,illustration3 ,c4 ,g4 ,helleberg ,a ,,book ,,written ,,by ,,the ,,spirits ,,of ,,the ,,so-,,called ,,dead1 ,,with ,,their ,,own ,,materialized ,,hands1 ,,by ,,the ,,process ,,of ,,independent ,,slate-,,writing1 ,,through ,,mrs4 ,,lizzie ,s4 ,,green ,,and ,,others1 ,,as ,,mediums4 ,,compiled ,,and ,,arranged ,,by ,c4 ,g4 ,,helleberg1 ,,of ,,cincinnati1 ,,ohio4 ,life is real6 life is earnest6 ,and the grave is not its goal4 ,dust thou art1 to dust returnest1 ,was not written of the soul4 --,,longfellow4 ,,cincinnati3 #ahhc4 ,,copyrighted1 #ahhb1 ,,by ,c4 ,g4 ,,helleberg4 ,,contents4 ,,page ,,chapter ,i4 ,introduction and ,biographical ,sketches of ,c4 ,g4 ,helleberg1 ,madam ,fredrika ,ehrenborg1 and ,mrs4 ,lizzie ,t4 ,green #a ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,first ,investigations with ,mrs4 ,laura ,mosser and ,mrs4 ,cooper #f ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,remarkable ,materialization ,seance--,letters from ,mrs4 ,ehrenborg describing ,inhabitants of other ,planets #ad ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,madam ,ehrenborg and others ,materialize #bc ,,chapter ,v4 ,investigations by ,mrs4 ,jennie ,mc,kee--,first ,letter from ,emanuel ,swedenborg and ,communications from ,polheim and others--,received five beautiful ,flowers from ,madam ,ehrenborg #bf ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,mrs4 ,mc,kee passes away and her ,spirit arranges her own ,funeral #cc ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,investigations with ,mrs4 ,green--,remarkable dark ,trumpet ,seance1 at which ,i received a most beautiful ,flower from my ,son ,emil and ,miss ,mary ,muth #cf ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,sure ,identity of my ,father-in-,law--,madam ,ehrenborg writes to me in ,swedish #dj ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,information of a ,spiritual ,marriage--,the ,wedding and the ,wedding ,tour to the ,planet ,mars #de ,,chapter ,x4 ,description of the ,journey to ,mars1 and wonderful ,information furnished by ,madam ,ehrenborg #ed ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,communications from ,emanuel ,swedenborg #ajh ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,communications from ,george ,washington #ada ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,communications from my ,son ,emil about ,ex-,president ,garfield-- ,greetings from ,madam ,ehrenborg--,letter from ,rev4 ,goddard and ,swedenborg's ,answer #aeg ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,communications from ,president ,garfield1 ,madam ,ehrenborg1 ,governor ,j4 ,d4 ,williams1 ,president ,abraham ,lincoln1 ,judge ,edmonds #afc ,,chapter ,,xv4 ,new ,years' ,greetings from many of my dear ,spirit ,friends and near ,relations #agj ,,chapter ,,xvi4 ,a ,prayer from ,madam ,ehrenborg #agc ,,chapter ,,xvii4 ,greeting from ,horace ,greeley1 ,j4 ,g4 ,bennett1 and ,henry ,j4 ,raymond to ,f4 ,b4 ,plimpton1 ,associate ,editor of the ,cincinnati ,daily ,commercial #agf ,,chapter ,,xviii4 ,communications from ,horace ,greeley1 ,governor ,o4 ,p4 ,morton1 ,a4 ,p4 ,willard #ahj ,,chapter ,,xix4 ,communications from the ,drunkard1 a ,miser1 ,william ,gailard1 ,william ,lloyd ,garrison1 ,wilberforce1 ,tecumseh1 a ,suicide #ahg ,,chapter ,,xx4 ,communications from ,thomas ,paine1 ,margaret ,fuller1 and ,thanks of ,spirits #aii ,,chapter ,,xxi--,,appendix4 ,mrs4 ,green's ,medial ,history #bjd ,,chapter ,,xxii4 ,a ,visit to ,split ,rock1 ,kentucky--,christmas ,greetings from ,ida to her ,parents--,annie ,winterburn to her ,brother1 ,john ,winterburn1 and his ,testimony1 and her ,farewell to the ,medium1 ,mrs4 ,green #bbb ,,chapter ,,xxiii4 ,a ,spirit peels a ,banana1 eats some of it1 and divides the rest in four equal parts--,reports of ,cincinnati ,enquirer about ,spirit ,seances at ,mrs4 ,green's #bca ,,chapter ,,xxiv4 ,extracts from each of two ,funeral ,discourses by ,bishop ,simpson and ,rev4 ,w4 ,h4 ,thomas1 ,d4 ,d41 with ,conclusions of ,c4 ,g4 ,helleberg #bci ,,errata4 ,page #c1 line #bf1 for most communications1 read most of the communications4 #bd1 line #g1 for ,mrs4 ,stebbins1 read ,mr4 ,stebbins4 #bi1 line #ah1 for are1 read is4 #cj1 line #bg1 for their1 read his4 #cj1 line #bh1 for them1 read him4 #cd1 line #h1 for was1 read were4 #ce1 line #a1 for this is1 read these are4 #df1 line #b1 for me and my wife1 read my wife and ,i4 #di1 line #g1 for ,edward1 read ,edwin4 #ej1 line #ae1 for ,guthof1 read ,gustaf4 #ea1 line #bf1 for thy1 read the4 #eg1 line #af1 for were1 read was4 #fj1 line #f1 for me1 read us4 #fj1 line #bf1 for a1 read the4 #fc1 line #ba1 for our1 read the4 #fh1 line #h1 for miscreants1 read misdeeds4 #fi1 line #d1 for ,daniel1 read ,david4 #fi1 line #ca1 for laws1 read love4 #ga1 line #bd1 for nearly1 read nearly a third4 #gf1 line #cj1 for ever1 read ever surging4 #gg1 line #i1 for of more1 read of the more4 #gg1 line #cj1 for rivulet1 read violent4 #hj1 line #bg1 for of1 read and4 #hb1 line #ac1 for formed1 read former4 #hc1 last line read1 and out of the ambient4 #hd1 line #ag1 for then1 read there4 #hf1 line #a1 for mighty1 read weighty4 #hh1 line #bj1 omit again regained1 and read required4 #ij1 line #ad1 for glory1 read misery4 #ia1 next to last line for when1 read where4 #id1 line #af1 for constitutional1 read constituent4 #ajj1 line #bf1 for beautiful1 read beautifully4 #aja1 line #e1 for originated1 read originating4 #ajg1 line #ah1 for you1 read your4 #aji1 last line1 for question1 read questioned4 #aaa1 line #ah1 for figures1 read pigmies4 #aae1 line #aj1 for needs1 read needs but4 #abj1 line #f1 for or1 read are4 #aba1 line #ad1 for early1 read latter4 #acc1 line #bb1 for unbeliefs1 read erroneous belief4 #acf1 line #aa1 for hearsay1 read heresy4 #adg1 line #bh1 for he1 read the4 #aeg1 line #bb1 for with1 read by4 #afe1 last line1 for you thought1 read your thoughts4 #afg1 line #ad1 for nationalism1 read rationalism1 etc4 #agd1 line #d1 for almighty1 read mighty4 #agd1 last line for to1 read through4 #ahj1 line #bd1 for arises1 read arise4 #ahc1 line #c1 for pacified1 read purified4 #ahd1 line #bg1 for subsequent1 read consequent4 #ahg1 line #be1 for trifling1 read toiling4 #bjj1 line #e1 for actuate1 read actuates4 #bjj1 line #bc1 for adapting1 read adopting4 #baj1 line #cj1 for ,j4 ,j4 ,w4 ,gaff1 read ,t4 ,j4 ,w4 ,gaff4 #baa1 line #ad1 for mission1 read vision4 #baa1 line #ai1 for literary1 read literally4 #bba1 line next to bottom1 for assimilation1 read dissemination4 #bca1 line #b1 for bonana1 read banana4 #bdj1 line #ba1 for of1 read to4 ,,spirit ,,communications4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,introduction4 ,the communications in this little volume1 purporting to come from disembodied spirits1 came in the manner hereinafter stated1 and all that ,i had to do with them was to faithfully and to the letter transcribe them from the slate on which they were written into blank memorandum books which ,i procured for the purpose4 ,before laying before the reader the modus operandi of their delivery1 ,i deem it proper that ,i should give a brief outline of my own history1 especially do ,i feel the importance of this since ,i am little known outside of the circle of my immediate acquaintances4 ,it has always been my aim in life to live uprightly before ,god and man1 and as to the success of this noble purpose1 formed in early life1 ,i may confidently refer to my neighbors1 and many of the leading citizens of ,cincinnati1 ,ohio1 with whom ,i have enjoyed an intimate social and business acquaintance for nearly forty years4 ,i do not know why ,i should have been made the recipient and custodian of the truly remarkable spirit communications contained in the following pages1 except from a long lifetime of honest endeavor to do right ,i was deemed worthy1 and from the additional consideration that the spirits interested in the work knew ,i would cordially co-operate with them in laying the matter presented before the world1 and that1 happily1 ,i possessed the pecuniary means to do so4 ,i was born at ,grafriset1 near ,fahlun1 in the kingdom of ,sweden1 ,march #a1 #ahaa1 and have now passed my seventy-first year4 ,at the age of sixteen ,i entered the ,swedish army1 and at nineteen became a student at ,upsala ,university1 where ,i remained for two years4 ,after rendering military service for five years1 and passing a successful examination1 ,i was permitted to enter the civil service of my country4 ,in the capacity of land surveyor ,i served for over ten years1 when a desire to personally witness the workings of republican institutions induced me to make an application to travel in foreign countries1 which permission ,i obtained for the period of two years4 ,in #ahdd ,i left my native land for the ,united ,states1 and in #ahde located at ,cincinnati1 ,ohio1 and soon thereafter engaged in the art of daguerreotyping1 and afterwards photographing1 and in the following year married ,miss ,annie ,e4 ,franks1 daughter of ,frederick ,franks1 a leading and influential citizen of the city1 who is still remembered as the proprietor of ,cincinnati's early famous museum4 ,in religion ,i was raised a ,lutheran1 but at the time 7#ahgi7 of embracing spiritualism and for thirty years preceding ,i was a devout and earnest ,swedenborgian4 ,i commenced the investigation of spiritual phenomena in #ahgi1 and soon became convinced of the sublime truths of the spiritual philosophy4 ,as in the following pages the exalted spirit of ,madam ,fredrika ,ehrenborg imparts1 among other things1 marvelous information in regard to the ,planet ,mars1 of our solar system1 it is deemed fitting that somewhat of her history should be made known in this connection3 ,she was born ,march #ae1 #agid1 in the ,province of ,wermland1 in the kingdom of ,sweden1 and at the age of seventeen married a highly esteemed nobleman1 ,casper ,isac ,michael ,ehrenborg4 ,he left the body in #ahbc1 and was at the time ,chief ,justice of ,sweden4 ,madam ,ehrenborg was an enthusiastic ,swedenborgian1 and she passed to the higher life in the ,swedish city of ,linkoeping on the #bjth of ,may1 #ahgc4 ,her life in many respects was an eventful one1 and largely devoted to literary pursuits4 ,she translated writings on religious subjects from several languages into ,swedish1 and wrote books and pamphlets in the interest of ,swedenborgianism1 and visited ,england1 ,switzerland1 ,denmark1 ,germany and ,france in search of materials for her works4 ,it was not my good fortune to have met this eminent lady during her mortal life1 but ,i happily enjoyed a truly instructive and pleasant correspondence with her during the last three years of her life in the form4 ,i commenced my investigations in ,september1 #ahha1 with the celebrated medium ,mrs4 ,lizzie ,s4 ,green1 through whose mediumship most of the communications to follow were written4 ,for ten months ,i had never less than two sittings a week1 and the largest portion of that time four per week1 and have had ample opportunities to study her true character4 ,as the result ,i am justified by the truth in proclaiming to the world my thorough conviction of her honesty1 purity and simplicity of character4 ,her education1 as ,i have been informed1 was sadly neglected in youth1 and she has had few opportunities to improve in later years4 ,she married the ,hon4 ,edward ,h4 ,green1 of ,aurora1 ,indiana1 before her eighteenth year1 and has devoted her succeeding years until recently to the domestic duties of life and to the raising of a family1 of whom only one1 a daughter1 survives4 ,her husband served with ability a numerous and intelligent constituency in the ,indiana legislature of #ahff-g1 and served recently and to general acceptance two terms of two years each as ,mayor of ,aurora1 ,indiana1 his native city4 ,the communications of spirits contained in this volume were written by the spirits with their own materialized hands1 and the process was generally as follows3 ,a small stand of the ordinary kind in construction1 covered by a table cloth1 was used1 the medium placing with one hand under the covering of the stand a slate on which was placed a small piece of pencil4 ,the other hand of the medium was continually exposed to full view1 as was also her entire form4 ,both double and single slates were used4 ,we heard the writing as it progressed1 and when the slate was filled it would be indicated by distinct taps on the slate and the dropping of the pencil4 ,the slate would be then taken out1 and as the chosen scribe ,i would faithfully transcribe the written matter into the book aforementioned1 and the slate would then be cleaned and returned under the stand1 and in this manner all the matter hereinafter set forth was produced4 ,i have reported it verbatim et literatim1 without changing it in the slightest degree1 neither adding nor taking therefrom a single word4 ,each sitting would occupy from one to two hours1 and in broad daylight4 ,i have taken occasion to preface some of these communications with a few lines1 by way of explanation and to secure clearness of understanding in relation to them4 ,this volume is truly a book written by the spirits themselves1 and whatever merit it may possess1 they alone are entitled to the credit1 and whatever of demerit1 if any1 they alone are chargeable and responsible4 ,of one thing both the mediums and myself can truly avouch1 and are willing to solemnize with our oaths1 namely1 that we had nothing whatever to do with the production of the communications except so far as we may have aided the communicating intelligences by furnishing them with the necessary and required conditions4 ,i launch forth the work not1 however1 without misgivings as to its reception and fate in this age of incredulity and skepticism1 and my only hope is that it may be instrumental in doing good1 if but only in a feeble degree1 which alone will be ample compensation for my time and labor4 ,,carl ,,gustaf ,,helleberg4 #agg ,auburn street1 ,cincinnati1 ,ohio4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,my investigations of spiritualism commenced with the excellent medium1 ,mrs4 ,laura ,mosser1 now ,mrs4 ,carter1 through whose mediumship ,i had the first slate-writing1 ,august #ca1 #ahgi1 at her residence1 ,no4 #bec ,laurel street1 ,cincinnati1 ,ohio1 from my spirit friend1 ,william ,gailard1 and my dear son ,emil4 ,my truth-loving friend1 ,mr4 ,s4 ,g4 ,anderson1 at my request1 introduced me to ,mrs4 ,mosser1 at her residence1 where we both on a clear ,sunday morning1 after we had some communications between a double slate from ,mr4 ,gailard and my son1 saw a spirit hand between us1 into which ,mr4 ,anderson put his handkerchief1 which was taken under the stand1 and afterwards came out tied in three knots4 ,it was written on the slate at the same time that ,mr4 ,anderson's two sisters and his brother ,john1 who all many years ago had passed away in ,sweden1 each of them had tied a knot4 ,during this occurrence we had ,mrs4 ,mosser in full view1 who was rocking in a rocking chair1 and the only part hidden was her right hand when it held the slate under the small stand4 ,from this remarkable result ,i concluded to go on with the investigation1 and had many interesting communications1 mostly concerning family relations1 until the #hth of ,december1 #ahhj1 when ,i became acquainted with that most respectable lady1 ,mrs4 ,annie ,cooper1 who is a true and honest medium4 ,through her gifts ,i had many wonderful manifestations1 consisting of slate-writings and materializations1 etc4 ,i will mention only a few4 ,on the #aath ,may1 #ahha1 among other things which appeared on the slate was the following3 ,good morning1 my dear friend4 ,across the deep ,i have communicated to you4 ,with great pleasure ,i accept the opportunity of still doing so4 ,i am anxious that all ,i hold dear should understand this phenomenon4 ,hope lingers around me that ,i shall be able to make myself known as if on earth4 ,one thing ,i thank you for1 the kind appreciation of a small tribute of friendship ,i tried to bestow4 ,every day since ,i came here ,i have learned something4 ,knowledge is not stopped by the change4 ,my friend1 many persons think that when the change called death comes and the spirit is released from the body1 it becomes perfect at once4 ,that is a mistake2 we come out of the earthly body with all the propensities which actuate us while in it1 and we come out of them only as we are educated and progress4 ,oh1 dear friend1 ,i can see now that there are many human beings dazed at the wiles of mistakes made by early education1 instead of looking up to something higher and brighter4 ,yes1 man still asks1 with prayerful heart1 what are his wants to be in the future8 and why was he born8 and why does he die8 ,oh1 why does man mourn over a law that was ordained for the benefit of all mankind8 ,why tears fall when he stands where the form of some loved one is laid8 ,is hope gone8 ,yes1 because they know not where they are gone and what they are now4 ,no one should mourn at death1 for death is as legitimate as birth4 ,yes1 no science1 with all its bright knowledge1 has been able to penetrate this system or sphere peopled by those who once dwelt as you do now4 ,oh1 if suffering humanity could realize these beautiful truths1 it would remove every doubt and dispel every fear that death transports man far away from earthly loved ones4 ,my dear friend1 to you this knowledge has been like a gentle zephyr that cools the cheeks on a warm summer evening4 ,i am happy to be able to see you in possession of these noble sentiments4 ,let eternal progression be engraved on your banner and you will soar far above doubt and mystery1 that surround so many in earth life4 ,man no longer bows to an angry ,god1 nor needs a mediator to propitiate him4 ,i am so happy to be able now to enjoy and fully realize what ,i believed to be true1 with but little besides my own evidence and knowledge to convince me that it was a truth4 ,i have been reproved even for an acknowledgment1 but all do not understand alike4 ,i was fully assured before my spirit left the physical habitation for spiritual inheritance that ,i was surrounded by angels1 kind and loving1 guarding and guiding me to a higher and better life4 ,i passed through as if in a gentle slumber1 awakening to meet many bright faces1 yes1 too many to number1 that had gone before and landed safely on the bright1 celestial shore4 ,earthly views can not comprehend heavenly joys4 ,oh1 think of it1 my friend1 to meet those to whom you are bound to by the ties of nature in early affection1 never1 never to part again1 but to dwell in the light of a harmonious atmosphere of love1 surrounded by angels and music from the bright realms above4 ,there is no end to life1 the spirit is eternal1 and as we travel onward we can look upward in hope1 for there is always something above4 ,i will be able to communicate to you on different subjects the next interview4 ,give my love to your dear lady4 ,i will now call on her1 and we will yet meet1 but not as strangers4 ,in the language of flowers1 we remember in the sweet forget me not4#a ,adieu for the present4 ,your most sincere friend1 ,,fredrika ,,ehrenborg4 ,this was the first communication between the double slate from ,madam ,ehrenborg1 and on the #aith of ,may she gave another one1 as follows3 ,good morning1 my clear friend4 ,in love and justice for your kindness ,i come this morning4 ,i feel like writing on that subject1 justice1 for it enters into the divine unfolding of eternity4 ,millions stand at the bar of the great tribune waiting to hear their sentence pronounced4 ,justice enters into the majesty of universal law4 ,what generation can gather it and hold it in their embrace8 ,yes1 justice is the universal law1 that no age1 no nation can control or hold in subjection4 ,when they have gained one step in the right direction they may then think they have gained it all1 but as we ascend the steps to that mighty throne of infinity we see justice beyond the ken of hundreds of humanity that have passed away4 ,justice is so unlimited we can compass only a part of it1 according to the knowledge we possess1 and have cultivated the principal subject of the development4 ,no people or nation can make laws to govern any other nation or people who can succeed them or figure on this planet4 ,what can finite man do to control the ,infinite8 ,can he gather and control the winds and the seasons as they come and go with all their powerful influences on the globe8 ,no2 neither can he gather and control the developments of minds1 or subject them to any law that he may enact4 ,history records the rise and fall of empires2 behold1 they have all passed away2 each gives place to another form of government1 better adapted to the wants and conditions of the then existing humanity4 ,dear friend1 the heavenly trees are filled with divine fruit1 whose beauty is reflected to earth4 ,truth is mightier than man1 sharper than a two-edged sword1 and it will mow down every obstacle in the way of progress4 ,the spirit world is united in trying to lay the corner-stone of a temple so large that it will contain the whole human family4 ,oh1 how grand when all can offer up the highest tribute of love to the divine unfolding spirit1 and receive the sacred knowledge and love which shall bring humanity together in peace and harmony1 then in truth all will be free4 ,it gives me renewed strength to see the new and beautiful ideas floating about1 spirit messengers wafted to earth1 blending with man1 woman and child as they go forth clearing the pathway to their eternal home1 where all is love and harmony4 ,the light of this beautiful truth is fast dawning1 and suffering mortals will awake in joy to the light of it1 and be crowned in the glory of the morning4 ,it is not hard for spirits to communicate with friends on earth1 but often difficult to have conditions4 ,man must have some spirituality in his soul before he can realize the truth that his loved ones are waiting1 willing to help him upwards as they stand on the bright1 celestial shore4 ,dear friend1 ,i am sure ,i am gaining power1 and would be able to say a great deal in a short time through this medium if no change of conditions come4 ,i hope to help you to do what you so much desire4 ,i can go to my dear friends across the water and help you by impressing them that all is true4 ,now ,i must withdraw1 but will be very happy to come again to you1 and give you all the knowledge ,i can4 ,i am glad to see you so interested in learning what can only be taught by those who have passed the sands of earth life1 and are happy exploring the unexplored field of life beyond4 ,good by1 go on1 fear not1 the course you pursue is right4 ,your true friend in spirit life1 ,,fredrika ,,ehrenborg4 ,on the #bdth of ,may1 from #i to #ab ,a4 ,m41 the same highly esteemed spirit friend wrote on the slate3 ,good morning1 my dear friend4 ,i greet you this morning1 united with so many of your loved ones4 ,your beautiful mother says it would not be heaven if we were shut out from the knowledge of our friends in the form4 ,no1 it could not be heaven if it made us selfish4 ,i am glad you have reached that part of life and find bright rays daily4 ,freedom brings its own reward1 and the light that has been given to you will enable you to have yours while life lasts4 ,you will never be bereft of friends on this shore4 ,you will have them in both spheres4 ,is it not grand to be able to understand1 and even more1 to appreciate1 this knowledge8 ,light is pouring in1 and the minds of men are becoming more active every day4 ,mankind are like hungry children who want food2 yes1 so great do they crave the knowledge of the immortality that it will take firm reasoning and true workers to supply them4 ,we rejoice1 for we are sure that progress is rapid4 ,earth friends often wonder what spirits find to do4 ,if they could realize even half the wonderful work that is going on1 they would be astonished that spirits had accomplished so much for the welfare of humanity4 ,i am so happy my soul expands in love4 ,i feel ,i am young1 and ,i am1 for ,i am born again4 ,i am contented to have struggled so many years in earth life1 for it has brought me grand reward4 ,all trials are worth the privilege and pleasure we enjoy when we reach our spirit home4 ,i can see now that it is no hiding-place in man's true nature1 and if they are not learned upon the terrestrial planet1 they will have to learn before they can become celestial angels4 ,selfishness is cold and freezing1 love is genial and warms up the human soul1 and thereby will promote its happiness4 ,let love be cultivated by man1 for it is a favorite flower1 the flower of life and the beauty of the soul1 and by it humanity is renewed continually and brought to the newness of life's beauty1 truth1 beauty and higher spheres of eternal existence1 and without it man can never understand or have any conception of his heavenly home4 ,oh1 if love were the ruling influence1 sorrow would be hard to find1 heart aches would be nowhere felt4 ,an early writer said3 ',if you can not love him whom you have seen1 how can you love them whom you have not seen and be beloved in return8' ,in loving one another we love ,god1 for ,god is love4 ,his love is manifesting in man4 ,oh1 that it may be cultivated1 and not destroyed4 ,dear friend1 ,i feel ,i have given you an introduction at least in my three letters of what ,i believe would be a benefit to man if they could but understand how much depends upon them1 not alone for themselves1 but for the welfare and happiness of others4 ,i will be able1 as conditions are given1 to write of my surroundings in my beautiful home1 where all is love and harmony1 peace reigns and all willing to submit to the ruling power4 ,you have done more good than you are aware of4 ,it is the greatest workers that always feel they are doing least4 ,you send forth subjects that give new ideas to those who read them1 awakening interest without any desire on their part4 ,as ,i said before1 if conditions are not interrupted1 you will have much to read and to write4 ,i have said all on this subject that ,i can1 but ,i am not at a loss for something more to write about1 for in spirit home how many beautiful things that have never yet been talked about too glorious to be enjoyed without giving the knowledge of their existence to our earth friends6 ,a circle surrounds you this morning of loved ones near and dear1 and your mother is cherished in loving kindness by children1 children's children4 ,emil is a bright spirit1 and will be able to give much knowledge to those who are a great deal older4 ,dear friend1 ,i must withdraw and obey the law that governs my comings4 ,all looks well for you so far as ,i see4 ,no one can be really happy until their spirit is free to enjoy that happiness which is permanent1 for all earthly pleasures are but temporary4 ,farewell for the present4 ,in ,god's love may you continue your journey until you arrive on the mount where no dark ravines can intervene your happiness4 ,good bye for the present4 ,your sincere friend in spirit life1 ,,fredrika ,,ehrenborg4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,remarkable ,,materialization ,,seance--,,letters ,,from ,,mrs4 ,,ehrenborg ,,and ,,others ,,describing ,,inhabitants ,,of ,,planets4 ,in the evening of the same day ,i was at a materializing seance at ,mrs4 ,cooper's1 where the following persons besides myself were present3 ,mr4 ,cooper1 his wife1 ,mrs4 ,annie ,cooper1 the medium2 ,dr4 ,joseph ,r4 ,wittemore1 ,no4 #ej ,dayton street2 ,john ,winterborn1 ,no4 #ai ,freeman avenue2 ,mr4 ,oberline1 ,mr4 ,s4 ,g4 ,anderson1 and ,mr4 ,charles ,wilhelm1 all of ,cincinnati4 ,first1 ,mrs4 ,cooper sat herself in full gas-light by the small covered stand1 under which was placed three bells1 a walking stick1 and my small spring music-box1 after ,i had wound it up4 ,soon after the spirits moved the box up and down and put it on end during playing1 which we could see1 because ,i put the box only half under the curtain4 ,as soon as the playing stopped1 the box was taken entirely under and finally pushed out for me to wind up4 ,the bells were ringing and the walking stick was held up and extended to all of us to take hold of1 which we did1 and the spirits shook hands with us in that way4 ,i had laid ,madam ,ehrenborg's photograph on the table1 and ,i expressed a wish that she would materialize1 when on the slate1 which ,mrs4 ,cooper held under the table-leaf1 was written3 ,good evening1 friends2 yes1 ,i am with you2 ,i will try to appear2 we are so happy4 ,the gas was now turned down1 but not lower than we could see each other right well1 and ,mrs4 ,cooper took her seat in a chair behind the curtains stretched across a corner of the room1 and soon after a lady spirit greeted ,dr4 ,wittemore1 who1 he said1 was his first wife4 ,his sister also came and nodded to him4 ,then came a sister to ,anderson and a sister to ,mr4 ,winterborn1 together with his mother1 who took a flower from him1 and nodded to him very cordially4 ,a spirit lady did the same to ,mr4 ,wilhelm4 ,mr4 ,cooper brought now my music instrument1 orgamina1 from the upper room and placed it before me and ,i played on it with the crank4 ,soon after a lady spirit came1 dressed in a white shining robe1 and beckoned to me1 when ,mrs4 ,cooper1 who was not in a trance1 invited me to come up to the curtain where the spirit stood in the opening1 and ,i asked if it was my friend ,madam ,ehrenborg who died in ,sweden1 ,europe1 eight years ago1 and she bowed and nodded assent4 ,mr4 ,winterborn gave me a flower1 which ,i took and offered to ,madam ,ehrenborg1 who took it1 smelled it1 and stuck it under my nose to smell1 and afterwards kept it4 ,i expressed my gladness to see her and she made graceful bows1 which ,i answered with mine4 ,i then went back to the music instrument to play1 when ,madam ,ehrenborg came out again with a beautiful long piece of lace on her arm and wafted it to and fro1 and afterwards dematerialized before us4 ,after that came a lady and sat herself in the rocking-chair1 and there dematerialized before us4 ,mrs4 ,cooper took now a standing position in the opening of the curtain1 when a male spirit came out1 stood beside her1 and kissed her4 ,when ,mrs4 ,cooper took her seat behind the curtain again a tall gentleman spirit came dressed in some kind of a uniform1 with a glittering star on his right breast1 and ,mr4 ,winterborn offered him a nosegay1 which he took and held out with his hand1 swinging his arm up and down1 keeping time to the music of the orgamina and that for a long time4 ,as he came out the next time he took hold of the rocking chair outside the curtain before him and swung it over his head for a long time1 and afterwards lowered it down to about a foot from the floor1 when he dropped it4 ,at the same time we saw ,mrs4 ,cooper1 who expressed her anxiety lest the chair might fall on her4 ,next he placed himself at the opening of the curtain1 when a lady spirit took her place at his left side1 and they kissed each other4 ,mrs4 ,cooper asked for a glass of water1 which ,mr4 ,cooper went after1 intending to give it to his wife1 but the gentleman spirit took it from him and gave it to ,mrs4 ,cooper1 who drank the water out of the glass4 ,the same spirit sat himself in the lap of ,mrs4 ,cooper and kissed her after he had placed a flower in her hair4 ,mrs4 ,cooper was coughing1 and ,mr4 ,winterborn gave two cough lozenges to the spirit1 who gave them to ,mrs4 ,cooper4 ,the uniformed gentleman spirit came again out and took the rocking-chair with his right hand and swung it very vigorously over his head for a good while1 then put it down4 ,all the other spirits had white robes shining as snow1 and all of us were exceedingly gratified at such wonderful performance4 ,the #bith of ,june1 #ahha1 among other valuable communications1 came3 ,good morning1 my dear friend2 it is with the greatest pleasure ,i again come to communicate with you4 ,your star of hope is increasing in brightness4 ,i called on you and your dear lady last night 7your night74 ,you appreciate the beauties of the heavens1 it was indeed grand to the natural eye4 7,my wife and ,i last evening were on the roof of our house on ,mount ,auburn looking at the comet and the stars47 ,oh1 ,i thought if ,i could lift the veil and show you the inner life so brightly beaming once again1 what joy it would give4 ,i have visited three planets1 each one had a distinct race 7of people7 and different one from another1 and had mostly white skin1 walked erect1 were all of the same physical shape1 very much like the inhabitants of our planet2 their features are more regular and not much contrast in size4 ,on the first planet they were small in stature--about four feet high4 ,on the second sphere1 about five feet high and of uniform size and shape4 ,on the third they were six feet high1 with large limbs and muscles1 language quite different from ours1 but were highly educated2 eat no animal food1 subsist entirely on vegetable4 ,the day and night are of equal length2 and as this last named planet was most interesting to me ,i will speak first of it3 ,they have a better system of astronomy than we do and understand it more perfectly4 ,this planet has large water courses and a great deal of commerce4 ,they have no religion1 such as ,christians call religion1 but a very high order of morals4 ,they know little of the immortality of the soul4 ,they have no wars1 no courts nor prison houses1 and murder is unheard of4 ,they have no kings1 no politics1 no religion1 consequently no wars4 ,they live in perfect harmony2 women suffer very little inconvenience in bearing children2 the families are large1 with eight or ten children2 they are contented and happy4 ,they have better painters in coloring in both landscapes and portraits4 ,their architecture is perfection2 their buildings are the most beautiful ,i ever beheld4 ,the climate is genial the year round1 never too hot1 and never necessary to have fire to keep warm2 but little variety in temperature4 ,dear friend1 ,i could say much more if ,i had power4 ,i thank you for your kind attention4 ,i will be able another time4 ,good bye for the present4 ,your sincere friend in spirit life1 ,,fredrika ,,ehrenborg4 ,the #bgth of ,july at a seance at ,mrs4 ,cooper's1 her control informed me that we meet to-day under disturbed conditions1 and when ,i asked ,mrs4 ,cooper what that meant1 she said her husband wanted her to move back to ,louisville1 as his prospects there now were better1 and she had concluded to do so1 in consequence of which she intended to pack up her furniture immediately after the present seance4 ,madam ,ehrenborg wrote now a communication from which ,i will extract the following3 ,this dear1 good woman1 whom the angels will bless1 is the first channel through which ,i have been able to reach earth and friends in this way1 and now to be disturbed and taken away for a while is a loss to us4 ,i could go to her1 but not write as ,i write to you1 the friendship formed between us before ,i passed away gives me strength and desires ,i might not have in any other way1 but this form of condition will not last long4 99 99 99 ,i will try to communicate to you whenever condition is given1 it is so easy for me to write here4 ,there are but few who ,i could say so much through in so short a time4 99 99 99 ,mrs4 ,cooper1 if you will sit for me next ,wednesday from there 7,louisville7 ,i hope to be able to write frequently1 but not like if he was present4 ,good bye for the present4 ,your most sincere friend in spirit land4 ,,fredrika ,,ehrenborg4 ,mrs4 ,cooper promised to do as she was requested and we agreed1 as the spirits wanted1 that ,i at the usual hour1 #i o'clock ,a4 ,m41 should sit alone at home the same time as the seance should take place in ,louisville4 ,wednesday1 the #c;d of ,august1 ,i picked a few flowers and kept some of them with me1 as my spirit son ,emil directed1 and the rest were placed in a glass on the stand1 which was covered1 and under it ,i put ,madam ,ehrenborg's photograph and her letters sent me from ,sweden4 ,the #eth of ,august ,i received a letter from ,miss ,sadie ,hare1 ,no4 #bbb ,st4 ,catherine street1 ,louisville1 ,ky41 wherein she states that ,mrs4 ,cooper came quite a distance to our home the #c;d of ,august to fulfill her engagement with you and the dear spirit friends1 not having conditions at her sister's that would enable her to give opportunities to the spirits4 ,we live a long distance apart and some distance from the street railway1 but you know the distance would have to be very great to prevent ,mrs4 ,cooper from keeping a spiritual engagement4 99 99 ,with this you will find your communications which ,i have copied4 ,respectfully yours1 ,,sadie ,,hare4 ,,louisville1 ,august #c1 #ahha4 ,yes1 we see the photographs of our dear friend1 and he has obeyed the request made4 ,we wish we could bring just one of the white blossoms he has gathered for the occasion to you4 ,the dear spirit friends he desired to hear from were present when he made preparations for conditions to assist them to come to you4 ,tell him all will be well with him4 ,the knowledge he has gained of the spirit world will not decay like the blossoms he has gathered in his beautiful bouquet4 ,his friend ,doc4 ,the control of ,mrs4 ,cooper4 ,we have come1 and see that you have had a long distance to come to make conditions for us4 ,emil is with me1 and we will do all we can to write a message to my dear friend ,c4 ,g4 ,helleberg4 ,i have reached the medium through which ,i have been able to write so much in so short a time4 ,i find her much troubled and disturbed and will not be able to say to you what ,i could if you were present as in former conditions1 but remember what ,i have told you1 my work in spirit life has only began1 and ,i yet hope to say much to you and through this medium4 ,all the changes that come to our friends in the form are not pleasant for them1 but changes that come to us in our spirit home increases the happiness and joy that we dwell in1 but not alone1 for there is no real happiness that can be enjoyed alone1 for we are united in love and harmony1 and we are happy that the change called death does not sever the friendship formed in earth life4 ,progression is the highest ambition of all good spirits4 ,man does not see or know the need of knowledge while in earth life1 but when he enters real life and knows there is no turning backwards he feels forced by law of goodness to help all those who are yet in darkness2 but1 my friend1 there are so many who are forgotten as soon as the spirit has left the form and believed to be dead by all they once held dear4 ,i feel like repeating over and over again the joy ,i continually receive1 being remembered by you who have opened the avenue for me to give and receive4 ,be assured that your reward will come and inscribed in bright1 shining letters on a banner of truth--your work well done1 good and faithful servant4 ,emil is present1 and desires to send a few words to his papa and mamma4 ,i know1 my dear friend1 how you missed the interview this morning you would have enjoyed so much2 but be reconciled1 they are more disturbed than our dear medium2 but could she behold the bright spirits that stand in circle around her she would not despair4 ,it will not be long till the way is cleared and we can draw nearer to communicate through her to you1 and of every thorn comes a blessing1 the severest cross is a crown to those who are willing to bear for the sake of truth and progression4 ,i desire1 my dear friend1 to have these interviews repeated4 ,had there not been a kind1 genial lady to sit for you to copy what was written ,i would not have been able to say this much in a strange place4 ,i thank you1 my young friend1 for assistance and willingness on your part1 and remember1 though the act may seem small to you1 it is worth gratitude from us1 and you may rely upon an increase of spiritual influence to assist you4 ,accept this1 my dear friend2 ,i hope to say more again4 ,your most sincere friend in spirit life1 ,,fredrika ,,ehrenborg4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,madam ,,ehrenborg ,,and ,,others ,,materialize4 ,i received several other valuable letters of my spiritual friends from ,louisville1 and in one of them1 the #ahth of ,august1 ,madam ,ehrenborg wrote3 ,a request has been made for ,mrs4 ,helleberg to write a letter to her sister ,emma and her father1 that it may enable them to remain long enough to communicate that she may hear direct from them1 for they are often with her1 and want her to know it is not wrong for them to come or for her to look for them4 ,in consequence of this ,i persuaded my wife to write a letter to them1 which she did1 and ,i sealed it up with red sealing wax1 with my seal on1 and sent it by mail to ,mrs4 ,cooper1 without any superscription4 ,on the #beth of ,august we received a letter from ,miss ,hare and ,mrs4 ,cooper1 together with my wife's sealed letter unopened1 and a long and beautiful letter from her spirit sister1 ,emma1 who had also answered for her father1 which was so true and striking that her fear melted away1 and concluded to investigate these strange facts4 ,in ,october1 ,mrs4 ,cooper revisited ,cincinnati1 during which time my wife and ,i had several very satisfactory seances1 and on invitation from her we were present at a social materialization seance on the #bhth of said month1 in the evening1 in company with the following persons3 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,stebbins1 ,miss ,sadie ,hare1 ,mrs4 ,gano1 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,green1 ,mr4 ,cooper's mother1 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,macky1 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,nicely1 ,miss ,sneider1 ,mrs4 ,artzman1 ,dr4 ,taylor and ,mr4 ,winterborn4 ,a curtain was stretched across a corner of the room1 and the small stand was put on the floor1 and under it was placed two call bells1 a big brass bell1 and a drum1 with sticks and a walking stick4 ,when ,mr4 ,stebbins played on the violin1 or we sung or played on the orgamina1 the spirits kept time with the bells and drum4 ,the walking stick was pointed to different individuals of the company1 who had mental questions answered when they took hold of the uplifted stick4 ,mr4 ,stebbins put the end of the bow under the table1 and the fiddle he laid on the floor1 about a foot from the table1 when the spirits played on it4 ,the table was also lifted up and down1 keeping time with our music4 ,when ,mrs4 ,cooper took her seat behind the curtain soon after1 several spirits materialized to many of their relatives and friends1 who recognized them1 among whom were ,miss ,mary ,muth and ,madam ,ehrenborg4 ,i and my wife went up to the curtain1 when ,miss ,mary ,muth touched my wife's hand and took a flower from her4 ,afterwards ,madam ,ehrenborg came in full form1 dressed in a fine dark suit1 with a black lace cap1 and when my wife asked if it was ,mrs4 ,ehrenborg1 she nodded her head smilingly several times1 and then dematerialized4 ,we took our seats1 but ,madam ,ehrenborg came again twice1 when ,i went up to the curtain with ,mr4 ,stebbins1 who also saw her very plainly1 how she nodded to me and kissed my hand1 which was touched by her lips1 and had a warm feeling4 ,she afterwards dematerialized before us4 ,at the same time this took place we saw and conversed with ,mrs4 ,cooper1 who is never in a trance state at any time4 ,when we came home we examined ,madam ,ehrenborg's photograph1 and we found her dress and every thing else apparently exactly the same as that in which the photograph was taken4 ,her features were also the same4 ,i had seen her materialized several times before1 but always in shining white robes1 and now she took on the same garment as that worn when the photograph was taken1 probably to convince my wife of her identity4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,,investigations ,,by ,,mrs4 ,,jennie ,m',,kee--,,first ,,letter ,,from ,,emanuel ,,swedenborg1 ,,etc4 ,after ,mrs4 ,cooper moved to ,louisville ,i made acquaintance with ,mrs4 ,jennie ,mc,kee1 a real lady of high moral and truthful qualities1 who had wonderful medial gifts1 and permitted me to come to her residence1 ,no4 #dg-a_/b ,sherman avenue1 ,cincinnati1 for a slate-writing seance weekly1 every ,thursday1 from #i to #aa ,a4 ,m4 ,the spirits wrote independent1 in broad daylight1 when she held the slate under the stand1 which was never covered with any thing1 and with a pencil so small 7about one-eighth part of a common wheat grain7 that no human fingers in the body could write with it4 ,i commenced with her the #dth of ,august1 #ahha1 and continued until she passed away to the higher life1 the #agth of ,november the same year4 ,during that time ,i received many highly valuable and remarkable communications and gifts1 of which ,i will only mention a few4 ,on the #hth day of ,september there appeared among other communications on the slate the following3 ,my friend1 ,i come from a higher sphere of light and truth1 in compliance with your request1 and ,i greet you this morning in ,god's most holy name4 ,i will speak to you not as ,i would have done when inhabited in earth form1 but with a more expanded vision1 and the more profound knowledge and the clearer understanding of the fundamental laws and governing principles of the ,great ,ruler of the universe4 ,in those days in which ,i wrote it would have been a very unwise and dangerous thing to have given these spiritual manifestations to the people1 from the fact that they were not prepared to receive the blessings1 and the ultimate desire for the amelioration of mankind would have been defeated1 and the result would have been disastrous4 ,i had wished a clearer understanding about our guardian spirits1 and on the slate came3 ,at the time of birth there are two self-constituted guardians1 one from the light sphere and one from the dark1 and as the child advances toward maturity1 the number is greatly increased2 but whether good or bad1 depends entirely upon the persons themselves4 ,thus1 for instance1 if man leads a life of depravity and vice1 he naturally attracts spirits of a like character2 on the other hand1 if a man leads a moral life of purity1 bearing in his heart love and good will to others1 he is surrounded by pure spirits1 who are attracted by those elements4 ,thus1 my friend1 you see how essential it is1 both for happiness here and through all eternity1 that you conduct yourself so that the pure spirit of love can come and minister to you4 ,i must leave1 but will shortly come again4 ,here ,i said to ,mrs4 ,mc,kee3 ,if he signs his name1 ,i would like to have the slate1 so ,i could show it to my wife2 and he said to her 7but ,i could not hear him73 ,put a paper on the slate4 ,i cut a leaf from my annotation pocket book1 and we put it on the slate loose1 and ,mrs4 ,mc,kee held the slate1 with the paper and a short lead pencil on it1 under the table1 and on the paper1 now in my possession1 was the following3 ,dear heart1 so true to my memory1 my blessing with you1 ,,emanuel ,,swedenborg4 ,on the #acth of ,october1 at a seance by ,mrs4 ,mc,kee1 from #i to #i3cj ,a4 ,m41 the following communication appeared on the slate3 ,my beloved1 ,i am with you1 and ,i greet you with my blessing in the name of the ,most ,high and ,ruling ,power1 and not only is it ,i who bless you1 you have attracted to you a number of highly exalted spirits1 who love you for your singleness of purpose and purity of heart1 with which you are promulgating the teachings you receive from us2 that is why you have been selected by us1 because