,,my ,,experiences ,,while    ,,out ,,of
 ,,my ,,body            ,,my            
,,experiences ,,while    ,,out ,,of ,,my
 ,,body      ,,and      ,my ,return     
,after ,many ,days      ,,by    ,,rev4  
,,cora ,l4 ,v4 ,,richmond               
,illustration            ,copyright1    
#aiae    ,,by ,,rev4 ,,cora ,l4 ,v4     
,,richmond      ,christopher ,press     
,boston          ,,dedication           
,,primarily ,,to ,,my ,,heavenly        
,,guides3    ,those ,teachers and       
,inspirers who1 in early childhood1     
awakened and have  unfolded the         
,spiritual gifts that were mine1 and    
have borne forward to  the present hour 
the work appointed me to do2 and        
,,to ,,those ,,beloved ,,friends    who1
 having received the ministration       
through my humble instrumentality  have 
constantly given from hearts and hands  
the sympathy and aid  needed to perform 
that work--and during the feebleness of 
the body  have sent strength and succor2
 and especially to the beloved and      

loving friends3 ,,dr4 ,,chas4 ,h4       
,,bushnell1 whose skill1 healing power  
and  faithful attendance were given     
without stint or measure and most       
lovingly1 ,,sarah ,j4 ,,ashton1         
co-worker for more than a quarter of a  
century1 ,assistant ,pastor of my       
,congregation and1 above all else1      
faithful1 devoted friend1 without whose 
unfailing care and constant  helpfulness
 for long months my spirit could not    
have returned to its  human habitation  
to take up its assigned work1    ,this  
imperfect record of experiences is most 
lovingly and  gratefully inscribed4     
,,cora ,l4 ,v4 ,,richmond4              
,,my ,,experiences ,,while ,,out ,,of   
,,my    ,,body ,,and ,,my               
,,return--,,after    ,,many ,,days      
by      ,,rev4 ,,cora ,l4 ,v4 ,,richmond
      ,,the ,,release    ,it was true   
then3 ,i was suddenly and finally       
released from my body2  8this time10 ,i 
said1 or thought3 8,i will not have to  
return40    ,many times1 almost         

numberless1 ,i had experienced the      
wonderful  consciousness of being absent
 from my human form1 of mingling with   
arisen friends in their higher state of 
existence1 but1 until this time  ,i had 
always known that it was only for a     
brief season and that there  was a      
tie--a vital and psychic tie--binding me
 to return to my earth  form4 ,but now2 
now2 could it be true8 ,was ,i set free 
to live and work  with the ,beloved--the
 dear ones--in this their higher1 more  
perfect  state8    ,the ,best ,beloved1 
those who had preceded me into this     
wondrous life1  came thronging around1  
by degrees1 to welcome me3 not all at   
once1 but  first those who were by      
tenderest ties the nearest and the      
dearest4    ,they did not answer my     
question3 8,have ,i really come to      
stay08    ,the ,guide--the ,guardian1   
took me gently in charge that ,i might  
not even  think of the form ,i had so   
lately left4 ,a great sense of relief2  
of  being set free from the limitations 

of the body1 filled me1 far greater     
than ,i had ever experienced before4 ,a 
feeling pervaded me that all of  me was 
released4 ,it surely seemed that my work
 in the human body was  done3 that the  
last word was spoken1 the last          
pen-stroke made4    ,o1 the wonder1 the 
unspeakable joy of thus being united    
with the  ,beloved--those whom ,i knew  
had never died1 but had thrown off their
  garments of dust for the more         
beautiful raiment of the spirit6    ,in 
a narrative written for others to read  
one cannot dwell minutely on  the sacred
 meetings with those who were ever      
nearest and dearest2 those  of the      
household1 related by ties of           
consanguinity and those who were        
kindred in spirit1 united to one in     
thought and aspiration4 ,all that  such 
reunion means1 more than can be dreamed 
or imagined where one is  in the human  
state1 was now my possession4    8,turn 
away1 turn away from all thought of the 
,earth-form20 said the one  appointed to

