that flows into the gaseous sea, our mother 
 world's envelope, until I came to the open road that leads 
 to grandpa's house. As I approached the road, I noticed 
 under a clump of undergrowth the form of a young 
 woman, sleeping quietly on the soft grass. 
 
 She was not an ordinary figure, but large in body and, 
 as I was soon to learn, large in mind as well. Her head 
 was graced with a heavy mass of jet-black hair. Her 
 forehead was round and full. Her mouth was firm, yet 
 not unkind. Her nose was delicately drawn, showing her 
 nature to be extremely sensitive. Her figure was a trifle 
 too long to be perfect, although this was not noticeable 
 where she lay. 
 
 My first impression was that she was a creature of con- 
 
96 BEYOND THE RIVER 
 
 summate grace and development. I no longer marveled 
 at the wondrous growth of the hyacinth, for surely a soul 
 of such perfection could not but inspire devotion — could 
 not but be productive of spiritual strength to anything that 
 might be privileged to come into contact with her. She 
 was a soul of such magnetism as is compelled to hold an 
 opposite attraction with such power that not even the 
 scythe of death could sever the cord. 
 
 I knelt by her side and stroked her forehead, my heart 
 aglow with admiration. Surely she is a queen among 
 women. She awoke, and for the first time I gazed into the 
 windows of that immortal temple. (In souls of this order 
 lies the redemption of the world. And from them spring 
 the ambrosia and nectar of heaven.) 
 
 On awakening, she was not bewildered and understood 
 what had taken place. Though she had given immortality 
 but little thought, she was not frightened at her entry. In 
 the depths of her unselfish soul, even in this hour, she 
 forgot herself. Her mind went back to him who was yet 
 upon earth, filled with overflowing despair. 
 
 Her hope had always been to be his preserver, to care 
 for him while he made his mark. She realized that neither 
 a man nor a woman can climb high in life, unless lifted up 
 by hands of love. (He who serves mankind has but little 
 time to serve himself. She or he who takes part in the 
 battle also has a part in the victory.) She was great 
 enough to recognize his power. She was strong enough to 
 know that a man does not need a woman to cling to him, 
 but a companion to go with him. She feared but one thing, 
 and that was that her passing might lose him the battle — 
 might thwart the realization of their mutual aspiration. 
 "Oh," said she, "if only I was acquainted, so that I could 
 go about and prepare the way, for I see that should earth 
 prove too small there is room in the Universe for our 
 
FRIENDS EVEN IN DEATH 97 
 
 fondest dreams. There are unlimited possibilities among 
 the stars." 
 
 I asked if as yet she had met any of her relatives or 
 friends, and what her mortal name might be. 
 
 "I have not met anyone," was her answer. "You are the 
 first. I found myself here, after leaving the world ; that 
 is, a short distance up the road. I got up and walked until 
 tired, then sat down in the grass, fell asleep, and knew no 
 more until you awoke me." 
 
 There was a radiance of magnetic power that drew me 
 into her arms and she into mine. And as though prompted 
 by a higher power, I knew that here was a link in a golden 
 chain. I loved her by the divine right of spiritual harmony, 
 and in that love I made her a part of our home circle, a 
 member of our family, and so she shall remain until the 
 root of the hyacinth shall come to place the plant in the 
 garden of an independent home. 1 
 
 1 Here I must help the reader to clearly understand. No, not 
 even the cold, but nevertheless welcome, change called Death 
 can separate us from our own. The bouquet described was placed 
 on the casket in which the mortal remains of Alice was encased. 
 Lucelia, having been in spirit land a long time, and being of high 
 aspiration, had become so ethereal that she found it extremely 
 difficult to project writing thru the heavier psychomotor organ- 
 isms of our medium. So, what seemed as the saddest of all sad 
 calamities, from our point of view, blossomed out into the frui- 
 tion of greatest usefulness to us. Nature seemingly placed this 
 noble girl right into the arms of Lucelia, as it also placed our 
 physical medium into my hands. Being fresh from earth, Alice 
 naturally retained memory of her language in use down here. 
 When she became her normal self again, she also became the 
 intermediary between Lucelia and us. Being, as yet, strong 
 physically, and the engaged lover of our medium, she naturally 
 and lovingly took her place by his side in this work. And thus 
 thru the power of love the new link became welded into the 
 golden chain, and thus made it possible to transmit the golden 
 truths herein contained to a spiritually hungry but sadly mis- 
 guided world. — L. P. 
 