you have been upright and moral in your life2 because those who wish to investigate would be more impressed than did the communication come from other sources4 ,fear not1 we will be with you1 and each word will have weight4 ,you must expect to be criticised and doubted2 but again ,i say1 fear not1 we are with you1 and will turn the thought of the people4 ,we shall eventually see our efforts crowned with success4 ,we appeal to the senses2 it would be a vain and useless thing to set up a higher authority than man's own conscience1 for that is the last final tribunal at which he is judged4 ,the errand of life1 the education1 unfolding and strengthening the combination of the mind1 the exigencies of business1 the duties of citizenship1 the cares of the household1 all this requires the utmost seriousness of purpose and activity2 but activity is neither in the development of manhood4 ,it is far more essential that the mind and moral nature should have careful cultivation4 ,man should not care so much concerning the short period of natural life4 ,from this side1 through us who live by deeds1 not years1 in thought and feeling1 instead of figures on the dial1 by the happiness we produce1 is our only gauge of time4 ,there is an embodiment of selfishness underlying the human family which will first have to be eradicated through education1 and it is the desire of the spirit world that man should be a brother to his fellow-man4 ,i go now1 but will be with you as often as ,i can4 ,i leave my blessing for you and your household4 ,,swedenborg4 ,my friend1 ,i come to say how much ,i enjoy and sympathize with you1 that those who were blind are beginning to see1 and are in better condition for the reception and appreciation of the spiritual blessing which is being prepared for you and yours by the loved ones who are gone before4 ,i have brought my dear life companion with me this morning1 who is working with me in acquiring the knowledge which will be necessary for you in the fulfillment of the mission you have been selected for to give out the knowledge of this glorious philosophy4 ,it is the truth1 for it is vouched for by the testimony of every atom1 every bright world you observe in the firmament1 and lastly by the spirit of the past man made perfect4 ,you may be called fanatic1 but if spiritualism is fanaticism1 it is of more value to mankind than the whole circle of the sciences4 ,we are called away now1 but will come this evening4 ,,fredrika4 ,dear papa1 there is much joy and rejoicing among your spirit band4 ,i am so happy that ,i can come to dear mamma1 and have her receive me as you do4 ,kiss her for me4 ,the power is too far gone to write any more4 ,,emil4 ,on the #bjth of ,october1 #ahha1 between #i and #aa ,a4 ,m41 at a seance with ,mrs4 ,mc,kee1 the following communication appeared on the slate3 ,good morning1 my friend4 ,i am here1 and greet you with my love and my blessing as the one chosen by me to help me in correcting the teachings ,i have put forth1 and which at that time were not clearly understood even by myself1 consequently ,i failed to render myself sufficiently intelligible to be properly understood by others4 ,now these mistakes must be rectified1 and the erroneous impression replaced by the truth4 ,i am preparing my statements1 and they will be given to you in proper time through the channels we have chosen4 ,i have chosen you as my assistant1 well knowing your loyalty1 steadfastness of purpose and your fearless disposition1 so like what my own was1 so it would be a matter of perfect indifference whether you received commendation of the people or only arouse their condemnation4 ,it was this prominent characteristic which proved the attractive power that has drawn me to you4 ,i ask no one to give up his principles2 ,i simply desire to place truth before him1 and let each individual reason according to the light surrounding him4 ,surely truth can defend itself1 so we will let it speak for itself4 ,i am happy and content with my surroundings1 but ,i come to bring to the children of my love1 the people of the new church1 more light1 if they will only receive it4 ,i am impressed more fully each time ,i revisit your earth sphere that1 had ,i lived at the present day1 my labors would have been understood and appreciated1 and ,i should not have felt that my best efforts were but a sad failure in comparison to what ,i expected or desired4 ,i am now called away1 so ,i now leave for this time1 but will be with you soon4 ,good bye4 ,god bless you and yours4 ,,swedenborg4 ,on the #bgth of ,october1 #ahha1 at ,mrs4 ,mc,kee's1 ,swedenborg gave me a short communication1 both on slate and paper1 and afterwards came3 ,good morning1 my friend1 ,swedenborg has been called away1 but he has brought me to say a word and to assist in promulgating the truth4 ,many high and elevated spirits are banding together to spread the truth4 ,,polheim4#b ,on the #c;d of ,november1 #ahha1 ,i had a seance with ,mrs4 ,mc,kee1 and after the slate had been under the bare stand for about ten minutes a tap was heard1 by which sign it was taken out from under the stand1 and five exceedingly beautiful1 fresh flowers1 giving out a delicious perfume1 were on the slate1 and little dew drops had made some wet spots under them4 ,on the slate was written the following3 ,good morning1 my friend4 ,i bring you some flowers4 ,let them convey to you the dearest essence of the high power to produce4 ,they are the handiwork of ,god4 ,in them we see ,his ever living presence4 ,,fredrika ,,ehrenborg4 ,afterwards the following communication appeared3 ,good morning1 my beloved4 ,i am again with you1 weighty with rich blessings for you and yours1 and ,i come also with a heart overflowing with love1 tenderness and gratitude1 that ,i am permitted1 through the goodness and wisdom of the most ,high ,power1 to return1 and through you1 my trustworthy assistant1 give my thoughts and ideas to the people4 ,we love our mediums1 our channels and our doorway1 through which we come to love and bless4 ,take no heed of any unkind remarks1 it is only an evidence of ignorance4 ,keep straight on1 turn neither to the right nor to the left1 continue to scatter seeds by the way-sides1 which will furnish food for thought1 and thought will lead to investigation4 ,investigation must necessarily lead in the acknowledgment of the truth4 ,you can not expect to convince at once--it must be the work of time--and bear in mind1 no one ever yet sought to benefit mankind who was not placed under the dark ban of suspicion4 ,as you say1 nothing can be gained by denunciation4 ,keep on4 ,my blessing with you4 ,,swedenborg4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,mrs4 ,m',,kee ,,passes ,,away ,,and ,,her ,,spirit ,,arranges ,,her ,,own ,,funeral4 ,when the seance was over1 ,i at once took the flowers to ,mrs4 ,minor's to have them arranged according to her art for preservation and now have them in all their original beauty4 ,the #agth of ,november1 #ahha1 ,i went to ,mrs4 ,mc,kee for a slate-writing seance1 as for some time ,i have been used to do every ,thursday morning at #i o'clock1 where ,i met at the door her step-father1 ,r4 ,j4 ,william1 who informed me that his daughter ,jennie had1 half an hour before1 passed away to the spiritual world1 and invited me up on the floor above to see her body4 ,in the death-room ,i found my friend1 the wonderful clairvoyant and trance medium1 ,mrs4 ,anna ,rall1 and ,jennie's mother1 who found that her head was not quite cold4 ,from the house of mourning ,i went to ,mrs4 ,minor's for the five flowers ,i had received from my dear spirit friend1 ,mrs4 ,fredrika ,ehrenborg1 through the medial power of ,mrs4 ,mc,kee1 the #c;d of ,november1 and which now were preserved under glass1 and afterwards went to have a seance at ,mrs4 ,green's1 where ,i placed those beautiful flowers on the small stand between us4 ,soon we heard writing on the slate and a tap1 when we found on it the following communication3 ,good morning1 dear papa4 ,how sad for you to look upon the face this morning1 not yet cold1 that had afforded you so much real happiness1 and pure as the flowers before you that came through her medial powers4 ,she entered the spirit world to meet the loved ones gone before4 ,her suffering is no more4 ,she saw you1 and ,i shook hands with her4 ,she knew me1 and she was all smiles4 ,she was glad she passed away on the morning she had an engagement with you2 so your heavenly influences were there to aid her spirit4 ,she hoped for it4 ,she will be able to communicate to you soon and tell you how she found the new life4 ,she will write immediately1 she understands it4 ,dear papa1 try to make a house not of mourning2 she wants joy1 she is free from suffering and able to communicate4 ,will see her own funeral and wishes to have a real spiritualist's funeral1 becoming one who has passed away in its full faith4 ,she wants ,mrs4 ,green to repeat that beautiful poem that she so much admired3 ',i ,still ,live' 7herself74 ,i would like ,mr4 ,green1 with others1 to make some consoling remarks4 ,the song ',there is no death1' sung4 ,she says that every thing so far has turned out all right1 and she wants every thing done according to her desire4 ,they all know what a devotee she was in spiritualism4 7,here ,i mentioned to ,mrs4 ,green that ,i would go back to the house of mourning and tell them of this as soon as possible1 and now came47 ,that is just it4 ,she told me all and requested me to write it4 ,she wants them to cast away the thoughts of her old body from their minds1 and to think her free spirit moving through the house as of old4 ,she wants her dear old parents not to mourn4 ,she wants all the mediums next to her immediate family1 and spiritualists1 to strengthen her so she can manifest1 if possible4 ,she says these are her wishes2 they can do as they please4 ,dear papa1 ,i have done my duty this morning for her beautiful free spirit1 and happy for the honor conferred upon me as her amanuensis4 ,we have nothing more to communicate this morning1 only she wants ,mrs4 ,rall1 her near and dear friend1 to control affairs as far as she can1 as she knows her wishes and desires1 and knows she will please her and do what is right4 ,love to dear mamma2 kiss her for me4 ,,emil4 ,mrs4 ,mc,kee says many thanks for your kindness ,she will be with you often4 ,much love to all4 ,,emil4 ,we were present at her beautiful funeral1 where ,jennie herself spoke through ,mrs4 ,rall over her own body1 and it was in truth remarked from the people that this was the most soul-uplifting funeral services they ever had witnessed4 ,the spirit communicates with me often4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,investigations ,,with ,,mrs4 ,,green--,,remarkable ,,dark ,,trumpet ,,seance ,,at ,,which ,i ,,received ,a ,,most ,,beautiful ,,flower ,,from ,,my ,,son ,,emil ,,and ,,miss ,,mary ,,muth4 ,my investigations through the excellent medium1 ,mrs4 ,green1 commenced the #b;d of ,september1 #ahha1 and ,i received many interesting communications from my dear and near relatives1 which ,i value very highly1 but naturally would not have the same value for the general reader1 and therefore ,i deem it best to exclude most of them and take in only writings from exalted spirits who are more generally known4 ,the #aith of ,september came3 ,from the higher sphere of light ,i come ,to teach you the beauties of our home1 ,and to impart to you the golden truth ,and make you feel its real worth4 ,and to my dear old friend1 your wife1 ,i wish to prove a future life1 ,and to assist her while she remains here1 ,and help to guide her to our heavenly sphere4 ,oh1 the beautiful birds that sing their lay1 ,come to bless me every day1 ,the flowers of fragrance1 sweet and rare1 ,and heavenly music fills the air4 ,from your friend1 ,,fredrika ,,ehrenborg4 ,the #bjth of ,october1 #ahha1 ,i was present at ,mrs4 ,green's trumpet seance in the evening in company with the following persons3 ,mr4 ,green1 the medium's husband2 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,stebbins1 a reporter from the ,enquirer1 who gave his name as ,johnson1 and ,mr4 ,walker4 ,on the stand was placed three slates1 one of which was my own1 three trumpets1 one glass of water1 and my spring music-box4 ,on the floor stood the big tin trumpet and by it laid my guitar1 and not far from ,mr4 ,stebbins was his fiddle4 ,after the light was put out and the doors locked ,i wound up my music-box and put it on the right hand corner of the stand before me4 ,soon after it was taken away while playing and carried around all over our heads1 and some of us were touched with it4 ,finally it came back to me and was placed in my left hand with the spirit1 whose hand ,i touched with both my hands4 ,i wound it up again and the spirit took it away and carried it around the same as before1 but when it came back it was placed on the left hand corner of the stand1 and ,i laid the key close by it4 ,afterwards ,i played my orgamina when the spirit voices of both sexes joined in with their songs1 and so they did when we sang4 ,i intended to wind up the music-box again and felt for it on the corner1 when ,i discovered that both the box and key were gone4 ,soon after we heard the box playing and going over our heads as before1 and the box was replaced on the corner of the stand with the key on top4 ,all the trumpets and the guitar were moving around in the air high above our heads1 the guitar was played on in time with the music1 and we all were touched and stroked on different parts of our bodies with these implements4 ,the guitar was laid in my lap1 and ,i sang a ,swedish song1 accompanied by the guitar1 when we heard a spirit voice singing with me1 and ,i and the others heard the words pronounced by the spirit1 which ,i declare were the same ,swedish words which ,i sung4 ,mrs4 ,stebbens was clasped around her neck by her spirit daughter ,ida1 who whispered to and patted both her and ,mr4 ,stebbins4 ,mrs4 ,green and ,mrs4 ,stebbens saw several spirit lights1 and ,mr4 ,walker was informed by striking and tolling on the big tin trumpet that his father in ,kansas would soon pass away4 ,i felt for my music-box again1 intending to wind it up1 when ,i1 to my great surprise1 found a fresh1 beautiful flower on top of it1 and my slate was placed in my hand4 ,soon after the seance was closed and when the room was lighted up1 we found written on one slate the name of the reporter1 and on my slate the following3 ,dear papa1 we present you the flower we promised you some time ago4 ,the passion flower4 ,,emil ,,and ,,mary4 ,it was a large1 very beautiful1 quite fresh flower1 which ,i now have preserved in a glass jar with deodorized alcohol4 ,on seeing this flower my wife's idea was that the flower had been brought from some garden1 and ,i thought the spirits made it1 which caused me1 at a slate-writing seance the #bdth of ,october1 to ask which of us was right4 ,on the slate was this answer3 ,mary and ,i1 with the assistance of the medium's band1 created it for you and dear mamma1 and you will find a dove in the center4 ,on a close examination we found to our astonishment a small dove there4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,sure ,,identity ,,of ,,my ,,father-,,in-,,law--,,madam ,,ehrenborg ,,writes ,,to ,,me ,,in ,,swedish4 ,on the #hth of ,december1 #ahha1 ,i and my wife had a slate-writing seance in the forenoon1 and were present in the evening at a trumpet seance with ,mrs4 ,green1 and as my wife received a strong convincing test through the name of her father1 it is necessary before relating the facts to make a short sketch of a part of his life4 ,he was a ,swedish nobleman1 named ,otto ,jacob ,natt och ,dag1 who1 by the favor of the dethroned ,king ,gustaf ,adolf the ,fourth1 was educated in the military academy1 and afterwards served as officer in a rank regiment in ,stockholm1 which the new ,king ,charles the ,fourteenth1 ,johan1 the former ,napoleon's ,general ,bernadott1 looked upon with great favor4 ,this young nobleman wrote an anonymous book about reorganizing the ,swedish army1 in which many good and necessary reforms were proposed4 ,this book was not intended for sale1 but a few copies had been printed for his intimate friends4 ,some of his so-called friends reported this1 and mentioned his name to the ,king1 who became enraged that a young officer should dare to have the impertinence to interfere with his business1 and want to teach him1 who had such a vast experience in military affairs1 the consequence of which was that he was transported to serve in a common infantry regiment1 far up in the northern part of the country1 a long distance from his near and dear relatives4 ,such treatment naturally made him feel bad1 and he asked permission to travel in foreign countries1 which he got1 and went straight to ,baden1 in ,germany1 where he called on his former ,king1 ,gustaf ,adolf1 and was kindly received4 ,there he republished his book in the ,german language1 with some additions1 which the ,swedish minister reported to the ,king1 who then considered him a traitor1 and ordered his arrest1 but his ,swedish friends informed him of this in time1 and he went to ,america under the name of ,frederick ,franks1 which was the name of a ,german student1 who gave him his passport1 and which he afterwards adopted and used until his death4 ,the ,king1 ,charles the ,fourteenth1 had him adjudged1 unheard and absent1 by a court for high treason1 for daring to pay a visit to the dethroned ,king1 and the judgment was that he should lose his place and rank in the army4 ,many years afterwards the ,king regretted his harsh and unjust treatment of his faithful1 patriotic and skillful officer1 and pardoned him1 and ordered his ,swedish minister at ,washington to inform him of it1 so he could go back and enjoy all his privileges2 but his former guard officer had now been for many years a republican citizen1 who1 with his artistic and many other talents and business capacity1 had made himself independent1 and he never went back4 ,nobody here but the family knew any thing of his ,swedish name1 and my wife said to me that she would be more fully convinced of her father's identity if he would sign himself with that name4 ,in the slate-writing seance in the forenoon ,i had put my own slate1 which ,mrs4 ,green never touched1 under the side of the stand nearest me1 and on ,mrs4 ,green's slate the following appeared3 ,put out the slate and see if any thing is on it8 ,i did so1 and on my slate the following sentence appeared3 ,god bless you both is the wish of your exalted friend1 ,,fredrika ,,ehrenborg4 ,among other things was the following3 ,now1 dear papa and mamma1 we have done all we can this morning4 ,much love to you both4 ,grandpa will be with you to-night2 ,grandpa ,helleberg1 ,mary and ,julia1 too1 ,emil1 ,gustaf and ,charley4 ,you will have many bright and beautiful spirits with you this evening to cheer you on your road to the beautiful spirit world4 ,there all are in peace and happiness--,emil1 ,frances1 ,emma1 ,mary1 ,julia4 ,,emanuel ,,swedenborg4 ,on the evening of the #hth of ,december1 at the above-mentioned trumpet seance were present1 besides me and my wife1 the following persons3 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,stebbins1 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,taylor1 ,mrs4 ,catherine ,remlin1 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,green and ,mrs4 ,boggs4 ,we had spirit singing and talking1 with many other remarkable manifestations4 ,among the spirits who spoke were ,garfield1 ,washington and ,lincoln1 three ex-,presidents4 ,two slates were put on the table by ,mr4 ,green before the light was put out1 and ,i had that afternoon bought two very small silica slates1 of which ,i gave one to my wife1 who held it in her hand1 and the other1 in the dark1 ,i put on the corner of the table nearest me1 which nobody else knew any thing about4 ,when the seance was over several names and messages were written on the two big slates1 and on mine was the following on both sides3 ,my ,dear ,daughter--,oh1 how happy ,i am that ,i have found a way to communicate to you4 ,i will be with you often4 ,o4 ,j4 ,n4 ,d4 ,on the other side appeared3 ,my ,dear ,daughter--,according to promise ,i am with you4 ,i have many things to tell you4 ,with my heart full of love for you1 ,o4 ,j4 ,n4 ,d4 ,these were the initials of my wife's father's ,swedish name1 ,otto ,jacob ,natt och ,dag1 and we were highly pleased with the result4 ,subsequently he communicated often1 signing his name in full1 as above4 ,on the #bc;d of ,march1 #ahhb1 at ,mrs4 ,green's1 among other communications1 was the following3 ,dear ,papa--,all of your ,swedish friends are here1 and intend to use their influence to-day and give you a surprise before the seance is over4 ,all are present except ,swedenborg1 who we expect very soon4 ,we are not sure of success1 but we intend to try4 ,the surprise will be ,grandpa ,franks trying to communicate inside of the double slate1 with your assistance holding the slate and all of your friends influence combined4 ,madam ,ehrenborg withheld her message to-day to add her strength and help grandpa with his surprise to mamma and you4 99 99 99 ,swedenborg has come2 get the slate4 ,this is all you will get from me to-day4 ,your loving son1 ,,emil4 ,we cleaned the double slate and put it under the table1 where ,i held on to one end of it and pressed the two slates together with my hand1 while ,mrs4 ,green held the other end1 and we both felt and heard the writing going on inside the two slates4 ,the writing continued about ten minutes1 after which a tap was heard1 when ,i took the slate out1 opened it1 and in my father-in-law's handwriting found the following communication1 which ,i had photographed and electrotyped as seen opposite3 ,on the #bc;d of ,july1 from #i to #aa ,a4 ,m41 at ,mrs4 ,green's1 ,i had cheerful writings from our three sons and grand-daughter1 ,julia ,muth first1 and afterwards there appeared on the slate the following communication in the ,swedish language3 ,dyra goda waen ,c4 ,j4 ,helleberg6 ,jag prsenterar dig min ,hoegaktning och evinnerlig waenskap4 ,,fredrika ,,ehrenborg4 ,which1 translated into ,english is3 ,dear1 good friend ,c4 ,j4 ,helleberg1 ,i present you my esteem and eternal friendship4 ,,fredrika ,,ehrenborg4 ,i had it photographed1 as shown4 ,illustration ,illustration ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,,information ,,of ,a ,,spiritual ,,marriage--,,the ,,wedding ,,and ,,the ,,wedding ,,tour ,,to ,,the ,,planet ,,mars4 ,for a long time ,i had regular slate-writing seances in the light and one dark trumpet seance every week at ,mrs4 ,green's residence1 ,no4 #cji ,longworth street1 and at that time were generally present the following persons3 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,stebbins1 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,taylor1 ,mrs4 ,remlin1 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,helleberg1 all of ,cincinnati1 and ,mrs4 ,bogg1 from ,newport1 ,ky4 ,in these trumpet seances the spirits not only played on musical instruments1 which they carried over our heads1 and very often touched us with them and their hands1 but talked and sung to us with or without the trumpet4 ,the #abth of ,january1 #ahhb1 our son ,emil astonished us with the information that he was going to marry ,miss ,ida1 the spirit daughter of ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,stebbins1 and that she would be his spirit wife4 ,in a slate-writing seance1 the #afth of ,january1 he informed me that ,mr4 ,swedenborg would perform the nuptial ceremony1 and who also had determined the wedding to take place on ,washington's birthday--the #bb;d of ,february4 ,we were also informed that the spirit1 ,mr4 ,henry ,nieman1 ,ida's cousin1 would be the groomsman1 and the spiritual ,miss ,mary ,muth her bridesmaid1 and that a bridal trip had been arranged in which many bright and exalted spirits would take part1 including ,madam ,ehrenborg4 ,mr4 ,swedenborg would make the wedding speech on the spiritual side1 and he requested ,mr4 ,green to make one on this side4 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,stebbins1 my wife and ,i1 agreed that this remarkable wedding ceremony should take place at ,mr4 ,stebbins' residence at the appointed time--the #bb;d of ,february--and we concluded to ask the spirits who we should invite1 and the #afth day of ,february1 #ahhb1 came on the slate the following names3 ,pa and ma ,stebbins1 papa and mamma ,helleberg1 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,green and daughter1 ,mrs4 ,emma ,muth1 ,mrs4 ,remlin1 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,taylor1 ,miss ,nettie ,williams1 and ,mrs4 ,keenan4 ,,emil ,,and ,,ida4 ,at a slate-writing seance1 the #bjth of ,february1 came on the slate1 among many other communications1 the following3 ,the ceremonies are to begin at four1 and immediately after congratulation1 supper4 ,it will take one hour1 ,mr4 ,swedenborg says1 to show the medium the ceremony and ,mr4 ,green's address4 ,when the vision is through1 then ,mr4 ,green1 then supper1 and1 after that is settled1 a trumpet seance4 ,,emil4 ,according to this arrangement the above persons were all invited and present1 except ,mrs4 ,keenan and ,miss ,nettie ,williams1 who could not come1 at the afternoon and evening seances the #bb;d1 the #aejth anniversary of ,washington's birthday4 ,in the afternoon we assembled at #c o'clock ,p4 ,m41 and at #d ,mrs4 ,green was in full trance1 and ,swedenborg controlled her and blessed the contracting parties1 after which ,mr4 ,green made a very appropriate and beautiful address4 ,a private clairvoyant fell in a trance and described not only the clothing of the bride and bridegroom1 but many other spirits present4 ,the bride's dress was pure1 sparkling white1 frosted with gold dust1 with long train full of the finest lace1 and a very beautiful veil1 frosted also1 and adorned with a handsome wreath on her head of white flowers set with three beautiful diamonds on her forehead4 ,she had also a diamond brooch and necklace1 with a splendid ring on her finger1 and slippers on her feet to match4 ,our son ,emil had knee-breeches of royal purple1 with a beautiful white toga frosted with gold1 and gold tassels and a purple and gold crown set with diamonds4 7,at a subsequent seance ,emil said3 ,mine was ,mr4 ,swedenborg's selection1 ,ida's was ,madam ,ehrenborg's47 ,during the trance state of ,mrs4 ,green1 the spirit ,winnie described the dresses in the same way as the private medium already had told us4 ,after we had had a splendid repast the requested trumpet seance was arranged1 at which all were present1 and had the pleasure of being spoken to by ,swedenborg1 ,emil1 ,ida1 and many other spirits1 and some of them patted us with their hands4 ,madam ,ehrenborg and my wife's father1 ,otto ,jacob ,natt-och-,dag 7,frederick ,franks71 sung ,swedish with me1 and ,mrs4 ,jennie ,mc,kee took my hand and lifted my arm up and putting it over the table so ,i had to rise4 ,it was a beautiful and most satisfactory and wonderful manifestation over which we all were highly delighted4 ,the #bc;d of ,february1 #ahhb1 came from our spirit friends the following3 ,good morning1 dear papa1 we are here yet1 but will immediately after this sitting start on our bridal tour1 accompanied by ,swedenborg and a great many exalted spirits4 ,we expect to return by next ,thursday1 then ,mr4 ,swedenborg will give the marriage ceremonies1 and we hope to have something nice to write you then4 ,mr4 ,swedenborg is very much pleased because he is able to speak and control ,mrs4 ,green1 and was very much pleased also with the way it was conducted on your side4 ,he says altogether it was a splendid affair on both sides1 and ,i think so too1 and now ,i will let my wife1 ,mrs4 ,ida ,helleberg1 write4 ,your loving son1 ,,emil ,,helleberg4 ,good morning1 dear papa ,helleberg2 ,emil makes me blush when he says my wife4 ,it used to be a joke1 but now it is a reality1 and that is quite different4 ,when we all meet on the evergreen shores of the summerland1 then we will return the compliment and have the infair at our own home1 no matter how far off it may be1 you shall always receive our hospitality and our love in the cottage4 ,with my heart full of love for you and dear mamma ,helleberg and sister ,emma1 and my dear pa and ma1 and ,mrs4 ,green's family1 ,i bid you good morning4 ,,ida ,,stebbins ,,helleberg4 ,good morning1 ,mr4 ,helleberg3 ,i was very much delighted with the exercises of yesterday afternoon and evening4 ,it could not have been more perfect on both sides4 ,i was with you all the time4 ,it was witnessed by thousands of spirits with much interest and delight4 ,whatever ,mr4 ,swedenborg1 does in the spirit world causes great commotion and interest4 ,he is in the spirit world like some of your great men here1 a leader4 ,his every word1 look1 and gesture1 is chronicled by the spirits2 therefore you may imagine the interest they manifest towards him4 ,nettie could not and would not leave mother4 ,she is so lonely without me1 but she was here heart and soul in spirit4 ,with my highest regards for you all1 ,i am your friend1 ,,jennie4 ,good morning1 my dear friend3 ,as the marriage of our grand-daughter to your son has united my son ,edwin and your family1 and that event caused or rather brought us in a positive condition1 and enabled us to pick up the trumpet and manifest our appreciation of that event1 ,i thought ,i would write a few lines in regard to this happy marriage1 and to show our very high appreciation of this medium's family1 for1 as ,ida said1 it has brought sunshine to her dear pa and ma that they could not find any-where else outside the spirit communion1 and express our very high appreciation of your son ,emil1 and that we feel very proud of them both1 and of our hearts full of love for ,edwin and his wife1 and highest regards for yourself and family and ,mrs4 ,green's family1 we subscribe ourselves your dear spirit friends1 ,,amariah ,,stebbins ,,and ,,permelia ,,stebbins4 ,good morning1 my friends1 ,mr4 ,helleberg and ,mrs4 ,green3 ,to say ,i was very much delighted1 or1 in fact1 ,i have not language at my command to express to you my appreciation of yesterday's proceedings1 and happy of the opportunity presented that ,i can write to-day4 ,winnie described me as ,i was4 ,love to my dear daughter and her husband 7,edwin ,stebbins71 and regard to all1 ,,thomas ,,kelly4 ,good morning1 dear son3 ,father1 brother1 and all of us are here to give you our congratulations and to tell you how much we love dear ,ida1 and that she is so sweet and beautiful4 ,we were all with you last night1 and caressed you with the trumpet4 ,it made us so happy4 ,father can not write to-day1 but will soon4 ,with our blessings on you and all1 your loving mother1 ,,ulrica ,,helleberg4 ,good morning3 ,i must not fail to give a few words in appreciation of the marriage feast4 ,it was splendid1 and ,i was very much pleased with the ceremony spiritually and mortal4 ,love to dear ,anna and yourself and highest regard to all4 ,francis1 ,emily1 ,susan and ,joseph join me and send much love to all4 ,with my prayers for you all1 ,i bid you good bye4 ,,fredrick ,,franks4 ,now1 dear papa1 we are all through1 and ,gustaf and ,charles join in congratulations1 and asked me to write for them1 and tell you that they are so much pleased with their sister-in-law4 ,mary1 ,henry1 and little ,julia and ,clarence1 and many that ,i have not time to mention1 join us with much love for all4 ,two souls with but a single thought1 two hearts that beat as one1 we bid you good bye1 ,,emil ,,and ,,ida4 ,the #b;d of ,march came3 ,good morning1 my dear friend4 ,the tourists1 according to promise1 have not returned4 ,i have been sent as a messenger from ,mr4 ,swedenborg to report to you that their reception on the planet ,mars was so grand1 and they are there so nicely entertained by the spirits of that planet that they have all been invited to participate in a similar feast to take place to-day1 and they all send their love and best wishes to you1 and hope to be with you at your next sitting4 ,with my highest regard and well wishes for your future prosperity1 ,i am your spirit friend1 ,,polheim4 ,the #fth of ,march the exalted ,swedenborg wrote on the slate3 ,good morning1 friends3 ,i am here to give you the marriage ceremony ,i promised in pantomime on the #bb;d ultimo4 ,it is brief1 and does not include the address and prayer given on that occasion4 99 99 99 ,as you have already been united in the conjugal sense by the operation of the laws of spiritual attraction and magnetic affiliation1 no formal cementation or consecration is needed1 but in obedience to an ancient custom1 originating in spirit life in the early dawns of the physical earth-planet1 and from thence projected to mortal life1 ,i have the pleasure of pronouncing the ceremony that blends you1 in obedience to the custom stated1 into blissful spiritual consociation as man and wife1 which ,i now do in presence of the invited guests here assembled4 ,in blissful happiness you are to live in peaceful joy1 to move in heavenly love to act1 so shall your onward march be unobstructed1 and as you advance increasing in wisdom1 expanding and abounding in love1 and augmenting in power until the highest angels and seraphims shall claim you for angelic companionship4 ,now1 while the choristers join in the marriage anthem1 ,i present for your congratulations this spiritually mated couple1 who ,i now introduce as ,emil ,gabriel ,helleberg and ,ida ,stebbins ,helleberg4 ,,emanuel ,,swedenborg4 ,just as ,madam ,ehrenborg's communications were being copied for the printer1 the ,banner of ,light--the oldest spiritual paper in existence--of date ,july #a1 #ahhb1 was placed in my hands1 in which ,i find a communication from ,helen ,barnard ,densmore1 of ,philadelphia1 in which she says3 ,philadelphia has been favored recently with a course of lectures from ,mr4 ,w4 ,j4 ,colville1 which have been well attended and received with appreciation4 ,this truly inspired speaker is doing a great work in spreading the new gospel of spiritualism wherever he is called4 ,his discourses are of a high order1 in an intellectual and literary sense1 as well as of great spiritual elevation4 ,at one of the social receptions given to him at the residence of ,colonel ,s4 ,p4 ,kase1 he gave a very interesting discourse on the physical life and development of the planets of our solar system as compared with the earth1 which was listened to with an earnest attention and evident acceptance by those present4 ,it was taught in this discourse that worlds were brought into existence for the sole purpose of furnishing a theater for souls to express themselves in matter upon1 to the end of gaining knowledge and overcoming temptations in all forms and of all kinds2 that these lives make up a system of embodiments which closes with the soul's triumph over all the evils to be found in material life4 ,we were told that in ,mercury the attainment of a high degree of physical perfection was the highest ambition of its inhabitants2 that that planet was in a lower state of animal1 vegetable and spiritual progress than the earth1 and the cultivation of the soil was their almost universal occupation2 that ,venus was in a high state of artistic and aesthetic cultivation2 that art and music were the dominant passions there1 with less intellectual and spiritual development1 sensuous delights every-where abounding1 and the cultivation of the beautiful the highest aim of life4 ,on the earth the demon to be overcome was declared to be intellectualism1 man's intellect being here worshiped and deified at the expense of the spiritual4 ,on ,mars and ,jupiter is to be found a much higher state of existence1 matter being dominated by the spirit to a much greater degree than on either this earth or those planets nearest the sun2 that exalted spirits from those planets1 especially from ,mars1 are sent as especial embodiments to the earth1 as teachers and messengers for spiritual truth4 ,life on the more distant planets from the sun1 beyond ,jupiter1 was declared to be of such an exalted character that there is no language understandable on earth in which to depict its glories and achievements4 ,,chapter ,x4 ,,description ,,of ,,the ,,journey ,,to ,,mars1 ,,and ,,wonderful ,,information ,,furnished ,,by ,,madam ,,ehrenborg4 ,march #i1 #ahhb4 ,our party of tourists1 after having been carefully selected in accordance with their ability to utilize the magnetic currents that connect the planets in our solar system1 and their adaptability to the electric and magnetic condition of ,mars1 whither we were bound1 started on the journey at1 according to your time1 midnight1 ,february #bc4 ,we proceeded without any incident of note until we reached ,maluka ,plains1 where we met a party of excursionists on a visit to our planet earth4 ,maluka ,plains1 named after a great prophet of ,mars1 are located many millions of miles from the circling magnetic belts of earth1 and immediately adjacent to the outer circle of the electro-magnetic atmosphere of ,mars4 ,we were surprised to find that these excursionists were acquainted with our guide and leader1 ,mr4 ,swedenborg1 for he had frequently visited the most interesting points of our stellar system4 ,he had even been at ,mars in spirit while he was in the body of flesh1 but he finds many things quite different from what he thought he had discovered during his spiritual visits when embodied4 ,the party we met were on a tour of scientific exploration1 and gladly availed themselves of information imparted by ,swedenborg and ,polheim1 and we in return were greatly aided by data and information furnished by them to us4 ,while this conference1 or rather exchange of information1 was in progress a courier was dispatched by our newly-made acquaintances to the spiritual magnates of ,mars concerning our coming4 ,i shall here stop and defer a description of our first reception until our next sitting4 ,march #ac4 ,as we entered within the magnetic radius of ,mars1 and were emerging from the outer into the inner concentric circles1 so characteristic of that planet1 we met a reception committee of several thousand1 and after formal greetings1 we were escorted to a magnificent edifice1 where were in waiting innumerable throngs of spiritual dignitaries and others to receive us4 ,i here desire to remark that in my use of words ,i resort to your own vocabulary1 for the thought language of the ,marsians is quite different from the sound of your words1 and to employ their terms would only confound you and militate against your proper conception and understanding of the narrative4 ,for instance1 ,i use the word edifice to indicate a structure1 but they use an entirely different term and form of expression1 and so on ad infinitum4 ,the edifice referred to ,i am unable to describe1 and it can only be fully understood in thought4 ,in dimensions so great that your city of ,cincinnati could be settled in one corner of it without attracting but very little attention4 ,the material of which it is composed has no fitting representative on earth in its present state of development4 ,your diamonds and precious stones are as dim and unreflecting in comparison as a cloudy1 murky day of autumn is to a bright summer day with the sun at meridian and the horizon unobstructed by cloud or a single mist4 ,this comparison may serve to give you some idea of the absorbingly intense brilliancy of the mammoth structure1 yet this is of itself but as a mote in the sunbeam to what ,i am assured exists in the immeasurable immensity of the higher creations in the inconceivable and boundless universe of ,god4 ,oh1 how diminutive is this little ball of matter called earth1 when we only measurably take in the vast immensity of the infinite domain of ,god4 ,and poor1 puny man1 what a mere speck--a mere infinitisimal animalcule4 ,as we approached this mammoth structure1 it seemed to be tremulous with motion1 and the motion1 superinduced by such intensely penetrating1 soul dazzling strains of music as to perfectly appal with ecstatic emotion our enraptured tourists4 ,but for the preparation of us for it by the scientific spirits1 who they called the ,ulaetta1 we could not have withstood it4 ,i will give you this process of preparation on some future occasion1 and ,i am sure it will be interesting to you and valuable when you come over4 ,the ceremonies of reception were performed1 not in speech1 but in musical opera1 which1 singular to state1 we were enabled to understand by the preparation mentioned4 ,when ,i say musical opera ,i do not mean singing accompanied by music1 but that the music itself was intensely operatic1 and infused thought by the most astonishing and utterly inexplicable process into our interior soul consciousness4 ,it was something worth years of suffering and pain to enjoy1 and in contemplating its inconceivable grandeur ,i return to my own sphere1 feeling how little ,i am1 and to weep for the children of earth1 still in ignorance and superstition1 and ,i lift my voice in prayerful supplication to ,god to rend the veil1 that poor humanity may obtain even faint glimpses of the gorgeous splendors of ,god's great kingdom2 but ,i seem to hear a voice answering1 ,not yet2 wait and be patient4 ,march #bj4 ,we observed the most singular fact connected with the edifice wherein we were received4 ,in approaching it we were unable to penetrate into its interior with our vision4 ,it seemed to be a solid mass of exquisitely fine material1 but on gaining admission into its interior1 by some peculiar power that seemed to affect our spiritual vision and perceptions1 we were enabled to see through and beyond it1 and to perceive objects in the far distance4 ,in other words1 the whole structure seemed to vanish so far as to permit no obstruction to our vision far beyond its limits1 and yet it was thoroughly substantial1 composed of finely attenuated and spiritually sublimated material4 ,i have so much to tell you that ,i must forego the pleasure of indulging in details1 however interesting they might be to you4 ,the presiding personage at our reception was a figure of tall and commanding appearance1 with a benevolent face1 dignified mien1 and large blue eyes1 that seemed constantly tremulous with love and emotion4 ,he held in his hand a magic wand1 which ever and anon he would wave1 and in harmony with these movements the most enchanting sounds of music seemed to be wafted far out in the viewless spiritual ether that surrounded and enveloped us4 ,this wonderful fact baffles the skill of mortal pen and mortal language to describe1 and you must be content with what is said as the best that can be said1 so as to reach your comprehension4 ,as ,i caught the eye of this great presiding spirit ,i perceived the idea emanating from his mind1 ',i am glad to meet you1' yet not one of these words was spoken4 ,i essayed to answer to express my thankfulness for his friendly recognition of us1 and ,i found ,i could not speak audibly1 but my thought he caught immediately1 and bowed in acknowledgment4 ,he had been many thousands of years before a sage and philosopher on the planet ,mars1 and bore about the same relation to his people as ,mahomet1 ,confucius1 ,jesus1 ,swedenborg and others of their day have in your world2 and he is pre-eminent in music4 ,all the great spirits of ,mars are eminent musicians4 ,music1 intellectual expansion and spiritual growth seem to be wedded1 and go hand in hand together4 ,these are wonderful relations1 but nevertheless are true4 ,in my next ,i will introduce you to some of the societies and cities of the planet1 to be followed from time to time by revelations that can not fail to impress you with the greatest interest1 and not only be interesting and instructive1 but will be of great value to you in your after life in the spheres4 ,my clear and venerable friend1 be of good cheer1 and in the sweet bye and bye ,i will accompany you on this very tour1 and then you will perceive the difficulties in the way of giving a description so as to be understood by mortals4 ,march #bg4 ,after the ceremonies of reception1 the details of which1 fully set forth1 would fill a large volume1 we set out under the escort of a select delegation of forty-seven in number on a tour of inspection1 a few only of the incidents of which ,i can imperfectly touch4 ,many things observed by us ,i am not at liberty to mention1 for the all-sufficient reason that you would not understand them and the world is not prepared to receive them4 ,our first visit was to a society of literary celebrities1 located in a city of marvelous beauty4 ,for our present use we will call the place the ,city of ,learning1 and the society1 the ,society of the ,literati4 ,these names are not the real ones1 but serve our purpose fully as well1 indeed much better4 ,the city is located on the border of a vast expanse of water of a golden hue1 and this limpid stream is a vast musical organ of sounds1 whose very vibrations1 as its currents flow along1 disturb the surrounding atmosphere1 resulting in the production of harmonies in musical intonations1 not only delightfully enrapturing1 but far beyond the power of portrayal in human speech4 ,we stood upon its brink1 and were enchanted by its soul-piercing melody4 ,ever and anon the mellowed rays of the spiritual sun of our solar system would strike upon the bosom of this majestic stream1 producing in their rebound such marvelous1 scintillating reflections as to cause the beautiful tints of your rainbow to pale into utter insignificance in comparison4 ,you must elaborate in your own mind these feeble touches of my pen1 for ,i can not stop to give minute delineations1 but only the idea1 and you can carry it onward in your imagination without fear of overdoing the picture or exaggerating the facts4 ,the ladies and gentlemen composing the ,society of the ,literati of this one city are numbered by the many thousands1 with vast numbers of co-operating branches in as many different localities4 ,we are told that there exist still higher branches1 which we were not spiritually fitted to visit and comprehend4 ,we1 as spirits from earth1 lacked planetary development1 but we have the promise in the infinite justice of ,god's eternal laws that in time1 though very far distant1 our earth1 with its encircling spiritual spheres1 will reach unto the gorgeous grandeur of ,mars4 ,here let us pause and reflect4 ,march #bi4 ,herein may be found ample food for study1 inspiring elements for reflection3 ,first--,how almighty is ,god1 yet puny man is wondering whether there is a ,god4 ,second--,how grand and noble may all his children become4 ,third--,how patiently does ,god1 through inflexible and unerring law1 work out such stupendous results4 ,fourth--,man while in the flesh would arrogate unto himself the attributes of a ,god1 when in truth it requires ages of effort and progress only to disclose to him that yet he is not yet an angel4 ,but still how grand are the possibilities before man1 inviting him onward4 ,they can not be fully conceived by the finite mind1 much less described4 ,we saw many translucent streams1 whose pellucid waters were charming to behold4 ,there is a law appertaining to all advanced spiritual intelligences that induces the profoundest meditation1 the sublimest adoration1 when beholding1 although only partially1 the infinite variety and splendors of the creation2 and ,i must occasionally pause in my narrative to give expression to this law of my soul4 ,we were next conducted to a vast building1 wherein was deposited the grandest