 lead and guide me in this newer1       
grander flight4    ,one by one--or in   
groups--the dear ones of the ,earth-home
 joined us1  welcoming me ever1 yet ever
 evading the oft recurring question1    
8,am ,i  really here to stay80    ,my   
attention was continually attracted to  
some group or company that  had not been
 seen by me--always a surprise to find  
them 8all there40  ,they would smile and
 seem to answer1 8,yes1 all here1 in our
 own  particular states1 and doing our  
own appointed work40      ,,the         
,,vastness ,,of ,,the ,,spirit ,,realm  
,there was a perception of great ,light1
 a consciousness of  ,illumination1 an  
awakening to the vastness1 the          
unlimitation of  this ,realm of ,spirit4
    ,o how often1 when in 8dreams0 or   
8visions0 ,i had been permitted and     
aided by my ,guides to visit the ,spirit
 ,states1 this inner and higher  ,realm1
 ,i had longed to remain6 ,but ever     
willing to answer the call of  duty1 of 
added work to be performed by me1 ,i    

would return to fill my  place at the   
appointed time4 ,,now2 ,,now8--    ,all 
else was swallowed up--eclipsed by the  
wonderful experiences that  came--the   
,beloved ,presences--the vistas of      
luminous ,spirits6 ,this  was a state of
 ,super-,consciousness2 the awakening of
 faculties  and perceptions before      
unknown1 of being aware1 almost without 
limitation3 of ,,knowing4 ,whatever is  
the nature and state of the real  ,ego  
this seemed as near to the ,absolute as 
one could well conceive6  ,there was so 
much of me6 ,there was so little of me6 
,there were so  many and such surpassing
 ,spirits6 ,how one shrinks in the      
presence of  the mighty ones6 ,how one  
expands in the ,knowledge of the        
,infinite3 ,his  ,image6    ,often in   
approaching a transcendent ,light there 
would appear an  atmosphere of          
ensphering tints--there would also seem 
to be a sphere  of sound1 of surpassing 
music4 ,on being admitted to that sphere
 it  would prove to be a group of       

spirits who thus in accord are ,light   
and ,harmony4 ,where one can enter such 
an 8atmosphere0 communing with  such a  
group it is because one has need of and 
is in harmony with the  spirits of that 
group4      ,,senses ,,merged ,,in      
,,perception    ,objective scenes seemed
 ever to be adaptations to my state1 and
 would  often vanish as ,i became aware 
of the minds or spirits suggested by the
  scenes4    8,all human sensations1 as 
sight and hearing1 are readily perceived
  by one awakening to spiritual states  
to be but manifestations of             
consciousness through the physical      
limitations to which the spirit in  its 
mental states of earth becomes          
accustomed4 ,but here all is merged  in 
perception--where one perceives and     
understands10 thus said  the ,guide4    
,this added consciousness--uniting or   
releasing the faculties--is not  all at 
once3 ,i found myself thinking in the   
accustomed channels1 in  words as well  
as thoughts1 listening for replies      

instead of knowing  that the answer had 
been thought to me1 really was there    
before ,i had  questioned2 of looking   
for beautiful forms and scenes instead  
of  perceiving the ,soul of ,beauty     
which was 7is7 everywhere4    ,i became 
more and more aware that the whole of   
me1 released from the  fetters of the   
bodily senses1 could perceive and       
receive more perfectly  the answer to   
every question1 even before its         
formulation in thought4    8,formulation
 is a process of limitation1 sometimes  
of hindrance10 said  the ,guide4 8,a    
feeble comparison of what #8perception' 
really is may be  found in an artist 7of
 ,earth7 whose prepared mind 7and       
therefore  vision7 sees the beauty in a 
landscape1 a sunset sky that another    
sees  not at all1 or dimly4 ,prepared   
senses are the result of prepared minds1
  of being pervaded by the awareness of 
the ,spirit10 said the ,presence4    ,it
 is of little avail1 however1 to attempt
 to bring into outward forms  of thought