98 
 
 BEYOND THE RIVER 
 
 She asked if what she had gone through was all there is 
 of death. To which I answered that it was not death at 
 all, but the beginning of a new life based upon the expe- 
 riences of the old. 
 
 After a slight outburst of grief, she literally pulled her- 
 self together, and upon my invitation came with me. On 
 the way it was necessary to stop several times to rest. 
 We, like you, must take substance in order to exist. As 
 you take material food for your material needs, so we 
 must take food that fits our substance, differing from 
 yours only in the degree of attenuation. When she saw the 
 city, the meadows, the woodland, and mountains, her 
 artistic soul began to glow. 
 
 "What a land," said she, "in which to raise musicians, 
 poets, and artists. Here we have landscapes that no 
 artist could paint, unless he painted with the fire of inspira- 
 tion and the colors of the dawn." 
 
 On arriving at home, we vied with each other to make 
 her comfortable and happy. In this Rosie, who has ex- 
 ceptional musical ability, was especially successful. When 
 I saw that she had been made as comfortable as possible, I 
 hastened away to see Solon. After a short consultation 
 with regard to this case, he instructed me to go to the place 
 of her dismissal and see the boy [who subsequently became 
 our medium. — L. P.] to whom she seemed to be united 
 with the strongest possibilities, and do what I could to 
 lighten his grief. 
 
 I found him lying across the bed in a semi-trance condi- 
 tion, and to my surprise I discovered that he had extraor- 
 dinary psychomotor development, a condition of brain 
 prerequisite to a high order of inspirational and auto- 
 mative mediumship. 
 
 I spoke to him, and he answered. He was not at this 
 time objectively conscious, being almost completely sub- 
 
FRIENDS EVEN IN DEATH 99 
 
 dued by the strain under which he had been laboring since 
 his loss. This had, in a way, an advantageous side, as it 
 rendered him negative to my impressions. Fortunate it 
 was for us that he was not discovered and developed by 
 other bands for purposes of good or ill. 
 
 Finally returning to normal consciousness, he got up 
 in a dazed condition, left his room, and went to the house 
 of a friend, and I returned home, satisfied that I had 
 found a jewel for the crown of our order. 
 
 Shortly after my return home our new friend awoke. 
 I expected another scene of grief, but no. She was too 
 great, although the loneliness of her heart was written 
 deeply in the lineaments of her face. She said but little, 
 only appearing to be deeply anxious to learn the ways and 
 laws governing our life and world. 
 
 In the course of a few days her arrival became known, 
 and friends came to visit the new member of our band. 
 Quickly she gained their love by her open frankness and 
 even temper. She was invited to grandpa's, and Mr. Car- 
 lisle gave his usual good advice. 
 
 Everyone took an unselfish interest in her, and noticing 
 this she remarked that "most people were like the Indians. 
 Death seemed to improve them." This bit of cynical 
 humor, of course, caused a general laugh among the people 
 assembled. Finally mother said : 
 
 "Yes, child, it does. But we must be fitted on earth or 
 we could not reach this realm. You must have had lofty 
 thoughts, or you never could have come this far." 
 
 Then she asked : "Do you suppose you are now in 
 heaven ?" 
 
 "Yes," interrupted Mr. Carlisle, "only we do not call 
 it so, but strive to make life as near to a heavenly state as 
 possible." 
 
IOO BEYOND THE RIVER 
 
 After some time had elapsed, I asked if she would like 
 to visit the poet, Edgar Allan Poe. 
 
 "Ah," she exclaimed, "the author of The Raven.' How 
 full of meaning that poem will be to the one I left." Tears 
 came to her eyes, but choking down a sob she said : "It's 
 no use ; it is all over now. I have played and lost 1" 
 
 Mr. Carlisle took her hand as he said : "Dear girl, fear 
 not. The hand you won is won forever. You may have 
 to wait a long time, as you look upon it now. Nature will 
 bring to you your own. Surely time will heal his wounds 
 and yours, and you will go on with your work here, he 
 with his work there." 
 
 We did not like to tell her, just yet, that she could go 
 back and see him, as it would only intensify her grief, so I 
 said: 
 
 "Come, dear, we will go and visit Mr. Poe." Then 
 taking her hand and bidding goodbye to the folks, we 
 started for the home of the poet. 
 
 Our way led through the open fields, strewn with flowers 
 of various colors and covered with soft, wavy grass. Here 
 and there we saw flocks of sheep, goats, droves of cattle 
 and horses. All these things we noticed and talked about. 
 Coming to our destination, I asked if she could form a 
 mental picture of his house. 
 