library of books1 and they were simply collections on scientific subjects alone4 ,elsewhere were vast collections on other subjects not intimately connected with science--books as tangible and objective to us as the slate on which ,i am writing is to your touch and sight4 ,mr4 ,swedenborg1 being naturally of a scientific turn of mind1 became absorbingly interested in this department1 and it was with reluctance he took his departure therefrom4 ,he made arrangements to return to study some things to be found here and which he has not been able to find elsewhere4 ,he is promised aid by the members of the ,society of the ,literati4 ,we then visited an assembly of representative men1 and ,i am now about to tell you something that will surprise you1 but it is nevertheless true4 ,when ,i use the expression representative men ,i mean that each planet has representatives to every other planet in the solar system4 ,i must reserve the next sitting for a description of the grand system of planetary diplomacy--envoys extraordinary or ministers plenipotentiary1 as you would call them4 ,the power is too nearly exhausted to enter upon the subject at this sitting4 ,we notify you now that by these ministrations and recitals you are living many1 many years in advance of this age of your planet4 ,april #c4 ,in your solar system you only claim eight planets1 exclusive of the ,asteroids between ,mars and ,jupiter1 but the truth is there are thirteen in number2 five of them have long since passed into their spiritual orbits1 and consequently are not objective to your telescopes1 and this state is to be the ultimate of all planets4 ,every planet1 including the earth1 is continually undergoing change1 that is to say1 gradually passing from the gross to the more refined1 and by a continually advancing series of geologic and progressive changes from the lower to the higher1 from the crude to the more refined1 from the material toward the spiritual1 all will ultimately in time pass into spiritual conditions or orbits4 ,but as this theme is scientific1 and not directly in the line of or pertinent to my narrative1 ,i will abandon it1 at least for the present4 ,in my last ,i told you that each planet was favored with representatives from every other planet in our system1 and it is from this system1 spiritually originating1 that you have derived your system of international representation4 ,i do not mean that any spirit communicated this to the nations1 but that in the early formation of nationalities and the commercial intercourse between nations1 susceptible public men1 by reason of their exceeding impressibility1 got the inspiration from surrounding spiritual influences1 and to a certain degree and extent carried it into execution in the establishment of ambassadorial relations between friendly governmental powers4 ,but there is a marked difference between your nations and the spiritual worlds in the objects and purposes of such system4 ,in the spiritual worlds representatives are deputed one to the other for an entirely different purpose from yours in sending ministers to ,england1 ,france1 ,russia1 etc4 ,your accredited agents of government abroad are simply spies to watch other countries1 lest some trivial advantage may be gained against you in some minor and unimportant matter4 ,selfishness is the law by which they are to be governed4 ,they are expected to be1 and generally are1 lorded and feasted1 dined and wined1 all in the high-sounding names of civilization and national urbanity4 ,ours are sent on an entirely different mission--to gather knowledge for the benefit of all4 ,our public and representative men are not engaged in learning the rules and laws of the stock market1 how to manipulate it and how to create corners in the bountiful productions vouchsafed by the ,infinite1 nor how to secure safe investments with large and profitable margins1 but to learn the laws of the planets1 to the end that they may be utilized in the development and progress of their varied and numerous peoples4 ,through whatever other planets1 farther advanced than ours--have passed1 we1 too1 must pass1 and hence by our representative spirits learning of their varied progressive experiences1 they are enabled to prepare for and assist in the changes that must inevitably ensue4 ,i can not carry my thought further than to say in addition that our solar system1 as a system in its entirety1 has representatives to thousands of other solar systems revolving in space1 circling around their respective central suns4 ,you perceive that the grandeur of creative glory is looming up before us in majestic proportions1 far beyond our power to comprehend and portray4 ,we look forward with great pleasure to each succeeding meeting1 when we hope to continue our narrative if conditions continue to favor us4 ,april #f4 ,after feasting in the examination of the library of the ,society of the ,literati ,i felt an intense desire to learn something in regard to the religious teachings on the planet in its past1 as applied to the embodied ,marsians1 in the curious desire to find out whether their theological and religious history bore any resemblance to ours1 and if dissimilar1 wherein by contrast the dissimilarity consisted4 ,of course1 in the very nature of things1 this opened up a wide field of investigation1 and ,i can only give you points condensed and with the utmost brevity1 and without any attempt at elaboration4 ,as ,i have already informed you1 the denizens of ,mars do not use our language or mode of speech1 and therefore ,i am compelled to transfer their thoughts into our language1 and you must consider that much will be lost in the transmission4 ,the planet ,mars1 in point of time1 is much older than the earth1 and consequently has passed through many more changes2 these successive changes or epochs have had their respective theologies1 and ,i was utterly surprised to learn that in some respects they resembled ours--that is to say1 their earlier theology--the later and truer has no resemblance whatever to ours or any that we have had in the past4 ,the people of ,mars in the dim and distant ages of the bygone have had many gods and many bibles4 ,their older books or bibles are now treasured as simple curiosities belonging to the infancy of the race1 and the wonder now is how it was possible at any period of their history that a people could be found seemingly so hopelessly ignorant as to believe them4 ,the same fate1 my friend1 awaits your ,bibles1 ,korans1 ,zend-,avestas1 etc4 ,but in all their speculations in religion they were never taught to believe that their remote ancestors had fallen from an imaginary state of perfection1 nor that somebody else's sufferings and death were imperatively necessary to extricate them from the peril1 and to reinstate them into the loving esteem and saving grace of their creator4 ,while they had many follies in their early history1 they had none like unto our own4 ,they never believed ,god to be angry and revengeful nor that he would ever destroy their own or any other world by water1 fire or otherwise1 nor that men were made out of dust and women from ribs1 nor that fish swallowed men1 preserved them in good condition in their stomachs1 and delivered them subsequently and in safety upon the dry land4 ,these silly recitals of your bible will be ridiculed and laughed at some of these coming happy days4 ,april #aj3 ,if you could be instantaneously transferred to the planet ,mars just as you are in the form you could not live a moment of time4 ,the intensely rarefied and etherealized atmospheres surrounding that planet would not maintain animal life such as yours4 ,yet the time has been when beings more crude1 dense and undeveloped have lived and figured on the stage of ,mar's history4 ,the law of evolution or unceasing progression applies to all planets and in a degree of unfoldment according to the periodic duration of time of each4 ,hence1 under the operation of this inexorable law of the creation you can readily and with quick discerning eye see the ultimate destiny of all--that is to say1 the utter overcoming of the crude and unrefined by the spiritual absorption of the whole1 and yet this law that lifts the lower into the higher has no limit or ending4 ,you can therefore see in the myriad ages of future time with this law1 all the while actively working1 how inexpressibly refined and sublimated will become spiritual beings and spiritual essences4 ,this constitutes a grand revelation1 and presents in contemplation the grand possibilities in store for man and the fittest of all things material4 ,while the constituent elements are the same1 yet in outward manifestation the atoms composing your physical bodies1 and those in the form on ,mars1 are quite dissimilar4 ,the same elements that exist here1 either as applied to the spiritual or material1 are essentially the same as exist in the remotest realms of the creation4 ,they only differ in presentation or outward manifestation1 and in the degree of their development and progression4 ,here is another theme for contemplation and study1 and the fact as here disclosed ought to fill us with proud satisfaction1 for the inherent elements and qualities possessed by the millions of worlds1 revolving in the unexplored immensity of space and their countless myriad hosts of people1 are possessed by our world and our denizens1 only differing in the intensity of their action and the degree of unfoldment or approximation toward maturity--ah1 a maturity that never matures4 ,while the law of progression is infinite it deals with the finite1 and as the finite can only advance toward but never become infinite1 so will this mighty law of progression carry us onward and onward1 upward and upward through all coming time1 and yet will never cease from its labors or find repose4 ,what a mighty destiny before and for man6 ,april #ad4 ,in this and my next ,i will tell you some things that will surprise you1 but they are veritably true4 ,i am dealing with you in verities1 however absurd and preposterous they may appear to the unprogressed mind4 ,this is said1 by your people1 to be a remarkable age1 and in many respects it is so4 ,you are receiving some matter far in advance of the age in which you are living1 but it will be properly recognized and appreciated in the years to come4 ,on the planet ,mars jails and prison houses for the confinement and punishment of malefactors are only historic reminiscences of the past4 ,there are now no punishments inflicted because there are no offenders to punish4 ,the doctrine of sacrificial atonement1 with its retarding influence1 was never taught to the people of that planet4 ,they have always been taught the supreme goodness of the creator conjoined with wisdom and almighty power4 ,god being supremely good1 and supreme in the exercise of goodness1 they have not for thousands of years last past entertained the slightest apprehension that any onslaught upon their peace1 happiness1 and future felicity1 would be permitted4 ,from this ennobling conception of ,god came the desire to manifest a spirit of devotion and veneration1 and consequently at an earlier period of the history of ,mars the worship of the people was low and groveling somewhat resembling1 as ,i am informed1 the ancient idol worship of the ,egyptians and ,israelites4 ,at the present time the two worlds--the spiritual and material--of ,mars are so closely allied and interblended that the spiritual forces are enabled to exercise a positively restraining influence over the conduct and actions of those still connected with the physical1 so they can not1 if they would1 commit wrong1 or perpetrate infractions upon the law of right4 ,by reason of this high condition of development those passing out of the material form are at once intromitted into the higher conditions of the spiritual world1 because they are fitted for them4 ,all are mediums and subject absolutely to spiritual action and control4 ,this is what your spirit world is seeking to do for you1 so1 if possible1 to pass over and beyond some of the rough experiences of other planets1 and your people do not seem to have the good sense to see it4 ,on ,mars there are no murders1 arsons1 robberies1 forgeries1 slanders1 and other crimes and misdeeds1 for they have progressed beyond them4 ,do you not perceive the sublimity of this condition8 and will it not be a most glorious consummation when you shall have reached the same altitude of progress4 ,april #ag4 ,another subject of inquiry engrossed my attention1 namely1 marriage4 ,i became interested to know something of the history of this people on this subject1 and ,i found it to be an exceedingly interesting one4 ,at this period of ,mars there is no such institution as marriage in the sense you regard it4 ,it is not an exaggeration to say that a very large per cent of your marriages are brought about as the result of the most unholy motives4 ,passion1 lust1 avarice1 etc41 are generally the impelling influences1 and seldom is witnessed a union from purely spiritual causes4 ,it is needless to say these marriages are not only temporal1 ending with the death of the body1 if not sooner by an unholy judicial system of divorcement1 but entail a cruel blighting curse upon the race4 ,the history of your own planet on the subject of marriage is but feebly understood by you4 ,enough however is known to induce all lovers of humanity to loathe and detest it as it has been practiced in the past4 ,it is claimed that ,god created animate creatures in pairs1 male and female1 and that1 as applied to man1 he cemented a union of one man and one woman in the marriage relation1 and that this occurred at the commencement of the creation in the ,garden of ,eden4 ,your conspicuous bible characters1 such as ,abraham1 ,david1 ,solomon1 and others1 have not only ignored and trampled upon virtue in its simplest and purest forms1 but with the hellish gluttony of the vampire feasting on blood1 they debauched innocence1 prostituted virtue to their unholy lust1 and thereby destroyed the holiest relation of life4 ,their numerous wives and concubines attest this1 and yet your pious ,christians are waging a relentless warfare upon the ,mormons of ,utah and vehemently thundering against the polygamous practices of the ,latter ,day ,saints4 ,shame for ,christian consistency4 ,on this subject your advanced thinkers do not discuss those eternal and enduring spiritual laws of attraction by magnetic and soul affinity upon which alone shines forth in eternal splendor the blending of soul with soul in an everlasting conjugal union4 ,the people of ,mars understand and adopt these laws1 or rather harmonize and abide in them1 and now while embodied their marriages are for all unending future time4 ,as the result we discover on that planet a race of people almost perfect in their mental1 moral1 and physical developments1 requiring only time1 experience1 and progression1 to disclose the still more wonderful proportions of their being4 ,the union of one man and one woman under spiritual conditions is the highest type of marriage1 and constitutes the paramount and supreme intention of the deity1 and is the ultimatum and consummation of the law of conjugal love--all others are fleeting1 dishonoring1 and only evil4 ,april #bj4 ,your candidates for matrimony1 first obtaining each other's consent1 and the approval of parents or guardians1 apply to the legally constituted authorities for a license or permit to enter the holy state1 and when procured they repair to a priest or magistrate1 who for a few shekels pronounces a few stereotyped phrases1 followed by the solemn declaration pronouncing them man and wife1 closing generally with the ludicrous and farcical command1 'whom ,god has joined together let no man put asunder4' ,oh1 what a caricature and farce4 ,it is bad enough to declare whom the law has joined together1 and so forth1 but to assume with such solemn gravity that ,god has joined in wedlock's sacred union many of the marriage alliances which are mere caricatures of marriage1 is not only blasphemy1 but the very apex of nonsense1 and is the widest possible departure from truth4 ,if it be true that ,god joins them together1 no power1 save himself could put asunder or disunite4 ,to assert otherwise would amount to affirming that ,god is the author of failures4 ,the difference between marriages that only have their basis in consent1 license1 and ceremony1 and that marriage which ,god cements when two are joined by the divine laws of soul affinity and magnetic attraction--the one is of the earth earthy1 the other is from the ,lord through and by the operation of eternal law1 and is therefore heavenly4 ,oh1 that the children of earth might learn and conform to these subtle and glorious laws for their own good and in the interest of those to come after them4 ,on the planet ,mars the people have no license system on any subject4 ,while you on earth are wrangling about licensing the sale of intoxicating beverages1 on ,mars they have none to license4 ,while here you are exercised over measures of taxation to raise revenue to support the government1 on ,mars no taxes whatever are imposed1 and public affairs for the general public good are administered freely and without compensation1 purely as a labor of love4 ,the truth is that the mundane affairs of ,mars are more regulated1 controlled1 and conducted by the spiritual powers of the planet than by those in the form4 ,the two worlds are so intimately related to each other1 and are so closely brought together1 that this is not only practicable but desirable and profitable4 ,april #ba4 ,there is on the planet ,mars a subterranean passage through it from pole to pole1 which ,mr4 ,swedenborg informs me he has thoroughly explored4 ,there is more truth than poetry in what is known as ,symmes' hole as applied to your earth4 ,when the time comes by the settlement of your as yet vast millions of uninhabited acres1 and a change takes place in northern temperature and conditions1 the people of that day will discover within and through the very heart center of your earth a country nearly a third as large as the exterior surface1 and by that time every thing therein will be sufficiently progressed and developed to supply the wants and invite the ambition and energies of the people of that period4 ,but this discovery1 or rather the occupation of this subterranean country1 is very far off in point of time1 and the human race of earth will then be quite different from what it is now4 ,they will have so changed by the lapse of time and the law of progress as to be enabled to pass into the new country by way of the north pole with ease and safety4 ,the north pole is the true opening1 and can not be reached until the fullness of time1 as ,i have indicated4 ,as the area of territory of ,mar's surface was about being densely covered by population1 and apprehensions were being entertained for the future of the race1 lo and behold1 the new interior country was discovered and subsequently peopled4 ,by the time it is crowded no more will be needed1 for the planet by that time will have passed into its spiritual orbit and into the ocean of spiritual ether1 where suffering can never come from lack of room4 ,this will be the future history of your planet1 and you will pass through the same experiences and reach the same ultimate4 ,behold how infinitely wise all things are forearranged4 ,just as we need by our development new limits1 new appliances and new things1 they are ready for our use1 and are never disclosed until we are ready for and need them4 ,april #bd4 ,at this time those living on the planet ,mars do not die or pass through the change called death as you do here4 ,they have no diseases that cause the untimely taking off of the inhabitants4 ,disease has long since been banished4 ,all of the procreating elements of disease residing in the materiality of the globe or the surrounding atmosphere have been by progressive development eliminated4 ,and even before this had fully occurred the people had learned the laws of health and the process of neutralizing and rendering harmless the lurking germs that remained4 ,you may perceive from this what a happy people they are4 ,there are no untimely deaths on ,mars4 ,children grow up to manhood and womanhood2 yet there is no fixed standard of time when all die1 that is1 no definite and invariable period of longevity4 ,and right here comes in a great law1 now operative on ,mars1 that the people of earth know nothing about1 for it has never been communicated before1 namely1 children can not die there4 ,it was never designed that they should die here4 ,marriage being brought about1 as before stated1 by the grand law of magnetic attraction or spiritual affinity1 and all diseases being banished and their producing causes annihilated1 nothing but absolutely sound and perfect physical and mental organizations are imparted to offspring by their progenitors4 ,you see at once the idea1 for ,i must be brief--the children being perfect in health of body and mind by procreation1 and there being no diseases to affect them after birth1 death can not touch them1 in fact can touch none before the time arrives1 varying in point of longevity for the separation of spirit and body4 ,none die before the full maturity of stature1 and some live to be a very advanced age4 ,after reaching complete development or stature1 they pass out of and away from the material in point of time1 according to the antecedent conditions of their varied being4 ,some arrive after maturity to the estate of progressive experience in the form sooner than others1 and when this period arrives1 whether it be at thirty1 forty1 fifty or a hundred years1 they pass on to their ultimate and higher state of being in the spiritual spheres4 ,it is known when each shall pass out of the form long before the event transpires1 and all due preparation is accordingly made therefor4 ,your scientists have discovered1 and rightly1 too1 that about every seven years the atoms and particles composing your physical organizations change and give way to new ones4 ,but this is gradual and imperceptible4 ,on ,mars1 at this period of development1 the changes are much more frequent1 and these successive changes determine the approach of dissolution1 and instead of death in an hour or a day1 it goes on perceptibly and without pain or suffering for years4 ,every change lessens the material composites of the body1 and at each a nearer approach to the spiritual takes place1 until finally the physical1 by the gradual process of embodied sublimation or attenuation1 passes away1 and the spiritual becomes supreme4 ,this culmination is equivalent to what you call death1 except that there is no attending pain1 no death struggle1 and no physical body afterwards to take care of and lay away4 ,the body1 by successive changes1 has seemingly vanished into nothingness and been absorbed in the atmosphere4 ,april #bg4 ,we have been expecting you to inquire of us how the people live on the planet ,mars1 what kind of architecture in the construction of their business houses1 habitations1 etc42 what kind of food they eat1 and with what raiment are they clothed1 etc4 ,you will have observed from what we have heretofore made known to you that the services of four classes of professional worthies have been dispensed with1 simply because the people have progressed beyond their utility1 namely1 lawyers1 doctors1 preachers and politicians4 ,lawyers can only thrive and exist professionally in a land where conscience is not permitted to exercise its native simplicity and positive purity1 and where the lower passions and propensities are largely dominant4 ,when conscience1 active1 pure and simple1 is allowed to manifest its functions in perfect unrestraint1 and to act as the governing power in the regulation of human conduct1 the presence and office of the barrister are no longer of use4 ,lawyers flourish as a general proposition on strife and contention1 bad faith and unfair dealing2 and when these shall happily end1 like poor cashiered ,cassio1 their occupation will be gone4 ,the doctors grow opulent by medication1 because of the ignorance of the people with reference to the true laws of marriage1 proper antenatal conditions1 neglect of proper hygiene1 and ignorance as to overcoming or rendering harmless the deleterious conditions1 both atmospheric and from the undeveloped state of inherent nature4 ,but when1 by progressing beyond their harmful influences1 or by enlightenment and healing gifts1 the people shall obtain a complete mastery over them1 disease shall be banished1 then the avocation of the physician ends1 and he will have to seek a livelihood in other pursuits4 ,the preacher lives in comfortable indolence because of the ignorance and superstition of the people4 ,his office is one of hypocrisy and fraud4 ,hypocrisy1 because if he is not a fool1 he knows his teachings are not true1 and of fraud1 because by dissembling he extorts from his parishoners a dishonorable subsistence4 ,when the people grow sufficiently wise they will be taught by the denizens of the spirit world truth and righteousness4 ,then the mission or office of the sacerdotal gentlemen will be closed1 and they can seek employment in the many more honorable occupations4 ,the politician1 cunning and subtle1 swims along smoothly upon the rolling current of the credulity of the people and his own duplicity4 ,he prospers because you have not as yet grown into full political manhood1 and he succeeds in hoodwinking you with the belief that his heart is overflowing with patriotism and anxious solicitude for the public weal4 ,but ,i must leave this class--the politicians--to the tender mercies of several gentlemen who are waiting the opportunity to contribute their part to your enterprise4 ,april #bh4 ,the coarse food necessary for you in order to keep up the crude materiality of which your physical make-up is composed1 is not needed by the denizens of ,mars4 ,in the composition of your physical bodies is a representative of all the material elements in nature--iron1 calcium1 wood1 earth1 etc4--and it is easily demonstrated by microscopic inspection and chemical analysis1 that in every drop of blood in the human system all these varied and numerous elements are represented4 ,hence man may be safely considered a microcosm1 or nature in her vast domain1 reflected in miniature4 ,but you still exist in the realm of the crude1 and yet you are vastly more refined than in the ages past1 and forward1 onward1 and upward is the line of march marked out for you by the infinitely wise director of all things4 ,on the planet ,mars no animal food is used1 because among other reasons the physical properties of the body do not require the elements of animal flesh to replace nature's wastes4 ,thousands of former species of animals have become extinct1 swallowed up in the ever surging maelstrom of progression or absorbed in the higher forms4 ,vegetation in the planet ,mars is quite different1 both in expression or appearance1 and constituent composition from the vegetation of your planet4 ,here the aroma residing in the vegetable and escaping therefrom1 is largely absorbed and neutralized by the grossness of the vegetable itself1 while on ,mars the grossness has become so diminished that to the senses the aroma has almost become tangibly objective1 and this aroma is food strengthening and invigorating1 is nearly sufficient of itself to support existence in the form without the assistance of the more substantial fibers of the parent vegetable4 ,yet in a certain prepared form the substantial material is used4 ,the time is not very far distant1 as ,i am assured1 when the people there will subsist on aromatic emanations from material productions1 aided by magnetic1 electric1 and other atmospheric properties used simply by inhalation4 ,in the water you use are to be found teeming millions of living and moving animalcules4 ,they are enabled to live on the elements of the water in its present gross state1 but on the planet ,mars the water has been dispossessed of its life germinating and life sustaining properties to aquatic productions1 and has thus progressed with all other things and beings4 ,no life or form of life is now brought into being there1 but such higher types as are fitted to pass with the planet into spiritual conditions2 and the water being so purified by nature's refining processes is as different from your ordinary water as clear1 sparkling sprays projected from your fountains and dancing in the sunbeams are to the murky waters of your rivulets immediately after a violent rain-storm4 ,i will resume this subject in my next4 ,may #a4 ,on ,mars they have learned how to produce from the soil itself any vegetable that naturally grows therefrom4 ,in the soil itself reside all the constituent elements of all vegetation in their infinite variety4 ,you may thoughtlessly answer1 that in order to produce any species of vegetation used for table consumption1 the seed or germ must first be sown in the soil beneath the surface1 but you forget that this process is but the result of civilization and art1 and that originally1 that is before you learned how to obtain and use seed1 the products sprang of themselves and apparently spontaneously from the earth4 ,whence did they come8 and whence were their germinating and generating powers obtained8 ,think a little deeply on the subject1 and you will be led irresistibly to the correct conclusion that in the soil exists all the requisite elements in the production of vegetation by growth4 ,the people of ,mars have acquired the knowledge which enables them to produce out of the soil1 abstractly considered1 all the essential qualities of the vegetable without waiting for the tedious process of growth4 ,this process is purely chemical1 and everybody there understands it4 ,hence you see they do not have to buy vegetables1 for all can have their essential qualities for food without cost to the consumer4 ,long since the ownership of the soil by individuals was abandoned for the general common good1 and on this subject the primitive condition of affairs in your planet prevails universally on ,mars--that is to say everybody owns realty1 one just as much as another4 ,this is pure unadulterated agrarianism in its highest and most perfect form4 ,it is often asked in your intercourse with the world of spirits3 ,what are the employments of spirits8 what are they about8 what do they do8 etc4 ,it is pertinent to inquire1 ,what are the employments of the people of ,mars still embodied8 ,what do they do since we have discovered that they do not now toil for the acquisition of riches1 because they have no possible use for them2 no taxes to pay1 no governmental machinery to support1 no lawyers to annoy1 no preachers to vex1 torture1 and maintain1 no doctors to nauseate with their drugs1 no politicians to hoodwink the people and feed at the public crib1 no grocery bills to look after and liquidate1 etc4 ,before we answer these and many other important queries1 we shall see what the people do for raiment with which to clothe themselves1 and what they do for shelter1 if1 indeed1 shelter is necessary4 ,if we shall discover that these are free gifts from the father1 then the employments of the embodied ,marsians becomes a question of very interesting and pressing importance4 ,may #d4 ,i suspect that you already anticipate the tenor of what we have to tell you in regard to the clothing of the people of ,mars1 what texture1 how derived1 etc4 ,your keen perceptions and astute comprehension enables you to see at a glance that if this law of progression1 as applied to the material1 whereby the lowest forms are reached and operated upon1 lifting with its strong arms into higher and still higher conditions1 be true1 it must be true and in regard to all material things--the soil1 rock1 wood1 water1 etc41 animal and vegetable life1 and as we shall have occasion to show further on1 to the mundane atmosphere surrounding the planet4 ,all things progress and advance in like and equal ratio1 leaving nothing behind or unaffected by the law4 ,this advancing march of matter from the crude and gross into the more refined and sublimated is seemingly slow1 but nevertheless sure and unerringly1 indiscriminate1 and precise4 ,therefore the raiment worn by the denizens of ,mars has reached the same altitude of refinement as all other material things4 ,the seasons1 once resembling yours1 spring1 summer1 autumn1 and winter1 have nearly merged1 that is to say1 have nearly blended into one perpetual season of summer loveliness4 ,the austerity of winter1 with its stormy blasts and cold1 piercing wind waves has long since ceased to be2 no frosts to nip and blight the fruits and flowers2 no chilling autumns1 with withering leaf1 to inspire with melancholy and sadness4 ,what will surprise you in this connection is1 that1 while the cold temperature has wrought its work in the development of the past1 and is only known to have once existed by historic relation1 the intense heat of summer has also disappeared4 ,when you have severely cold winters1 almost unendurable even in your temperate zones1 your wise philosophers theorize that your ultimate destiny is to freeze out2 that the icebergs and ice glaziers of the north are ultimately either to roll over the now fair portions of the earth1 destroying all things animate1 or that their freezing breath will sweep over the globe involving in death all the fair and lovely forms of nature's productions1 including godlike man1 the apex and crowning glory of creation4 ,but lo6 when the earth straightens up on her axis and the cold waves retreat and sink away in their northern hiding place1 and the genial and vernal season with its pleasant temperature returns1 these same philosophers take a breathing spell1 rest awhile1 and conclude that it has not been so very cold after all2 and when the summer comes1 if it happens to be unusual in the intensity of its heat1 and the solar rays seem to almost melt into molten ruin all things1 and to scorch the forest leaves and wilt the waving harvests1 these same philosophical wiseacres change tactics1 reverse their position1 and with one heroic bound jump to a directly opposite conclusion1 namely3 that we are all destined ultimately to burn up and become annihilated in a general conflagration by solar heat igniting the combustible material of the planet and its surrounding atmosphere4 ,oh1 how impotent in philosophy6 ,a simple and humble inquiry settles the question4 ,why destroy this fair earth1 daily and hourly becoming still fairer8 ,does ,god do any thing without an allwise and beneficent purpose8 ,is it possible for ,him to do a silly1 foolish thing8 ,he would certainly not destroy the earth unless there was thereby some noble and beneficent purpose to subserve4 ,what grand purpose1 good and wise1 can be accomplished by ending the existence of a planet that has as yet scarcely begun to live8 ,to assume that ,he will do such a thing1 is to assume that ,he has become disappointed and disgusted with his own creation1 which annuls ,his wisdom and foresight1 or that ,he delights in folly1 making a world and then destroying it because ,he can1 or for any other silly and insufficient reason4 ,to thus assume is to dishonor ,him as a ,god1 and to invest ,him with the attributes of a devil4 ,wonderful changes do occur marking epochs1 or cycles1 in the history of all planets4 ,where you live to-day1 thousands upon thousands of years ago another race of human beings lived1 attaining a certain degree of development in science and art1 but upon the fulfillment of their mission they passed away from the face of the earth4 ,where you now live was once swept over by old ocean1 and where the deep waters and angry billows of the ,atlantic now roll and revel once lived a race of people called the ,atlantians1 but their land with its embellishments of art and progressive development became submerged by the changes of the mighty waters1 and now lies buried beneath its rolling deep and lashing waves4 ,but observe in all this that the globe goes on1 and succeeding developments of man and material things come forth far in advance of the former order of things4 ,what1 if in the womb of time it is reserved for ,atlantis to arise from her watery entombment and to flourish again with renewed and increased grandeur1 involving the submersion of other portions of the earth's surface1 including your own8 ,this would not be death to any portion of the planet in any high and exalted sense1 but a progressive change1 a revivifying of life1 a quickening and impulsion of being in the grand advancing march of development and sublimation4 ,as we write1 the theme expands and enlarges1 and as the power begins to wane we find we have not discoursed minutely on the subject of raiment1 and beg your indulgence for a resume of the subject in our next4 ,may #e4 ,there being1 at this stage of development on ,mars1 no winter with its concomitants of winds and storm1 snow and ice1 you have no difficulty in apprehending that very light material only is needed to protect and render comfortable the persons of the people4 ,material of the texture of your lightest flannel underwear would be oppressively and uncomfortably warm1 and indeed insufferable4 ,thin and quite gauzy robes composed of finely attenuated and exquisitely refined material constitute their apparel4 ,i have told you hitherto that of the animal kingdom only the fittest have survived the marvelous successive changes in the infinite series of progressive advancements4 ,among those now living with the ability of propagation is an animal species somewhat resembling your sheep1 but so exceedingly refined as to be remarkably striking in contrast4 ,of course1 and in the very nature of things1 the fleecy wool1 or1 rather velvety down1 that grows upon this noble animal1 so distinguished for innocence1 aesthetic tastes in food and refinement in habits of life1 is eminently suited for purposes of habilament1 and accordingly is thus utilized4 ,they are propagated in unlimited numbers1 live to an advanced age1 are the common property of all the people1 and have within themselves the qualities of eternal being4 ,the forest and other trees1 shrubs and flowers1 have advanced under the same law of progress4 ,very many species of the olden time disappearing--the fittest only having survived4 ,among those now extant on the planet1 is a peculiar and quite extensively cultivated species1 from which is produced a fabric resembling somewhat your cotton production1 with the same difference in refinement of texture as exists between your wool and that developed on ,mars as herein stated4 ,this is utilized for raiment also4 ,besides the people there have mastered the law that spirits employ in the materialization of garments at your materializing seances1 only much finer1 and out of the ambient atmosphere1 filled as it is with sublimated atoms and emanations1 they are enabled to collect and magnetize into solidified form appropriate garments for their use and comfort4 ,when thus magnetized into objective and tangible being it partakes of and assumes a varied hue and color1 according to the progressed and advanced state of the person using the garments4 ,in other words the magnetic aura and spiritual emanations proceeding from the individual infiltrates and becomes interwoven in the delicate fibers of the new garment extracted and brought into being from the viewless air1 imparting hue and coloration presenting different appearances1 whereby the grade or degree of advancement of the individual wearer is made known and determined4 ,here you inquire of the spirits to know what sphere you are fitted to enter in the spirit world1 there they know by this means in advance of leaving the body4 ,your spirits in imparting light and knowledge to you concerning their state1 tell you that a spirit and its proper sphere are known by the peculiar aura1 or surroundings and clothing of the individual spirit1 and this is true to the letter4 ,but on ,mars this law of spirit designation that belongs to the spiritual spheres of your planet1 reaches out and reveals itself in the persons of the people of ,mars before they have actually entered upon the spiritual journey of life in the spiritual spheres4 ,now the additional fact is disclosed to you that by reason of this mode of obtaining raiment the avocation of the merchant is of slender dimensions1 and the manufacturer's art and pursuit1 except as known and practiced by all alike1 are now unknown on the planet ,mars4 ,in our next we will discourse on buildings1 habitations1 etc4 ,we had hoped to reach this part of the subject in this communication1 but as we advance the themes and subjects broaden and expand1 and we sincerely regret that the power by this process--independent slate writing--although the purest of all1 will not last us at one sitting sufficiently to fully elaborate our thoughts and descriptive delineations on a given subject4 ,it has this advantage1 however1 it comes directly from the materialized fingers of the spirit without the direct use of the brain of another in transmission4 ,adieu until our next4 ,may #h4 ,the same reasons assigned in our last1 why very light garments only were needed for the bodily comfort and happiness of the people of ,mars apply with equal propriety1 force1 and truth1 to the subject of their habitations4 ,your rains are produced by vapors1 mists1 and emanations from your oceans1 rivers1 lakes1 etc41 which by virtue of solar attraction or a reversal of the law of gravitation the vapors1 mists1 etc41 are drawn upward in space until a certain density is reached1 differing in altitudes of height1 when they become congealed by the force of the cold attenuated atmosphere there into small particles called rain drops1 and these are carried along by the undercurrents of uncongealed clouds until a certain electro-magnetic condition is reached1 when the clouds begin to empty and rid themselves of their burdened contents4 ,now we have informed you of the progress the water of ,mars has made in being dispossessed of its gross and weighty elements2 hence there are none of these to ascend and to commingle in the formation of rain drops2 hence none but the purer and refined elements of the water are exhaled and drawn upward1 and consequently none but the pure and refined descend4 ,these are in themselves comparatively light and of greatly diminished gravity1 and therefore mild and pleasant in their effect4 ,especially does this become true as a resulting necessity1 from the fact that there are no fierce winds or storms or cold temperature in the surrounding atmospheric belts or zones4 ,the rains on ,mars are more like your gentle dews of early autumn than your rains and showers4 ,you at once take in the situation from this and preceding statements of facts that crude material structures are not necessary1 even if the material for their construction could be found1 and we have seen that such is not the case1 for all things1 including the material in detail out of which edifices are constructed1 have progressed beyond and above their crude grossness4 ,in some portions of ,mars no structures are used at all1 owing to the mildness of the climate and the total absence of inclemency in the slightest degree4 ,in other portions the beautifully developed trees1 and especially those that spread out their branches near the surface of the soil1 are ample for the purposes of shelter4 ,still in others they have a sort of building which is a grand pavilion1 embracing a vast area of territory1 thousands of miles in extent1 under the same roof or cover1 which during certain periods of the year and day become luminous and transparent4 ,the temples and gorgeous structures1 cities1 and magnificent edifices have been transferred in spiritual essence to the spiritual spheres1 and have ceased to be as material entities1 so when the planet passes into the spiritual condition outright and in toto1 all that ,mars could ever boast of in architectural grandeur and excellence is preserved and perpetuated with additional luster and beauty from the finishing spiritual touches by the ,infinite ,master ,builder4 ,and now you perceive that other questions come up right here and require recognition and treatment4 ,among them these3 ,do the people on ,mars sleep8 ,if so1 how often and how much8 ,may #aa4 ,why is it that you require repose in sleep8 ,in the infinitely wise arrangement of all things there are amply satisfactory reasons for every demand1 every requirement1 every manifestation1 and therefore there are reasons why sleep is induced and is an imperative necessity in your present and past states of existence4 ,when rest in sleep is long deferred from nervous derangements or other causes1 your physicians administer narcotics to induce it1 for they well know1 as you all do1 that sleep is necessary after intervals of wakefulness in order to protract your being in the form1 and why8 ,you have voluntary and involuntary functions or organs2 the voluntary only1 the involuntary never1 can be suspended for certain periods of time4 ,your respiration and blood circulation are involuntary1 and as long as you remain embodied in flesh will continue to perform their appropriate functions1 whether you wake or sleep1 for they are not subject to or influenced by the will4 ,and it is by the unconscious operation of these that your voluntary functions when suspended in sleep are replenished and reinvigorated4 ,you are1 as at present constituted1 made up corporally of gross material1 which becomes wearied and exhausted by the active exercise or operation of the voluntary functions1 and the nerve force will expend itself unless periodically reimbursed and replenished1 and restored to its normal condition by the intervention and recuperative power of sleep4 ,when in the ages to come your people lose this grossness in their material composition1 your inclination to sleep and the necessity for it will abate and become lessened correspondingly to your successive stages of advancement in progressive development4 ,thus is revealed to you the fact that on ,mars1 at this time1 the inhabitants have but very little need of sleep4 ,they sleep1 but in a modified sense as to periods1 duration and manner4 ,they rest when fatigued1 and for brief periods pass into a state of languor or stupidity1 to some extent analogous to your sleeping state1 which is never required oftener than once a week1 and then only for a few hours4 ,your spirit friends will tell you that they never sleep1 but rest1 and ever keep in mind that the people of ,mars are closely approximating the spiritual4 ,then1 again1 on ,mars they do not have night as you do1 and consequently not the same nocturnal influences to suggest and invite sleep4 ,this suggests another subject germane to our line of thought4 ,in nature you find always two extremes1 that seem to stand in antipodal relations to each other4 ,let us give a few instances in illustration3 ,you have day and night1 cold and heat1 male and female1 fire and water1 good and evil1 etc4 ,some of these seem to be at fierce war with each other1 and yet what a delusion6 ,this seeming antagonism is but the working of a law that shall eventuate in the production of the completest harmony4 ,undeveloped people1 ignorant of the jewel-crowned truths1 as yet concealed from them in the grand arcana of nature and the progressive sciences1 laugh and sneer at the idea of marriages in spirit life1 when the unvarnished truth is that man1 considered in his independent and separate sexual relation1 is but a half man1 and can not become rounded out into fully developed manhood