 and expression the perceptions one is  
aware of while  one is in that inner    
state1 excepting that they relate to    
conditions  under which those loved and 
loving ones in that state can reach and 
change for the better the sorrowing     
hearts in human life1 the shadowed      
conditions of earth existence4          
,,the ,,body ,,in ,,charge ,,of         
,,guardians    ,after a time 7,i did not
 know it as time7 ,i became aware of    
being led  to where the earthly form was
 still breathing1 being cared for and   
imbued with breath by a beloved         
,guardian spirit and by devoted friends 
in human life4 ,i was to return after   
all6 ,it was necessary to keep  my      
spirit en rapport with the body as the  
,psychic ,cord was not  severed that    
connected body and spirit4 ,but not at  
once was ,i to return4    ,these periods
 of calling my attention to and visiting
 the body were  brief--just enough to   
keep the 8vital spark0 alive1 and aid   
the dear  attendants in both worlds to  

prevent the complete separation which   
for  many days seemed imminent4      ,a 
,,vast ,,congregation    ,it is well    
known to those who may be interested in 
reading these pages  that during all the
 years of my mortal life 7since the age 
of eleven7  ,i have been brought before 
audiences and assemblies of people--many
  thousands2 among them were hundreds   
who became friends--some of them        
life-long1 some of later years4 ,i had  
known of the 8passing on0 of very  many 
who had been members of those audiences 
and of my own 8,flock10 but  ,i was not 
prepared for the vast congregation that 
came out of their  respective groups    
composing a still greater concourse to  
meet me1 nor  was ,i prepared to realize
 that ,i knew most of them as friends on
 ,earth6    ,there were those who had   
heard the utterances of my ,guides      
through my  lips when ,i was a child2   
those who had attended and were my      
personal  friends when ,i was 8still in 
my 'teens02 and those who in later years

  had been of the audiences in many     
places2 and those of my own beloved     
,congregation6    ,how difficult to     
realize that they were all gathered into
 the larger  8,congregation of the      
skies40 ,each and all unfolding1 working
 in  whatever line of knowledge and work
 was theirs to attain and achieve6  ,and
 to find all the treasured jewels of    
friendship more bright in the  added    
lustre of the larger life2 the flowers  
in the ,garden of true  ,affection      
growing more and more transcendently    
fair6    ,this is indeed ,heaven6 ,next 
in blessedness to the ,homes of the     
,best  ,beloved which are the very      
,kingdom of ,heaven6                    
,,ministrations ,,of ,,spirits    ,it   
was wonderful to note the ministrations 
of spirits to those in  other less      
fortunate states--especially to those in
 ,earthly forms4  ,wherever the ties of 
consanguinity were also of real         
affection the  spirit guardians of the  
household responded to the 8call10      

perhaps only  a thought1 a longing1 or a
 silent prayer for aid and strength1 or 
a  need unknown to the one ministered   
unto4    ,time is not a factor on the   
spirit side1 the response to a need--an 
aspiration1 a prayer is instantaneous4  
,where there seems to be delay1  and    
often doubt in the minds of those on    
,earth as to the presence and           
ministration of the loved one who has   
been summoned1 it is because of         
,earthly barriers1 because those in the 
human state cannot perceive--and  many1 
alas1 are not willing to receive the    
spirit friend4 ,i saw that  the usual   
barriers are3 ,uncontrolled1 selfish    
grief--mourning for the  one who has    
8passed on0 and often forgetting the    
other dear ones of the  household who   
are left2 seeking for the communion to  
forward a purely  selfish purpose2 and1 
in general1 the obstruction of false    
education1  theological and material1   
through which the spiritual faculties   
have  been closed for generations4      