 "Well," said she, "I think he would sit in the same kind 
 of chamber as the one in which he wrote 'The Raven/ " 
 Then she asked if he still pined for his lost Lenore. I had 
 no chance to answer, for we were at the poet's door. 
 
 We were admitted by a lady, who ushered us into the 
 parlor, where Mr. Poe received us. He was seated at a 
 large table upon which lay a number of books. He arose 
 and greeted us kindly, after which I introduced my young 
 friend, in whom he became deeply interested. 
 
 Finally Mr. Poe proposed that she stay in the circle of 
 
FRIENDS EVEN IN DEATH ioi 
 
 his friends, and learn from them the art of songcraft, a 
 proposition which she promised carefully to consider. 
 Said he : 
 
 "The one you left must feel as I felt. He should write 
 a sequel to The Raven/ " 
 
 His wife who, in the meantime, had been speaking to 
 me, now broke into their conversation with an invitation 
 for us both to go to a meeting of poets and artists 
 in the city. This we accepted, and taking our leave re- 
 turned home. She there informed mother and sister that 
 she was considering the proposition of taking up her 
 studies with the poets and artists ; a thing much to be de- 
 sired by us, for in her every action could be read the beauty 
 of her soul. I asked her finally if she would like to return 
 to earth for a visit, to which she replied : 
 
 "If that is possible, yes, for of all the things I prize in 
 life faithfulness is first, and to that I mean to cling even 
 in death." 
 
AT THE TEMPLE OF ART 
 Letter 11 
 
 CROSS the meadows from our home are the sub- 
 urbs of the great city. The name of this city we 
 have so far withheld, for reasons of our own, but 
 we will now disclose its name to you. We call it Ardis, a 
 large and beautiful city. It is a city not of commerce, 
 but of soul ; not of traffic, but of thought. It is a spirit 
 city for the spirit beautiful. 
 
 It is different from your earthly cities, as it is in reality 
 a large aggregate of small towns or villages, in which 
 nature and art walk side by side. Here, through rose 
 embowered gardens, life is ever in full tide, as it courses 
 through the giant trees and about the houses. The lawns 
 of soft grass invite the soul to sweetest meditation. 
 
 The city of Ardis proper is very, very ancient, having 
 been built by the most evolved minds that flourished in 
 early Indian civilization. These builders, however, have 
 long since migrated higher, leaving their heritage to the 
 sons of the white man. 
 
 That is why the nucleus of that city is today as it was of 
 yore, a walled stronghold, whose glittering ramparts, 
 flecked here and there with sprays of ivy and other creep- 
 ing vines, is preserved more as a relic of ancient psychol- 
 ogy than as an element of utility. Here dwell some of the 
 best talent earth has produced in the vocations of life. 
 We find the poet, the sculptor, the painter, and the author ; 
 also the inventor and reformer. In short, many of the 
 leaders in the ranks of progress. They surround them- 
 selves with the pure and the beautiful — with all that ap- 
 peals to reason and imagination. This place becomes a 
 
 102 
 
AT THE TEMPLE OF ART 
 
 103 
 
 heaven to them, because there is a chance to be active in 
 the improvement of one's self. 
 
 (Oh, inhabitants of earth! If you only would stretch 
 forth your hands and labor, both physically and mentally, 
 for purity, heaven's pure air would soon fill your nostrils, 
 even on earth.) 
 
 It is in one of those suburbs that we find a large private 
 school of music, songcraft, and fine art, in which I have 
 lately become interested, because our friend, Alice, of 
 whom I have spoken in the previous letter, is there receiv- 
 ing her training. It is the most suitable place for one of 
 her temperament and aspiration. 
 
 This school is on the very outskirts of the city ; occupy- 
 ing the summit of a good-sized hill, which is covered from 
 base to top with suitable vegetation, skillfully arranged by 
 a trained horticulturist. Paths wind about amid beds of 
 flowers. Fountains spray here and there upon the slopes. 
 Statues of both men and beast adorn all the prominent 
 places. Then last, but not least, is the school. 
 
 It is quite a large building, shaped after the ancient 
 Grecian Parthenon, with beautiful columns of a substance 
 that would look to you like white marble, gracefully fluted 
 and decorated with handsome capitals. The main walls 
 are creamy white. 
 