until consociated in conjunctive union with the opposite sex--not indeed and truly until the man and woman become twain1 one flesh1 or1 in better phraseology1 spiritually unitized4 ,the day and night will continue until finally and by gradual processes the night is banished1 and vanishes in the splendor of a continuously refulgent and sunlit atmosphere4 ,on ,mars this condition is almost reached1 and the night there resembles the shadings thrown over the earth when a cloud passes over the face of your moon at hightide1 and ultimately even this shall be no more1 for in the spiritual spheres of ,mars1 as in your exalted ones1 there are no shadows to obscure or mar the radiant light of the spiritual sun1 and ,mars itself is fast approaching this sublime condition4 ,we must withhold what we have to say in regard to the seeming strife between good and evil for our next4 ,may #ab4 ,the people of christendom have had it rung in their ears for nearly two thousand years that man is essentially bad1 unutterably wicked1 unspeakably depraved1 and1 worst of all1 this horrid state comes to him1 not of his own creating1 but by inevitable and unavoidable inheritance4 ,in our ignorance and credulity how we have wept over the weakness and folly of our first parents in yielding to the flattery and persuasive eloquence of the cruel serpent in the pure and primitive bowers of ,eden4 ,our tears have flown and flown1 with no gentle1 soothing hand to touch our eyes and bid them cease2 no voice panoplied with authority to speak to2 no words of hope and cheer4 ,we have been told in answer to our anxious entreaties for blissful hope and loving counsel that there is a superabundance of evil in us1 and a trifling1 insignificant quantity of good1 and that nothing short of a miracle of regeneration can save us from unutterable and unending misery in the life to come2 that without this miraculous interposition of divine grace1 the little good that is in us will be swallowed up and devoured by the appalling evil of our sinfully inherited natures4 ,oh1 man1 how you degrade your true nobility1 your godlike and divine nobility1 by bowing the knee to this hideous monster of falsehood1 and by kneeling at this unholy shrine4 ,in direct opposition to this abominable and degrading doctrine stands the truth in its pristine and noble beauty4 ,according to this ,christian doctrine we behold in man a combination of good and evil1 and in the struggle for the mastery the evil is to be mightier than the good4 ,the good emanating from and partaking of the majestic excellence of the eternal1 infinite ,god must1 alas1 succumb to and be overthrown by evil1 its unholy rival4 ,can man conceive of a scheme more degrading and heartless1 and more completely dishonoring to ,god and his infinite perfections of wisdom1 goodness and power--a doctrine more utterly subversive of moral goodness1 deific excellence1 and that more completely wrecks the moral government of ,god and dumps into one common funeral heap the hopes and happiness of the human race4 ,no1 no1 this is not true2 it is false1 false1 basely false4 ,what is the true theory of good and evil8 ,man1 oh1 man1 hearken to the voice of truth1 and be wooed and won by its gentle entreaties4 ,let the scales of ignorance and superstition fall from your eyes4 ,look upward for truth1 and be baptized in its beauteous light1 and cleansed in its pure and holy waters4 ,evil is the assemblage of elements in the concrete1 if ,i may be permitted so to speak1 and is simply undeveloped good1 or good in a lesser degree4 ,evil is evanescent and transitory1 good is permanent and eternally enduring4 ,the fittest of all things in the grand scheme of progression only survive1 while all else is doomed to perish4 ,the good and the true are as enduring and everlasting as the eternal ,god himself1 while the evil and the false are fleeting1 unenduring1 and carry within themselves the insatiate and unappeasable elements of ultimate annihilation4 ,be assured of this1 for no truth in ,god's illimitable universe has been more firmly established on a more indestructible foundation4 ,good day4 ,may #ae4 ,astronomers will tell you that in their observations through the telescope the planet ,mars presents a red brilliancy not observably characteristic of the other planets in your solar system1 which they are unable to account for4 ,considering the vastness of the subject1 the immense distance in space where the scintillating orbs are chanting their silent songs of praise to ,god1 the difficulties in the way of observation1 etc41 the discoveries in the domain of astronomy have been fully as remarkable1 important1 and satisfactory1 as in any other field of scientific investigation4 ,but still only a very little compared with the immensity of the subject has been disclosed and some of that mixed and interlarded with error4 ,astronomy will become the greatest of all sciences when by new apparatus and new appliances the spiritual spheres belonging to the various planets shall have been discovered4 ,this success will be achieved in the coming time4 ,on ,mars the people have mastered this problem1 and ,i was surprised to learn that they knew all about our spiritual spheres from their far distant standpoint of observation1 and that they knew minutely all the characteristic and inherent qualities of your planetary atmosphere4 ,they have long since invented instruments by which they are enabled to photograph in minute detail and perfect fidelity of representation every material object on the earth4 ,and you will be surprised when ,i tell you that ,i inspected ,stockholm1 ,london1 ,paris1 ,new ,york1 your own queen city1 ,cincinnati1 etc41 in a more perfect form of presentation than your artists can reproduce on canvas with pencil and brush1 and at the same time ,i was standing in spirit in the immeasurable immensity of space on the planet ,mars4 ,i can not give you even in outline1 much less in detail1 the modus operandi of this achievement1 and will only say that the rays of light in reflective power will yet dawn upon your scientists and philosophers as the agent of discoveries and accomplishments not now even dreamed of by the people of earth4 ,i want to add right here a prophetic statement1 which you may carefully note1 that the time is not so very far distant when your inspired inventors will devise and construct an instrument that will disclose to the human material eye1 to the astonishment of the world1 your own spirit land2 for let it be well understood that your spirit world has a real1 tangible1 objective existence1 that will yet yield its rich treasures in scientific revealments for the enlightenment and progress of your race4 ,in very truth the spirit world is the only real and permanent one1 constructed by the infinite master builder for all eternal time1 while your physical and material1 except their spiritual essences1 are but the shadows and temporary projections from the spiritual4 ,logically and metaphysically speaking1 the spirit world is the pre-eminent cause of your world1 the mere transitory effect4 ,this being true1 your keen sense hastens you at once to the conclusion1 founded in reason and truth1 that an effect can not be greater or more enduring than the cause that produced it1 but must of necessity and in the very nature of things be infinitely less4 ,may #ah4 ,a people so pre-eminently advanced in all that appertains to the sublimation of their being1 and all that surrounds them1 and in which they come in contact1 must necessarily be exceedingly refined and aesthetic in their mannerisms1 habits of life1 intercourse with each other1 and in their vocations and employments4 ,in the very nature of things it could not be otherwise4 ,from what has been heretofore said relating to the highly favored and inestimably progressed denizens of ,mars1 it is not difficult to see that their pursuits must necessarily and almost entirely relate to the realm of the intellectual and spiritual1 as they have passed beyond the requirements and demands of that which pertains to the material phase of existence4 ,physical wants require physical exertion to supply them4 ,material requirements necessitate attention to and labor in the domain of the material1 and this1 for obvious reasons1 that need not be stated or discussed4 ,it may be prudent1 however1 to premise that when the physical constitution requires substantially gross materials to keep up and maintain the corporealities of our nature1 we must look to the productions of the farm and the fruitage of the forest1 and also to animal food1 which are always in quality and degree in exact correspondence to our status or state of progression4 ,but when we lose the constituent elements of corporeal being that belong to the lower strata of the constitution of things1 we require something more refined and sublimated1 and lo1 always it is at hand to meet the exigency1 for let it ever be borne in mind that the law that is incessantly and without intermission working away in solving the great problem of life and being1 moving upward from the lower to the higher1 is not confined in its operations to only form or species of being1 but applies to and operates upon all1 whether rational or irrational1 animate or inanimate1 and pushes all forward and upward with perfect and precise equability and in exact and equally proportional degree1 none advancing more rapidly than the rest and none lagging behind4 ,thus1 you perceive the infinite order and the beautiful symmetry of the great law of evolution and progression4 ,herein is necessitated varied changes in the value and character of vocation and employments1 suited to the continued mutations of things in the endless series of progressive changes4 ,at one period in the history of ,mars the art of photography was discovered4 ,of course it attracted great attention and challenged admiration4 ,it was regarded not only as wonderful but marvelous4 ,the discoverer was almost deified1 for he was thought to be endowed with something of the divine nature not discoverable in others1 until the art advanced step by step1 improvement on improvement1 when the divinity with which the discoverer had been invested by the admiring multitudes dwindled into insignificance1 and the very sensible conclusion reached that he was merely highly gifted and spiritually inspired1 but altogether human still4 ,compare the primitive system of photography1 limited as it was1 to objects of immediate presence to that now existing1 whereby worlds and systems of worlds are made tributary to its discoveries and achievements4 ,now1 instead of the wonders of the art inspiring hero worship of the men engaged in its studies and who produce the wondrous results1 a feeling of awe and veneration for the continually increasing wonders of the creation is inspired4 ,the admiration is justly transferred from man to the creator and the stupendous majesty of his laws and works4 ,on ,mars photography is now and has been for a long time a favorite and delightful employment pursued by the many1 for all have the advantages of it4 ,therefore the study1 not only of their own world1 but numerous others1 constitutes a pleasant1 instructive1 and intellectually remunerative employment4 ,nor is this confined and limited to material worlds1 but reaches out and embraces the spiritual spheres of each4 ,again1 take the science of chemistry4 ,it once only dealt with material solids1 but now on ,mars it has reached a higher plane or sphere1 and the sublimated substances1 still possessed of modified degrees of matter1 likewise atmospheric and spiritual substances1 come within the purview and yield obedience to its powerful processes of analysis4 ,this is still and ever will be an instructive and profitable field for those aspiring minds of the ,marsians bent on the acquisition of knowledge and the understanding of the infinitely varied and universal laws by which all nature and the universe are governed and controlled4 ,may #bb4 ,on ,mars the people are divided up into a very great many societies4 ,the membership of these societies is not a matter of choice and volition4 ,here you have degrees of social society1 and you say there are three grades--the lower1 middle and upper4 ,this is so in the deceptive seeming1 but in fact you have many more1 but you do not understand the subtle laws governing in their formation and diversity4 ,you also have secret societies1 into which you require the consent of a certain number to gain admission1 while at the same time a certain other number may object4 ,certain arbitrary votes in number control the question of application1 and by them your admission or rejection is determined4 ,in your social society quite a different rule or policy prevails4 ,in a certain grade or stratum true merit and worth are not considered of any moment1 but wealth and pecuniary par excellence constitute the law of attraction4 ,in other words1 and what ought to burn your cheeks with shame1 it matters not how morally depraved or utterly abandoned to all real intrinsic worth of manhood or womanhood1 a large supply of the world's fleeting possessions constitutes the real standard of respectability1 and the sure passport into the higher walks of social life4 ,on ,mars they have long since passed beyond and above this purely human1 unspiritual and unholy rule4 ,there they are known and estimated as they really are1 for they can not disguise their moral and spiritual status2 it is read in the look1 the walk1 the thought-words1 and most potently in the aura emitted1 permeating and coloring the very garments worn1 thereby disclosing by shades of color the moral1 mental and spiritual degree of advancement4 ,you have an old adage1 which contains a very great truth1 namely3 ',birds of a feather will flock together1' 'like draws like4' ,under the operation of an immutable law of attraction and repulsion the societies of ,mars are formed1 and this law1 so utterly disregarded by embodied man on the earth1 applies to and is operative in the spiritual spheres of all the innumerable worlds of the vast1 illimitable universe of ,god4 ,and this law of attraction and repulsion is indiscriminate and recognizes no distinction on account of wealth1 social standing or prominence among men4 ,it deals with spiritual laws and spiritual truths and spiritual things4 ,there being different societies on ,mars1 formed and governed by this great and inexorable law of selection or attraction and repulsion1 you see readily that their employments must of necessity and in some regards be quite different4 ,may #bi4 ,we have endeavored to keep before you1 at the risk of being censured for occasional reiteration and repetition1 the great primary and fundamental fact that all things under the divine arrangement advance in the ascending scale of infinite and unending progression by regular and gradual series1 and in equal ratio2 but you must note an important fact in this connection1 namely1 that all do not at the same time reach the same degree of unfoldment--some a little in advance of others1 and so on4 ,the question necessarily arises1 why is this so8 ,we only desire to say in answer at this time that all do not start out on their career of animate being at precisely the same time or under the same conditions1 nor with the same or equal antenatal advantages4 ,this carries us back behind our mere entrance into physical life1 through and by the laws of human physical procreation1 into a domain as yet unexplored1 except feebly1 by mortal man4 ,it seems to me if men could only perceive and understand the grand sublimity and variety of their antecedent being1 they would no longer be blinded to the future greatness and glory in store for them4 ,this subject1 if you ever enter upon it1 you will find prolific of vast knowledge1 immense and perfectly astounding revelations4 ,but the time has not yet arrived for them4 ,the people on ,mars1 like your own1 not starting out on life's eventful and momentous journey with the same or equal advantages1 have necessarily attained unto different degrees of progressive unfoldment1 and by reason of this are their different and somewhat differing societies formed4 ,in the same circle1 order or stratum of society on earth1 the good1 the bad and the indifferent associate and seem to harmoniously blend and assimilate4 ,but this is not true in fact4 ,the degree of perfection attained in moral and spiritual excellence does not govern in their formation1 and they are therefore incongruous1 unsatisfactory and transitory4 ,on ,mars two unequals in progression can not harmonize1 for the law rebels1 interposes insurmountable barriers1 and will not allow it4 ,those only are associated who harmonize and resemble each other1 not in the accumulations of wealth1 not in stature1 not in facial expressions or outward physical conformation1 but those who are drawn together by a sort of soul kinship1 of absolute union of soul feeling1 sympathetic inclinations and aspirations1 having for their basis1 as of prime and first importance1 an equal degree of spiritual unfoldment4 ,thus divided and separated1 there are very many different societies or orders1 each differing in development1 inclinations and aspirations1 they inevitably have dissimilar pursuits and employments1 suited to tastes1 wants and abilities1 but all conspiring for the general good of all4 ,june #a4 ,the people of ,mars are not so large in stature as on your earth1 nor are they as large as at former periods of their history4 ,the process of progression in casting off the gross1 and also by affecting the laws of propagation1 has materially reduced the present inhabitants in their physical proportions4 ,their feet1 except in the lower order1 are either not shod at all1 or are covered by a very light and refined material substance4 ,the nearer the spiritual the people become the less they are affected by grosser atmospheric elements1 and this is directly the opposite of your experience4 ,here the coarser the material make-up the better can the severer conditions of your temperature be borne1 and the reason is plain4 ,here some are progressed1 physically speaking1 in advance of the progress of the elements1 and therefore they are detrimentally affected and influenced by them1 whereas on ,mars a regular advance in development has been reached1 and all things now smoothly and evenly pass under the operations of the law4 ,after awhile the same law will commence to thus orderly and regularly operate with you when this difficulty will be happily overcome4 ,the grandest achievement made by progression on ,mars has produced the greatest result in the formation of the heads of the people4 ,phrenology here on earth is but feebly and imperfectly understood1 although there is in it a grand and most salutary scientific truth4 ,here1 however1 as yet1 you have the angular and uneven formation of the cranium1 with its attendant angularity of temperament and disposition4 ,on ,mars the heads are so exquisitely formed and so harmonious in the external1 and so perfectly symmetrical1 that you observe and note it at first glance1 and following this high and beautiful development is discovered a degree of wisdom and learning perfectly astonishing to a visitor from a foreign1 though neighboring planet4 ,the hair on these magnificent heads is of a fiber and texture resembling your finest silk1 and from under a beautifully arched brow you behold a mild yet brilliant eye1 beaming with intelligence and affection1 and they can convey thoughts and ideas without the use of words or the intervention of audible sound4 ,june #e4 ,hundreds1 yea1 thousands of years ago1 the development of mind on the planet ,mars was extraordinary1 and you can conceive what it must be now4 ,many causes1 of course1 conspired and aided in bringing about this result4 ,the natural process of development would have ultimately accomplished it unassisted by other agencies1 but a wise and humane governmental system was adopted1 originating in the spirit world1 which constituted a complete innovation upon and revolution in previous systems1 and which gave a marked impetus to the growth and advancement of mind1 and which produced also a wonderful improvement in the physical constitutions of succeeding generations4 ,that system consisted of a legislative policy of the controlling government1 rigidly and unexceptionally enforced1 which provided that all children born into physical life should be given up and relinquished to the control and direction of the government1 and by the government reared1 educated1 and prepared for the duties and requirements of life4 ,elaborate buildings1 elaborately and artistically embellished and beautified were constructed at proper and convenient locations1 where at a certain period of gestation1 very early indeed1 the expectant mother was taken and kept until a certain and proper time after parturition1 when the mother was discharged and restored to freedom1 and the new-born babe was taken charge of1 raised and maintained by the fostering care of the government4 ,between the period of conception and parturition1 the mother was continually kept under the most elevating influences1 both of body and mind4 ,her soul was kept enraptured by the ennobling influences of music1 and such music1 of which you as yet have no conception4 ,this produced in the mother the desired condition of harmony1 which had a corresponding effect upon the little one concealed from mortal view4 ,twice or thrice a week lecturers1 under the pay and patronage of the government1 visited these asylums and discoursed to the inmates on scientific1 literary1 and moral subjects4 ,june #h4 ,these discourses were not only designed but efficacious in directing the minds and hearts of the auditors into the most elevating and progressively intellectual channels1 and left their inevitable and unfailing impress upon the forthcoming offspring4 ,in addition works of art1 rare paintings1 and exhibitions of sculpture were at certain times presented for inspection1 study1 and reflection1 inspiring noble thoughts of the sublime and beautiful4 ,artists of superior attainments and national renown occasionally visited these places and gave exhibitions of their skill in transferring to canvas1 in an impromptu manner1 their loftiest conceptions of the beautiful in landscapes1 scenes1 etc41 which were of the rarest beauty of design4 ,books treating of the noblest subjects were placed within ready reach and convenient access1 and the inmates read them with avidity and delight4 ,they understood that they were thus preparing the new generations1 as yet unushered into life1 to take their places1 and that their success largely depended on the assiduity with which they availed themselves of their opportunities4 ,the government1 as before stated1 took charge of the young and trained and educated them in art1 music1 and the sciences1 and the result was soon manifest in producing a race of intellectual giants1 and distinguished for their ability in the arts and sciences1 and the benevolence or their religious natures4 ,and to-day you can not find a man or woman of adult age who is not perfectly versed in all the higher branches of learning1 and eminently proficient in music4 ,if a thousand of them could be bodily transferred to ,america1 and with her exceptional advantages1 and live1 they would soon1 by the sheer force of intellect1 rule this world1 and lift it morally and intellectually upon a plane that would dazzle you to behold4 ,and yet1 my dear friend1 it is laid up in the womb of time that you of earth shall reach this sublime height4 ,the denizens of earth may wonder at and disbelieve these relations1 but nevertheless they are as true as that the eternal ,god is truth4 ,they point to the destiny in store for the future inhabitants of earth1 and intimate to poor disheartened mortals the certainty and greatness of the future1 in which they are to figure in no mean way nor act no inconsequential part4 ,july #aj4 ,on ,mars the doctrine of discrimination on the score of sex was never taught1 but the equality of the sexes has always been recognized4 ,this indiscrimination has always been operative in employments and in the choosing of persons to fill official station at a period of their history when officers were paid out of the public exchequer for their services4 ,of course1 at this time when office is administered without compensation the rule remains undisturbed4 ,your troubles1 that is1 many of them1 in the present and past have arisen either from a misunderstanding of the truth or a misapplication of it and its requirements4 ,can it be rationally maintained that truth and justice require a discrimination to be made adverse to the female8 ,if so1 there must be ample reasons for it1 and what are they8 ,we are told that1 comparatively speaking1 woman is the weaker4 ,is this true8 and if so1 pray tell wherein8 ,you answer physically1 and thus you would establish her status in all other regards1 by the rule of mere brute force1 powers of endurance1 and physical capabilities4 ,do you not know that the ox and the horse1 for precisely the same reason1 can largely discount you8 ,do you not realize that by this argument you are appealing to the lowest element of your nature1 that which only distinguishes you as connected with matter1 and which as we have already seen1 is transitory and fleeting8 ,pray lift the subject upon a higher and nobler plane and then let us have your arguments and reasoning4 ,is man superior to woman morally8 ,now1 if you are honest1 you must blush4 ,in morals1 man superior to woman6 ,we all know this is not true4 ,and do morals count for naught in the scale of being8 ,in what pertains to the finer sensibilities and spiritual pureties is woman inferior8 ,if not1 are these of no moment compared with mere physical brute force8 ,do women survive death as men do2 if so1 which will be of greatest value in the beautiful hereafter--brute force and physical prowess1 which only have existence in the lower realms of the spiritual world1 or those finer spiritual qualities possessed by woman in a much higher degree than by man as they manifest in embodied life1 and which belong to the higher spiritual sphere of being in the other life8 ,beware1 oh man1 how you treat angelic woman1 for the future will teach you many lessons1 brought about by your arbitrary and utterly indefensible assumptions and arrogations1 among which will be classed your illiberal and unjust treatment of woman4 ,she is your equal1 and your great weakness is in withholding it from her4 ,july #ac4 ,in giving briefly and very imperfectly a sketch of what ,i saw and learned on the planet ,mars ,i have been compelled necessarily to omit many things1 among other reasons1 because they would not only be not believed1 but in many instances incite unfavorable comments1 if not absolute ridicule4 ,i am not unconscious of the fact that many things contained in the foregoing narrative1 although literally true1 will meet with unfavorable criticism1 but ,i have not been writing to please or to avoid censure1 but to deliver the truth1 much of which ,i am aware is far in advance of the age in which you now live on the planet earth4 ,but it has been thought that a little work of this kind would be kindly received and amiably treated by at least progressed minds--those who had inspirationally and intuitively drank at the fountain of spiritual wisdom and spiritual things2 and1 as to others1 it was hoped it might cause them to think it possible1 if not probable1 that man is something more than a mere fleeting bauble1 a mere creature of a moment4 ,to awaken in man the consciousness of the augustness of his being1 and the mighty destiny before and awaiting its development1 can not fail in this transition period1 when you are passing from old theological theories and religious systems into something better1 higher1 holier1 to subserve great and lasting good4 ,in this transition process the great effort is to be made to direct the great body of advancing minds into the right channels1 for in many cases the tendency is found to be toward the cold barrenness of materialism4 ,the question that is to confront you in the future is not in regard to creeds and dogmas1 for they are passing away1 but whether these few fleeting years of physically embodied life is the all of your being1 whether death is the setting forever of the bright star of our being in the night and gloom of ended existence1 or whether there is for man a glorious life of endless progress beyond the life and transitory scenes of physical embodiment4 ,july #ad4 ,with this my labors for the present end4 ,the effort has been more irksome than you may conceive4 ,the difficulties attending the act of communicating are more numerous and troublesome than the world would allow if they were fully explained4 ,but we have done the best we could4 ,to you1 ,mr4 ,helleberg1 ,i return my thanks and the thanks of those co-operating with me1 for the patience1 earnestness and honesty which have characterized your association with us in this work4 ,our blessings rest upon you1 and be assured that your greatest reward will be in the happy land which your aged footsteps are nearing4 ,we shall shield and bless you here1 and crown you in the land of immortal beatitudes4 ,we would be ungrateful beyond measure not to speak in acknowledgment of the virtues and noble qualities of the medium1 through whose superbly developed medial powers we have been enabled to speak to the world4 ,in consequence of our frequent contact with her noble and pure soul our first admiration for her has grown into the deepest1 truest and holiest affection4 ,heaven bless her in all her ways and walks4 ,her noble band of spirits1 tireless1 indefatigable and upright1 have rendered us vast assistance1 without which we could not have succeeded in the slightest degree4 ,they are capable1 true and honest1 and able to guard and protect their instrument1 before whom is a great future career of usefulness1 and she may confidently trust them in all things4 ,to those who may read my feeble lines ,i bespeak that charity you would like extended to you4 ,judge not harshly1 but with generous impulse4 ,you are in the realm of crude materiality1 in the tenement of flesh1 influenced more or less by many disadvantageous surroundings1 which are not spiritually inspiring or elevating1 but by and by you will survive and pass beyond them4 ,let me entreat you to study and learn of the great law of ,,progression1 which we have constantly endeavored to keep before you4 ,in that law and its manifold manifestations reside all wisdom1 love and truth4 ,it is that law that assures your future greatness and happiness1 and will work out for you a destiny1 the grandeur and glory of which you can but faintly comprehend and know4 ,you can not die4 ,you must live forever4 ,you can not retrace your steps1 nor recede in the development of your being2 neither can you stand still4 ,therefore you must move forward1 onward and upward1 forever and forever4 ,,fredrika ,,ehrenborg4 ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,,communications ,,from ,,emanuel ,,swedenborg4 ,the following communications1 purporting to come from the spirit of ,emanuel ,swedenborg1 at ,mrs4 ,green's1 are arranged in the order of their reception3 ,september #bf1 #ahha3 ,i greet you2 good morning4 ,you hail from dear old ,sweden1 my native land4 ,the same native blood that coursed through my veins flows through yours4 ,for a long time ,i have realized that your thoughts have been on me and the doctrines ,i taught on earth1 some of which ,i would gladly recant4 ,in my day nothing else could have been projected through my brain1 and nothing less violent1 though more truthful1 would have engaged attention or commanded respect4 ,my writings1 as ,i now see them1 were a strange commingling of truth and error1 though ,i believe with truth largely predominant4 ,i want the world1 especially my followers1 the disciples of the ,church of ,new ,jerusalem1 to eliminate1 in the interest of truth1 the errors and crudities that unwittingly1 though reverentially1 crept into my theological writings4 ,the hells as ,i portrayed them ,i now know were magnified into undue and absurd proportions1 colored and distorted by my own preconceived notions1 and1 moreover1 largely attributable to the religious temper and theologic thought of the time in which ,i wrote4 ,tell your good companion and others of like convictions to discard at once and fearlessly my unwarranted denunciation against holding intercourse with the inhabitants of the spiritual world4 ,i misapprehended1 and1 alas1 misinterpreted the holy visions given me4 ,i was allowed to see prophetically that the two worlds would be brought into close communicating relations1 and ,i ought to have seen farther--that it would occur through and by the permission and co-operative agency of ,god and his laws1 and ought not therefore to be interdicted4 ,this has given me vast annoyance1 and ,i am very solicitous indeed that this shall be righted4 ,hold fast to this spiritualism1 for therein only can be found light and love and wisdom4 ,my power to maintain control is weakening1 and ,i must close for the present4 ,i will meet you here again4 ,good bye4 ,,emanuel ,,swedenborg4 ,october #c1 #ahha ,in my communication a week ago ,i referred1 not incidentally1 but purposely1 to my followers of the ,church of the ,new ,jerusalem4 ,it is gratifying to me to know that they are in the main honest1 faithful and intelligent people2 but ,i regret that they have deemed it proper to resolve themselves into an exclusive sect2 for1 disguise it as you may1 all sects are more or less exclusive4 ,among the many curses that afflict your mortal humanity1 none are to be more deplored than sectarianism and dogmatic theology4 ,do you know that in the most ambitious moments of my earthly career1 much less in the lofty moods of my medial inspiration1 ,i never dreamed that ,i was to become the founder of a religious sect1 especially one based on dogmatic formulas4 ,the affirmations of material science now no longer questioned that in all organized structures reside the underlying1 all-pervading and continually operating elements4 ,disintegration1 decay and ultimate destruction of the organized form apply with equal and unerring certainty to ecclesiastical bodies4 ,modern spiritualism in this1 that it is specifically and rigidly scientific1 clustering beauteously around the family hearthstone1 adorning and hallowing the family altar1 may be distinguished by its infinite superiority to all other systems1 it having no creed to establish1 and steadfastly repelling all attempts at organization1 is destined to survive the wreck and demolition of all theological teaching standing in antagonistic relations to it2 and this ,god-given1 heaven-inspiring humanity1 embracing soul-uplifting spiritualism1 is to become the universal religion of mankind4 ,i will continue to administer to your wants and remove the scales from the eyes of the people1 especially my followers4 ,more anon4 ,,emanuel ,,swedenborg4 ,on ,october #ag1 #ahha1 the following communication appeared on the slate3 ,the blessings of the most high ,god and the benediction of ,his holy angels and spirits on you and yours4 ,what ,i most desire to say to you to-day is that since our last interview here ,i have participated with others in a discussion relative to a recent scientific discovery in the spirit world which1 when imparted to the world of embodied man1 will strike the learned savants of your life with mingled feelings of awe and consternation4 ,our recent experiments were exceedingly satisfactory1 and the questions that remain open are1 when1 to who and through whom shall it be given to the children of earth4 ,the general expression of our society favored some time towards the close of the coming year as best adapted4 ,in this view ,i concurred1 for many reasons4 ,my revered friend1 let me say to you to-day1 with great and positive emphasis1 that the year #ahhb1 earth time1 will be the most marvelous year of the world's history1 and will be characterized by the most stupendous events in all the circling centuries of past time4 ,in that year and the succeeding one astounding spiritual revelations will be made to the denizens of this earth1 utterly upsetting old1 effete theological doctrines1 and mercilessly demolishing now considered well established scientific conclusions1 and your scientists' tests1 self-complacent and arrogant in their pretensions1 and possessed most fully of the spirit of vaulted ambition1 the creation of their self-conceit1 will awake to the consciousness that they have been mere pigmies in scientific research1 and that on many subjects may have been so superficial as not to penetrate beyond the mere shadows and surface of things4 ,i promise you that when the proper time arrives for this disclosure you shall not be overlooked or neglected4 ,bound to you in fraternal relation of a common brotherhood1 embracing in grand reciprocation the inhabitants of both the mundane and supermundane worlds1 ,i am yours1 devoted for the truth1 ,,emanuel ,,swedenborg4 ,june #ab1 #ahhb ,if we concede for the sake of argument that there really exists a literal hell1 as depicted by theological teaching1 and which constitutes an article of faith in most of the ,christian sects1 we are forced to inquire 7and it is a legitimate subject of inquiry from the assumed premises71 ,was hell made for man1 or man for hell8 and this involves the question of duration of existence in point of time antecedent4 ,whichever way we determine1 and our determination of the question from a terrestrial standpoint can only arise from speculation and conjecture1 and not from proofs1 one conclusion we can not escape1 namely1 the malevolence of the author4 ,if hell was established prior to the time when the fiat went forth bringing man into being1 and was designed for his abode and accommodation1 we can not reconcile the goodness of the ,lord with such utterly unjust and malevolent purpose1 because to concede this much admits the possession of sufficiency of power to have ordered otherwise1 which precludes impotency and concludes the will and purpose to so order and arrange4 ,if the creation of hell and man as arbitrary acts of the ,deity was coeval1 then the same conclusion inevitably follows1 before and behind the act of these creations resided in the ,lord the power to have differently ordered2 hence we must assume that the simultaneous creation of hell and man was predetermined1 and in accordance with the will-pleasure and purpose of the ,creator4 ,if1 furthermore1 man was first created without any reference to hell or any preconceived purpose or expectancy to establish it1 and that its creation was necessitated from man's unexpected disobedience1 and as the only proper means of gratifying the vengeance of an insulted ,god1 then we unwittingly and in a very silly way declare the absence of foreknowledge in the ,lord1 and degrade him to the level of a puny1 passionate man4 ,to assume any of these puerile positions to be true is to assume that the ,lord1 however august in power1 and the physical1 mental and spiritual ability to order and to direct1 is nevertheless a moral weakling1 and wholly devoid of moral excellence in degree superior to the meanest of his creatures4 ,june #ae1 #ahhb3 ,if hell exists1 it is plain to be seen there was a necessity for it4 ,if created before man1 there was no necessity for its existence1 for the ,lord is governed by the idea of uses1 and there was present no use for it4 ,will it be maintained that the ,lord would create any thing without a use and wise purpose8 ,it is the uses of things that so signally distinguish his creative and moral governments4 ,if it is said in reply that when hell was fashioned and established the ,lord had in contemplation the creation of man1 and that it was to be subsequently rendered useful as a place of punishment for disobedience1 which implies that the ,lord knew in advance of man's creation that he would be disobedient1 then1 oh1 man1 you are surely in the hands and under the power of a merciless demon1 falsely called ,god4 ,if this indeed is the true character of our ,lord1 then truly may his weak and helpless children bow their heads in sorrow and despair4 ,these teachers of false theology1 these false interpreters of simple truth1 these false prophets of a false conception1 affirm that this appalling hell1 offspring of a monster creative agency1 is a fixed location somewhere1 which they have the candor to say1 they know not4 ,the theologians perceiving throughout the vast domain of universal nature two confronting opposites or extremes1 and that there scheme must fall if hell were left alone to be the final destiny of the entire human family1 erect another falsity and construct another place or harbor for the sojourners and pilgrims of earth1 and consequently they say that the ,lord has established somewhere in space a heaven1 the location of which1 although a locality1 can not be ascertained4 ,the same questions1 with equal propriety1 might be propounded in reference to heaven and the same conclusions follow4 ,was it made for man or man for it8 ,was it made before or after man was made8 ,where is it situate2 who go there and why do they go there1 and for what purpose8 ,if the theologians answer these pertinent questions in harmony with their creeds1 they would make my friend ,john ,calvin1 who accompanied me here this morning and is now standing by my side1 blush with shame4 ,he now1 as a noble spirit1 pities the ignorance and credulity that characterized him in his religious frenzy when in the form1 and the credulity and weakness of his followers4 ,june #ai1 #ahhb3 ,the original conception of a literal local heaven and hell was a feeble monstrosity and far exceeding the intuitions and anticipations of its originators1 it has assumed huge and alarming proportions4 ,originally it was treated either as a human created joke1 or as a wild vagary of the imagination1 and in both cases without even the shadow of a foundation in fact4 ,but as time moved along it began to grow seriously in the minds of the morbidly curious and credulously constituted1 and it found many earnest advocates and believers1 and they were not altogether limited to the ignorant4 ,had this been the case it would have been harmless and short-lived4 ,the poet in depicting the career of vice aptly illustrates the history of this conception3 ',vice is a monster of such frightful mien1 ,as to be dreaded needs but to be seen4 ,yet seen too oft1 familiar with her face1 ,we first pity1 then endure1 and then embrace4' ,i unhappily lived in a day when it had been largely embraced4 ,had ,i lived in the day when it was conceived and promulgated1 or approximately near it and been possessed of the physical1 mental and spiritual organization with which ,i was favored in earth life1 ,i would have undoubtedly earnestly combated it4 ,but in my time it had grown into prominence and general acceptance among ,christian sects1 including the ,lutheran1 to which ,i adhered before my spiritual illumination2 and hence while my spiritual mediumistic unfoldment1 mental adaptabilities and capabilities would not allow me to accept the literal teaching of purblind theology on the subject1 ,i was disqualified from perceiving and promulgating the real truth4 ,i endeavored1 however1 to do what the theologians have never attempted1 namely1 to assign reasons for the existence of heavens and hells in justification and defense of the ,lord4 ,the groundlessness of my philosophy and the impotency of my reasoning ,i was unable to understand until the lapse of years after my entrance into the spiritual world1 and then only by slow and discreet degrees4 ,step by step only did ,i receive the influx of spiritual light and truth1 opening my eyes to the truth and impressing my soul with the consciousness of the errors and falsities of my teachings when on the earth embodied4 ,in the spiritual world we are not allowed to perceive truth except by degrees and interior growth1 and only as we are enabled to outgrow and disown error4 ,our errors1 whether of acts and deeds committed1 duties omitted1 or false theories1 either taught or believed by us when in the form1 follow us to the spiritual world and cling to us with a perfectly amazing and persistent tenacity1 and this constitutes hell and it exists nowhere else4 ,june #bb1 #ahhb3 ,in my philosophy of correspondences there was much truth1 with here and there a shade of error4 ,it was argumentative1 speculative1 and characterized by analogous reasoning1 but not sufficiently intuitive to reach the full height of spiritual induction4 ,but whatever errors may have crept into this department of my writings1 they have been comparatively harmless4 ,what has given me the greatest annoyance since my departure from the flesh1 or rather since ,i have better understood the subject2 and what has given me the greatest anxiety to have eradicated from the minds of those who read me believingly1 are my teachings on the subject of the hells in the spiritual world4 ,i desire here to lay down a proposition ,i know to be true1 whoever may state to the contrary1 namely3 ,no embodied spirit was ever enabled1 no matter how highly developed the organism of the subject1 to leave the body1 go into the spiritual spheres1 undergo experiences there1 behold scenes1 hold converse with their inhabitants1 witness events and occurrences transpiring there1 then return to the body1 bring it back into normal action1 and then correctly and in detail and in purity of narrative give to the world through the physical organism of the body1 what it had seen1 heard1 and witnessed1 during its temporary absence4 ,if it were otherwise1 and the spiritual world a real1 fixed and objective reality1 all who visited it in spirit during physical embodiment1 would on returning and reanimating the body with the returning spiritual influx impart the same information and recite the same story4 ,the directly opposite of this is true1 and settles the question irrevocably in the negative as to the absolute reliability of knowledge imparted by spirits while inhabiting the natural body1 although permitted by the operation of a certain law which is neither wholly spiritual nor physical1 but a combination of both1 to leave for a short period its tenement of flesh4 ,even then the spirit entire does not vacate the body1 even for an instant of time1 for if it did life in the body would become immediately extinct4 ,however far the consciousness of the spirit may wander away from its home in the material house it must maintain an inseparable connection with it1 at least by a portion of the magnetism of itself4 ,therefore during its visits away it is nevertheless all the while connected with the body1 and hampered and fettered by it1 and more or less governed by its laws and conditions4 ,it can not1 therefore1 on returning1 and it has never been wholly absent1 give fully1 purely1 and correctly its spiritual observations and experiences4 ,when ,i visited the spiritual world during my embodied life ,i was governed by this same law and subjected to the same limitations1 and hence what ,i related was not entitled to full credence and belief4 ,so it has been in all cases of trance in the past1 and will continue to be in the future for ages yet to come4 ,in my next ,i shall speak of some instances illustrative of this truth4 ,june #bf1 #ahhb3 ,as illustrative of the proposition submitted in my last ,i will only mention a few among numerous instances4 ,the book of ,revelations states that ,john visited the ,isle of ,patmos on the ,lord's day1 and was