,when human hands and hearts1 even      
though the latter is wrung by pain1     
seek to help others who are in sorrow or
 need1 then the way is opened  and the  
helpers are helped by the ministering   
ones4    ,to mourn the friend as utterly
 8gone0 who has only dropped the  outer 
garments of the dust is to close1 for   
the time1 the avenue of  communication  
or ministration4 ,long must the spirit  
helpers work and  wait for people to be 
ready to receive their response to the  
call for  aid4 ,so many did ,i see who  
could not reach the recognition of their
  loved ones that ,i wished over and    
over again that there were more  real   
8,message bearers10 more to give comfort
 to those that mourn6  ,and then the    
,presence answered3 8,not all are ready 
to whom the ,messages  now are given1   
nor are those protected adequately who  
are the chosen  ,instruments for        
,message bearing1 but the seed is being 
sown and will  take root in thousands of
 lives40      ,,thought-,,forms    ,i   

was shown those who existed in the      
thought-forms and scenes of  their      
recent human states3 ,such as these were
 surrounded with the  8things0 7forms of
 things7 familiar to them on ,earth1 and
 apparently  necessary to their         
happiness even in the new state of      
existence4 ,these  scenes illustrated   
that our lives even in the human state1 
consist  largely of 8states of mind10   
that we see the things we are accustomed
  to see1 or have trained our minds or  
wishes to see omitting many and         
sometimes most of the things of beauty  
and of import that we might  see4       
,the spirit states that are 8exactly    
like the scenes of ,earth0 are  composed
 of the thought-forms of the spirits'   
imaging or reproduction1  and are the   
reality to them4 ,i recalled the weaving
 of a web that ,i  had once seen an     
industrious spider perfect and he was   
afterward caught  in his own web4 ,i    
wondered if we are not often in human   
life--and the  states that immediately  

follow the weavers of many such         
8cobwebs08  ,these thought-webs seemed  
to proceed from the minds of the spirits
  fashioning them and in which the      
spirits seemed to be ensphered1         
sometimes enshadowed4 ,before my        
questionings had taken form in my  mind 
the answer came from the ,presence3     
8,no1 they are not enmeshed  by the     
thought-forms2 their creation is the    
result of the present  condition2 remove
 the power to produce thought-forms1    
i4e41 to  create ones own environment   
and you remove all activity of mind4 ,as
  the ,spirit unfolds the thought-forms 
change and then disappear as  perception
 takes the place of limitation by the   
senses40    ,with the almost axiomatic  
proposition that 8our world of life is  
what  we make it0 our                   
spirit-surroundings and conditions the  
result of our  states of unfoldment1 it 
became less difficult even when         
returning  to the limitations of human  
organism to understand the conditions   

of existence in the 8next stage0 of     
personal experience beyond the          
8transition0 misnamed 8death40          
,spirit states are as varied as are the 
personal states of those  composing     
them2 the knowledge--or lack of         
it--possessed by the person  ,,is the   
spirit state1 i4e41 knowledge of        
spiritual principles4    ,oh1 if one    
could coin new words1 or new            
understandings1 in order better  to     
express that which one knows when set   
free from ,earthly environment6  ,yes1  
the ,new ,understanding2 that is the    
great need2 and that must  really be    
attained by unfoldment1 growth from     
within1 the pervading  all illuminating 
power of the spirit4    ,those in the   
spirit states who were reproducing the  
familiar scenes  of their recent ,earth 
conditions were satisfied and even very 
happy--especially when the scenes so    
reproduced were of a nature that  had   
brought comparative happiness in ,earth 
life--in their ability to  make things  

seem 8exactly as they did in ,earth     
life10 not even knowing  that this      
similitude was the result of their own  
thought-forms instead  of being inherent
 or organic in the 8spirit land40       
,interesting and absorbing as were these
 lessons of observing1 the  process of  
weaving their thoughts into the forms   
most desired or needed  by the spirits  
producing them1 there were many whose   
reproductions  were of the shadowed kind
 and were not voluntary1 but results of 
the  deep impress that the shadows of   
,earth-experiences had made upon their  
minds4 ,no one illustration could       
serve--but all states and conditions    
that ,i could realize were shown4       
,,time ,,not ,a ,,factor    ,time does  
not seem to be a factor in the realm of 
spirits except as  related to people and
 events in the human state with which   
spirits have  connection4    ,it was1   
however1 a source of continual wonder   
and surprise to note the  changing forms
 and atmospheres in the surroundings of 