 I have to refer back to the columns that adorn this 
 building. They are symbolic in their construction, blend- 
 ing in their make-up the three great Grecian styles — ■ 
 Ionic, for grace ; Corinthian, for beauty ; and Doric, for 
 strength. The three concepts blended, being considered 
 the summum bonum of art as it is known here. (Art 
 sufTers sadly on earth, for it does not spring from the 
 spontaneous fires of the soul, but is created today upon the 
 earth plane solely to satisfy public demand, and the public 
 demand is vulgar. Art, to be art, must lea the artist 
 
104 BEYOND THE RIVER 
 
 free to listen to the call of his soul, not our soul, and 
 create purity for love of creation. Then you will have art 
 that is art indeed.) 
 
 We approach the building by means of a flight of four 
 steps, built out of the same substance as the pillars. These 
 steps are decorated by four sets of statues, two of a kind, 
 one on each side. At the base there are two lions, stand- 
 ing forth majestically as an emblem of power. Next are 
 two stately elks, which signify grace. Next we see two 
 figures with the balance, the personification of Justice. 
 Next and last are two wonderful statues of purest white. 
 They represent Venus, the goddess of love. They each 
 stand on a glittering orb, representing the planet Venus, 
 the evening star. These are the most wonderful works of 
 art. After passing these, we find ourselves among the 
 pillars, then enter the building. 
 
 The interior is divided into four auditoriums, two of 
 which have beautiful stages, with highly decorated back- 
 grounds. These are used for music, songcraft, and vocal 
 art. The other two have large platforms upon which the 
 masters do their work. The seats are built into the floor, 
 which incline toward the platforms or stages. It is hewn 
 out of white marble, and ornaments of the rarest quality 
 abound. The interior and exterior rival each other in 
 magnificence. 
 
 (Here the average mortal is ready for a laugh, yes, ready 
 to ridicule. You say that you can look into the sky and 
 no such things are visible. Look at your fellowmen 
 through an X-ray machine, and if it vibrate high enough, 
 though they were covered with three hundred pounds of 
 flesh, you would find them to be invisible, just as fully as 
 we are. Why, then, are spirit landscapes, as well as spirit 
 cities and spirit forms, invisible to you? The simple 
 answer is that sunlight acts upon spirit substance to the 
 
AT THE TEMPLE OF ART 105 
 
 mortal eye as does the X-ray machine upon concrete mat- 
 ter. It is high time that the mortal world should learn 
 these great yet simple truths.) 
 
 Now resuming our description of the school. 
 
 We next ascend a flight of steps and find ourselves on 
 the upper floor. Here the rooms are large and well lighted. 
 The walls are decorated with paintings and sculpture, sur- 
 rounded by rich drapery. 
 
 The students are seated in individual chairs, around 
 long reading tables, in the center of which are shelves 
 with all kinds of literature. Such are the study halls for 
 the mental branches of the curriculum. 
 
 In the art department the room in general is the same, 
 except that there are no tables, each scholar having a chair 
 and tripod upon which his canvas rests. In this way he 
 pursues his work under the supervision of a competent 
 teacher. 
 
 The students of music occupy a study hall so much like 
 the artist that for our present purpose it is needless to 
 describe it in detail. I will only say that all branches of 
 music are taught, from grand opera and symphony to the 
 flute and guitar. 
 
 I stated at the beginning of this letter that I was at- 
 tracted to this school for the reason that my young friend, 
 Alice, had decided to take up her course of study here. I 
 will now give you an outline of her work. 
 
 Shortly after her arrival, she decided to prepare for 
 some field of usefulness, for here as upon earth we are 
 influential only in the measure that we are useful. As you 
 know, there were several of the great poets that took an 
 interest in and gave her a place in the classes of the finer 
 arts. That is why, today, she controls this medium for the 
 purpose of giving poetry and romance. While, were I to 
 
106 BEYOND THE RIVER 
 
 control him, I would work more along scientific and 
 philanthropic lines. 
 
 But the remark has been made that I came as a poetic 
 influence. True, to some extent I naturally love the beauti- 
 ful, the poetic and sweeter tones of existence. But my 
 education was scientific and practical. The practical side 
 of existence is not lost in the great change. 1 
 
 Alice had studied with the poets at this school about one 
 year, of your time, when I decided to visit her, so that I 
 might see how she was progressing in her work. I felt 
 certain that she was a bright student. With this object 
 in view, I left home one morning and journeyed to the 
 city, thence to the school. 
 
 On entering the building, I asked an attendant where I 
 might find Alice, and he answered : 
 
 "At present, she is in the study room practicing art." 
 Then indicating a flight of steps, he said : 
 
 "This way, miss." 
 