then and there in the spirit4 7,i should have used the expression 'entranced' or 'trance state1' or that 'the ,lord permitted me to see4'7 ,while thus in the spirit or trance state he was taken to the heavens4 ,after resuming his normal condition in the body he essays to write out what he thinks he saw1 or so much of it as he is enabled to retain in memory1 and call up after again fully controlling the physical body4 ,he says that he saw beasts worshiping around the throne of ,god1 and that he saw a beast rise out of the sea with seven heads and ten horns2 that a book written in heaven was handed him with the command that he eat it1 which he assures us he did1 etc4 ,does any one believe that these were veritable occurrences1 'that there were beasts in heaven full of heavenly love1 evinced in worshiping before the throne1 and that books were written in heaven for men to eat8 ,the ,koran of ,mahomet is an improvement on this1 for it was not eaten1 but preserved for use4 ,now1 ,i want to say to the world1 especially the ,new ,church people1 that my visions of the hells had no more foundation in fact than ,john's beasts1 dragons and golden candlesticks4 ,the difference between ,john and myself1 that is1 the important difference1 consisted in the fact that ,john's symbolic visions were explained to be unrealities1 while ,i was left to believe mine to be absolute verities4 ,in fact one was as unreal as the other1 and only forcibly illustrates the unreliability of this mode of deriving true and genuine spiritual knowledge4 ,your own ,andrew ,jackson ,davis is another instance corroborative of my proposition4 ,he avers that he has been1 not 'in the spirit1' like ,john1 nor 'in the trance state1' like myself1 but1 in more aesthetic phraseology1 'in the superior state4' ,they all practically mean the same thing4 ,davis says he located while in the 'superior state' the spirit world proper1 and found it to be in or beyond the 'milky way1' thus inflicting a cruel blow upon the science of astronomy4 ,astronomy teaches1 and correctly1 too1 as every well informed spirit knows1 that the 'milky way' is a vast assemblage or constellation of suns1 worlds and systems of solar worlds1 and yet ,mr4 ,davis was honest4 ,judge ,john ,worth ,edmonds1 in his earlier mediumship and spiritualistic experiences1 visited the other world in spirit1 and his description of the hells recorded in his work entitled ',spiritualism1' was somewhat analogous to mine1 and very much in harmony with it4 ,his temperament1 mental methods and spiritual development were not very dissimilar to mine1 and he had been previously as thoroughly grounded in ,calvinism as ,i had been in ,lutheranism4 ,so it was but natural that we should see and interpret much alike4 ,yet in final conclusions we were in absolute antagonism1 differing fully as widely as the poles are separated in distance by terrestrial measurement4 ,truth can not dissemble nor assume deceptive garbs1 and all seeing the same things differently1 proves that neither could be relied upon1 for if they had been true and genuine verities1 all would have seen and reported them alike4 ,june #bi1 #ahhb3 ,since ,i have been inducted into higher light and blessed with the true knowledge ,i have been utterly amazed in reviewing my writings1 resulting in the discovery of two facts1 namely1 their prolixity in matter and stupendousness in folly4 ,it seems to me now as almost utterly incredible that in my efforts at the spiritual interpretation of the scriptures ,i should have written so many absolutely silly and unmeaning things4 ,it becomes my duty1 and ,i can not be happy without it1 to make this declaration1 however humiliating it may be to me1 viewed from your standpoint1 but the truth and the peace1 happiness and progress of my spirit require it4 ,no work was ever written but what an ingenious metaphysician might not twist out of its every paragraph an assumed interior and mysterious meaning4 ,but1 after all1 ,i was fortuitous in advancing many ennobling and wholesome truths4 ,in all that ,i wrote ,i take greater pride and unto myself much rejoicing in my assaults upon the ,lutheran doctrine of justification by faith alone1 and in my enjoining love to the neighbor4 ,however1 to believe in and teach the doctrine of love one to another1 or 'love thy neighbor as thyself1' does not require an inspiration from heaven4 ,it is the doctrine taught by universal nature and in-worked in the web and woof of human nature4 ,to realize and understand it we have only to become even partially civilized and to commune with nature and ourselves4 ,a great portion of my life has been devoted to secular pursuits and the study of natural science4 ,i also possessed some inventive genius1 and during my purely secular career ,i was always contemplating1 by silent meditation1 employing the latter part of my life in the study of the properties of the human soul and its relation to the ,lord and human life4 ,therefore when ,i came to engage the subject1 it was not a spontaneous impulsion to it1 as some have supposed1 although it was immediately attended and characterized by a degree of spiritual illumination and inspiration4 ,i did not approach the examination of the subject wholly free and untrammeled by prejudice and uninfluenced by bias4 ,i had previously conceived thoroughly deep convictions relating to this subject1 and ,i now know no amount of spiritual aid could have possibly eradicated them sufficiently to have allowed the presentation of the plain1 unadulterated truth4 ,oh1 how effectually are we enslaved by education1 association and mental training4 ,the man who can overcome them in the pursuit of truth is far superior in all that goes to make up true manhood to the crowned heads and pampered ones of earth2 yea1 he is not only grand and noble in the full stature of his manhood1 but he is more--he is godlike4 ,july #c1 #ahhb3 ,i do not affirm the non-existence of heaven and hell1 but what ,i would be understood as affirming is their non-existence as separate1 independent and fixed localities4 ,if you will interpret heaven to mean happiness1 and hell its opposite1 that is1 misery1 we can fully agree1 for this interpretation implies what is veritably true1 namely1 that they are conditions1 and not localities4 ,as conditions they not only exist in the spiritual world1 but also in the sensual or material1 and apply to both embodied and disembodied man4 ,it is related that ,jesus said1 ',the kingdom of heaven is within you1' and never was truth more completely and potently uttered4 ,at the time he was talking to men in the body1 and to them he declares1 ',the kingdom of heaven is within you4' ,if he is entitled to credit as an authority on the subject1 and ,christians certainly will not gainsay it1 then it is quite clear that heaven1 being in the human1 spiritual beings is as a locality nowhere else4 ,and inasmuch as it could not exist in the human being as a location1 for this would give us millions upon innumerable millions of localized heavens1 one for each breathing human embodied man1 to become destroyed at the death of each1 which is too absurd to be seriously discussed1 it must necessarily follow1 and as clear as the sunlight of heaven1 that whatever that kingdom may in fact be1 it is simply and absolutely a condition4 ,and we can therefore readily see that as a condition1 different with every human being1 owing to the moral status and spiritual development of each1 it perpetuates itself as truly and fully as does the spirit itself survive the dissolution of the aggregated physical atoms and forces of the material body1 and moreover accompanies the real man into the spiritual world4 ,so with its opposite--hell4 ,if this is conceded1 and no ,christian can deny it with any degree of consistency1 for the moment he does he dishonors ,jesus as an authority1 then the whole foundation of a local permanent hell is swept away1 and the loathsome superstructure erected thereupon falls to the ground forever4 ,heaven and hell1 viewed in any sense1 are opposites1 and wherever they exist they must exist simultaneously1 for some are in heaven and some in hell all the time1 and therefore if the kingdom of heaven is in the children of men1 so also must be the kingdom of hell1 or it does not exist at all4 ,with my limited power ,i can not elaborate this point1 or even present it as ,i should like to1 and you must be content with a bare and imperfect statement4 ,july #f1 #ahhb3 ,before the mythologists of antiquity had constructed a hell they had on their hands a personal1 individualized spirit of evil1 known as the serpent or satan1 and more modernly as the devil4 ,investing this mythological creature with all the distinguishing attributes of the ,lord1 save that of goodness1 they must have a localized place of sufficient capacity1 and properly arranged for the enjoyment by him of the fruits of his labors4 ,divesting him of all goodness per se1 the hell of their creation must necessarily represent his newly-acquired condition of total depravity1 for previously he had been an angel in heaven1 and must possess the proper and sufficient elements to enable him to gratify his hatred of the ,lord in the punishment of his children4 ,it was but natural in that day that the element of fire should be chosen1 as it was supposed to be the most destructive element in nature1 and best calculated in its very nature to induce the most intense and excruciating suffering to physical and material bodies possessed of the animating principle of animal life4 ,in their unspiritual and ignorant state they supposed and believed that the bodies in the other world would be similar to those in this1 and therefore subject to similar effects from heat and fire4 ,what a monstrous conception1 and how utterly inexplicable that it should ever have been believed4 ,even ,john the ,revelator took a material view of hell1 and described it as a 'lake of fire and brimstone4' ,i was compelled1 or rather impelled1 from reason or from experiences sufficiently clear1 in my frequent moods or states of spiritual exaltation to depart from this grossly materialistic view4 ,while my hells were in the plural1 yet ,i fell into nearly as great error in my creations4 ,they were the progeny of imperfect visions1 imperfectly understood and grossly erroneous in their relation4 ,you have only to think a moment seriously to discover the utter folly of my hells1 and ,i will only present one instance among many equally absurd4 ,you will find in my 'memorable relations' that ,i spoke of a certain class of ,jews and others wading through mud1 quagmires and swamps1 and being injuriously affected by them1 and this for the purposes of punishment4 ,now1 the conception of a spirit1 composed largely of pure ether1 wading in the mire and wallowing in spiritual miasmatic swamps and filthy dirt1 is only equaled by the mythological conception believed in and advocated by ,christians that a spirit could be effected to any degree of suffering by material fire and brimstone4 ,both conceptions are as false as ,god is true4 ,in reference to the mythological arch fiend of mankind let us summarize3 ,first an angel in heaven2 then a rebel2 then a war in the peaceful realms of heaven1 instigated by this fiend2 then the fall from the angelic state2 then a transformation into a terrible and grim devil2 then the building of a hell for his use1 convenience and felicity1 and then turning over to his control and malignant fiendishness three-fourths or more of poor1 weak beings1 creatures of an ,infinite ,god1 and you have fitly spoken a system that could only have originated in an orthodox hell1 figuratively speaking1 and by an orthodox devil1 and which for malevolence far exceeds any thing ever thought of in this or any other world4 ,july #ag1 #ahhb3 ,the bible makers having established a heaven and hell1 with ,god presiding over the one and the devil over the other1 were driven to the necessity of concocting a scheme for populating them4 ,the ,god of their creation they represent to be possessed of infinite perfections and glory1 and heaven the very ideal of grandeur and beatitude4 ,one would very naturally conclude that in their scheme they would have so arranged that ,god would have had the first choice1 and heaven the destination of the best and wisest of the denizens of earth4 ,nothing short of this could have so completely enamored us of the conception and rendered heaven devoutly to be wished for2 but here the arrangement in value and superlative worth meets with a severe set back4 ,one of the weak and frail points in the scheme consists in not allowing this infinite ,god to have his own choice in selecting those to become consociated with him in enjoying celestial delights in heaven4 ,human nature1 by the fall in the ,garden of ,eden1 became weak and subjected to malign influences with an inadequacy of repellant power to overcome them4 ,the cruel authors of this system1 while they establish their god in heaven1 a far distant locality1 and keep him there constantly occupied and absorbed with the music and praises of the ransomed few1 turn the devil loose to roam at will1 and invest him not only with the deific attribute of omnipresence1 but also confer upon him the extraordinary power without restraint of assuming angel's garbs even to the deceiving of the elect4 ,in addition they place under his authority and to do his bidding an unlimited number of smaller devils1 whose services have been utilized by him in preying upon the peace and happiness of the children of this world1 and in preparing their souls for eternal punishment and subservience to his will in the world to come4 ,july #bj1 #ahhb3 ,to counteract this terrible invisible influence of evil no power of equal potency is furnished4 ,they say that ,god's holy spirit in conjunctive co-operation with the saints embodied 7they mean1 of course1 the preachers and good church people7 is seeking man's deliverance and salvation4 ,they confess1 however1 that this agency is impotent when compared with the power wielded by the devil and his invisible cohorts4 ,they make ,jesus say substantially that the road that leads to heaven is narrow and circumscribed and few travel in it1 while the road that leads to hell is broad and the many travel therein1 'many shall be called1 but few chosen1' etc41 etc4 ,if their system be true we are forced inevitably to conclude that when the creative energies residing in man have succeeded in producing a high order of intellection the devil straightway captures them1 leaving heaven to be peopled without the presence of the great and godlike in mental power4 ,it would seem prudent and wise that this should have been otherwise arranged in order to have rendered heaven reasonably and fairly intellectual4 ,no wonder1 therefore1 that their highest conceptions of worship and gratitude consisted in keeping up around the throne of the ,lord a continual musical concert1 both vocal and instrumental4 ,such distinguished and illustrious souls as ,washington1 ,jefferson1 ,webster1 ,clay1 ,lincoln1 ,garfield1 ,paine1 ,voltaire1 and others1 could not be induced to participate for all future time in such exercises1 for their mental constitutions were too robust and great and their souls too much interested in other and more ennobling pursuits4 ,this kind of heaven would not suit souls of such intellectual proportions1 and the orthodox hell1 if accompanied by suffering1 would be preferable to them1 because their associations1 at least1 would be intellectual1 for the devil is said to be exceedingly wise1 and all wise souls live and delight in kindred consociations4 ,july #ba1 #ahhb3 ,according to the orthodox scheme1 heaven1 hell1 and the devil1 all go together1 or1 in other words1 they are inseparably connected with and belong to the plan4 ,heaven would be the destination of all without a hell and vice versa4 ,heaven and hell are in antagonism1 and there would be no strife but by and through the devil1 and therefore his existence is a necessity to this end4 ,god is too good to take part in this strife1 and is either indifferent or too weak to avert it4 ,even when the war in heaven1 according to ,milton1 was waged between the devil and the ,lord1 with relentless fury1 he would take no direct and active part1 but commissioned ,michael his generalissimo4 ,how could he now be expected to take an immediate and active part1 even to save his own defenseless children4 ,earthly parents act quite differently when their offspring are in peril1 and so do the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air4 ,i am talking ironically only to show the utter folly of the whole matter4 ,in this connection did you ever think why it is that the devil is continually seeking the moral overthrow and eternal ruin of the human family8 ,it is not because he has any ill feeling for cause against the children of men4 ,they have never given him any occasion1 and as we have seen1 in their helpless condition1 they could not if they would4 ,according to the bible and the claims of ,christians they have always done just as the devil wanted them to4 ,he wanted ,adam and ,eve to eat the apple and they did so4 ,he wanted ,abraham to debauch ,hagar1 and after her ruin to turn her loose with her helpless babe on her bosom amid the wilds of the wilderness of ,beersheba1 and ,abraham did so4 ,he wanted ,noah to drink of the wine and become drunken1 and ,noah hesitated not1 etc4 ,so in fact the assumption can not be maintained that the devil in capturing nine-tenths of the human family is actuated by any malignant feeling towards his victims4 ,the reason lies elsewhere4 ,we are assured by the bible theologians and their coadjutors that the devil is solely actuated by his intense hatred of the ,lord and the purpose of wreaking vengeance upon him for banishing him from heaven and the angelic state4 ,if this is true common justice and sympathy for the suffering of the unoffending impose most seriously the duty upon the ,lord1 either to conciliate the devil in the interest of harmony1 peace and concord1 and to save his helpless children1 or destroy outright this malignant enemy of his4 ,if he will do neither1 nor arrest him in his diabolical work1 then truly are we justified not only in withholding homage from him1 but also in regarding him equally at enmity with our welfare and a party 7particeps criminis7 in causing our sufferings and preparing our eternal doom4 ,july #bg1 #ahhb3 ,why seriously discuss questions that are fast fading out of sight8 ,the advancement of mind and the development of spiritual discernment are on the eve of relegating old antiquated theories and ideas to the past ages of heathen darkness1 where they properly belong4 ,total depravity throwing its dark mantle over tender infancy--parent of the doctrine of infant damnation--is no longer taught or believed by enlightened clergymen and their followers4 ,it only has a sickly foothold where the people are spiritually dominated by an ignorant or pusillanimous priesthood4 ,why1 therefore1 seek to revive by serious discussion any interest in dogmas now almost inanimate and staggering to their final fall and eternal sleep4 ,let them die serenely if they can1 and be buried out of sight without pomp or regret4 ,we have questions of greater moment and of much more value to mankind1 and to them let us address ourselves4 ,all things are not only progressive but eternally progressing4 ,must we therefore resolve that systems of religion and theological dogmas are finished and settled forever4 ,if so1 when did this divinely appointed consummation take place8 ,it certainly1 if true1 must be an event of recent date4 ,by whom settled1 how and when8 ,certainly not by the old ,romish ,church and the hierarchy established at ,nice and ,laodicia1 for their history since has been characterized by quarrels and dissensions1 which at times have threatened their very existence4 ,and certainly no one will seriously maintain that they have reached the high altitude of final and definite settlement by ,luther1 ,calvin and others in their departure from the original faith4 ,some of the articles of faith of these have either been discarded or quietly abandoned1 and those left have been modified1 and are scarcely an improvement on the originals4 ,in candidly looking over the whole field among the religious sects now extant1 only one thing is discovered to be mutually agreed upon1 and that is that man lives after death4 ,we hardly need to stop to except those semi-materialistic ,christians who claim that a future existence at all depends wholly on the physical resurrection of the material body at some vague and indefinite period of future time4 ,this doctrine is so unscientific and so disconsonant with reason that we pass it by with a mere reference to it4 ,july #bh1 #ahhb3 ,the ,catholics have three states for the dead1 ,heaven1 ,hell and ,purgatory2 the thorough orthodox ,protestants two1 striking out purgatory2 while the ,universalists insist on expunging hell from the catalogue4 ,some will have one ,god1 and others a trinity of them4 ,but they differ materially as to the course to pursue in order to obtain the divine favor1 holy unction and saving grace of the ,lord4 ,here they are put to the severest test4 ,it is infinitely of less moment to ascertain how many gods rule above1 or how many states of the dead1 as it is to know how to reach the much desired haven of peace and happiness in the eternal world4 ,a prudent man would be comparatively indifferent as to how many ruling sovereigns over the destinies of man1 or how many locations of consignment for their souls1 so he is enabled to attain unto the highest good1 and this consideration more imperatively absorbs his attention4 ,knowledge of the former would be valueless without knowledge of the latter4 ,and hence in seeking to become familiar with the latter is where he becomes lost in the labyrinthian mazes of divergent and perplexingly diversified theologies4 ,one would have you attend to the confessional1 do penance and observe and conform to the dictums emanating from the ,roman ,pontiff and the imperious mandates of priests1 thereby securing absolution from the consequences of sin1 and due preparation for the next world4 ,another admonishes you that your salvation depends on the nature and degree of faith in the atoning sacrifice4 ,another that you must become regenerated and washed of inherited and committed sins by belief in and conformity to certain specific and definitely prescribed tenets4 ,and still another1 that a good1 moral life is the one thing needful1 ,jesus having paid the penalty of sin and triumphed over it for the whole of mankind4 ,and so on1 scarcely without limit1 do these various and varied systems present themselves to perplex and annoy4 ,july #ca1 #ahhb3 ,instead of there being one1 two or three states of the dead1 the truth is there are an infinite number and variety of conditions in which the children of men exist in the spiritual world with the qualification that they do not remain in them longer than they are enabled to progress out of them into other and higher ones4 ,the plain truth is1 as every intelligent and fairly progressed returning spirit will tell you1 that faith and belief have nothing whatever to do in determining your status in the spiritual world1 nor will what a man believes1 however erroneous it may verily be1 if he is honest in it1 have any potency in preparing the spiritual conditions or assigning him his spiritual sphere4 ,here we must be clearly understood1 that we may avoid both misapprehension and misrepresentation4 ,i do not affirm that false beliefs and erroneous conceptions of the hereafter do not have any effect on the spirit4 ,they do have a very troublesome effect4 ,they do not1 however1 in the slightest degree1 determine the spiritual status1 for this is regulated by other considerations--moral conduct1 noble acts1 spiritual unfoldment1 etc4 ,but when the proper sphere is reached after death1 for which the new-comer is spiritually fitted1 they halt him there1 and for a time impede and retard his progress1 at least until he shall have outgrown false beliefs and conceptions while in the material body4 ,a man may sincerely believe that the veritable orthodox devil is his constant companion1 or that the air is swarming with malevolent creatures bent on his ruin1 or that he is totally depraved by inheritance1 and destined to utter and endless wretchedness in the other world1 or any thing else1 however absurd and untrue1 and yet that man's whole earth life may have been justly distinguished for charitable deeds1 love of the neighbor1 and in all his habits1 walks and ways all that the severest moralists could require1 do you not at once see that in all justice and righteousness the man's life1 acts and deeds must inevitably determine his sphere or spiritual condition1 without the slightest interference by what foolish things he may have believed4 ,and yet it is nevertheless not difficult to see further1 that he must disabuse his mind of those errors of conception and belief before he can make any appreciable and valuable progress4 ,and ,i tell you these erroneous belief and unfounded conceptions cling to the man with more obdurate persistency than the most of mankind could be induced to believe4 ,hence the prime importance of forming correct ideas of the future while still animating the material body4 ,august #c1 #ahhb3 ,acts of charity and deeds of benevolence are estimated by the spiritual laws of our being in just correspondence to the motives inspiring and actuating them4 ,by the motives prompting them1 more than the acts and deeds themselves1 do they become either valuable or valueless to our spiritual promotion and good4 ,i have known men who devoted a lifetime of arduous labor in the acquisition of wealth1 all the while wholly regardless of the interests and wants of others1 and toward the end of the puny life1 and in anticipation of the near approach of death1 they bequeathed their accumulations to charitable and benevolent institutions1 only to find themselves the merest spiritual paupers in the spiritual world4 ,and why8 ,because being governed a lifetime by grasping and selfish motives1 they only dispensed the accumulated results of the cultivated spirit of avarice and cupidity under the selfish and painfully delusive motive of enhancing their interests in a world to which their aged infirmity admonished them they were hastening4 ,upon their entrance to the spiritual world the motive met them1 and overshadowed them with its pitiless condemnation4 ,had charity and benevolence characterized their lives all along for the sake of doing good and blessing others1 it would have been quite otherwise with them in the eternal world of justice and truth4 ,charities bestowed only possess eternal value when done for sweet charity's sake1 and with the unselfish object of helping others4 ,this constitutes love and genuine love of the neighbor1 and is consequently divine and heavenly and of permanent and enduring value4 ,the ,confucian doctrine1 ',do unto others as you would they should do unto you1' reiterated by the man ,jesus1 contains the great and salutary rule of life1 which if practiced with the holiest and most disinterested motives will inevitably work out a most glorious future reward for the spirit4 ,the shepherd kings promulgated this rule in a finer sense and reduced it to the fine realm of mind4 ,the ,confucian rule related to the actions of men1 one to the other1 but the other declares1 ',think of others as you would have others think of you4' ,if your thoughts and actions are governed by these rules you may conclude you are not far from the kingdom of heaven or angelic sphere4 ,if you observe these because you love the right1 you can not fail to love the ,lord with all your heart and the neighbor as yourself1 thus fulfilling the law of spiritual growth and development while in the temple of flesh1 and insuring a condition of superlative happiness in the spiritual world4 ,if in your present state of development you can not do this1 you can1 at least1 make the honest and persevering effort to do it1 and your reward shall be great4 ,august #g1 #ahhb3 ,abstain from evil-doing from the conscientious conviction that it is wrong to do evil and right to abstain4 ,do not allow yourself1 in choosing between right and wrong1 to be governed by a fear of future punishment1 or hope of future reward1 for this is cowardly and pusillanimous and of no practical value to your future happiness4 ,do right for the sake of the right and not from the selfish motive of deriving a personal benefit4 ,you have in your world two very injurious and reprehensible doctrines taught by learned men1 namely3 materialism and forgiveness of sins4 ,they are both degrading and far reaching in their baleful consequences4 ,christians treat materialism with scornful derision1 and yet it is just as true as that the misdeeds of life can be overcome and rendered harmless in their following consequences by death-bed repentance and the blood of atonement4 ,one is as true as the other1 and my presence here in spirit proves materialism to be groundless4 ,materialism is the doctrine of one world only1 a mere passing moment of life1 and suggests very naturally to make the most out of it4 ,i do not mean to be understood as asserting that there are not good honest people who believe in this doctrine1 but that they are good and honest in spite of their belief and not as a result of it4 ,the theological heresy which proclaims the necessity of conversion1 new birth1 and regeneration 7they are convertible terms7 would be much more plausible if not supplemented by the more alarming and reprehensible doctrine of obtaining full pardon for repeated crimes and misdeeds just preceding or at the imminent moment of departing from the material body by so-called death4 ,the first becomes bereft of its value1 if indeed it has any1 by the latter4 ,it is tantamount to asking a man to liquidate an indebtedness now1 when1 under the law1 he has ten or twenty years option4 ,in a purely business view he realizes that the possession and use of his money for ten or twenty years is to him a matter of pecuniary interest and profit4 ,so likewise is it with the man of the world with an organization tending to licentiousness and vice4 ,he perceives no wisdom or practical use in becoming regenerated in the days of his youth1 when in old age the opportunity is afforded to repent and thereby avoid the consequences of the loose indulgences and vices of a lifetime4 ,every villain who has run a lifetime unwhipt of justice and unpunished for his crimes1 must be fascinated with this indulgent fallacy1 while all truly noble souls must silently1 if not avowedly1 abhor and detest it4 ,august #aj1 #ahhb3 ,while the ,universalists are considered liberal and progressive1 yet their doctrine is equally dangerous and untrue4 ,indeed1 ,i have more respect for the others4 ,they 7the ,universalists7 claim to stand upon the ,word1 and affirm that the blood and death of one man propitiated sin so far as the future life is concerned1 and that therefore sinning entails no hurtful consequences but such as are met with along the journey of life from the cradle to the grave4 ,in other words1 that the consequences of sin are visited upon us during our earth life1 or not at all4 ,they attempt to justify and defend their doctrine by a mere play upon words found in isolated passages in the bible1 especially the epistles in the ,new ,testament4 ,the declarative assumptions of the bible1 as translated for your use and guidance1 are utterly at war with their teachings1 and it is folly to deny it4 ,in this age when the human heart and mind are reaching out for something better it is useless and unproductive of good to go back to the root of words in originals to bolster up a doctrine founded in error4 ,the effort will always prove unprofitable and must inevitably fail of its purpose4 ,i am aware that some advanced and more spiritually minded ,universalists believe in progression in the future life1 and in this regard their conclusions are better and far in advance of their premises4 ,i would say to those1 however good and pure1 who expect to awake to consciousness in an ideal world of transcendent beatitudes without shadows and crosses that they will realize a most perplexing disappointment4 ,they will find a world more natural than this1 because more substantial and enduring1 and what is more they will find they lack very much of being perfect1 more perfect indeed in undevelopment than in that soul growth and unfoldment that would enable them to command the joys and delights vouchsafed by association with progressed spiritual beings in the higher walks and spheres of the spiritual world4 ,to attain unto this state is the work of time and the reward of labor4 ,the true doctrine is1 as all shall know in time1 that conscious and willful sinning1 that is1 where volition in choosing between the right and the wrong was within our power1 is treasured up in the memory of the spirit and confronts us in the spiritual world1 and will remain until outgrown and overcome by arduous effort4 ,happiness can only be enjoyed by the finite in contrast with misery1 and shadows and crosses will fall upon us1 marring our joys1 until in the ages of coming time we shall so expand and grow towards deific perfections and excellences as to think no evil1 thus not only rendering our actions submissive to the highest wisdom1 but our hearts and minds to the divine love1 and in a happy union of love1 wisdom1 and the will1 we shall become something more than finite in our approach to the infinite4 ,august #aa1 #ahhb3 ,nevertheless let it be said to the humblest1 struggle on1 strive to battle for the right as you perceive it4 ,if you see it not aright in good time it will be revealed unto you4 ,be of good cheer4 ,you must needs suffer1 for suffering in the right is spiritual growth--you are continually encircled by infinite love4 ,you shall rise step by step1 unfolding this latent power and that1 gradually and by discreet degrees casting aside this harrowing and distressing memory and that1 all the while aided by those spirits who have passed through tribulations and sorrows into higher unfoldments and joys1 until finally you shall rejoice in blissful disenthrallment from the imperfections of your past being4 ,then you will be enabled to see why you have thus suffered and rejoice that it has been so4 ,no pang will afflict you worse than those you have inflicted upon others1 or of greater magnitude than thousands and millions have endured4 ,be kind and forbearing to the erring1 be merciful to all1 even the humblest creature of the creation4 ,deal justly with all1 live uprightly1 fear nothing but evil and fly from it4 ,be brave for the right4 ,love your neighbor1 which being spiritually interpreted1 means all mankind4 ,endeavor to learn and believe truth wherever found2 try1 if possible1 to think no evil2 worship at no shrine but that of eternal truth1 and no harm can come to you in the everlasting realms of immortal souls4 ,no shadows shall darken the pathway of your progress other than those incident to your connection with matter and your undeveloped spirituality4 ,and these shall be dissipated1 facilitated1 and accelerated1 by the sweet memories of good deeds and good thoughts4 ,in the feeble communications ,i have given you1 by the permission of the ,lord1 ,i have not been able to impart my ideas in the same language and style that characterized my writings when embodied4 ,i know they will be subjected to this criticism1 but the difficulties of projecting my ideas into form in words have been many and great4 ,if they were explained they in turn would be criticised with equal virulence4 ,when coming within the radius of mediumistic aura we encounter obstacles great and difficult to overcome at their state of mediumship4 ,happily in time these difficulties will be surmounted4 ,the aura of the medium and sitter blending with my spirit magnetism1 your continued thinking and also the medium1 thereby disturbing the equability of the magnetic and electric emanations1 and to a corresponding degree affecting the psychic forces of the communicating spirit1 and other things you would not understand if told you1 all conspire to enfeeble the spirit intellectually1 and1 to a certain extent1 limit it to the mental sphere of those present1 especially the medium1 upon whom we are so largely dependent4 ,if you understood the subject as it really is1 you would be surprised that we could even do so well4 ,you1 my dear ,swedish friend1 have aided us nobly2 your motives being so pure and honest1 we found in that itself a great auxiliary1 and we sincerely thank you4 ,i shall be with you often1 and shall reward your many kindnesses by helping your sweet and interesting children in spirit life and others dear to you1 to learn spiritual wisdom in their progress1 and shall take a deep interest in you when you come to our life4 ,god bless this medium1 for she is worthy4 ,in earnest supplication we invoke the blessings of the ,lord1 angels and spirits upon you both4 ,,emanuel ,,swedenborg4 ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,,george ,,washington4 ,on the #afth of ,june the following communication was received1 and those following at the dates mentioned1 from the spirit of ,george ,washington3 ,from my home and congenial associations in the spirit world ,i come to you to-day feeling and hoping that ,i may possibly be of some service to my country1 which ,i have never ceased to love with the tenderness of a mother's love for her children4 ,indeed1 my country--the noble young republic--was kind to and considerate of me far above my merits4 ,in the memorable struggle for independence ,i was assigned to duty at the head of the colonial army1 and by this circumstance occupied a position that attracted to me more general attention than to others who were in nowise less meritorious4 ,after seven long years of patient suffering1 heroic endurance1 and almost superhuman exertion1 our gallant and illy-provided army won an honorable peace1 and ,i trust an imperishable renown4 ,a nation of freemen was brought into being1 and a system of government established far in advance of its predecessors4 ,the old ,roman republic1 grand in many respects and a marvel of excellence for its time1 was still in many regards vastly inferior to our own4 ,being at the head of the brave army whose herculean efforts1 exerted under many disadvantageous circumstances1 eventuated so gloriously1 it was natural1 although no more worthy than many others who rendered patriotic services1 that ,i should be chosen the first executive of the young republic4 ,this1 to me1 was a most flattering testimonial of the high appreciation of and affection for the gallant citizen soldiery who so valiantly acted in the stirring and sanguinary events of the memorable contest4 ,regarding my elevation to the chief magistracy of the nation as a reflection of public sentiment as indicated more than as a personal compliment to myself1 it behooved me by discreet official conduct and patriotic action to show that the general appreciation and esteem for that noble soldiery was not misplaced nor unworthily bestowed4 ,if ,i have rendered worthy services to my country1 either in the line of military duty or in the performance of civil trust1 or both1 they must proclaim my right to speak from my higher conscious life to my countrymen on matters pertaining to their best and dearest interests4 ,if the gallant army that fought to a successful issue the battles of freedom in the infancy of its struggles here have claims upon the attention and consideration of the present generation1 and those of the future1 they beg you to earnestly consider the words that may fall from my lips and pen4 ,i have marshaled those mighty hosts of noble souls in spirit land1 and with them have recounted our struggles and sacrifices for you and those to come after you1 and they are in hearty accord with what ,i shall deem proper to say to the nation through the much abused and little understood channel of human mediumship4 ,you will hear from me in the immediate future in obedience to the purpose indicated4 ,june #bc1 #ahhb3 ,your complex system of government needs and will receive reconstruction or remodeling4 ,when we emerged from the revolutionary struggle1 and came to give the fruits of our hard earned victory some definite shape in the formation of a government for the new nation1 we adopted the articles of confederation as the best we could then devise4 ,it required but a short time to teach us that they were defective1 and that prudence and wisdom dictated something different and better4 ,the constitution was consequently fashioned and superseded the confederation1 and there has never been any disagreement as to the superior wisdom of the constitutional form of government1 at least1 as an improvement on the original confederation form4 ,when this had been accomplished we were fully persuaded that the reorganization of the government under the constitution was the apex of statesmanship and the acme of the science of governmental construction1 and were consequently happy and content4 ,but alas1 for poor human foresight4 ,it very soon became evident that the new arrangement was imperfect1 if not absolutely defective1 and twelve amendments to the new constitution were proposed by ,congress and ratified by the states4 ,after and as the result of the late unhappy conflict between discordant states1 or1 rather1 rebellion of certain states by secession against the rightful authority and sovereignty of the federal government1 several additional amendments became necessary and imperative1 and they were accordingly incorporated and ingrafted upon the already amended constitution4 ,and now others are earnestly talked of and advocated2 and does this not teach you the plain lesson that your system is still imperfect8 ,the trouble is found to be that statesmanship is without foreknowledge1 and is either blind to or oblivious of the requirements of the future4 ,in other words1 that the ceaseless mutations of human affairs1 the ever acting and onward march of the law of change and progression1 fail to strike the consciousness of statesmen or to secure their recognition4 ,of one thing you may be assured1 your plan of government will be revised and remodeled to its vast betterment4 ,when the time comes this will be most vehemently resisted by those who on all questions affecting the interests of the race and the happiness of mankind persist in remaining with the bats and owls of past ages rather than to be baptized in the light of the present and the foregleams of the future4 ,but they must get out of the way of the car of progress or be crushed beneath its merciless and continually revolving wheels4 ,june #cj1 #ahhb3 ,in the formation of your present system of government three co-ordinate branches were established--the ,executive1 ,legislative1 and ,judicial--and they were designed to be checks1 one upon the other4 ,if in the zeal and frenzy of partisan strife1 or under the baleful influence of venality and corruption1 the legislative department should exceed its constitutional authority or enact legislation inimical to the public interests1 the executive was invested with the veto privilege whereby the evil might be arrested4 ,if1 however1 the ,president should be found to be in accord and sympathy with the legislative branch in its hurtful legislation1 and gave thereto the sanction of his approving signature2 or1 in case the ,president exercised his veto power in the particular matter1 and ,congress should pass the measure over his objections by the requisite two-thirds of each branch1 then and in either of these events there still remained the supreme court with its supervisory power or power of final determination4 ,but it may be very properly asked1 what if the supreme court should be influenced by the same or similar considerations as the other co-ordinate branches1 what help1 relief1 or remedy1 is left to the people and the nation8 ,it can only be answered--force1 revolution1 rebellion4 ,does not this plain statement present a dangerous contingency and indicate a palpable weakness8 ,it should be remembered that in our form of republican government all powers are derived from the people1 and it should be furthermore very emphatically understood that all powers belong to them4 ,if this view is correct1 then in the hypothetical case mentioned for the purpose of illustration1 the people themselves should be the last court of resort1 or the high court of appeals4 ,it was thought by the founders of your government that the judiciary would always be pure and safe1 but unfortunately experience has taught us quite differently4 ,it is humiliating to an ,american citizen1 whether he be in or out of the body1 to be compelled to make this confession4 ,but truth not only justifies but demands it1 and it is best that it be frankly made and acknowledged4 ,august #ad1 #ahhb3 ,we are not permitted1 for prudential reasons1 to tell you how the new system is to be fashioned4 ,to do so would not facilitate its accomplishment1 but might possibly operate detrimentally by inducing premature consideration and discussion4 ,suffice it to say that the subject has been deliberately considered and the plan carefully matured by wise statesmanship in the realm of causation1 and will be given to your world at the proper time and in the proper way4 ,i desire to briefly discuss two propositions3 #ast4 ,what are the duties of the citizen to the government1 or what the government has the right to exact of and from the citizen8 #b;d4 ,what are the duties of the government to the people1 or what the people have the right to exact of and from their government8 ,first4 ,the citizen owes the government affection and homage4 ,this springs from patriotism and self-interest4 ,second4 ,to render a cheerful obedience to and acquiescence in all lawfully constituted authority1 reserving always and of primary importance the natural and inalienable right when all civil remedies prove unavailing1 of revolution against and resistance to1 tyranny1 usurpation1 and oppression4 ,third4 ,prompt compliance with all the lawful edicts and mandates of government4 ,if they are deemed unlawful1 unjust1 and oppressive1 first appealing to judicial supervision and all lawful means for relief and protection--revolution the dernier ressort4 ,fourth4 ,loyally protecting1 defending1 and sustaining the government when assailed from within or without1 and when waging a just war upon a foreign foe1 or in the suppression of an unjust and indefensible internal war1 insurrection1 or rebellion4 ,fifth4 ,aiding the government both in peace and war by being honest to and with it in official station1 and by helping to uphold and foster its credit and honor4 ,these comprise mainly the duties of the citizen to his government4 ,he owes other duties to society and the local community in which he resides1 but they are not considered pertinent or germane to our proposition4 ,i speak of sustaining the government in war4 ,war is a terrible thing to contemplate1 and we would gladly crush it out in its every vestige1 but you seem as yet not to have outgrown and developed above and beyond it1 and therefore we are compelled to notice the subject1 however painful and sorrowful it may be4 ,the time is not so very far distant in the future when nations and men will progress beyond this horrible relic of barbarism1 when the fierce god of war will give place to the sweet and gentle spirit of peace and brotherly love2 when all differences will be