those with whom  ,i was brought in      
contact4 ,i saw spirits who1 when in    
,earth life had  been in positions of   
external power--usually considered      
8exalted0--as  of kings or rulers--the  
result of no 8merit0 or achievement of  
their  own1 but the 8incident0 or       
8accident0 of birth1 who were arrayed in
  their own thought-robes of power1 but 
closer observation would reveal  the    
poverty and meagerness of their 8,robes 
of ,royalty0 and they were  sometimes   
seeking somewhat with which to clothe   
themselves1 something  to conceal their 
paucity of raiment and surroundings4    
,most of those1  however1 who had held  
such positions as are the result of     
8titles10  8rank0 and 8castes10 seemed  
endowed with perception enough to know  
that  those external conditions are not 
perpetuated in spirit states1 unless    
one has become so imbued with the idea  
that 8titles10 8wealth10 and  outward   
8honors0 are valuable in themselves4    
,and that the 8,divine  ,right of       

,kings0 is indeed a 8right0 derived from
 ,heaven4      ,,the ,,truly ,,great    
,,are ,,humble    ,i saw many of those  
who had been poor in worldly            
possessions1 even  despised and scorned 
among men or put to death because of    
their  advocacy of an unpopular 8cause0 
now radiant in their own spiritual      
brightness1 unconsciously      8,wearing
 their sunbright thoughts    ,for ,robes
 of ,royalty40    ,ah6 ,how beautiful   
were they6 ,these of the shining faces  
and radiant  hearts6 ,ever intent on    
trying to aid humanity1 whether in      
shadowed  spirit states or in ,earthly  
conditions4    ,one may not give the    
names 7even if one knew them7 by which  
these  in the various spirit states were
 known on ,earth4 ,i saw many who  were 
known to be ,great3 ,great in thoughts1 
deeds and words for the  enlightenment  
of their fellow-beings4 ,ever were they 
humble1 as ever  are the truly ,great4  
,none in spirit life are outwardly      
adorned with  the 8honors0 given to them

 or their 8memory0 by a tardy ,world4   
,the  truly exalted are far too intent  
on ameliorating the adverse conditions  
of spirit and human states to take note 
of the praise and pomp of  ,earthly     
8celebrations0 in 8memory0 of them1     
sometimes tardily bestowed4    ,to be   
truly ,beloved by an individual1 a      
country or a world is indeed  blessed1  
and exalted souls do know and understand
 the true meaning of  being 8appreciated
 and beloved40    ,the ,light of the    
,shining ones1 the ,great ones1 is not  
dimmed in the  brightness of the higher 
spheres1 for they are of its light a    
part4      ,,spirit ,,groups ,,and      
,,inspirers    ,it is because of the    
spirit possessions that those of kindred
  thoughts1 perceptions1 aspirations are
 attracted to each other  and form      
groups--not conventional or             
arbitrary--interchanging                
ideas--purposes--and working together   
for others4 ,i saw them  8moving upon0  
the minds of those in ,earth-forms whom 

they could  reach1 sometimes singly1    
sometimes in groups1 as the conditions  
might  require4 ,the ,student in his    
library1 the ,inventor in his 8work     
shop0  or laboratory1 the 8,discoverer0 
in his ,observatory searching for new   
worlds or on ships of 8exploration0     
sailing for ,unknown lands1 more        
particularly those who are seeking to   
solve the vexed 8problems0 of  human    
life4    ,ah6 ,it was indeed a scene of 
wonder to see each and every spirit thus
  intent on doing good to his kind1     
imparting some needed thought1 some     
8clue0 or 8thread0 of an intricate      
proposition that would solve the  whole6
 ,long are these 8,inventions0 and      
8discoveries0 known in ,spirit  states  
before the one is 8born0 into human life
 that can give them  outward            
,expression4 ,how luminous seemed the   
,atmospheres of ,spirit thus            
surrounding those in ,earth life when   
the ,heavenly presences were near6  ,and
 such lives are always luminous in their