 He led the way to the art students' room and intro- 
 duced me to the teacher, who called her. Seeing me, she 
 fairly jumped (for as yet, she has all the impetuosity that 
 characterized her in earth life), and said: 
 
 "Good heavens! What brings you here?" Then we 
 became lost in conversation. There was so much to say, 
 so many things to ask about, that I will not bore you with a 
 recital. 
 
 While thus engaged, the school was dismissed and all 
 
 1 Yes, this is true. I did make such a remark, quite a while 
 before these letters were written. I have already stated that she 
 used the vocal organs of the medium on whose center table I 
 found the book of biographical sketches, and where, in another 
 city, later on, I was also brought into contact with the automatic 
 hand. Thru the lips of that medium her poetic words fell as 
 softly as the snow-flakes from a leaden sky. But I did not at 
 that time know who this pure soul was. — L. P. 
 
AT THE TEMPLE OF ART 
 
 107 
 
 went their way. After inspecting the building, and her 
 work in its various branches of study, art, poetry, drama, 
 and music, we called on the principal, who gave her leave 
 of absence for a few days, a treat greatly appreciated. On 
 leaving the school, I took her for a visit to the home of the 
 poet, YYhittier, with whom we were both acquainted. 
 
 He lives outside of the city, in a small but beautiful 
 home. Everything about his place breathes the air of 
 poetry and art. A kind of melancholy comes over a per- 
 son when looking at this place, even from a distance. It 
 is a small house, with vine-covered veranda and moss- 
 covered roof, situated upon the bank of a murmuring 
 stream, and shaded by massive oak trees, which keep the 
 house in almost perpetual twilight. 
 
 Back among the trees there is a thick undergrowth of 
 profusely blossoming shrubbery, while some of the trees 
 nearest the house are dressed in heavy grapevines. Di- 
 rectly in front of the house, and along the path that leads 
 to the main city road, there are rows of bushes irregularly 
 arranged. In short, the house gives one the impression of 
 a hermitage in the wilderness. 
 
 Walking up the path towards the house, we found the 
 old man seated under one of the spreading oaks reading 
 a book. He arose, greeted us courteously, and invited us 
 to enter the house. Inside everything was plain but cozy — 
 just such a place as can inspire the Godlike simplicity 
 which we find in all his work. He asked us to be seated, 
 then resumed the conversation by telling us how he loved 
 his work, and expressed the hope that in time we, too, 
 might become masters of that sublime art. Said he: 
 
 "Girls, you cannot imagine what it means to live the 
 life of a poet unless you are such yourself. To me, the 
 man is blind who does not look thru poet's eyes and see 
 divinity everywhere. Common ears hear but common 
 
108 BEYOND THE RIVER 
 
 sound. To the poet's ear all is music. His soul, un- 
 bound, grasps far more of the beauties of the universe 
 than he whose soul has not been touched by the wand of 
 Orpheus. To him all things move and live with divine 
 life, and reecho their existence in the world of his soul. 
 The soft green, the hue of the flowers, the murmuring 
 brooks, the humming birds, the mighty rivers, roaring 
 cataracts, valleys, hills, mountains, caves, the infinity of 
 space, the stars in all their luster, speak to the poet's soul — 
 speak a language that is not to be spoken by mortal 
 tongue ; for tongue nor pen can do it justice. 
 
 It is the inner language the poet feels and expresses in 
 the crude instrument of speech. Then he has to depend 
 upon his readers to enter with him into the great sanctuary 
 of nature and see, thru the ill-expressed words, the deeper 
 and grander conception as it is felt by him who drinks 
 direct from the fountain of inspiration. Yes, it is marvel- 
 ous. Have you not found it so, Miss Alice ?" She 
 answered : 
 
 "I dare say I have. But to me they all appear with a 
 definite meaning. I do not, so much as you, feel the beauty 
 of land and water, sky and space. To me, rather, they 
 symbolize human emotion, human passion. For instance, 
 when I wander among the flowers which fill the air with 
 their fragrance and gladden the eye with their soft beauty, 
 I feel inwardly that they personify love, to me the high- 
 est of all emotions. They vary in odor and color; still 
 they produce, to my mind, a harmony sweet and melodious. 
 Then I say to myself : 'Sweet and pure as are earth's blos- 
 soms, so shall, ere long, her mortals be.' On the other 
 hand, I stand by a great waterfall, or behold the fury of 
 the elements, then I cannot help but think of its opposite — 
 hate, force, and power. This calls to my imagination 
 pictures of jealousy, hate, and strife, which hang upon 
 
AT THE TEMPLE OF ART 
 
 109 
 
 the walls of existence. These, of course, are the two 
 extreme opposites. Every shade between them portrays 
 different emotions." 
 