amicably adjusted without a resort to the arbitrament of the sword and the instruments of devastation1 bloodshed1 and death4 ,august #ag1 #ahhb3 ,in a certain sense the people are the children of the government1 and in a still more important sense the government is the offspring of the people4 ,if you ask me what1 under the law of your present state of development1 are the duties of the child to the parent1 ,i answer obedience1 maintenance1 and protection4 ,if you ask me the duties of the parent to the child1 ,i answer maintenance1 education1 and protection4 ,the family government was the first government in the infancy of the race from which all other governments naturally and progressively sprang1 and their relations and reciprocating duties are much the same4 ,i now reach the second proposition3 ,what are the duties of the government to the people1 or what have the people the right to demand of their government8 ,it is the bounden duty of the government1 under the constitution1 to afford ample and plenary protection to the citizen in the exercise and enjoyment of civil and religious liberty4 ,this protection is due to the humblest as well as the most exalted4 ,the powers of your government are adequate to this end1 if properly and effectively wielded1 and if exercised without fear or favoritism4 ,again1 it is the duty of government to see that public affairs are so managed that its burdens may fall lightly upon the people and mostly upon those ablest to bear them4 ,a judicious system of obtaining revenue to meet the exigencies of government and the liquidation of the national public debt by taxing incomes on accumulated wealth and its investment in various speculative methods1 would be most salutary to the attainment of the object4 ,in order that the wise purposes of good government be carried out1 and that honesty1 frugality1 and the most rigid economy should characterize every department of the public service1 it is essentially and indispensably important that honesty and capacity alone should be regarded as commanding qualities for public official positions4 ,dishonesty and corruption and bribery in public stations ought to be severely punished1 else there remains no safety and security to confiding constituencies4 ,when your government offices reek with corruption and no alarm is manifested and no corrective measures adopted1 you are not far from the yawning brink of the precipice over which your liberties and free institutions are sure to be precipitated4 ,it is the duty of the government1 in the interest of a confiding trusting people to hunt down the official vampires and parasites who thus insidiously prey upon the vitals of government1 and inflict upon them such penalties as are commensurate with their enormous crimes4 ,to allow them to go on with impunity and exempt from punishment is to invite and encourage corruption1 and to suggest the safety of its increase4 ,august #ah1 #ahhb3 ,it is the duty of government to foster1 uphold1 and defend labor in its unequal struggle against the greed of capital to the end that capital may not utterly crush it beneath its scornful and merciless heel4 ,i tell you in all seriousness that on this subject you are approaching the verge of a volcano whose wrathful pent-up fires can not be much longer controlled1 nor is it desirable that they should be unless a speedy change in the treatment of labor by capital1 involving justice and right1 is brought about4 ,it is a delusion and in opposition to all human experience to expect capital1 uncompelled by law1 to become quickened in conscience and pervaded by a sense of equity and right4 ,the government must stretch forth its strong arm and compel the exercise by authoritative and coercive power of a spirit of justice and fair dealing that belongs to a common humanity4 ,revivify and re-adopt that virtuous and beneficent doctrine of the earlier patriotic statesmanship of the republic1 namely3 ',the greatest good to the greatest number4' ,the men and women who toil and sweat in poverty constitute the greatest number1 and he must indeed be blind to truth and deaf to justice who fails to discover or concede that the toiling millions have wrongs done them by the greedy rapacity of capital1 and which appeal with vehement persistency for redress--aye1 we fear in a little while1 for retaliative and retributive vengeance4 ,they have the right to claim protection from the steady and stealthy encroachments of capital whereby the rich grow richer and the poor poorer4 ,capital and labor are mutually interested in each others' welfare and prosperity1 and are alike equally entitled to protection when dealing justly with each other1 but under the present order of things labor is at the mercy of capital1 and receives not justice at its hands4 ,and this great government fought into existence by the common people1 defended in every succeeding struggle by the common people1 and which claims to be a government of the people and by the people and for the people1 stands idly by with folded arms and with an apparent serene complacency permits the great masses of the people to become hopelessly impoverished1 while the exclusive and favored few become enormously enriched4 ,verily has the government by its inaction and failure to interpose1 become truly and in the sight of heaven a particeps criminis in producing this wretched and deplorable condition of affairs4 ,august #ba1 #ahhb3 ,you have a tariff system1 which for unrighteousness in the cruelty of its exactions1 is without a parallel in modern times4 ,it is unjust and oppressive2 wholly indefensible1 and with scarcely a palliating feature4 ,my circumscribed power in communicating will not allow me to argue the question in extenso1 or as ,i would like to4 ,your tariff is not only unjustly discriminative1 but painfully oppressive in its operations1 especially so far as the interests of the consumers are concerned4 ,why do you not honestly examine the subject in its bearings in the laudable endeavor to ascertain to whose benefit it inures4 ,the government to some extent is benefited in the matter of revenue1 but the capitalists are more largely the beneficiaries1 and it is for them and their interests that you legislate4 ,have you not yet discovered1 if not by close and analytical reasoning1 at least by an observance of its practical operations1 that the poor artisans1 skilled mechanics1 and other labors immediately connected with your manufactures1 are not favored by high rates of tariff1 and that protection to home manufacturing by imposts on imported commodities does not enhance the interests or confer blessings upon the consumers of your manufactured articles4 ,have you not yet realized the fact that exorbitant and restrictive protection fosters only the interests of invested capital1 with no real advantage to the toiling operatives and to the oppressive detriment of consumers8 ,if the operatives in your manufacturing establishments were benefited by high tariffs it would be manifested and plainly discernible in prosperous accumulations and in their happy contentment4 ,the opposite of all this is true1 and it does not require a philosopher to discover it4 ,why trades unions1 repeated and frequent strikes1 and an unmistakably unhappy condition of unrest1 if the benefits accruing from the system beneficially inured to the workmen8 ,the masses of your toiling people are inclined to suffer and bear injuries and injustice with a patience and forbearance not characteristic of any other people under the broad canopy of heaven1 and when they protest by strike or otherwise you may safely assume that they are in the right1 and have just grievances4 ,the people not directly connected with the manufacturing interest1 but who are the purchasers of its products1 have exhibited a still more remarkable degree of patient forbearance1 for they are much more numerous and less directly dependent4 ,they have been sorrowfully blinded to their true interests by unconscionable politicians and political tricksters1 and most dearly have they paid for their confidence and ignorance4 ,we see signs of the awakening of the hitherto slumbering sensibilities of the people1 and feel assured that in the not remote future will be aroused a sentiment among the masses that will compel a change of front on this subject in the meting out of even-handed and impartial justice4 ,august #bd1 #ahhb3 ,another subject of engrossing importance to your weal is the threatening and dangerous attitude of monopoly and corporate power4 ,your railroad corporations are assuming gigantic proportions1 and bode no good to you if left uncontrolled and unregulated by law4 ,your liberties are not only menaced for many causes1 but by this corporate power all the avenues and departments of your government are being influenced detrimentally to the general public interest1 if not absolutely sullied by the corroding elements of corruption4 ,these corporations1 by the many influences they are enabled to exert1 if left unrestrained by legislation1 will control your government and its vast machinery as effectually and completely as the planets perform their circuits in obedience to the inflexible and unerring laws of the universe4 ,it is nonsense to talk about the absence of constitutional power over the subject4 ,your national legislature has ample warrant1 under the constitutional provision conferring authority upon ,congress to regulate commerce among the states1 and ,congress should exercise that authority promptly and fearlessly4 ,railroads are common carriers1 and are1 when considered in connection with this power conferred upon ,congress1 public1 and not private1 highways4 ,the ,supreme ,court of the ,united ,states has frequently affirmed this power as residing in the legislative department of the government4 ,unless regulated and restrained1 these corporations may impose such exorbitant rates of transportation as to destroy ordinary profits on manufactured and other commodities1 and necessitate an insufferable and unbearable increase to meet the exigency of increased rates of transportation1 and1 of course1 to the detriment and oppression of consumers4 ,the government must take the matter in hand for the protection of the people4 ,competition will prove unavailing without restrictive legislation2 for the railroads would engage in pooling1 and thereby render nugatory the natural advantages of competition4 ,this monopoly constitutes the most threatening element in the country1 and will be felt too soon1 if not prevented by judicious exercise of governmental authority4 ,the use of steam1 as applied to railroads1 steamboats1 and steamships1 was unknown to the founders of your government and the framers of your constitution1 or more definite provisions would have been made in relation to the subject of regulating commerce4 ,why can not your statesmen be as patriotic and as true to the public8 ,although mainly chartered by the states1 they are not authorized by implication or otherwise to pursue the selfish course of only subserving the interests of capital1 but for the convenience and benefit of the great body of the people in commerce and travel as well4 ,they have1 by exercising all undue influence1 corrupted courts and legislatures1 and will1 ere long1 as they have already to some extent1 invade the sacred precincts of your elections1 corrupting the sanctity of the ballot-box1 and demoralizing the independence of electors4 ,then your government will become a farce1 and your free institutions subject to the whims and caprices of unholy and unconscionable monopoly power4 ,august #be1 #ahhb3 ,the great agricultural interests upon which you mostly depend for all of your material prosperity receive no protection from your tariff legislation1 but are compelled to pay tribute to manufacturing by paying tariffs on manufactured agricultural implements used on the farm by the increased prices on the same4 ,besides1 this great interest 7agricultural7 is at the mercy of railroad corporations in high rates of transporting the products of the farm to market1 and in the end the burden falls on the consumers of such products4 ,the recent tariff commission created by ,congress1 and its members appointed by the ,president1 is a miserable subterfuge and sham1 as you will ultimately ascertain4 ,the dodging of the responsibility by ,congress1 of an immediate revision of the tariff and the correction of its abuses and vices1 ought to be vigorously condemned4 ,there exists no valid reason why the old war tariff rates should be continued in this era of profound peace and general prosperity of trade and business4 ,under the constitution1 tariff taxation can only be imposed on imported articles for the purposes of revenue to the government1 and this1 however arranged1 is amply sufficient to afford incidental protection to home manufactories4 ,the time is coming when free trade and open1 untrammelled commerce with all nations will be the policy of all wise governments1 and the sooner it is brought about the better4 ,the currency policy will also be changed1 and a great wrong therein righted4 ,the national banking system projected into being early in the late war1 and which had its necessities for an apology1 will be abrogated and done away with1 and a currency furnished directly by the government to the people1 without the intervention and agency of private banking corporations4 ,this will be cheaper1 safer1 and more durable1 predicated1 as it will be1 upon the good faith of the ,american people and their government1 and secured by their prosperity4 ,the time will come when the flag of the ,american republic will float over ,canada1 all the ,british ,possessions on this continent1 the island of ,cuba1 the natural key to the ,gulf of ,mexico1 as well as over the cultivated valleys1 arid plateaus1 and towering mountains of the land of the ,montezumas1 beyond the ,rio ,grande4 ,then will your system of government be remodeled and reconstructed upon a plan infinitely superior to your present one1 and the ,united ,states will not only become the greatest nation the earth has ever known1 but the nucleus around which1 in time1 all other nations will cluster and revolve1 shouting the anthem of human equality and freedom and universal liberty4 ,g4 ,,washington4 ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,,communication ,,from ,,my ,,son ,,emil ,,about ,,ex-,,president ,,garfield--,,greetings ,,from ,,madam ,,ehrenborg--,,letter ,,from ,,rev4 ,,goddard1 ,,and ,,swedenborg',s ,,answer4 ,on the #bfth of ,september1 #ahha1 at the hour of #i o'clock1 forenoon1 it being the same memorable day on which the body of the late lamented ,garfield was buried1 ,i went to ,mrs4 ,green1 #cji ,longworth street1 for an independent slate-writing seance4 ,i had previously prepared the following paper1 which ,i laid on the table1 writing downwards1 and which ,mrs4 ,green had no means of reading1 viz3 ,will our dear exalted spirit friends be so kind as to give us some information of ,james ,a4 ,garfield1 our late beloved ,president4 ,on the slate soon came the following1 signed ,,emil1 the name of my spirit son4 ,good morning1 dear papa4 ,many spirits are here to greet you4 ,our beloved and martyr ,president's work has just begun4 ,he awoke immediately to consciousness and to the reality of a future life1 of which he had slight knowledge4 ,he was met by ,washington1 the father of his country1 and the martyr ,lincoln1 with a crown prepared for him1 and with many other loving kindred spirits1 who had gone before to prepare for his reception1 and it was the grandest one he ever had4 ,he has been introduced to our spiritual congress1 where he will finish his work1 and where he will be more useful to his country4 ,you will soon see a communication from the ,president in the papers4 ,then immediately came3 ,dear papa1 weep not for those who pass from this to higher spheres4 ,think of them free from sorrow and pain1 and wipe away your tears4 ,,emil4 ,oct4 #aj4 ,through ,mrs4 ,green4 ,my highly esteemed friend1 good morning4 ,baron ,swedenborg is prevented from meeting you to-day by reason of a called special session of the scientific institute or harmonial order of savants1 of which he is a prominent member4 ,matters of transcendent import and pressing moment now engross the attention of that honorable body of advanced spiritual minds4 ,he requested me to thus announce his enforced absence to-day1 and to say that it will afford him pleasure to be with you at your next sitting4 ,i avail myself of this opportunity1 by the kind permission of the mediums' guides1 to give my blessings1 and to again urge you to go on with your investigations1 and to push forward the noble work set before you by the spirit world4 ,the elements for your spiritual unfoldment are constantly at work1 and will continue to work out for you a rich reward far exceeding your most confident anticipations4 ,only fully co-operate with these elements and continue to act conjointly with your spirit friends and all will be well4 ,bright spirits of light around you stand1 ,whom you have attracted from the summerland2 ,they come to bless you with their spirit light1 ,and make your life all beauteous and bright4 ,press forward1 then1 with fearless tread1 ,and learn from those the world call dead2 ,the veil is rent1 their presence ever near1 ,your soul to bless and heart to cheer4 ,,fredrika ,,ehrenborg4 ,the communications from ,swedenborg of the #hth of ,september1 #ahha1 through ,mrs4 ,jennie ,mc,kee 7the first one from him71 and those through ,mrs4 ,green of the #bfth of ,september and #c;d of ,october1 #ahha1 ,i had printed in a small pamphlet1 and sent them to divers parties1 and one to the ,rev4 ,john ,goddard1 a minister of the ,new ,church in ,cincinnati1 with the hope that he would afford the members of his congregation the opportunity to read them4 ,in answer1 ,i received the following reply from ,mr4 ,goddard1 viz3 ,,price',s ,,hill1 ,august #ai1 #ahha4 ,dear ,mr4 ,helleberg3 ,your communication with your pamphlet came to me to-day4 ,i hardly know what to say in reply1 for ,i fear that nothing ,i can say will be of any use4 ,i have no doubt in the world that there is such a thing as communication with spirits1 nor has any intelligent and well informed ,new ,churchman4 ,nor have ,i any doubt whatever that they are a very low order of spirits1 and scarcely ever those whom they personate4 ,it is clear that ,swedenborg never sent any such communications as these4 ,to believe otherwise would be to believe that intelligent men in the other world lose their wits instead of increasing in wisdom4 ,doubtless this is permitted as a forcible and compelling offset to the tremendous and increasing materialism of the day4 ,i can not conceive of any use in it to those who desire to be led by the ,lord in freedom and reason4 ,not only ,swedenborg declares the thing disorderly1 but all experience coincides with his repeated warnings and emphasises the need of our keeping close to the ,lord in his divine word4 ,i say to you frankly that ,i do not feel warranted in putting this pamphlet before the society1 for knowing as ,i do the seductive and tremendously persuasive power of this influence and realizing the evil in it1 ,i should be doing violence to my sense of duty in bringing the matter to their notice4 ,to those capable of better things it is a delusion and a snare4 ,with kind personal feelings to you and all your family1 and deploring your connection with this dreadful sphere1 ,i remain sincerely yours in truth1 ,,john ,,goddard4 ,on ,november the #gth ,i repaired to ,mrs4 ,green's1 taking with me ,mr4 ,goddard's letter1 which ,i did not allow ,mrs4 ,green to see1 nor did ,i speak to her any thing in regard to its contents4 ,i had also prepared a communication to ,mr4 ,swedenborg1 which ,i took along with me1 in words as follows3 ,to my exalted spirit friend1 ,emanuel ,swedenborg3 ,for conferring on me the honor of receiving your communications for the people who you seek to bless with the truth1 ,i appreciate in the highest degree1 and my only hope and wish is that ,i may be able to do this work in a proper and efficient way4 ,the letter before you from the ,rev4 ,john ,goddard1 minister of the ,church of the ,new ,jerusalem here1 in answer to my pamphlet containing your three first letters to me1 is a sample of what may be expected from that class4 ,i have had the opinion that the preachers of every denomination will be the very last to accept this most beautiful truth1 and1 therefore1 ,i have concluded to send the pamphlet only to free1 advanced minds1 and to the individual members of the different churches of the ,new ,jerusalem1 if it receives your approval4 ,with love and sincere affection1 ,i am your willing and obedient servant1 ,c4 ,g4 ,,helleberg4 ,placing ,goddard's letter with mine on the stand1 the following communication came on the slate3 ,in the adorable name of the ,lord ,i salute you good morning4 ,the course you have pursued in regard to my communications to you meets my hearty approval4 ,in the future be governed by the directions of your immediate guides1 in whom ,i have the utmost confidence1 for they are constantly with you1 and are more intimately related to your sphere1 and know best how and what to direct4 ,i am advised of the purport of the letter to you from our good brother1 ,mr4 ,goddard1 and have lately visited him for the purpose of observing his surroundings and perceiving his mental operations4 ,as the result1 ,i believe him honest and nearer your platform than he is willing to make known4 ,he certainly concedes enough in his letter to fortify your faith1 and to satisfy those under his influence that modern spiritualism1 so called1 sprang from the great store house of the father's love1 and is in his keeping4 ,may the good brother become so illuminated as to reach the grander conclusion fully in consonance with the truth1 that his religion emanated not from the ,lord direct1 but from the writer hereof under the spiritual instruction suited to that age1 and that in lifting the veil between the two worlds of embodied and disembodied man1 and permitting1 yea compelling1 the intercommunion between their denizens1 the heavenly father has not made an assortment of evil only for you1 for this would be malevolence under whatever pretext1 but that all may1 if they desire1 hold intercourse with the terrestrial sphere4 ,i have neither lost my wits nor retrograded in wisdom1 but since ,i left the body ,i have lost much of my arrogance and pride1 and am now more interested in imparting plain1 simple truth1 than in the construction of embellished sentences and high sounding and beautifully rounded periods4 ,the humility taught by ,jesus and others anterior to his day and since embodies a sublime law of the spiritual spheres1 underlying all true progression1 to which ,i cheerfully bow in reverential adoration4 ,if my dear brother will only humble himself as a little child1 forgetting for awhile his books1 and casting aside the imperious demands of his system of belle-lettres1 he will then from that truly spiritually elevated altitude begin to perceive and to drink in the beauties of spiritual truth and the glories of the ,lord4 ,,emanuel ,,swedenborg4 ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,,communications ,,from ,,president ,,garfield1 ,,madam ,,ehrenborg1 ,,governor ,j4 ,d4 ,,williams1 ,,president ,,abraham ,,lincoln1 ,,judge ,,edmonds4 ,nov4 #ba4 ,among other things during this sitting with ,mrs4 ,green ,i received the following3 ,good morning friends of truth4 ,on passing out of the physical form and awakening to the consciousness of the perpetuity of my being1 and a realization of my continued individuality1 ,i was overwhelmed with the triumph of the spirit over the empire of crude matter1 and as ,i gazed upon the worn1 shattered and emaciated body1 and in the presence of many kindred and other loving spirit friends1 the first thought that occupied my mind was1 is it possible that ,i have lived so long in the presence of this great truth and have known so little about it8 ,then followed a feeling of self-chiding1 yea remorse1 that ,i had neglected so many opportunities to learn that wisdom so much needed by the newly arisen spirit1 and how much ,i had really missed by not acquiring knowledge of the spirit world1 the future of the spirit1 and the laws of spiritual government4 ,resulting from reflections like these came the impelling desire to return through whatever avenue ,i might find to speak to a fond mother1 devoted wife1 loving children1 and sympathizing friends1 to announce1 if no more1 that ,i not only still lived1 but was fully conscious of and keenly alive to their grief and sorrow4 ,but ,i would do more4 ,having passed safely and gloriously the ordeal of so-called death1 and crossed the dreaded rubicon1 ,i am now employing my best energies in learning the initial and rudimentary laws appertaining to spirit life and spirit growth1 which ,i ought to have learned on earth1 in the fervent hope and desire that ,i may be of service to my country and countrymen4 ,if ,i have a friend who would hear and heed me1 ,i would say to him as my best counsel1 see to it that you learn more of the spiritual side of life while here in the body1 that when you pass to the higher life your spirit may be accelerated in its onward march along the highways of progress in the heavenly spheres4 ,j4 ,a4 ,,garfield4 ,at the seance the #gth of ,november1 #ahha1 ,i placed a sealed letter1 with no address on the envelope1 on the stand1 and no one in the body except myself knew the contents1 as ,i had written it early in the morning at my home1 on ,mt4 ,auburn4 ,i deem it best to give my letter and the answer to it in full1 as it demonstrates beyond all possible controversy the ability of spirits to read and understand written matter effectually concealed from mortal view by being securely sealed up4 ,to my dear exalted spirit friend1 ,madam ,fredrika ,ehrenborg3 ,you always was on earth a valued friend of mine4 ,since your entrance into the spirit world ,i have been lead to appreciate more fully your good qualities of head and heart2 and your kind spiritual ministrations to me ,i fear ,i can never repay4 ,they have made me very happy indeed4 ,you brought the highly exalted ,swedenborg1 and your angel husband to make ,god's truths clearer to us1 and we know we can not return this loving kindness in any other way than in by trying to live up to them in our daily lives1 and in making them known to others4 ,during my whole life ,i have had so very few real friends outside of my family1 but ,i now know that my good spirit friends have more than restored the loss of earthly friends1 who ,i may have lamented4 ,for a long time ,i have been thinking to send you a special offering of my sincere1 heartfelt thanks1 which ,i now do4 ,your sincere and humble earth friend1 ,c4 ,j4 ,,helleberg4 ,the answer soon came in the following words on the insides of the double slate3 ,to my highly respected earth friend1 ,c4 ,j4 ,helleberg3 ,i know since my entrance upon a higher life more than before that you value my friendship to a very high degree1 which ,i have tried with my spirit to reciprocate4 ,you need not feel yourself under obligations to me or mine1 for ,i take great pleasure in administering to your wants1 and ,i am exceedingly happy to be able to do so1 and that you appreciate we know4 ,we are aware that our communications to you have made you and yours happy1 and it rejoices us to know that we have been the instruments in doing good1 and as you say1 ',you can not return our loving kindness in any other way than by trying with all your might to live up to them in your daily lives1 and in making them known to others4' ,that is just what your spirit friends wish you to do4 ,you need not grieve for earthly friendship2 those ties have soon to be broken1 but have your thoughts on spirit life and friends8 ,my noble husband and ,mr4 ,swedenborg are here with us4 ,accept my heartfelt thanks for your good wishes toward me1 and for your kind allusion to my noble companion4 ,love to your dear companion1 and believe me ever your friend and guide4 ,this is in answer to your sealed letters4 ,,fredrika ,,ehrenborg4 ,the #bc;d of ,january1 #ahhb1 came the following from the former ,governor of ,indiana3 ,good morning my dear friend in the cause of truth4 ,i have been present at many of your sittings1 and this morning ,i feel the power strong enough to write and give expressions to a few humble thoughts in regard to what ,i have done since my entrance to the spirit world4 ,my battles here were to put down aristocracy and the expenses of our government4 ,i fought hard for that4 ,i did not believe in drinking ice tea at the expense of the government4 ,i was satisfied with a good old fashion tea like my mother made1 and a suit of blue jeans4 ,i am still at work in our spiritual congress to that end4 ,if there is not something done speedily our government of our forefathers is gone1 and instead a stronger one1 or monarchy4 ,capitalists gnawing at its vitals1 and it must inevitably succumb4 ,spirit world is constantly at work to change the influence4 ,we are coming to every channel we can to speak1 and our prayers are that we may be heard and heeded4 ,with my blessing on you both1 ,i bid you good day4 ,j4 ,d4 ,,williams4 ,a4 ,lincoln1 ,j4 ,a4 ,garfield1 ,o4 ,p4 ,morton1 ,a4 ,p4 ,willard1 ,emanuel ,swedenborg1 ,fredrika ,ehrenborg1 ,madam ,amalia de ,frese1 ,polheim1 ,wilberforce and ,otto ,jacob ,natt-och-,dag are present4 ,,emil4 ,december #abth came the following3 ,kind friends3 ,i am with you this morning to encourage you by the utterance of a few thoughts4 ,the authority of the priesthood over the consciences and judgments of men is fast losing its hold1 and creeds are in the course of ultimate extinction4 ,the overthrow of the institution of slavery in the ,united ,states was precipitated by war1 and ,i shudder to contemplate even the possibility that the final conflict between the prevalent creeds predicated on false theology1 and succored by superstition on the one hand1 and an enlightened rationalism1 etc4 on the other1 may unhappily eventuate in bloody issues4 ,creeds are doomed to perish4 ,god grant they may pass away without the costly sacrifice of blood4 ,the pages of both sacred and profane history record crimes of the darkest and deepest magnitude enacted in the holy name of religion4 ,in her fair name the soil of the earth has been crimsoned with the precious blood of martyrs1 and the ghastly horrors of the inquisition have been feebly and imperfectly told4 ,the real truth of those horrid deeds has been faithfully chronicled in the archives of the spirit world4 ,without malice1 and in all charity1 ,i speak of them to-day1 but the truth must be boldly stated4 ,the history of the ,christian system of religion is1 in part1 a history of foul assassination1 bloodshed and rapine1 and all under the impious pretext of advancing the kingdom of heaven and magnifying the glory of the ,lord4 ,not only have the brave souls who dared to lift voice or hand against the hideous monster of religious fanaticism and tyranny been sacrificed as heretics1 but noble and queenly women--yea1 innocent and unoffending children--have fallen victims to its merciless cruelty and gluttonous rapacity for greed and power4 ,religion and tyranny have marched hand in hand together along the highways of the past1 and with the stake1 the javelin1 the executioner's ax1 and every conceivable instrument of torture1 have left behind them ruin1 desolation and death as fitting and enduring monuments of their utter unrighteousness4 ,does this terrible history1 so replete with evil1 offer us evidences of ,godlike excellence8 ,can such a religious system1 founded in falsehood1 fostered by superstition1 nourished by the blood of innocence1 and pre-eminently distinguished by so frightful a history1 much longer command the tolerant and kindly consideration of the advanced intelligence of the world1 or continue to inspire the conviction that it emanated from ,god1 and has been sustained all these centuries by the fostering care of his goodness and love8 ,in view of all this1 is it surprising to any one that ,he who taketh cognizance of the minutest details of human conduct has commissioned his angels and the spirits who have escaped the environments and passed beyond the limitations of the flesh to return to those in mortal on the redemptive mission of demonstrating a continued life beyond the grave1 and revolutionizing the religious thought1 moral tendencies and spiritual conceptions of mankind4 ,i repeat1 creeds are doomed to perish1 and this angel ministry1 fraught with freedom1 truth and righteousness1 will erect her gorgeous temples over their buried ruins4 ,thanks be to ,god that ,i obeyed the majestic voices wafted from the spirit world1 inducing1 as they did1 the liberation in our land of four millions of the enslaved children of chattel bondage4 ,enjoying the communion with spirits1 and learning of them and their bright homes1 the heritage of the father's love1 ,i was1 while yet inhabiting the tabernacle of clay1 made glad and filled with superhuman joy1 and in consequence was the recipient of strength and happiness in this glorious land of the spirit4 ,go ye1 therefore1 and do likewise4 ,good day4 ,a4 ,,lincoln4 ,,chapter ,,xv4 ,,new ,,years' ,,greetings ,,from ,,many ,,of ,,my ,,dear ,,spirit ,,friends ,,and ,,near ,,relatives4 ,the #bith of ,december1 #ahha1 ,i received with many others the following communication3 ,good morning1 my dear friends1 for such ,i will call you1 although ,i have never had the pleasure of seeing you in the body1 but as magnetic attraction seems to be the topic1 ,i will write a few lines to you4 ,some years ago ,i corresponded with this medium's husband1 and ,i had the pleasure of calling her my pupil1 because her mediumship was so much like that of mine and my daughter ,laura4 ,i took so much interest in her and her future success1 and predicted that she would be a wonderful medium in time1 and now ,i come as her teacher to congratulate her on her success and to give her words of cheer1 and to tell her that she has only ascended half way up the ladder of fame as a spirit medium2 and1 also1 that ,i have come to-day by magnetic attraction1 and will be here often to aid her in her development4 ,with my prayers for you both and for your success1 ,i bid you good morning4 ,,judge ,,edmonds4 ,the #b;d of ,january1 #ahhb1 in the forenoon1 came on the slate the following3 ,good morning1 dear papa4 ,we are all here with our happy ,new ,year's greetings--,emil1 ,charles1 ,gustaf1 ,mary1 ,julia1 ,grandpa and ,grandma ,helleberg1 ,grandpa ,natt-och-,dag1 ,swedenborg1 ,madam ,ehrenborg1 ,madam de ,frese1 and a host of others4 ,dear ,emil forgot me2 ,i am last1 but ,i hope not the least1 in sending you a happy ,new ,year's greeting4 ,he says ,i am able to do that myself1 and so ,i am1 and happy to do so4 ,nothing affords me more real pleasure than to communicate to you4 ,wishing you many beautiful spirit communications this coming year1 ,i bid you good day4 ,,jennie4 ,after this came the following from a highly esteemed noble lady1 who recently passed to the higher life1 leaving an only daughter remaining in the form4 ,madam de ,frese was distinguished in her native land--,sweden--for her literary tastes and labors and the purity of her character4 ,it was a great surprise by reason of her having passed on so recently3 ,good morning1 my dear friend4 ,with the assistance of ,mr4 ,swedenborg and our kind friend ,madam ,ehrenborg1 and with the aid of this medium's very highly gifted and intelligent band1 ,i am able to write a few more lines to those ,i love who are yet in the body4 7,at this moment ,i said to the medium1 ,it is my impression that this communication is from my friend1 ,amelia de ,frese1 and it may be a help to convince the ,new ,church people in ,sweden1 and her daughter1 of the spiritual truth and power47 ,and then came3 ,yes1 that is my object1 to send them a ,new ,year's greeting from my beautiful spirit home1 and to tell my dear daughter that ,i am not far from her1 but able to advise her and control affairs mundane1 and that by impression4 ,she will be directed in the right way1 and although she does not imagine that ,i am with her1 still it is a reality4 ,tell her to have no fear1 she will be directed to do my will1 and now that the dark pall is before her1 and that to penetrate through it seems an impossibility1 but 'ere long she will get glimpses of the summer land and of the loved ones gone before4 ,though the clouds may lower and thicken fast and the mutterings of the storm king is heard1 fear not1 mother is near to ward off danger4 ,she will know my meaning4 ,she is in mental trouble1 the weight is almost overpowering4 ,this will help to remove it somewhat1 and what she longs for4 ,she thinks1 ',oh1 if mother could tell me what to do4' ,as a parting word1 tell her that the sunshine of ,spiritualism will scatter the clouds and mists that now surround her1 and that she will be made doubly happy by its introduction into her troubled heart1 and every pulsation of that member of the body will beat with joy4 ,with the blessings of ,swedenborg and ,madam ,ehrenborg1 and with my heart full of love for her and highest regards for yourself and companion1 and thanks for this privilege of communicating1 ,i bid you adieu4 ,,madam ,,amalia ,,de ,,frese1 of ,stockholm1 ,sweden4 ,january #ith ,i received the following from the same spirit3 ,thanks1 my dear old friend1 ,mr4 ,helleberg1 for sending the communication to my daughter4 ,i will be there when she reads it1 and make her feel my presence4 ,i am your friend1 ,,amalia ,,de ,,frese4 ,,chapter ,,xvi4 ,a ,,prayer ,,from ,,madam ,,ehrenborg4 ,jan4 #bf1 #ahhb4 ,and the following came on the slate1 which ,i then copied word for word1 and herewith reproduce verbatim et literatum3 ,my dear old friend4 ,according to promise ,i am here1 and ,i will endeavor to write you a prayer3 ,oh1 thou ,infinite ,spirit of ,truth1 soul of all things1 we humbly approach ,thee at this hour4 ,we know our praises can not exalt ,thee for ,thou art already infinitely exalted4 ,we know how vain are our adulations of ,thee1 and that we can not change or make ,thee other than what ,thou art1 a being permeating all things1 ever pure and changeless4 ,we know ,thou hast existed in all the past1 and for ,thee and ,thine there is no ending in all the measureless immensity of future time4 ,thou art infinite and perfect in all ,thy great attributes of love1 wisdom1 and power1 the true and everlasting trinity4 ,we know we serve ,thee best when we seek and labor for the good of ,thy children1 whether they be in realms of spirit being or in mortal life4 ,we feel the inspiration of ,thy words--',do good to all'--wafted to our anxious ears on every breeze1 and we bow in reverence before the eternal words written on all the works of ,thy mighty creation1 ',love one another even as ,i love all4' ,we look not for ,thee in temples of human construction1 or in buildings vainly dedicated to ,thy worship1 but we discover ,thee in all that ,thou hast brought into being by the creative energies of ,thy almighty power4 ,we hear ,thy majestic voice in the mighty roar of old ocean and in the gentle murmurings of the brooklet4 ,we hear ,thy voice in the thunderings of the storm king and in the soft whisperings of the zephyrs4 ,we behold ,thee in the stately form of the oak and in the sweet blossoming and blooming flowers4 ,wherever we go1 wherever we look1 and in whatever we behold there ,thou art ever present4 ,oh1 ,thou mighty master spirit of the universe1 bless ,thy children every-where4 ,strengthen ,thy messengers1 ministering spirits from the land immortal1 to teach those still in the bonds of the flesh the sublime and eternal truths of immortality4 ,may ,thy children in mortal learn that wisdom which teaches righteous living1 heroic dying1 life-unending and eternal progression4 ,shower divine blessings on this aged brother who is seeking to know of ,thee through ,thy ministering angels4 ,strengthen his faith1 increase his knowledge1 cheer his heart1 and as he nears the end of the journey of mortal life fill his soul with that joy that can only be bestowed by the spirits of dear ones who have passed to the better land4 ,bless1 oh ,father1 this noble medium1 a chosen instrument of the spirit world1 through whom to transmit messages of love4 ,bless all such instruments4 ,encourage and invest with continually increasing powers this noble band of spirits1 and enable them through their chosen and beloved medium to bless and cheer the hearts of many by the impartation of light divine1 and may that light radiate through their souls as the sunbeams descending from the golden orb of day illuminates the physical world4 ,accept1 oh ,lord1 from the fulness of our souls this our earnest prayer4 ,amen4 ,,chapter ,,xvii4 ,,greetings ,,from ,,horace ,,greeley1 ,j4 ,g4 ,,bennett1 ,,and ,,henry ,j4 ,,raymond1 ,,to ,f4 ,b4 ,,plimpton1 ,,associate ,,editor ,,of ,,the ,,cincinnati ,,daily ,,commercial4 ,during the visit of the celebrated medium1 ,henry ,slade1 to ,cincinnati1 recently1 a reporter of the ,cincinnati ,daily ,enquirer visited him and secured a sitting1 during which ,mr4 ,f4 ,b4 ,plimpton1 associate editor of the ,cincinnati ,daily ,commercial1 by invitation was present4 ,the day following1 the ,enquirer reporter1 in speaking of the seance in the columns of his paper1 referred to ,mr4 ,plimpton in disparaging terms as being a believer in ,spiritualism1 etc4 ,in the succeeding issue of the ,enquirer ,mr4 ,plimpton had published over his proper signature the following rejoinder3 ,,dr4 ,,slade ,,and ,,his ,,confederate4 ,to the ,editor of the ,enquirer4 ,your reporter makes much of my accidental meeting with him at the rooms of ,dr4 ,slade4 ,i had called on the doctor's general invitation 7he being an entire stranger to me71 not with the thought of witnessing any of the so-called manifestations1 but to have a chat with him touching some points of his ,european experience4 ,in the course of our conversation he incidentally mentioned that he had an appointment with a press representative1 and shortly afterward your reporter came in1 and was introduced to me as ,mr4 ,culbertson4 ,having met the young gentleman on a recent social occasion1 when he was introduced to me under his right name1 his identity was not obscure to me1 but it would have been the height of impoliteness on my part1 an invited guest1 to have interfered with any little plan he may have formed to entrap the magician4 ,it is a trivial and common form of deception1 and as ,dr4 ,slade does not profess to be a mind-reader1 it is as easy for a stranger to impose on him in that way as upon an ordinary person4 ,so1 as ,mr4 ,culbertson your reporter remained from the beginning to the end of the sitting4 ,why ,dr4 ,slade changed his mind and allowed me to remain during the seance ,i do not know1 and do not care to know4 ,it seems1 however1 to have excited the suspicions of your acute reporter1 who amusingly presents me to your readers in the light of a confidante of the doctor4 ,this is too ridiculous to receive serious refutation4 ,it was the sheerest accident that ,i was present at all4 ,your reporter very fairly states the phenomena witnessed1 except where his lively imagination charmingly interferes with strict accuracy1 and tempts him to adorn his narrative with divers brass ornaments of his own invention4 ,but he must pardon me if ,i decline to accept him as an expert at his own valuation1 since by his own statement he stands condemned of practicing the only deception at all explicable1 and then not telling the truth about it4 ,he is1 however1 entitled to his own conclusions1 which must be very valuable1 considering the time he has devoted to investigation4 ,there is no accounting for the superior insight which a young man has into phenomena1 that have baffled old heads after years of patient study4 ,it may be remarked1 however1 that to denounce as trickery and fraud phenomena otherwise not easily explained is a ready way of ridding one's self of the whole business4 ,though not giving much attention of late years to the subject1 ,i am a ,spiritualist1 and not ashamed to own it4 ,the time has passed when it is necessary to doff one's hat and apologize in this or any other intelligent community for being a ,spiritualist4 ,it is1 at least1 as creditable as to discourse without knowledge and condemn without investigation4 ,f4 ,b4 ,,plimpton4 ,on ,thursday1 ,february #b;d1 at ,mrs4 ,green's1 among other matter received came the following3 ,respected ,sir3 ,we are here this morning to ask you to go and see ,mr4 ,plimpton1 of the ,commercial1 and say to him for us1 that we not only thank but congratulate him for his recent bold and manly utterances in favor of truth4 ,the time has arrived for those blessed with the knowledge presented by ,spiritualism to bravely avow it1 and we are glad that he has taken the initiative in the ,queen ,city of the ,west4 ,the time has truly passed when such avowal entails social ostracism or any kind of persecution4 ,the banner of truth has been unfurled1 and ye brave souls marshal the veteran hosts under it and onward to victory4 ,you will find less obstruction than you think1 for believers in this much-abused gospel of light are more numerous than you conceive4 ,besides you have myriad hosts of heaven at your backs4 ,falter not1 move onward with firm and confident step4 ,be steadfast and true and bright laurels await you4 ,the victory is not always to the strong1 but to the active1 the vigilant1 and the brave4 ,the army of ,spiritualism has already swollen into huge proportions1 and its ranks are being daily augmented4 ,the decree has gone forth and the triumph will come4 ,truth shall arise for the eternal years of ,god are her's1 and nothing can stay or retard the onward march to victory of the grand army of invisible hosts4 ,,horace ,,greeley4 ,j4 ,g4 ,,bennett1 ,,sr4 ,,henry ,j4 ,,raymond4 ,,chapter ,,xviii4 ,,communications ,,from ,,horace ,,greeley1 ,,governor ,o4 ,p4 ,,morton1 ,,and ,a4 ,p4 ,,willard4 ,on the #gth of ,april1 among other things1 ,i received the following3 ,unless some changes are made in the conduct of your government direful consequences are to be apprehended4 ,under the present mode of administration it is continually subjected to very heavy straining1 and it can not much longer stand it4 ,many reforms are needed1 and the requirements of patriotism demand that they be seriously considered and acted upon4 ,your civil service is entirely wrong1 and can not be continued much longer without serious detriment to your form of government4 ,the integrity and stability of your institutions are constantly menaced by it4 ,you claim that you have an elective government4 ,is the claim true8 ,thousands of important public offices are not filled by the elective voice of the people4 ,they are filled by appointment from purely partisan considerations--for partisan purposes and as a reward for party services and party zeal4 ,fitness and worthiness are secondary and minor considerations4 ,hence arise clamorings of party strife1 and the engendering of the festering sore curses of corruption4 ,the ,presidential office had better be abolished than to continue it invested with such vast patronage in dispensing official appointments4 ,there exists no valid reason why the people themselves should not select from their neighbors postmasters1 revenue officers1 etc41 as well as state1 county1 and township officers4 ,the ,presidential office should