 own brightness or the  ,higher ones    
could not 8draw near0 and inspire them4 
,the people know the names of some of   
those now on ,earth whose               
8discoveries10 8inventions10 and works  
have transformed the world6  ,those     
arisen ones who aid in bearing forward  
the ,works ,beautiful1  direct their    
thoughts to such as are ready in ,earth 
life4 ,here are the  8,thinkers10 whose 
knowledge of the ,truths of the         
,universe constitutes  the source of all
 power1 ,ideas that born of those       
,truths reach the  minds prepared to    
receive them and move the world4 ,we saw
 and paused  among assemblies1 groups   
pursuing their usual course of          
conferring1  interchanging of ideals and
 preparing to impart more and more the  
knowledge that is theirs--as minds are  
prepared to receive4    ,knowledge is   
imparted by adaptation4    ,all such    
imparting of knowledge must be by       
adaptation4 ,the ,spirit  is            
attracted--would be from the very nature

 of the ,spirit--to the  one best       
prepared to receive from that ,spirit4  
,thus the subtle law  of imparting      
knowledge by adaptation governs the     
realm of spirit and  constitutes the    
basis of deciding concerning 8,guides10 
8,guardian  ,spirits10 and all          
8ministering ones40 ,affection          
determines the  intimate personal       
guardians4      ,,from ,,spirit ,,to    
,,spirit    ,it was most interesting and
 enlightening to see--as ,i was         
permitted  to witness--a number of those
 who are in human states receiving from 
luminous and illuminating spirits some  
new application of science or  art1 some
 new presentation of ,truth6 ,the minds 
of ,earth so impressed  are not narrowly
 questioning 8from whence do the ideas  
come08 ,fearful1  if from another mind  
that those receiving them may 8lose     
their  ,individuality40 ,such minds know
 that ,truths belong to minds--and that 
somewhere are greater minds than one's  
own--who can impart knowledge4  ,truth  

is the common heritage of souls2 of     
,intelligence2 and happy is  the mind1  
spirit or ,angel that can perceive or   
receive it from any  source4            
,intelligence alone perceives and       
imparts ,intelligence4    ,the process  
of imparting knowledge from spirit to   
spirit 7whether those  imparting and    
receiving are in spirit states or still 
in ,earth-forms71  grows ever more and  
more interesting as one passes into     
greater  awakening and perception of the
 realities1 the verities of spirit4     
8,teaching10 8,education0 7in the human 
sense7 only exists in those  states or  
conditions in the spirit realm where the
 human methods and  forms of thought    
still govern the minds of the spirits4  
,love is the great ,illuminator in all  
realms and worlds1 and thus  adaptation 
of ,teacher and the one to be taught    
must be the keynote  to all reception of
 knowledge4    ,one would like to say so
 much while comparing the 8,educational0
 process  of spirit states with the     

methods of ,earth 7excellent as some of 
the  latter have become72 but one must  
hasten to record added experiences      
while they are near to the outward      
consciousness from within4 ,for when    
one enters again into the daily life of 
,earth1 even although it is ever        
pervaded by those surpassing scenes1 the
 vividness of the higher state  becomes 
dimmed by the necessary veiling that    
human conditions bring4      ,,there    
,,is ,,an ,,answer ,,for ,,every        
,,question    ,everything that ,i wished
 to know found ready answer2 even before
 the  wish was formed into thought4 ,i  
could realize that the answer came  from
 the ,guide1 who was my teacher by      
adaptation4 ,i could realize  that for  
every real aspiration there is ever an  
answer2 in fact that  the answer from   
within and above prompts the aspiration1
 the wish to  know4 ,that there is a    
solution for every so-called 8problem02 
for1  in the final analysis1 there are  
no 8problems0--except states of         