 "Certainly, certainly, assented the old man. In method 
 we all differ, yet in feeling we are one." 
 
 For some time the conversation continued, until the 
 time came to say farewell to our friend who had so pleas- 
 antly entertained us, and together we returned to enjoy a 
 few days' vacation at the quiet woodland home of our 
 mother. 
 
OUR PURPOSE 
 
 Letter 12 
 
 N a few short letters, I have tried to give you a 
 little insight into our mode of existence on our 
 plane in spirit life. We have also faithfully en- 
 deavored to give the connecting links that bind together 
 our workers on earth, who work in harmony with our 
 society. And tho as yet they are scattered and unac- 
 quainted, we are succeeding in drawing them closer and 
 closer together. We hope ere long to have several more 
 mediums working along the same lines. 1 
 
 Now at the close of this work I do not want to leave 
 the impression that we wish to discredit the work of 
 others, who may perhaps differ in the description and 
 location of places. Remember that the native of Missis- 
 sippi and the native of Alaska may both tell the truth, yet 
 must necessarily describe very different scenes. And 
 again, if my sister was to write from the same premise 
 that I have, she would form for her mainstay the musical 
 world, and would mention some of the giants in the field 
 of music, as I have in poetry, literature, and science. If 
 our youthful friend were to write, it would deal with 
 poetry and nature. While if mother or grandfather were 
 to write, they would deal with the quiet of home life. 
 
 We hope the reader will remember that this description 
 covers but a small part of the great spiritual realms ; that 
 we have not tried to describe any other plane of develop- 
 ment than our own. 
 
 1 Yes, at her urge we crossed the country from Seattle to 
 Boston to grasp the hand of that great soul, A. J. Davis. — L. P. 
 
 110 
 
OUR PURPOSE III 
 
 It is our object to labor for the betterment of the world, 
 so as to prepare or, rather, help to prepare men, that they 
 may be able to take the greatest possible step, from time 
 into eternity. We mean to do all in our power to rob the 
 grave of its terror, and bring to the world the knowledge 
 that death places the soul but a pace further upon the road 
 of existence. That the length of that pace, depends en- 
 tirely upon how you prepare yourself upon earth, that 
 nature is just and exacts no undue punishment, and that 
 the Universe is governed by Law. We have tried to com- 
 bine the scenes of our lives and the facts we have ascer- 
 tained. This was our purpose, is and will be our purpose, 
 forever. 
 
 Such was my aspiration as I walked among the pines 
 where now rest my remains, and it has clung to me until I 
 found mortals who could make known my existence, to 
 the echo of my soul, on earth, even until a faint re- 
 semblance was drawn and placed before his eyes. Then 
 I continued my labor until I got him in contact with honest 
 instruments who could give expression to the truth, in a 
 verbal way, and finally, I crowned my mission upon 
 earth, by bringing into our circle one whose hand, whose 
 voice, whose eye and ear, could be used in giving to the 
 world the truth in all its simplicity. 
 
 He (the medium) may rest assured that he shall find the 
 hand of her (Alice) whom he caressed, ready to help and 
 to strengthen him. To do this now and forever is our 
 purpose. 
 
 Beyond the River was originally given as a compli- 
 mentary work to the people in whose home this medium 
 was partially developed, and as a history to the person 
 whose life, with mine, is one, so that he might know why 
 the occurrences which took place in his life, and for which 
 he could find no explanation, came about. In other words, 
 
112 BEYOND THE RIVER 
 
 we desired to demonstrate to him the relation he bears to 
 us and to our work. 
 
 Further, we can say that, while thru the hand of this 
 medium correspondence has been reduced to a degree of 
 perfection hitherto seldom attained, we have succeeded in 
 giving to the world what we have desired to give since the 
 year 1882, A. D. Having accomplished that, we wish to 
 .sign ourselves in full, so the world may know that these 
 letters are not dreams of idle fancy, which ere long shall 
 come to naught. Lucelia A. Lovejoy, 
 
 Under the direction of Solon. 
 
Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process 
 Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide 
 Treatment Date: Nov. 2004 
 
 PreservationTechnologie* 
 
 A WORLD LEADER IN PAPER PRESERVATIOf 
 
 1 1 1 Thomson Park Drive 
 Cranberry Township, PA 16066 
 (724)779-2111 
 

 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
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