either be dispensed with or its incumbent elected by a direct vote of the people without the intervention of the cumbersome and corrupting electoral machinery4 ,the electing of men to elect other men to office is the dodging of a responsibility and the surrendering of a right of the people that can not be defended upon sound principles4 ,another danger confronts you menacingly and demands watchful attention4 ,it is the startling aggregations of wealth among the few1 and wrung from the sweat of labor4 ,these immense accumulations find utilization in the creation of merciless monopolies which have already assumed gigantic and threatening proportions in the ,united ,states4 ,stock gambling is not a whit better in morals than any of the games of cards by which the unwary are fleeced out of their hard earnings4 ,the participants and operators in the one are no better than in the other1 and yet the one1 under your ,christian civilization is applauded while the other is denounced4 ,how long yet will the people continue to be hoodwinked and handicapped by designing political tricksters4 ,we have seen the star of hope1 but now behold the star of promise rising in its refulgent splendor1 and therefore we take heart4 ,h4 ,,greeley4 ,,hon4 ,o4 ,p4 ,,morton4 ,on the #acth of ,april the following communication was received1 purporting to come from the late ,united ,states ,senator from ,indiana1 ,oliver ,p4 ,morton1 viz3 ,amid the rancor and jealousies of party strife ,i came in for a full share of abuse and vituperation4 ,i was denounced most bitterly as an ambitious man1 wholly unconscionable and indifferent as to the means employed in the accomplishment of party ends4 ,now1 ,i frankly confess that ,i was not a saint in politics1 nor always1 politically speaking1 perfectly orthodox4 ,i am free to admit that ,i was so constituted that when ,i once believed a certain view to be sound and right ,i never hesitated to use all the appliances and machinery of party to secure its triumph4 ,i was called a bold man in politics4 ,i am proud of this1 for it is in contradistinction to all that is sneaking4 ,i aimed to always be right1 and believed1 in a certain qualified and honorable sense1 that the ends justified the means4 ,those who are vociferating so loudly and screaming so painfully about bad and corrupt men1 are generally traveling in the same boat1 with the same sails spread to the breeze4 ,in my mind and heart the country's good was always a paramount consideration1 and ,i have as few regrets as most men who have devoted as long a period to public life4 ,the man out of office feels himself called upon to denounce the man who is in1 and affects to believe himself especially endowed with the requisite qualities to purify the public service1 but when safely ensconced in the incumbency he too soon finds himself a ,barkis1 who is willing4 ,there are many good and true men engaged in public political life1 but none perfect1 and you would be as successful in ransacking hades for an angel of light in your efforts to find a perfect politician4 ,whatever is wrong and corrupt in your public service and political life will never be corrected and purified by the politicians alone4 ,as well might you hope for a deadly eating cancer to eradicate itself1 or the upas tree1 with its deadly emanations1 to give forth health-breeding and life-sustaining exhalations4 ,the remedy rests alone and wholly with the great masses of the people4 ,the prostitution of office to the debasing influences of bribery and corruption must be made odious by fixing austere penalties against the offender1 and the prompt and indiscriminate enforcement of them4 ,misfeasance and malfeasance in public office ought to be considered an unpardonable crime1 and the guilty dealt with accordingly4 ,let the people teach their officials the doctrine that a continuation of political existence depends wholly on fidelity to the public interests1 and the honest1 faithful and efficient administration of their official trusts4 ,when there is willful dereliction of duty1 or a failure by grossly reprehensible conduct to meet the just public expectations1 not only relegate the offender to the walks of private life1 but impose such punishment as shall be deemed adequate to the enormity of the crime1 and will deter others from the commission of like offenses4 ,o4 ,p4 ,,morton4 ,,gov4 ,a4 ,p4 ,,willard4 ,may #ai1 #ahhb1 ,i received the following from ,ashbel ,p4 ,willard1 who ,i learn was at one time ,governor of the ,state of ,indiana1 viz43 ,good morning1 sir4 ,i was1 during my earth life1 a politician1 and1 to a certain extent1 a successful one1 if success may be measured and determined by captivating the masses1 and thereby securing elevation to office4 ,i was in early life surrounded by poverty1 and arose from humble conditions to the chief magistracy of the great commonwealth of ,indiana4 ,i was of the common people1 always kept myself closely allied to them and their interests1 and if you will excuse the egotism1 always felt that ,i was near their hearts4 ,i was called an orator1 and probably to some extent this was true1 for nature had favored me highly in that direction by organization1 and ,i have occasion to be thankful that whatever gifts ,i may have possessed1 they were aimed to be exercised for the promotion of the public good and the happiness and prosperity of the people4 ,in youth ,i obtained a common education and taught school1 and by teaching the young the rudiments of education ,i was enabled to study and observe the different tendencies and characteristics of mind4 ,while engaged in this pursuit ,i discovered some properties of my own mind and some gifts of speech1 which1 in public utterance1 subsequently distinguished me--not so much in the forum as on the hustings during periodical political excitements4 ,i soon discovered that the power ,i was enabled to wield in political disputations was attracting the people to me1 and their voices at the ballot-box soon called me into official position and consequent prominence4 ,whatever faults ,i may have had1 it is a proud satisfaction for me to know that it was never charged that ,i ever betrayed either a private or public trust4 ,but in my day things were quite different from what they are now4 ,the politicians in my day were imbued with a different and a higher patriotic sense of obligation to the public interests and the general public weal4 ,the great war of the rebellion seems to have poisoned the divine streams of patriotism1 and the politicians of to-day seem to have drank too freely therefrom4 ,you have passed through evil times1 and they are still upon you4 ,the best minds of the spirit world are hard at work seeking to purify the waters of political life4 ,it must begin at the fountain head4 ,the people1 the great masses who constitute the fountain of all political power1 must be awakened to a realization of the wretched condition into which they have permitted public affairs to drift4 ,there must be a quickening of the public conscience and a revivifying of the patriotism of the early fathers of the republic4 ,the sanctifying influences of the patriotism of the revolution must again permeate the hearts of the people4 ,the politicians1 always cunning and watchful of the tendencies and driftings of the public mind1 will either fall in with the new order of things1 or be forced to retire and subside from public notice4 ,the great minds and patriotic hearts of ,washington1 ,lafayette1 ,adams1 ,jefferson1 ,franklin1 ,hancock1 ,paine1 ,webster1 ,clay1 ,douglas1 ,lincoln1 ,garfield1 and hosts of others1 are coming from the skies1 leaving for awhile the glorious pursuits and joys of spirit unfoldments to speak to the people1 and to lead them away from the demoralizing and corrupting influences of the partisanship of the day into better channels and loftier patriotism4 ,how shall the work of purifying the public service1 restimulation of patriotism1 and the placing of the waning fortunes of the country upon the high road of prosperity be done8 ,first4 ,what is needed to be done8 ,second4 ,how shall it be done8 ,these questions1 so pregnant with mighty results1 should engage your earnest and prayerful consideration4 ,these matters may be discussed and presented to you1 and ,i am glad that the means will be furnished to lay them before the people4 ,if what ,i have said will be the means of arousing one patriotic citizen to the necessity of the governmental reformation now in contemplation by our spiritual congress1 ,i shall feel then supremely happy that the little effort in writing these feeble lines was not in vain4 ,i was known when in the form1 and am still1 as ,,ashbel ,p4 ,,willard4 ,,chapter ,,xix4 ,,communications ,,from ,,the ,,drunkard1 ,a ,,miser1 ,,william ,,gailard1 ,,william ,,lloyd ,,garrison1 ,,wilberforce1 ,,tecumseh1 ,a ,,suicide4 ,on ,may #be1 #ahhb1 came the following communication from a spirit1 who declined to give his name1 for reasons which he claimed to be prudential and personal to himself4 ,it is here given in his own words3 ,the band of spirits who have this medium in charge1 together with other exalted ones and one who is co-operating with them temporarily1 have not only allowed1 but invited me1 unworthy as ,i am1 to come and tell my story4 ,it is a short and terrible one1 and in deep sorrow and humiliation ,i proceed to tell it4 ,i was called1 and justly so1 a drunkard4 ,by nature ,i was blessed with a strong and robust constitution1 and ,i was1 what is too often a curse1 the child of wealthy parents4 ,my father was rich1 and this circumstance proved my ruin4 ,i was nursed in the lap of luxury1 never knew what it was to want1 and consequently had no sympathy for those that suffered1 or those immersed in the fierce struggles of poverty4 ,i disdained to work with my hands for bread1 and knew not the hardships and sorrows of the toiling millions4 ,my brow was never moistened by the sweat of labor1 and ,i grew up in the belief that the poor were intended and purposely created to serve the rich1 and were deserving of naught but a bare scanty subsistence4 ,my life of indolence and ease1 my uninterrupted hours of leisure1 produced their inevitable fruit in their accompaniments of vice and immorality4 ,idleness1 as ,i now know1 is the parent of vice1 and riches too frequently constitute the propagating life germs of wickedness4 ,it was sadly true in my unhappy case4 ,oh1 fathers1 mothers1 heed my warning counsel3 ,train your children to labor--to work1 work1 work4 ,allow but few idle hours for dissipation and vice4 ,keep them away1 if possible1 from the club room1 where intoxicating beverages are indulged in and made inviting by temptation1 and where lascivious conversations only tend to stimulate and develop the lower passions and propensities of their natures4 ,wine1 fair to look upon and with frequent imbibations exhilarating1 contains within its alluring embrace a terrible lurking serpent whose venomous sting is fatal to all that is noble1 grand1 and holy4 ,it strikes1 figuratively speaking1 its poisoned teeth into the very vitals of our being1 and the effect follows us to the other life with its terrible retributive vengeance4 ,oh1 pity the poor inebriate1 and erect all possible barriers against the terrible ravages of the fell destroyer4 ,,the ,,drunkard4 ,a ,,miser4 ,april #bd1 #ahhb1 came the following3 ,i am permitted to come to you to-day to relate something of my history4 ,there is a twofold purpose in my visit4 ,i am told that this will greatly benefit me as a spirit still bound to my idol--gold--and that ,i may be instrumental in warning others to avoid my condition4 ,i lived in the flesh more than three score years and ten1 and when ,i laid down to die the only thing ,i regretted leaving was my gold and hoarded wealth4 ,oh1 ,i thought1 if ,i could only take it all with me how happy ,i would be4 ,the world said ,i was a noble man1 because being avaricious and greedy1 ,i was successful in acquiring riches4 ,my nobility of character was measured entirely by my ability to accumulate money and property4 ,i want to publish it to the world that money1 stocks1 and landed estates1 are poor capital to bank on in the spirit world4 ,they will do here1 and as the world goes1 will make you respectable1 your society and influence coveted and all that1 but you need a different kind of capital on this side of life4 ,gold here has great purchasing power4 ,it buys the luxuries of life1 it even buys honor1 virtue1 and innocence1 at a fearful sacrifice and cost to others1 but its power1 except its terrible evil following1 ends with your life in the body4 ,nothing but good deeds1 noble charities1 and upright living pass current in the land of souls4 ,i was a miserable1 soulless miser1 and my occupation and delight consisted in adding to my coffers1 and in this endeavor ,i forgot and ignored conscience and every thing in the pathway of the pursuit of my idol4 ,i belonged to a fashionable church1 owned a pew1 attended the services1 and flattered myself that this was all that was needful to prepare my soul for happiness in the other world4 ,no appeals of charity were ever strong enough to touch my sympathies or open my purse strings4 ,the tears of the widow1 the wails of the orphan1 or the cries of the suffering1 however piteous1 never touched my heart or obtained from me a single penny4 ,i stinted myself and family and contributed nothing towards the relief of want and suffering1 for ,i was so completely enslaved by the accursed love of and passion for money4 ,this is a humiliating confession to make1 but it is1 alas1 for my happiness1 too true4 ,i tell you money has been my curse1 and oh1 how terribly have ,i suffered4 ,years upon years have rolled by1 and ,i have only partially paid the penalty of my folly4 ,no wonder the rich man wanted some one to go back and tell his brethren of his fate4 ,i hope ,i may hereby be the humble instrument in warning others against the pitfall into which ,i have fallen4 ,my gold came up before me here to greet my fond gaze1 and when ,i would joyously reach out for it1 behold it would elude my grasp1 thus teaching me that it had no real existence except as the haunting specter of my unholy life struggle for its possession4 ,the light of redemption now begins to beam upon me1 flooding my soul with its bright rays of hope4 ,i feel this will do me good1 and ,i am very thankful for the opportunity4 ,let me be simply known as ,,the ,,miser4 ,,william ,,gailard4 ,william ,gailard was an old personal friend1 and the first one who called my attention to the subject of ,spiritualism4 ,he had been a ,swedenborgian1 and at times had officiated as a preacher in ,england before he came to the ,states4 ,at a sitting with ,mrs4 ,green1 ,june #b1 #ahhb1 ,i was pleased to receive the following communication from him3 ,my old friend1 ,mr4 ,helleberg4 ,i know you have been waiting and wanting to hear from me1 and ,i have been just as anxious to respond4 ,here in the spirit world we have order and system1 and each one must bide his time4 ,my time has come to speak a few words to you1 and ,i assure you1 my dear old friend1 ,i seize the opportunity with pleasure ,i can not fully express4 ,i remember that the new light of spiritual truth came to me first1 and ,i was the humble instrument in the hands of higher intelligences to assist you in obtaining it4 ,i was a medium for exalted spirits to lead you and others into the light1 and that for a great and noble purpose1 for way back to that time the plans were laid for the work in which you are now engaged so nobly and fearlessly4 ,you are also1 my dear friend1 a medium1 for it is true that all persons whom spirits can influence1 however unconscious it may be to themselves1 are mediums in the true sense of the word4 ,you are helping others to grow and expand in spiritual knowledge1 and you will be astonished when you come over to look back and see the work you have done1 and to receive the plaudit1 ',well done1 good and faithful servant4' ,i have been blessed beyond measure for the little ,i was enabled to do1 but your reward will be greater than mine4 ,your opportunities were greater and you cheerfully yielded your energies1 time1 and means1 to the work4 ,if ,spiritualists could only realize the treasures they are laying up for themselves by advancing the banner of truth1 and the joys in consequence that await them on the golden shore1 they would spare no pains or means and omit no effort in spreading the gospel of glad tidings4 ,oh1 how ,i would exult with joy if the ,new ,church people would see and preach this beautiful and blessed truth4 ,they will yet get their eyes open1 and step out of their little creed-bound narrowness1 and stand upon the broad and heavenly platform of the ,lord and this spiritual truth1 for they are one and the same4 ,swedenborg will speak to them from the higher life1 and ,i pray they may heed him4 ,your old friend1 ,,william ,,gailard4 ,,wm4 ,,lloyd ,,garrison4 ,at the sitting ,june #i1 #ahhb1 came the following3 ,for long years before the emancipation of the slaves ,i waged a fierce and bitter warfare against the institution of ,african slavery in the ,united ,states4 ,the overthrow of that accursed institution became the absorbing and central idea of my soul from my early manhood4 ,all other themes1 questions1 and subjects1 ,i subordinated to that one dominant purpose of my life4 ,when ,i had lived to see that institution swept out of existence1 equal civil rights secured1 and manhood suffrage conferred1 irrespective of race1 color1 or previous condition of servitude1 ,i felt a sweet heavenly calm rest upon my soul1 accompanied by the consciousness that ,i had not lived in vain4 ,i felt that my efforts1 however feeble1 had helped to forward to a glorious consummation that long eventful struggle1 and that by aiding in pushing along the car of progress and freedom1 the world had not suffered by my having lived in it4 ,when the victory had been achieved ,i had advanced far 'into the vale of years1' and realized that my life forces were well nigh exhausted4 ,they had been mainly expended in my life work as editor1 lecturer1 etc41 in a warfare upon an unholy condition in which upward of four millions of human beings1 with ,god-given souls1 had been placed by sheer force and without their own consent4 ,i saw and still see needed reforms that call aloud for help1 willing souls1 and ready hands4 ,reform in the currency1 reform in the tariff1 reform in the civil service1 a complete overhauling and reconstruction of government1 the overthrow of rum1 and the enfranchisement of women4 ,god will and is raising up noble souls for this noble work1 and you may be assured that the spirit world is neither indifferent nor inactive4 ,spirit bands are forming every-where1 instrumentalities are being chosen1 and agencies are being arranged for the work4 ,the millions of high and exalted souls of the higher life will1 ere long1 descend upon the children of earth with their inspiring and propelling influence1 and a revolution in the realm of mind will be inaugurated that shall eventuate in the accomplishment of needed reforms4 ,i shall be among the number with all my strength and soul4 ,,wm4 ,,lloyd ,,garrison4 ,,wilberforce4 ,july #g1 #ahhb1 at a sitting this day the following came3 ,the main struggle of my life was to secure the liberation of the enslaved in the dominions under the authority and jurisdiction of the ,british government4 ,i lived to witness the glorious success of my labors and to rejoice thereat and therein4 ,i fought human slavery2 ,i mean that slavery which is recognized by law--the right of one man to own another as a chattel1 and to either transfer that ownership to another for a pecuniary or other consideration1 or to transmit it as an inheritance4 ,in doing so ,i had to combat wealth1 prejudice1 and biblical religion1 for the bible recognizes this right4 ,the struggle was long1 eventful1 and bitter1 but victory finally crowned the effort4 ,the civilized world concedes now the justness of my cause and the value to mankind of its success4 ,and yet you are now fastening upon yourselves a slavery more appalling and degrading than ,african slavery ever was1 or the slavery of the heathen and strangers of the olden time4 7,see ,leviticus1 #beth chapter1 #dd1 #de and #dfth verses47 ,the slavery to which ,i refer now is the slavery of labor to capital4 ,if ,i were back again in the body1 with my present light on the subject1 ,i would fight this accursed slavery more bitterly than ,i did that other species of slavery1 which was bad enough1 but infinitely less reprehensible than that which ,i am now discussing4 ,no oppression is so utterly merciless and unconscionable as that of capital upon labor1 and no other form of oppression can be so serious and hurtful in its consequences4 ,here we behold a mighty conflict between capital and labor4 ,capital making cruel and unreasonable exactions1 seeking to obtain labor for an almost starvation pittance1 while labor1 unequal in the struggle1 seeks to wrest from its adversary a decent and honorable requitement for its sweat4 ,capital triumphs and labor suffers4 ,let me tell you to-day1 sir1 and ,i would have the capitalists hear me1 this contest will not always continue thus4 ,unless a spirit of justice and fair dealing shall speedily characterize the treatment of the poor toilers by their wealthy employers a mighty crash will come1 an outburst of indignation in revolution that will render the bloody scenes of the past of trivial moment in comparison4 ,the elements are generating1 the storm clouds are surely gathering1 and at a moment when least expected they will burst upon the country and the world in proportions only equaled by the fierceness of the conflict and its bloody issues4 ,let those whom it concerns beware4 ,i beseech them1 beware in time4 ,,wilberforce4 ,,tecumseh4 ,on the #dth day of ,august1 #ahhb1 between the hours of #i and #aa ,a4 ,m41 came the following1 which can not fail to be of interest to all who feel that our ,indian policy has been either wrong or ineffective1 and that the ,indians have not been rightly treated4 ,the eloquent simplicity of the communication can not fail to be observed3 ,a large delegation of ,indians are here and wish to be heard4 ,we have concluded to let them speak4 ,i will write what their leader says in as nearly his own words as possible4 ,,nettie1 the ,control4 ,we come to speak to palefaces at ,washington4 ,me talk for my people--the redfaces in the hunting-grounds in the ,far ,west where the sun goes down4 ,poor redfaces1 nearly all gone4 ,paleface kill many and drive them from their old and much loved hunting grounds4 ,you tell them to go on reservation1 and the big father at ,washington take good care of them4 ,they go4 ,big chief at big city send paleface agents to give them blankets1 ponies1 guns1 and bread to eat4 ,paleface agent start big store in wigwam and cheat redface1 and give him fire-water to make him mad and crazy4 ,when my people see how they are cheated they get mad1 and put on war paint and kill much4 ,big paleface chief say to blue-coat warriors1 go and kill redface and make them come back1 and let paleface agent swindle much more4 ,now this is all wrong1 and if wrong1 why not make wrong right4 ,redface only handful1 paleface mighty--like the leaves on trees4 ,if redface mighty and paleface weak1 how then you like it8 ,you then like redface be honest and not cheat1 and do as big preach say about golden rule4 ,me no like you give my people fire-water or guns4 ,me much like better if you give red braves horses and plows1 and build school-houses for little papooses4 ,teach them how to read and make big scratch 7writings7 and let them learn other papooses4 ,don't cheat4 ,put paleface clothes on redface1 especially redface papooses1 and learn them how to build big houses and how to raise big much to eat and sell4 ,then soon redface no more like hunting ground1 but will love paleface and paleface ways4 ,this much better than kill4 ,great ,spirit no like paleface to kill redface or redface kill paleface4 ,all die soon enough anyhow4 ,upper hunting grounds are full of redfaced spirits1 and they all feel bad and sorry for redface in your land4 ,me no talk much more4 ,me sorry--me could cry4 ,poor redface few--soon all be gone4 ,be good to few left1 and ,great ,spirit and redfaced spirits love you much4 ,spirit chiefs ,ouray and ,black ,hawk and many more are here1 and all plead for their people in lower hunting grounds4 ,they all feel much bad4 ,good bye1 chief and squaw4 ,me thank much for this big scratch4 ,,tecumseh4 ,,an ,,unknown ,,suicide4 ,august #bh1 #ahhb1 the following was received1 viz3 ,i lived in the body thirty-five years and eight months4 ,i went out by my own hand into the great beyond4 ,i was a singularly constituted man1 and a very unfortunate one4 ,self-love is said to be a great ruling passion1 but ,i never loved myself1 and of course could not be expected to love anybody else4 ,my parents were in no way assimilated and lived very unhappily together4 ,they quarreled and wrangled constantly1 and this embodies my earliest recollection when a child1 and it made an impression upon me from the influence of which ,i never recovered4 ,they seemed to hate each other1 and ,i was created and grew up under the same influence of hate1 and hate accompanied by a feeling of vengeance and revenge became a predominating trait of my character4 ,my parents both belonged to church1 and ,i have seen them both shout in church 7they were ,methodists7 and go home1 quarrel and fight for hours afterwards4 ,father would get drunk and mother would eat opium4 ,i tell you this disgusted me with religion1 and ,i concluded it was all a farce4 ,i believed death ended all1 and that religion was either a delusion or downright hypocrisy4 ,besides ,i had a very delicate and feeble physical organization which made me more morose and sullen4 ,melancholy finally seized me as a victim1 and in a moment of utter despondency ,i blew out my brains and ended life in the body4 ,but ,i could not get away from life--death ,i found to be but the commencement of another life1 and ,i had made the great blunder and committed the foul deed of taking my life into my own hands4 ,seventy-seven years have passed since1 and the terrible shadow of the act of suicide still hovers over me and gives me pain and anguish4 ,but thank ,god1 ,i begin to climb up the mount of progression--but the summit is still far away4 ,oh1 people of earth1 ,i pray you become not the suicide4 ,wait with patience until nature's laws calls thee hence4 ,remember the fate of the suicide is terrible and hard to overcome4 ,and in my sad history fathers and mothers may learn an instructive and profitable lesson1 for my father and mother have suffered more than ,i4 ,thanks for your goodness4 ,good bye4 ,a ,,suicide4 ,,chapter ,,xx4 ,,communications ,,from ,,thomas ,,paine1 ,,margaret ,,fuller1 ,,and ,,thanks ,,of ,,spirits4 ,aug4 #ca1 #ahhb4 ,the following from the spirit of ,thomas ,paine1 on capital punishment1 was received3 ,i am here to-day1 sir1 to say a few words in opposition to capital punishment4 ,what is the argument in its favor8 ,one citizen has taken the life of another citizen1 and you say he has thereby forfeited his right to live4 ,from whence do you get this doctrine8 ,does it belong to and is it a reflex of your boasted ,christian civilization8 ,the ,mosaic law demanded an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth1 but is this the doctrine of ,jesus1 the assumed founder of ,christianity8 ,if you think so1 you certainly have not read him attentively1 and it may be profitable to you in considering the subject to read the ,sermon on the ,mount1 as recorded in the fifth chapter of ,matthew1 especially the thirty-eighth and thirty-ninth verses4 ,you coolly and with the utmost deliberation usher these imperfectly developed souls out of one life into another1 thereby ridding yourselves of human monsters and fiends by sending them to be cares1 pests1 and annoyances to the people of another world4 ,and this you call ,christian charity1 benevolence1 and fair dealing4 ,but you say they can repent before they are shuffled off by the hangman1 and thus be saved4 ,if this be true1 the best service you can render all villains and evil disposed persons is to hang them as the surest means of saving their souls in heaven1 for if they are permitted to live and die natural deaths the chances are that they will never repent1 and all consequently go to hell4 ,but this is a subterfuge4 ,it is the unholy spirit of revenge that actuates you1 and you consider not the victim's good4 ,certainly heaven is not yearning for these cutthroats and outlaws1 and hell1 according to orthodoxy1 is already crowded and overpopulated4 ,one man1 either through ungovernable passion or malice prepense1 takes the life of another4 ,now1 he generally has some real or imaginary grievance1 but without even this excuse your courts take the other life1 just as if one wrong justified another4 ,your plea that protection to society demands this course is untenable4 ,is it true that no adequate protection can be afforded except by judicial murder8 ,would not the confinement of the culprit subserve the same purpose1 with the additional humane advantage of allowing the opportunity to reform and become better1 and best of all1 to let the voice of ,god1 through natural law1 call him from time to eternity4 ,christians can not rise up to the sublime altitude of adopting1 in practical life1 the ennobling teachings of the ,nazarene including love and forgiveness1 as long as they believe the ,god of their worship to be a vindictive and passionate being full of spleen and vengeance4 ,to believe in such a ,god naturally inspires the effort to imitate his characteristics1 and hence they become spiteful and vengeful1 and in favor of taking human life on the scaffold1 because a badly organized mortal in a fit of rage or in the pursuit of revenge for1 perhaps1 an imaginary wrong done him1 slays his neighbor4 ,the killing of one man by another is no worse than judicial murder1 and both are relics of barbarism and a past heathen age1 and you ought to have done with them4 ,to-morrow1 ,margaret ,fuller on prayer4 ,,thomas ,,paine4 ,,margaret ,,fuller4 ,sept4 #a1 #ahhb1 came the following writing from the spirit of ,margaret ,fuller3 ,true prayer is the yearning of the soul for something it feels the need of4 ,it need not be expressed in silent words or oral declamation4 ,every aspiration is in the true sense a prayer4 ,every aspiration1 though silent1 has its potencies1 reaches out and attracts its kindred spiritual affinities4 ,if your soul-yearnings and aspirations are of a sordid and purely earthly nature1 they affect and attract corresponding influences in the invisible realm of being1 permeate your soul and limit it to that sphere4 ,if1 on the other hand1 your aspirations pertain to the realm of the lofty and beautiful1 you render yourself thereby receptive to the grand and ennobling influences of the pure and heavenly4 ,if you pray for riches in a worldly sense you prepare the mental1 moral1 and spiritual conditions to attract the spirit misers and the selfish4 ,if you pray for spiritual illumination and aspire to moral excellence1 you bring to your sphere and aid the noble and unselfish children of the more exalted spiritual spheres4 ,if you meditate a wrong deed or action you will be successful in drawing to your assistance those unfortunates of the spirit world who have not outgrown the tendencies1 inclinations1 and imperfections1 of their earthly careers and conditions4 ,hence the very great importance of being mindful for what you pray4 ,the spiritual influences that you attract and which thereby become associated with you1 exert a powerful influence in directing your footsteps1 molding your actions1 and in the construction of your spiritual temple in the new life just before you4 ,would you desire the companionship of spirit paupers and spirit tramps1 become one yourself1 and you may depend on success4 ,would you prefer rather to be attended by good and noble spirit and spiritual influences1 aspire to be good and noble yourself1 and your success is assured4 ,of one thing be enlightened1 your spirit attendants during your mortal journey will be no worse than you are yourself4 ,it is yourself that prepares the conditions and not they4 ,if your actions are upright1 your aspirations noble1 and your thoughts elevated toward the divine1 you thereby exert a positive repellant power that no evil can overcome1 and in such a generated atmosphere an evil influence can no more dwell than oil can mix with water4 ,bear this great law in mind1 and take advantage of it and you are safe and all will be well4 ,heed it not in conduct and thought and it will rebound upon you with damaging effect4 ,hesitate not to invite undeveloped spirits to your seances if your purpose be to benefit them4 ,for such a motive on your part will draw around you the encircling influences of angels and the divine protecting love1 and no harm can befall you1 but much good to the poor spiritual wanderers in spiritual darkness4 ,they must be lifted up1 and you can be of great service as auxiliaries to the advanced spirits who labor for their redemption4 ,by such a course you are praying such prayers as will bring upon you blessings from the angelic spheres ,,margaret ,,fuller4 ,at the same sitting came the following closing remarks by the medium's immediate control3 ,i am requested to state that with this ends the present book1 and to express to you1 ,mr4 ,helleberg1 the thanks of the spirits who have communicated for your attentiveness1 painstaking1 and honest purposes4 ,the band of the medium have done all they could to assist them and from them have received benedictions4 ,besides it has been a labor of love on our part to be1 in any sense1 assistants to so many exalted spirits4 ,we also thank you for your gentlemanly deportment towards our medium1 and for the earnest and honest interest you take in her welfare4 ,i speak for the entire band4 ,,nettie1 the ,control4 ,,appendix4 ,,chapter ,,xxi4 ,,mrs4 ,,green',s ,,medial ,,history4 ,the following is a partial history of the development and mediumistic experiences of ,mrs4 ,lizzie ,s4 ,green1 the medium chosen by the spirits in transmitting the matter contained in this volume3 ,she was born in ,jefferson county1 ,kentucky1 on the second day of ,december1 #ahdd1 and consequently at this writing is in her thirty-eighth year4 ,the following narrative of her mediumship was written by her husband1 dictated by herself1 and when written out was pronounced by her to be correct1 and she adopts it her own4 ,it is believed that this briefly recited history can not fail to be interesting to the general reader1 since it contains matter and experiences not only absorbingly interesting but truly wonderful1 and evidences the existence of a power that all thoughtful and candid persons will agree is worthy of investigation4 ,those who have enjoyed ,mrs4 ,green's acquaintance socially for years invariably speak of her as a truly honest woman1 faithful wife1 loving mother1 steadfast friend1 in intellectual capacity far above and beyond her educational advantages1 and as possessed of many other sterling qualities of heart4 ,those who have come in contact with her in the exercise of her medial gifts can not fail to have been impressed with her frankness1 simplicity of character1 and the unquestionable honesty of her nature4 ,illustration ,this tribute to her integrity and moral worth is given because well merited1 and by one who not desiring notoriety and fame wishes simply to be known as ,a ,,friend4 ,,narrative ,,of ,,her ,,mediumship4 ,my conscious mediumship began in the fall of #ahfh4 ,it commenced by the opening of my spiritual vision1 enabling me to see spirits1 scenes1 landscapes1 etc41 in their spirit world4 ,when in the proper state or condition of passivity ,i have been permitted to behold innumerable throngs of spirits1 and at times to hear their voices4 ,the phase of clairaudience added to my clairvoyance ,i prized highly1 and sorely regret that shortly afterwards a fit of sickness deprived me of the gift of hearing spirit voices1 and for a time seriously retarded my other mediumistic development4 ,i am happy to be able to state1 however1 that with my gradual restoration to health my clairvoyant perceptions began to increase in power and beauty1 and now the voices of the arisen dear ones again greet my anxious and ever attentive ears4 ,i desire to state in this connection that in all my intercourse with spirits they have never deceived me in a single isolated instance4 ,they have always been truthful and straightforward in their statements and dealings with me4 ,in the earlier stages of my mediumship and still sometimes ,i was frequently controlled to personate the peculiar and characteristic idiosyncracies of spirits during earth life1 and to delineate their sickness and death4 ,sometimes ,i would be rendered entirely unconscious and at other times only partially so4 ,i shall never forget one memorable occasion of complete unconsciousness and the occurrence during it as related subsequently by eye witnesses4 ,an old lady was present in the circle who ,i had never met before1 and of whose history ,i had no means of obtaining the slightest knowledge4 ,at the time ,i was wholly ignorant as to whether she had ever been a mother or the maternal head of a family1 until ,i saw and described minutely a spirit standing by her side1 who she readily recognized as her deceased son4 ',what was the cause of his death8' she eagerly inquired4 ,almost instantly my consciousness was suspended1 preceded by a violent tremulous motion all over my frame4 ,i fell to the floor in a violent fit1 and so terrible was it1 and so true to nature in all its terrible details that no little alarm was manifested by the various members of the circle4 ,it thoroughly demoralized and threw them into consternation4 ,i need only add that old ,mother ,thompson 7for that was her name7 has never since doubted the return of the spirit of her son ,george1 for the poor man had not only suffered a quarter of a century from that appalling affliction1 epileptic fits1 but actually died in one4 ,i soon recovered my normal condition and received the apology from the spirit for having used me so roughly1 stating that his extreme anxiety to convince his beloved mother of his presence induced him to disregard delicacy and to overcome all obstacles in the way of the accomplishment of his purpose4 ,a little girl came to me on a certain occasion and said to me1 ',please go and see my mother and tell her ,i am not dead4' ',where does your mother live8' ,i inquired4 ,after giving me the necessary directions where and how to find her1 ,i said3 ',but your mother is a stranger to me1 and perhaps if ,i go to her on an errand of that kind she will drive me from her door4' ',no she won't1' interposed the little pleader1 'she will be glad to learn that ,i am not under the cold ground but alive4' ,i marshaled the courage to go1 yet ,i greatly feared the result4 ,i was met at the door by the one ,i desired to see1 and without giving sufficient time to explain the object of my call1 ,i was cordially welcomed indoors4 ,after being seated1 and after the usual courtesies had passed1 ,i opened the subject by saying1 ',you have a little girl that has gone to the other world8' ',yes1' said she1 falling into tears1 'she was a dear1 darling child1 and ,i have had no rest since she left me4 ,she was the idol of my heart1 and it seems that ,i can never become reconciled to her death4 ,really1 at times1 ,i can scarcely realize that she is dead4' ,here a pause ensued1 and her grief was so intense that the waters of sympathetic sorrow involuntarily flowed down my own cheeks4 ,rallying1 however1 as quickly as ,i could1 ,i said3 ',my good woman1 your ,mary is not dead4 ,she stands there by your side and wants me to say to you1 ',mother1 ,i am not dead2 do not weep for me1 for ,i am still with you4' ',how6 ,what does this mean8' exclaimed the mother in apparent bewilderment1 ',i saw her poor little precious body consigned to the cold and cheerless grave4' ',yes1' ,i interrupted1 'but her spirit--the immortal and only valuable part of herself--was not buried beneath the ground4 ,hold1 she wishes me to describe her1 and further1 to prove her identity4 ,she is a bright1 blue-eyed girl of eleven or twelve summers1 light auburn hair naturally inclined to curl1 and falls in beautiful ringlets around her neck1 forehead of the ,grecian mold1 face even and rounded1 with a mark resembling a raspberry under her right eye1 and she died from scarlatina4' ',why1 did you know ,mary when she was living8' was immediately asked4 ,i assured her ,i did not4 ',does the description fit her8' ,i inquired4 ',perfectly1' was the reply2 'who told you about her1' she added4 ,i answered3 ',my good woman1 believe me1 until to-day ,i did not know you were in existence4 ,the facts ,i have stated to you ,i obtained from your ,mary without the slightest knowledge of either your or her history4' ,after further conversation on the subject1 and after describing other spirits1 whom she readily recognized1 the interview terminated1 with a pressing invitation to return1 and the assurances that she had derived from my visit inexpressible joy and happiness4 ,in a few days thereafter ,i was unexpectedly called away from ,st4 ,louis and have never returned4 ,letters from friends who were cognizant of the circumstance as related by herself1 inform me that ,mrs4 ,collins is happy in the knowledge of spiritualism1 has become reconciled to the temporary absence as to physical form of her child1 and sends me her benedictions4 ,in #ahfi while holding a circle at ,aurora1 ,ind41 composed of a few intimate friends and neighbors1 a gentleman--a stranger to all of us--applied for admission1 stating that he had been left by the east bound train1 and not being able to resume his journey until the following morning1 and hearing of my mediumship1 he desired1 if agreeable1 to have a sitting1 or be allowed to join the circle for that occasion4 ,my husband cordially assented4 ,our stranger friend had been seated but a short time when ,i saw a spirit forming by his side4 ,i watched the process1 and to my utter astonishment1 which ,i at once made known1 the spirit had a rope around his neck and presented a frightful appearance4 ,i observed1 ',i see a spirit with a rope around his neck1 with tongue protruding1' etc4 ',describe him1 madam1 if you please1' spoke the stranger4 ,i did so2 the spirit for the purpose changing his appearance to that of his natural condition4 ,the stranger became very much excited1 arose1 seized his hat1 and nervously remarked1 ',this is a great test to me4 ,several years ago ,i was sheriff of an interior county in ,indiana1 and that man1 ,jim ,roberts1 was sentenced to be hanged for the murder of his father-in-law1 and ,i am the one who executed the sentence of the court4' ,when in the act of taking his departure1 he suddenly turned around1 and plaintively inquired3 ',has ,jim got any thing against me8 ,i only did my duty as an officer of the law4' ,on being assured that no ill feeling was entertained by the spirit against him1 but that he appeared as he did more for the purpose of a test than any thing else1 he took his departure4 ,i have never seen him since4 ,he gave me1 however1 considerable notoriety in the community by relating his wonderful experience with a spiritual medium1 and advised every one to shun mediums unless they were prepared and willing to have every thing connected with their past lives revealed and made known4 ,perhaps this abused spiritualism may yet become the instrumentality of compelling people to walk uprightly in their dealings with their fellowmen4 ,these are a few among hundreds of such instances that ,i might relate1 but the space allotted will not permit4 ,i wish now briefly to refer to another phase of my mediumship4 ,at various intervals ,i have had prophetic warning1 and prophetic revelations have also been given me4 ,i have also had what might be appropriately termed panoramic visions of past events of those both in and out of the body1 and of events to transpire in the future of earth life4 ,these visions1 especially those prognostic of the future1 have been truly wonderful4 ,it is an oft quoted saying that 'coming events cast their shadows before1' and there remains no doubt in my mind but what spirits--whether all1 ,i am not prepared to say--can sufficiently forecast the future as to reveal events and actions concealed from mortal discernment in the bosom of coming time4 ,let me mention a few instances in my own experience as evidence of the existence of this power4 ,in #ahfi1 myself and husband were holding a seance alone1 at ,aurora1 ,ind4 ,we were living in the lower part of the city1 near the river bank4 ,aurora is situated on the banks of the ,ohio river1 twenty-five miles below ,cincinnati1 ,ohio4 ,a little above the center of the city fronting the river a small stream1 called ,hogan creek1 empties into the ,ohio4 ,three or four hundred yards above the junction of the two streams and on the banks of the aforementioned creek1 is located the mammoth distillery1 owned by ,messrs4 ,t4 ,j4 ,w4 ,gaff ,co4 ,it has been consumed three times by fire and as often rebuilt4 ,at the time of which ,i am speaking1 we put blankets up to the windows in the room to be used for our dark circle1 and by this means effectually excluded all external light4 ,after extinguishing our lamp light1 we sat patiently1 awaiting manifestations4 ,in the course of a half hour ,i saw and said1 ',i see a large brick building on fire4 ,the light from its ascending flames is flooding the river in front of the city4 ,there1 ,i see a poor man burning up in the fire4 ,i see its majestic walls crumbling to pieces and falling into a huge mass of ruins4' ,at this juncture1 we heard out doors the cry of fire6 fire6 and soon the bells of the quiet little city began to announce to its citizens that the insatiate fire-fiend was engaged in his terrible work of devastation and ruin4 ,we hastened to the door only to behold1 true to the vision previously given1 the bosom of the river as brilliantly lighted up as though illuminated by the rays of the sun at his meridian height4 ,t4 ,j4 ,w4 ,gaff ,co4's distillery was on fire and burned to ruins1 and another concomitant of the vision was too sadly verified--a man was literally burned to ashes4 ,soon after this occurrence1 a very dear lady friend called to see me4 ,she contemplated a trip to ,indianapolis1 and intended to start on the morrow train4 ,i said to her1 ',do not start to-morrow4 ,defer it until the succeeding day4 ,i see an accident on the road1 and ,i see written in the air these words1 ,within twenty-four hours4 ,i prevailed on her to postpone the trip in accordance with the warning of the vision4 ,she had no occasion to regret it for the train on which she intended to be a passenger jumped the track before it reached its destination1 and while no one was very seriously injured1 yet it might have been otherwise had my friend been on board4 ,she might not have escaped so luckily4 ,the shocking casualty of the collision between the ,united ,states mail steamers ,america and the ,united ,states1 on the ,ohio river1 between ,cincinnati and ,louisville1 will be well remembered1 especially by the people along the line of that route4 ,the night of the painful occurrence ,i was a member of a circle held at the residence of ,mr4 ,lewis ,shirley1 of ,jeffersonville1 ,ind4 ,i saw the collision1 the boats on fire1 etc41 at an hour antedating by several hours the time when the unfortunate event transpired4 ,so thoroughly was ,i convinced that the verification of the vision was close at hand that ,i prevailed on a son of ,mr4 ,shirley to meet the carrier-boy at the ferry landing early the following morning to procure a copy of a ,louisville daily paper4 ,when the boy returned with the paper ,i was not surprised to find in its columns an account of the disaster1 which ,i had plainly and vividly seen a number of hours prior to its actual occurrence4 ,on another occasion ,i saw a fire raging4 ,i saw it was a two-story brick house4 ,i saw men rolling barrels out of the burning structure1 and from the rapidity of their movements and the ease and facility with which the barrels seemed to be handled and propelled along1 ,i concluded they were empty and so expressed myself4 ,my husband inquired1 ',where is the fire at8' ,i placed myself in as passive a state as possible1 but could get no answer4 ,the questions were then asked3 ',is it ,louisville8' ',no4' ',is it ,jeffersonville8' ',no4' ',new ,albany8' ',no4' ',indianapolis8' ',yes4' ,these answers respectively ,i saw written in the air or what appeared so to me4 ,on that night1 as we learned by the papers subsequently1 a large barrel factory at ,indianapolis was destroyed by fire4 ,i will now relate one of a more startling nature and of more recent occurrence4 ,the ill-fated steamer ,pat ,rogers was at the time of her destruction in the mail line service1 and plied between ,cincinnati1 ,ohio1 and ,louisville1 ,kentucky4 ,she left port ,louisville for ,cincinnati at #b ,p4 ,m4 ,at #d o'clock1 same afternoon1 and two hours after her departure from ,louisville1 and nine or ten hours before the terrible casualty1 ,i saw written in the air1 ',steamboat disaster to-night4' ,my husband remarked3 ',see if you can not get the name of the boat4' ,presently ,i saw plainly the name ,,pat ,,rogers1 which was immediately followed by presenting the whole vision1 the conflagration1 and passengers struggling for life amid the angry and turbulent waves4 ,i might narrate many more instances of this kind that belong to my individual experience1 and volumes might be written if similar experiences of others should be included4 ,i come now to speak of my present powers and their development4 ,when my husband had entered upon his second term as ,mayor of the city of ,aurora1 he built us a home in a high altitude on a hillside overlooking the beautiful city in the valley below4 ,here in the purer atmosphere with quiet surroundings were my present powers brought forth by a noble and trusty band of spirits whom ,i shall never cease to love for their fidelity to me and to truth1 and for their ability and unceasing and intelligent efforts to advance the great and blessed cause of spiritualism4 ,my dear spirit sister1 ,alice ,vernette ,winesburgh nee ,shirley1 who1 in her day1 was a marvelous physical medium1 has been and still is the active controlling spirit of my band1 with others great and good1 who sustain and aid her4 ,she always signs her name simply ,,nettie1 by which she was called and known in earth life4 ,she has clung to me with the true devotion of a sister1 and has sustained herself in the position assigned her by the band with signal fidelity and ability4 ,i shall speak more of this band toward the close4 ,in obedience to the request of the spirits we formed a circle for development1 and found two gentlemen and their wives who were sufficiently liberal1 and who had natural tendencies toward a belief in spiritualism4 ,they agreed and we met twice each week1 and it was not long before we discovered that power for physical manifestations was being developed4 ,we sat in the dark around an ordinary plain stand1 on which was placed a slate and pencil1 a small bell1 and a paper horn4 ,we also would place on it a goblet filled with water4 ,the manifestations began by the stand moving around and tipping4 ,this phenomenon soon occurred in the light1 and by means of it we at first were directed and instructed1 using the alphabet in spelling out words4 ,we met regularly and sat patiently4 ,for a few months the development was slow but surely indicated progress1 and the invisible operators continually exhorted us to patience1 promising certain results from time to time1 which they invariably performed4 ,they stated to us what may not be generally known1 namely1 that all developments with a view to permanence are slow1 advancing cautiously1 step by step1 leaving nothing neglected or uncared for4 ,besides the health and well being of the medium should be carefully guarded and too oft by hurrying forward the development ruinous consequences resulted to the instrument and the success of the mediumship4 ,we soon noted the fact that we were in the hands of careful1 prudent1 and able spirits1 and we therefore implicitly obeyed their directions1 and have never since had any occasion to regret it4 ,finally the bell began to ring1 and the various members of the circle were touched by materialized spirit hands4 ,also1 names and words were written on the slate and occasionally materialized locks of hair would be found on the stand upon closing the seance1 which1 in a few hours1 would wholly dematerialize4 ,this indicated materialization of spirit forms and was so announced to us4 ,the next step was whispering to us through the paper trumpet1 and by that means they were now enabled to give directions4 ,after the lapse of about twelve months we were directed to procure a curtain for materialization1 which we accordingly did1 but before this the manifestations in the dark had become simply remarkable1 not to say extraordinary4 ,on putting up the curtain and taking my position behind it1 several sittings passed without any appreciable result1 until finally faces were discovered protruding from behind and above the curtain1 two or three at a time1 and after this it was not long until full form materializations were obtained4 ,upon the expiration of my husband's term of office1 the band insisted that we should move to ,cincinnati1 if only for a year1 assigning as the important reason1 that they would be enabled there to collect and appropriate new elements necessary in the completion of the development4 ,we had by this time learned that the wisest thing was to obey1 and consequently in ,july1 #ahha1 we moved to the ,queen ,city4 ,soon after we got there the band concluded to abandon for the time being any further attempt to perfect the phase of materialization and demanded a tin trumpet1 which was made according to their directions4 ,in length1 thirty-eight inches2 at large end1 four and one-half inches in diameter1 and at the small opening one-half inch2 and we commenced holding trumpet seances with amazing and astonishing results4 ,hundreds of the best citizens of ,cincinnati can testify to the wonders of the trumpet circle in my presence4 ,one seance written up by ,judge ,a4 ,g4 ,w4 ,carter1 of ,cincinnati1 ,i here insert as illustrating partially only the magnitude of this power4 ,it appeared in that excellent paper1 ,mind and ,matter1 of ,philadelphia3 ,my wife and myself1 by invitation1 were present on ,thursday night1 ,january #bfth1 at a seance given to a select circle of ladies and gentlemen by ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,green1 at ,no4 #cji ,longworth street1 this city1 where ,mrs4 ,green daily and nightly sits1 giving private seances through her mediumship to any person or persons who desire to converse with the spirits1 or see manifestations1 and learn about the spirit world4 ,there were about twelve persons1 ladies and gentlemen1 present1 and being seated according to the direction of the spirits1 a dark circle for spirit manifestations was held1 and with extraordinary success4 ,there was a large trumpet or horn standing beside the table1 and a small music box and a guitar and a tambourine on the table4 ,it was not long before the music box began its music1 as well as the guitar and tambourine1 and they all floated through the air1 around the circle1 and above our heads1 and sometimes touching each one of the circle1 as they were giving forth their music4 ,singing was indulged in by the members of the circle1 and during the songs1 the long horn or trumpet moved from its place1 and went about the circle1 through the air2 and through it1 or inside of it1 different spirits accompanied the singing with their voices2 sometimes so loudly as to take the full burden of the songs upon themselves4 ,then1 when there was a cessation of singing1 by means of the trumpet the spirits would freely converse with us--some in whispers1 and others in sonorous voices1 so that the whole company could readily hear and easily distinguish what was said4 ,at one time one of the company1 a ,swede1 ,mr4 ,helleberg1 sang a ,swedish song1 accompanying himself on the guitar2 and in singing and playing this song in his native and1 to us1 foreign language1 he was accompanied by a loud female voice1 singing in his language1 through this same horn4 ,mr4 ,helleberg then sang a ,swedish love song1 and was again1 in perfect soprano harmony1 accompanied by the female spirit voice4 ,these demonstrations ,i thought were most remarkable1 as ,i had never seen nor heard the like before1 and they fairly attested the great mediumistic ability of ,mrs4 ,green4 ,at this time1 and indeed during the whole seance1 ,mrs4 ,green was in a profound trance at the table1 and kept so by a rough and gruff ,indian spirit1 who called himself ',chip1' and occasionally spoke to us in a rough and gruff way about his 'medy1' and the power he had to invoke and exercise in keeping her in the profound trance condition4 ,ever and anon1 also1 a smart1 witty and talkative ,indian maiden1 who called herself ',winnie1' by the permission and condescension of ',chip1' would take possession of the medium1 and talk most freely and interestingly to each and all of the members of the circle4 ,and1 by the way1 ,i must relate this peculiar and remarkable fact1 the only time of its occurrence in all my long experience with the spirits4 ,there was in the circle another trance medium1 ,mrs4 ,taylor1 who was put into the trance condition very easily and readily4 ,well1 this spirit ',winnie' would exchange from ,mrs4 ,green to ,mrs4 ,taylor every once in a while1 talking through each medium with equal facility1 and to the great delight and edification of the members of the circle4 ,this was indeed something remarkable1 and ,i ventured to inquire of the spirit ',winnie' if this was a common occurrence4 ,she replied1 through one of the mediums1 that it was so uncommon that she never knew of it occurring at a circle sitting before2 that spirits always had their own medium1 and it was very seldom that they would or could talk through more than one chosen medium1 and especially at the same sitting of a circle1 as was the case with us4 ,to narrate all that occurred at this remarkable seance would fill many printed columns4 ,sufficient for the present to say1 that we had all sorts of manifestations from the spirits through the gifted medium1 ,mrs4 ,green1 for the long period of three full hours1 and yet the medium or the spirits were not at all exhausted1 and apparently not even fatigued4 ,the manifestations1 it seems to me1 were quite equal to any ,i ever witnessed from ,maud ,lord1 or any of the best mediums1 and convinced me beyond all manner of doubt1 that the gifted ,mrs4 ,lizzie ,s4 ,green is destined to take a prominent and important stand in the glorious domain of mediumship4 ,angels bless and take care of her in all her ways4 ,a4 ,g4 ,w4 ,c4 ,in the meantime1 the independent slate writing progressed wonderfully1 and now constitutes one of my best and most highly cherished phases4 ,they write now with the utmost facility with their own materialized hands1 and1 strange as it may seem1 they have actually written without the presence of any visible pencil at all4 ,they have written long messages on the inner surfaces of double slates1 the parties holding on to them at the time the messages were being written4 ,they have done this for me in the presence of ,c4 ,g4 ,helleberg1 ,john ,winterburn and ,william ,layton1 and others1 honorable people of ,cincinnati1 who will take great pleasure in certifying to the same4 ,i do not refer to these truly marvelous things in a spirit of egotism or self-boasting1 for ,i am entitled to no credit except in so far as ,i may have1 by prudent conduct1 honest living and carefulness1 assisted in securing the proper conditions for the invisible intelligences--,i mean invisible to mortal eyes only4 ,while ,i naturally feel proud of these noble gifts1 ,i have learned to be humble with them1 as my spirit guides have so often admonished me to be4 ,and ,i feel like using them for the benefit of humanity and the upbuilding of truth4 ,my clairvoyance was an early and permanent development and still remains with me1 the other development not seeming to materially interfere with it4 ,i have had with me for many years two ,indian spirits1 from whose association ,i have derived great pleasure2 and ,i have ever found them true1 faithful and honest4 ,the male ,indian has never given me his full and proper name1 telling me that it was ugly4 ,he was of the ,chippewa tribe1 and has always been known as ',chip4' ,chip abhors fire-water and tobacco1 and every thing immoral1 and in very many respects widely differs from the leading characteristics of his people4 ,the ,indian maiden1 whom we call ,,winnie1 came to me in #ahfh1 and gave her name as ,winniepesaga1 and said while quite young she was drowned in a stream of water in the ,far ,west4 ,she is sprightly1 quite talkative1 exceedingly smart and interesting in conversation4 ,naturally gifted with clairvoyant powers and prophetic abilities1 she has given very many remarkable tests1 and by reason of her equability of temper1 general good disposition and real cleverness in colloquial gifts1 she is generally well liked by all who have come in contact with her spirit ministrations4 ,she has controlled me for years1 does yet1 and her influence is sweet1 soothing and strengthening4 ,captain ,oliver ,c4 ,curry died at ,jeffersonville1 ,ind41 in #ahgd1 and was a lawyer by profession1 and was for a long time city attorney of that city4 ,he was a cousin of mine1 and has belonged to the band for two years1 and has been exceedingly active1 especially in the trumpet seances4 ,by his suavity1 intelligence and witty sayings1 he has made himself quite a favorite with many4 ,assisting in the development1 ,i have had with me several spirits familiar with the laws of science1 including a distinguished ,french scientist1 our own ,franklin and ,professor ,mapes4 ,they seem to have only been engaged with the band temporarily in aiding the advancement of the development4 ,they have my sincere thanks and profound gratitude4 ,i come now to speak of another spirit1 although of an humble name1 yet a grand and highly progressed one1 who has been my leading counsellor1 adviser and friend4 ,in #ahfh1 ,i laid away the lifeless form of a dear little boy1 and in my unutterable grief this noble spirit first appeared to me and gave me words of consolation4 ,he has been with me ever since4 ,he passed out of the form in the ,state of ,georgia at the early age of thirty-three and had been at the time he came to me upwards of fifty years in spirit life4 ,he always inspires me as being the very embodiment of purity itself1 and his whole ambition seems to be to do good4 ,this spirit also possesses wonderful prophetic power1 and communicates with me only in case of an exigency1 when ,i am in trouble1 or otherwise need the sustaining and guiding power of the angel world4 ,he gives me his name as ,,henry ,,teaney1 and no ,christian ever worshiped the gentle ,nazarene with more devotion than ,i do my friend and guide1 ,henry ,teaney4 ,he is pure1 noble and godlike1 loves the right1 hates the wrong1 and never condescends to any thing little1 hateful1 or mean4 ,here ,i close after again returning thanks from the inmost recesses of my heart to my honored and noble band of spirits engaged with and through me in the great work of advancing the kingdom of ,god in the dissemination of truths vouchsafed to the children of earth through spirit communion4 ,,chapter ,,xxii4 ,a ,,visit ,,to ,,split ,,rock1 ,,kentucky--,,christmas ,,greetings ,,from ,,ida ,,to ,,her ,,parents--,,annie ,,winterburn ,,to ,,her ,,brother ,,john ,,winterburn1 ,,and ,,his ,,testimony ,,and ,,her ,,farewell ,,to ,,the ,,medium1 ,,mrs4 ,,green4 ,mrs4 ,green's home proper1 is at ,aurora1 ,dearborn county1 ,indiana4 ,aurora is a beautiful and enterprising little city of five or six thousand inhabitants1 and is located on the western bank of the ,ohio river1 twenty-five miles or thereabouts below ,cincinnati1 ,ohio4 ,it can be reached from ,cincinnati in less than an hour's ride over the ,ohio and ,mississippi railroad1 which passes through it4 ,while her husband pursues the legal profession at ,aurora1 ,mrs4 ,g41 in obedience to the wishes of her spirit guides and attendants1 devotes her time and medial gifts at ,cincinnati from ,monday until ,saturday of each week1 returning to her companion and daughter each ,saturday1 and remaining with them over the ,sabbath4 ,this statement is deemed proper in view of and as prefatory to what ,i am about to relate as occurring recently1 and which can not fail to be estimated as a truly remarkable spirit manifestation4 ,by the invitation of ,mr4 ,green1 ,mr4 ,edwin ,stebbins1 of ,cincinnati1 and myself accompanied ,mrs4 ,green to her home at ,aurora on ,saturday1 ,august the #eth1 for the purpose of joining a small party of excursionists on the day following to the celebrated ,split ,rock1 some three miles down the river from ,aurora1 on the ,kentucky side of the ,ohio4 ,our host had chartered a small propeller steamboat known as the ,wave1 which we boarded early ,sunday morning 7the #fth71 and it required less than a half hour to land us at our destination4 ,our party consisted of our host and hostess and their daughter1 ,cora ,b4 ,green2 ,mr4 ,b4 ,f4 ,vandegrift1 his wife1 three daughters and son2 ,james ,w4 ,shirley1 wife1 and two small children4 ,during the afternoon we were threatened with a rain-storm1 and our party divided1 some going into the caves for shelter1 others repaired to a farm-house near by4 ,the rain passed around us1 after which a party of five in number1 namely1 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,green1 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,vandegrift1 and myself1 reassembled on the summit of the elevation overlooking the ,split ,rock4 ,it was suggested by me that we have a spirit seance1 but we had no stand1 slate or pencil4 ,the novelty of a spirit seance on that noted spot was sufficiently suggestive and interesting to induce us to improvise a seat for the medium1 which consisted of a couple of stakes driven into the ground and a fence rail placed on them4 ,i took out my annotation book and with lead pencil placed it on ,mrs4 ,g4's lap1 and she threw over them a rubber circular1 making the necessary condition of darkness4 ,we formed a semi-circle in front of the medium thus seated1 and sang the ,sweet ,bye and ,bye1 and ,nearer ,my ,god to ,thee4 ,in a few moments the covering over the writing material was raised up and down three times1 indicating thereby that the writing had been accomplished4 ,in this way we received in rapid succession three communications1 which ,i hereby transcribe and number them in the order of their production4 ,number ,one4 ,good afternoon4 ,nice picnic4 ,many spirits with you1 including ,madam ,ehrenborg and ,swedenborg4 ,nettie1 ,emil1 and ,ida send much love to ,mr4 ,helleberg and ,mr4 ,stebbins4 ,number ,two4 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,vandegrift's friends send their greetings from summer land4 ,also1 ,mr4 ,green's friends and relatives4 ,all happy to be with you4 ,number ,three4 ,god bless you all1 and hope we may all meet on this spot again4 ,good bye4 ,,nettie ,,and ,,curry4 ,we were not only delighted but enthusiastic over the success of our enterprise4 ,here on this spot1 both romantic and famous in history1 with illy-provided conditions1 we had communed with the loved ones from the land of immortal souls4 ,as the spirit daughter of ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,stebbins1 of ,cincinnati1 ,ohio1 is mentioned as belonging to the party of tourists that visited the planet ,mars1 and as communicating with others at ,split ,rock1 ,kentucky1 and for other good reasons1 ,i have deemed it not inappropriate to incorporate herein a letter of ,mr4 ,stebbins to the ,spiritual ,offering1 a paper recently established at ,ottumwa1 ,iowa1 and which is ably conducted and devoted to the advancement of spiritualism4 ,for the ,spiritual ,offering4 ,,independent ,,slate ,,writing1 ,,by ,,edwin ,,stebbins4 ,on ,christmas evening myself and wife secured an independent slate-writing sitting with ,mrs4 ,lizzie ,s4 ,green1 at #cji ,longworth street1 ,cincinnati1 ,ohio1 and we received the following communication from our dear spirit daughter1 viz3 ,merry1 merry ,christmas to you all6 ,i do not know of a better ,christmas gift than to give you a spirit communication on this memorable day4 ,i am so happy and excited ,i can not write good4 ,oh1 ,i have a beautiful home and am advancing in music all the time4 ,i have a beautiful library of books4 ,i am a teacher1 and have a nice little class4 ,we do not have as many scholars here in the spirit world as you do4 ,we can not teach every one like we did here4 ,we have to be attracted to each other magnetically4 ,therefore our work is not in vain1 for by this method spiritual growth must ensue4 ,we work in harmony together1 and nothing occurs to retard our progress in learning4 ,you would be surprised1 and ,i rather think you are now1 even at my style of composition4 ,if you could see me as ,i am here1 and hear me talk1 you would see how fast ,i have progressed4 ,oh1 how happy ,i am in my spirit home1 but my heaven is not there4 ,it is with my dear pa and ma1 but duty calls and ,i must obey4 ,i have been made extremely happy by your obedience to my will and all will be well4 ,henney says this is quite new to him1 but when he saw you and me at his funeral his happiness was beyond expression4 ,when you laid away my form of clay you did not think to see me here to talk and write to my loved ones dear4 ,when you're sad and sometimes cry1 ,remember your ,ida1 dear1 is nigh1 ,to bless and comfort you while here1 ,and guide you to a brighter sphere4 ,and when the time comes for you to go we will meet you with our golden boat1 and row you safely over the beautiful river to our home that ,i have helped prepare for you4 ,now1 thanking ,mrs4 ,green for her kindness to you and ,ida1 ,i bid you good night4 ,all the relatives are here1 and send you their ,christmas greetings4 ,good night1 good night1 to all that's here1 ,i leave and go to a brighter sphere4 ,wishing you all success in the new year1 dear pa and ma1 ever hold sacred the ,christmas gift ,i present you to-day4 ,good night1 ,mr4 ,green1 wife and daughter4 ,good night1 my dear pa and ma4 ,this indeed is the happiest ,christmas ,i have spent since ,i left my earthly home4 ,i must leave1 but it is hard4 ,your loving daughter1 ,,ida4 ,my daughter passed away on the #ahth day of ,december1 #ahge1 at the age of seventeen1 and she was an only child4 ,the above message from her possesses peculiar value to me1 for therein are a number of valuable tests and evidences of her identity4 ,my belief in the return of the spirits of the departed is of brief duration in point of time antecedent1 and was mainly brought about1 through the mediumship of ,mrs4 ,green4 ,i can not express the real happiness ,i enjoy since ,i have been the recipient of this new light divine and ,i can only say1 ',god speed the good work4' ,cincinnati1 ,ohio4 ,,annie ,,winterburn4 ,dear ,brother3 ,oh1 how happy ,i am to-day to be able to write you on the inner surface of a double slate with your own precious hands holding it with the medium4 ,you did not need this as a test1 for your mind is clear and your heart is in the cause1 but we give it to you because others have been thus favored1 and we have resolved that you shall not be neglected when the good things pertaining to spirit intercourse are being given to others4 ,oh1 ,john1 you do give us so much real happiness by your noble and upright conduct1 and by the opportunities you give us to hold sweet communion with you4 ,thus our lives become interblended1 and the happiness of all increased4 ,spirits do derive great benefit from mortals1 and to that extent are dependent on them4 ,when a child dies in the tender years of infancy unschooled in the multifarious concernments of mortal life1 it is brought back into contact with human affairs that it may learn those experiences of earth which were denied it by its early and untimely departure from the form4 ,in all the pursuits of your life each individual is constantly attended by spirits interested in the same1 and in these and many other ways are spirits aided in their progress and happiness4 ,whenever and by whomsoever you are told differently heed it not1 but rely on what ,i have stated4 ,we are interested in your proper instruction1 and we will not lead you astray or into error4 ,all those near and dear to you are here1 and bid me to send you their love greetings4 ,they pray without ceasing that you may be kept steady and firm in your high resolves and noble purposes until the end1 when you shall rejoice in the anthem of victory4 ,hold up your head1 dear and precious brother2 be brave and resolute in the hour of temptation4 ,do no harm1 but all the good you can in the world4 ,and when the blessed angel called ,death shall beckon you away from the labors and vicissitudes of mortal life to the sunlit evergreen shores of the summer land1 be assured that among the hosts of others who will meet and welcome you with happy and rejoicing hearts you will see and be enfolded lovingly in the arms of your loving sister1 ,,annie4 ,i1 ,john ,winterburn1 resident of ,cincinnati1 ,ohio1 do hereby certify that the above and foregoing communication from my spirit sister came in the manner1 to wit3 ,i examined a double slate1 and found it clean and without any writing whatever upon it4 ,a small piece of slate pencil not larger than a grain of wheat was placed upon it and the slate closed4 ,i then held on to one side of the slate1 holding it tight together as folded1 and the medium1 ,mrs4 ,green1 held on to the other side4 ,soon we heard writing1 and in the course of fifteen minutes the signal was given indicating that the writing was completed1 whereupon the slate was opened1 and on both sides of the inner surfaces was found1 neatly written1 the above communication4 ,the t's were crossed1 and the i's were dotted4 ,i know1 as well as ,i am capable of knowing any fact requiring the exercise of my senses in their normal state1 that the communication was written by invisible power1 and ,i firmly believe it comes from the source it purports to come1 namely3 my dear sister1 now in spirit life4 ,the seance was in broad daylight1 and under circumstances that precluded fraud or deception on the part of the medium or any one else in the body4 ,,john ,,winterburn1 #ahe ,longworth street4 ,this same ,mr4 ,winterburn has had regularly one sitting a week with ,mrs4 ,green for seven or eight months1 and among other spirit relatives and friends who were active in communicating with him was his spirit sister ,annie4 ,she seems to possess considerable poetic ability1 and occasionally wrote poetry to her brother4 ,recently ,mr4 ,winterburn visited his mother country1 ,england1 and the last sitting with ,mrs4 ,g4 before his departure1 his sister ,annie addressed the medium in the following feeling stanzas1 which ,mr4 ,winterburn copied as they came on the slate1 viz3 ,dear medium friend1 both good and true1 ',tis hard that we must part from you1 ,and though we cross the surging main1 ,we will return to you again4 ,returning with our spirits' love and power ,from ,british isle or sunlit bower1 ,our fond hearts' loving blessings to impart ,to comfort and cheer your noble heart4 ,dear brother's heart you have made glad1 ,dispersing sorrow and conditions sad2 ,and where'er we roam1 on land or sea1 ,our hearts shall turn in love to thee4 ,farewell1 dear medium friend1 farewell1 ,to thee our gratitude we ne'er can tell1 ,we can only say heart's full of love1 ,we'll meet you on the shores above4 ,and there1 in that bright land of joy1 ,where mingles naught of earth's alloy1 ,we'll lead thy steps with blessings rare ,to our homes above our joys to share4 ,angels of light1 refulgent bright1 ,be with you when you take you flight ,from scenes of strife and sorrows here ,to a just reward in a higher sphere4 ,farewell1 farewell1 alas6 farewell1 ,the parting is like a funereal knell2 ,but when you climb the golden stair1 ,your true friend1 ,annie1 will meet you there4 ,,chapter ,,xxiii4 ,a ,,spirit ,,peels ,a ,,banana1 ,,and ,,eats ,,some ,,of ,,it1 ,,and ,,divides ,,the ,,rest ,,in ,,four ,,equal ,,parts--,,reports ,,of ,,cincinnati ,,enquirer ,,about ,,spirit ,,seances ,,at ,,mrs4 ,,green',s4 ,i desire to speak of a recent manifestation1 which baffles my ability to understand1 and proves that spirits by some chemical process are enabled to operate upon material substances and cause them to vanish4 ,i only give one instance1 and leave the reader to his own reflections and to adopt his own theory4 ,i shall simply give the fact as it occurred4 ,i have a little grand daughter1 ,julia ,muth1 in the spirit world4 ,when in the form she was partially fond of bananas4 ,on the occasion of the recent anniversary of her eighth birthday1 the #acth of ,july1 #ahhb1 ,i went to ,mrs4 ,green for a seance1 taking with me a large banana4 ,these slate-writing seances1 as has been heretofore explained1 take place in the full light4 ,i sat1 as usual1 opposite to ,mrs4 ,green1 with the small stand between us4 ,i placed the fruit on a slate1 with a short letter of greeting1 and put it under the covering of the stand1 while ,mrs4 ,green held another slate of her own4 ,the spirits1 after writing on ,mrs4 ,green's slate for about an hour1 wrote as follows3 ,grandpa1 take your slate from under the stand1 which ,i immediately did1 and on the slate was written1 ,i peeled the banana1 and ate some of it1 too2 your little ,julia ,muth4 ,we removed the cloth covering from the stand and found the peelings on the floor1 and on my slate the banana divided in four equal parts after the end piece had disappeared4 ,we searched diligently1 but without our effort being rewarded by the discovery of the missing portion of the fruit4 ,whither had it gone8 ,the ,cincinnati ,daily ,enquirer is a leading as well as an extensively circulated paper1 published at ,cincinnati1 ,ohio1 and1 in ,october1 #ahha1 ,mrs4 ,green was visited by a reporter of that paper1 who was present at two of her trumpet seances4 ,although probably not a believer1 he turned out to be a fair minded man who would not allow his prejudices1 if he had any1 to interfere with an honest account of what he saw and witnessed4 ,in three issues of that paper1 to wit1 ,october #afth1 #ahth and #bast1 #ahha1 appeared his report of a visit to ,mrs4 ,green1 and two seances he attended4 ,they are here inserted1 in the order of the dates given4 ,issue of ,october #afth3 ,in a neatly furnished suit of rooms over ,no4 #cji ,longworth street lives ,mrs4 ,l4 ,s4 ,green1 a spiritualist medium4 ,upon her last evening a representative of the ,enquirer called4 ,he was cordially received by the lady's husband1 being tendered a seat in a parlor in which was a piano1 a pretty set of furniture2 while an old-fashioned kerosene lamp threw its brightest rays over the room from a mantel-piece4 ,seated in a rocking-chair was ,mrs4 ,green1 plainly dressed1 of a modest and retiring disposition1 and features that stamped her as a faithful and loving wife4 ,the mission of the newspaper man was quickly explained4 ,her husband replied that as a rule mediums avoided reporters1 as they were liable to distort and ridicule their statements4 ,but where the thing is conducted honestly and openly1 ',i can not1' he said1 'see what we have to fear from publication4' ,in reply to a question1 ,mrs4 ,green said that she was about thirty-eight years old1 and had been a clairvoyant since #ahfh1 her first mediumistic inclinations having developed that year4 ,her history since that time as a spiritualist has been quite full of interest4 ,previous to her becoming a medium she was a member of the ,christian ,church1 and was as great a skeptic as one could find4 ,so1 in fact1 was her husband4 ,while a member of the ,indiana ,legislature in #ahfg he attended a seance1 where he received a message from his dead mother4 ,at a subsequent one1 another spiritual letter came to him1 telling him that his wife possessed the powers of a medium1 and asking him to bring her to one of the circles4 ,after some persuasion he finally gained her consent to go4 ,she there saw her first spirits1 that of an uncle of the medium of the assemblage1 who had his head cut off by a train of cars4 ,from that time her powers began to develop1 showing themselves in messages that she wrote on paper or beheld in the air4 ,spirits as high as five hundred a day presented themselves to her view4 ,her continued increase as a medium so worked upon her that she lost her health1 and she was compelled for the time being to abandon the business4 ,about twelve months ago she resumed her writing--this time on slates4 ,messages ,were written on the inside of folded slates1 and often1 after a seance1 a fluid would be found on the outside of the slate1 which1 unless washed off then1 could never be removed4 ,this had been taken to chemist after chemist for analysis1 and one and all had failed to make any thing out of it4 ,one evening a small lock of hair was found in the corner of the slate1 in the center of which was a small lead pencil4 ,at that time this was believed to have been placed there by some one in the circle4 ,it was folded in a piece of paper to be retained1 but the next day it disappeared4 ,from this time out ,mrs4 ,green's materializing abilities began4 ,she had great success in her seances1 and frequently described catastrophes which1 on the following morning1 were found to be exceedingly accurate4 ,she foreshadowed the explosion of the steamer ,pat ,rogers1 and graphically described the collision of the ,united ,states with the ,america4 ,the details of a fire at a neighboring place one evening were recited by her4 ,the next day it was learned that the hour and facts were most wonderfully correct4 ,while the reporter and his friend were talking ,mrs4 ,green called their attention to two spirits who were standing besides them1 one a brother-in-law of the first-named1 and the other a friend of the latter who died twelve years ago4 ,both were accurately described1 much to the surprise and astonishment of the two skeptics4 ,mrs4 ,green1 in explaining her power1 said that she was entirely controlled by one spirit1 and that when she first began to work it was shown by slaps on the hand1 by shocks in her arms1 etc4 ,she did only as her influence compelled her to act1 and while writing1 etc41 she knew not what she did1 much to the surprise and astonishment of the two skeptics4 ,many startling results of seances were recited1 such as the sounding of trumpets1 the ringing of bells1 singing1 and the appearance of different spirits were detailed4 ,insertion of ,october #ahth3 ,mrs4 ,l4 ,s4 ,green1 the medium1 gave a seance last evening to a few friends at her house1 ,no4 #cji ,longworth street4 ,there were five people present1 three of whom were skeptics of the worst kind4 ,the gathering was seated in a medium-sized2 plainly-furnished room4 ,in the center was a small stand1 over which was placed a heavy green spread4 ,as an opening1 the lady took a small slate upon which was laid a bit of slate pencil4 ,this she held with one hand in under the table1 and several messages were written on it in a clear and distinct hand4 ,then the cloth was removed1 and on the table were placed a bell1 two slates1 washed clean1 a glass of water1 and a leather trumpet4 ,at some distance from the medium stood a guitar1 leaning against the wall1 and a large trumpet1 while near the newspaper man were two small trumpets4 ,the light was then extinguished1 the doors locked1 and the seance begun4 ,all took hold of hands1 and one of the party sang4 ,in a few minutes came a gentle tapping on the slates1 then the bell rang violently1 seeming to pass through air1 returning and falling on the floor4 ,the various members were touched about the face and body1 and one exceedingly lady-like spirit took occasion to rub her hand down the reporter's face1 testing fully the power of his nervous system4 ,singing was continued1 when the guitar was heard to play1 rising in the air1 apparently passing around over the different persons' heads1 hitting them lightly in the face1 and finally landing in the reportorial lap4 ,a breathing spell was taken when one of the party varied the programme with a selection upon the orgamina4 ,the favorite old song1 ',john ,brown1' was given1 and it pleased the spirits hugely1 as a deep bass voice was heard to join in with an occasional blast from the trumpet4 ,then the trumpet took a trip around the circle1 announcing its coming with a rap on the head or shoulders of each one4 ,the bell rose in the air tingling rapidly and landed this time on the table4 ,the familiar taps on the person were continued1 then there was a tremendous note from the trumpet1 and a sweet voice joined in with ,mrs4 ,green1 as she sang1 ',nearer ,my ,god to ,thee4' ,although the manifestations were quite good1 especially to the reporter1 who was continually dodging imaginary trumpets and blows1 the medium said the weather was bad for the most satisfactory work4 ,the spirits announced that they were about ready to depart by a loud rap on the table and a sprinkling of those present with water4 ,the light being turned on1 the following communication was found on one of the slates3 ',good evening1 gentlemen4 ,we are glad to meet you4 ,the spirit band of the medium authorize and request me to thank the representative of that great metropolitan journal1 the ,enquirer1 for the terms employed in reference to their medium and her gifts in yesterday's issue of that paper4 ,this treatment1 so rare1 betokens a spirit of candor and fairness commensurate with this transcendently important subject4 ,we extend you a cordial invitation to visit us whenever and as often as it suits your convenience1 and we shall always endeavor to treat you with courtesy and respect4 ',,nettie4' ,the lines were very regular1 the i's and t's are dotted1 and the signature was especially plain1 it being the name of one of ,mrs4 ,green's controls4 ,the third and last appeared in the issue of ,october #bast1 and is as follows3 ,,quite ,,interesting--,a ,,seance ,,held ,,last ,,evening--,,skeptics ,,and ,,believers ,,assemble ,,together4 ,a very interesting seance was held last evening at the residence of ,mrs4 ,l4 ,s4 ,green1 #cji ,longworth street4 ,seven persons were present1 including two mediums4 ,the spirits were unusually frisky1 and the manifestations were particularly gratifying to the believers1 and rather dumbfounding to the skeptics4 ,the arrangements and room were the same as in the others previously described1 except that there were more musicians present4 ,very excellent music was rendered by an orgamina1 a violin1 a guitar1 and a music-box4 ,the selections given were sweet enough to summon the most bashful friends of the medium from their spiritualistic retreat4 ,the departed were less inclined to epistolary efforts1 and slate-writing was not conducted with any favorable results4 ,during the evening one of the gentlemen sang a ,swedish song1 accompanying himself on the guitar4 ,a female voice at one time1 and a powerful bass later1 were heard plainly in concert with him4 ,the human singer alleged quite emphatically that his spiritual aids rendered the air in the same language he did4 ,the guitar took numerous trips around the room1 sometimes high in the air1 again touching those present on the head and different parts of the body4 ,a huge tin trumpet was blown most furiously1 the blast sounding like the greatest effort of the bass-horn4 ,then it was pounded and thumped1 creating a most awful din4 ,this was explained as being the doings of a very powerfully materialized spirit4 ,the statement was acquiesced in by a skeptic1 who received a vigorous whack on the knee1 fully convincing him that muscle1 lots of it1 too1 backed the trumpet4 ,a little music-box was taken from the table and wafted through the room1 playing its peculiarly sweet airs all the time as it sailed toward the ceiling and over those about the table4 ,it could be heard in every corner1 high and low1 and if a medium or friend was carrying it1 said person must have been exceedingly lively1 climbing over chairs1 a bed1 etc41 without making any noise4 ,it was claimed that when the box ran down it was wound up by those who took it through the air4 ,whenever songs were sung1 or selections were played upon the instruments1 soprano or bass voices joined in plain to all present4 ,members were delicately touched in the face and body4 ,the tolling of a great bell was most cleverly imitated1 and a little one was rung frequently4 ,the spirits of loved ones were reported as standing at the sides of different members1 some of whom were quickly recognized by the description given4 ,water was sprinkled on all1 and the goblet filled with this fluid was passed around1 touching some in the face1 others on the body4 ,no communications were received except very brief ones4 ,,chapter ,,xxiv4 ,,extracts ,,from ,,each ,,of ,,two ,,funeral ,,discourses ,,by ,,bishop ,,simpson ,,and ,,rev4 ,w4 ,h4 ,,thomas1 ,d4 ,d41 ,,with ,,conclusions ,,of ,c4 ,g4 ,,helleberg4 ,in closing it has been deemed advisable and proper to append an extract from each of two funeral discourses delivered by two eminent divines--one the eminent ,methodist ,bishop1 ,mr4 ,simpson1 and the other a distinguished minister of ,chicago1 who1 of late1 experienced some little annoyance from his flock1 who were mere sticklers for forms and creeds1 and because their shepherd had grown a little beyond their cramped and narrow limits4 ,,bishop ,,simpson4 ,the very grave itself is a passage into the beautiful and glorious4 ,we have laid our friends in the grave1 but they are around us4 ,the little children that sat upon our knee1 into whose eyes we looked with love1 whose little hands have clasped our neck1 on whose cheek we have imprinted the kiss1 we can almost feel the throbbing of their hearts to-day4 ,they have passed from us1 but where are they8 ,just beyond the line of the invisible4 ,and the fathers and mothers who educated us1 that directed and comforted us1 where are they but just beyond the line of the invisible8 ,the associates of our lives that walked along life's pathway1 those with whom we took sweet counsel and who dropped from our side1 where are they but just beyond us8 not far away2 but now it may be very near us4 ,is there any thing to alarm us in this thought8 ,no4 ,it seems to me that sometimes when my head is on the pillow there come whispers as of joy that drop into my heart--thoughts of the sublime and beautiful and glorious1 as though some angel's wing passed over my brow1 and some dear one sat by my pillow and communed with my heart to raise my affections to the other and better world4 ,the invisible is not dark1 it is glorious4 ,sometimes the veil becomes so thin it seems to me that ,i can almost see the bright forms through it1 and my bending ear can almost hear the voices of those who are singing their melodious strains4 ,oh1 there is music all around us1 though in the busy scenes of life we recognize it not4 ,the veil of the future will soon be lifted and the invisible shall appear4 ,,rev4 ,w4 ,h4 ,,thomas1 ,d4 ,d41 ,,of ,,chicago4 ,how can we linger over the bier of the departed and go in the eventide to their graves1 and sit down in the stillness there1 hoping in some way to come in communion with them4 ,they carry their loves over to the other side1 and is it unreasonable to suppose that a mother who has passed from these shores should still seek to be the guardian angel of the children she watched over in this life8 ,is it unreasonable that the great hosts of life1 column on column1 world on world1 that have gone out from this state1 should seek to come with their higher wisdom and tenderer sympathy to minister to those they loved in this life1 and help them to cling to the truth that saves8 ,to me this doctrine of the spirit life1 the eminence and presence of helping and guiding spirits is a comforting thought4 ,it brings me into the presence of the innumerable host that people the spirit land4 ,it gives me somehow a consciousness of the great fact of immortality4 ,it gives me a sweet consciousness that my friends live on the other shore2 that to me they will come as ministering angels in the dying hour to receive the spirit1 tired by work1 weakened by sickness1 wearied with years1 pale from death1 and bear it to the love and life above4 99 99 99 99 99 ,if these utterances are not in harmony with spiritualism1 and its central and prominent idea of the very nearness of our spirit friends and the spirit world1 then ,i am wholly incapable of recognizing and understanding the force of plain and direct language4 ,they can have but one meaning1 and that in perfect accordance with spiritualism4 ,i find these extracts published in the ,auburn ,advertiser1 of ,new ,york1 from which ,i copied them4 ,there they are2 read them carefully1 and then propound the question to your own heart and intelligence1 namely3 ,what does all this mean if spiritualism be false8 ,and if spiritualism be true1 how can these men and those holding similar views1 oppose spiritualism and be consistent and maintain their self-respect8 ,c4 ,g4 ,,helleberg4 ,footnotes3 #a ,this has reference to forget-me-not seeds which she sent me from ,sweden4 #b ,this ,polheim was ,sweden's greatest architect1 mathematician and builder1 who projected the canal between ,stockholm and ,gottenburg4 ,transcriber's ,notes3 ,passages in italics are indicated by italics4 ,punctuation has been corrected without note4 ,errata corrections have been applied to the text4 ,errors in the ,errata page and line number references have been corrected without note4 ,the following misprints have been corrected3 ,erhenborg corrected to ,ehrenborg 7,to,c7 the the corrected to the 7page #ai7 ,swendenborg corrected to ,swedenborg 7page #de7 acqainted corrected to acquainted 7page #ed7 enternal corrected to eternal 7page #fi7 farcial corrected to farcical 7page #gj7 achievment corrected to achievement 7page #ib7 enlightment corrected to enlightenment 7page #ic7 spiriritual corrected to spiritual 7page #afa7 righteouness corrected to righteousness 7page #afh7 afteward corrected to afterward 7page #agg7 ,chistian corrected to ,christian 7page #aii7 succeessful corrected to successful 7page #bja7 missing by added 7page #baf7 beyong corrected to beyond 7page #bci7 ,j4 standardized to ,t4 7page #baa7 ,other than the corrections listed above1 inconsistencies in spelling and hyphenation have been retained from the original4