non-perception4    ,all this and a      
thousand times more of inward awakening 
came to me as ,i  grew in the perception
 of the ,knowledge of the ,spirit4      
8,,those ,,who ,,love ,,their           
,,fellow-,,beings0    ,i saw a countless
 multitude growing brighter1 more       
resplendent1  as ,i was led nearer4     
,among them were those more radiant than
 the  others--greater1 it seemed1 in the
 scope and power of their spirits4    ,i
 recognized--not always from personal   
knowledge on ,earth--some of  the       
individuals who were there1 centers of  
groups of radiant ones1  those who1 when
 in ,earth life 8loved their fellow     
men02 and who1 by  word and deed had    
sought to overcome the errors and abuses
 heaped upon  humanity4 ,their battles  
with tongue and pen 7no armaments or    
weapons  of war71 their shining armors  
of ,righteousness--were finally known   
and  appreciated by many minds 7souls7  
on ,earth4    ,one whom ,i had known    
from early childhood came toward me with

 the  group of his friends and          
relatives1 whom ,i had also known4 ,he  
greeted  me as he was ever wont to do   
when we both were in ,earth-forms4      
,though  advanced in years before he    
left the form1 he was ever youthful1    
ever calm and peaceful2 yet firm and    
forceful in his advocacy of his         
convictions of ,human ,brotherhood1 and 
the final triumph of the spirit  over   
errors of human conditions in ,time and 
,sense4 ,by those who knew  his life and
 works he was considered a 8leading and 
inspiring mind02 to  many he was a      
,prophet of the 8,good time ,coming40   
,how my spirit thrilled  with this      
meeting with him and his household and  
the group of friends  who were with him4
 ,one question ,i had often asked in    
mind1 or had  wished to know concerning 
it3    ,had he--this friend with whom ,i
 was then conversing1 met in spirit     
states the one who in a distant land of 
,earth had said3 8---- ---- is  the     
greatest man ,america ever possessed08  

,the one who said this to a prominent   
writer was also a 8lover of his  fellow 
men10 but the two had never met in      
,earth life4 ,the question  was not     
asked2 before it could be formulated the
 answer came3 8,yes1  we have met and   
often confer together4 ,in all          
essentials relating  to the ,supreme    
,realities of life and the growth of    
human beings  toward perfection through 
knowledge of ,divine ,truth and ,love we
 are in  perfect accord40 ,i then       
perceived from among that goodly company
 the  one approaching of whom we had    
been speaking2 our thought of him and   
our appreciation had attracted him to   
us4 ,long and earnestly they spoke  of  
the things to be when the children of   
,earth shall be set free from  the      
shadows caused by ignorance4 ,i more and
 more perceived some of  the            
personalities of those illuminated ones1
 and more than once was ,i  surprised   
that those who had been of such widely  
different conditions1  environment1     

education1 habits of mind1 and1 one     
would think1 opposite  spiritual states 
could be together6    ,the ,presence    
aware that the surprise would exist1    
said3    8,as you already know1         
differences of birth1 nationality1      
outward rank  and even of education1 are
 not real differences in spirit4 ,these 
are 7and were7 all lovers of their      
kind--lovers of ,peace through          
,enlightenment and ,righteousness1 and  
they are now1 as they were when on      
,earth constantly seeking through       
interchange of high ,ideals1 to find    
the best means for helping others--to   
lift the clouds of ignorance from  the  
minds of earth2 even now one is within  
your vision whose presence  here will   
surprise you40 ,i saw a stately form and
 recognized the one  who1 as the head of
 a great ,ecclesiastical organization   
had in the  8,prayer for ,peace0 issued 
a short time before he had passed from  
his  ,earth-form given the following    
significant sentence3      8,,may ,,they

 7,,the ,,nations7 ,,remove ,,the       
,,causes ,,of ,,war40    ,as a lover of 
humanity1 a promoter of ,peace1 he      
seemed to stand near  these shining     
ones1 many of whom when on earth 7and   
now7 have never  recognized any         
,ecclesiastical ,authority4 ,of course1 
,i knew that all  such lines1 barriers1 
and human standards are removed--or     
rapidly  vanish--in spirit states among 
,enlightened minds4 ,and that they      
realize1 as this one must have realized1
 that the ,earthly 8,office0 and  all   
its outward symbols and adornments      
cannot continue in a realm where  the   
real nature stands revealed--the nature 
of the spirit4    ,all these composing  
this radiant assemblage were intent on  
reaching  and for their good1 acting    
upon the minds of those on ,earth for   
the  8,promotion of ,peace on ,earth and
 ,love to ,all40    ,alas and alas6     
8,those engaged in actual war--the war  
raging between  one-half the nations of 
the ,earth that call themselves         

#8enlightened'  cannot be reached until 
the leaders and rulers have learned the 
lesson  taught by bitter experience40   
,so the ,presence said1 and so ,i had   
perceived1 saddened by the thoughts of  
the awful human suffering that  must    
ensue4      ,,the ,,shadows ,,of ,,the  
,,conflict    ,then ,i was shown the    
dense ,shadow--the awful darkness that  
seemed an  engulfing abyss3 the scenes  
of the conflict now raging on ,earth4   
,that  which ,i saw 7then just begun71  
seemed1 however1 more to represent the  
spiritual and mental states of ,rulers  
and ,leaders than the physical  scenes  
of battles4 ,i saw the bright spots     
where the ministrants of  mercy were    
rallying1 regardless of nationality or  
8class10 to aid those  physically       
wounded1 to breathe a word of comfort to
 those injured  mortally who were       
8passing on40    ,above the terrible    
scenes of battles ,i saw those in the   
8rank and file0  of the armies and      
navies who were so suddenly wrenched    

from their  bodies4 ,their first        
thoughts 7as their last thoughts had    
been71 were of  those loved ones from   
whom they were suddenly parted when     
ordered 8to  the front40 ,they were     
aided to find the dear ones 7alas where 
were the  8homes08 now desolate4 ,many  
of the families scattered and in deepest
  suffering1 great physical want1 and   
greater grief47    ,they tried1 often   
without avail1 to comfort and aid the   
dear ones1  their own states of mind and
 grief over the separation preventing   
them  from effectively ministering to   
their loved ones4 ,they soon became     
aware that the aid could not be         
material1 that spiritual strength and   
consolation must be from spiritual      
sources and that they might1 if         
themselves strong in spirit1 move upon  
the minds of others in human  life to   
aid those dear to them4    ,it was a    
wonderful sight to behold the           
ministering spirits succoring1          
comforting1 instructing those thus      

suddenly thrust into spirit states2     
none but those endowed with the ,divine 
,gift of loving compassion--like  a     
,florence ,nightingale or a ,clara      
,barton--could so successfully aid      
those spirits thus ruthlessly torn from 
their human ties and forms4 ,it  is an  
awful sight6 ,yet the spirit 8,rescuers0
 are there6 ,the 8,red ,cross0  of the  
skies finds its way to those who need   
the help and guidance4    ,in a measure 
the ,soldiers1 all who must go to war on
 land or sea1 are  better prepared for  
the sudden change than those hurled into
 spirit  life by 8accident0 of shipwreck
 or other disaster1 or by volcanic or   
earthquake shock4 ,the ,soldier knows   
that he is to confront possible  and    
even probable physical death--and being 
thus prepared often is less  surprised  
and shocked when he finds himself 8out  
of his body40 ,yet1  wherever the need  
may be1 the 8strong helpers0 are there3 
above every  scene of human sacrifice1  
whether ,cataclysmic1 8natural causes0  

or the  result of human ignorance and   
neglect1 or the self-seeking aggression 
of war1 there are they--the dear ones1  
the strong ones1 the saving ones6       
,all cannot be aided to at once perceive
 the new-found condition3  everything   
must depend on the degree of spiritual  
preparedness1 which  is often greater   
among the humble and lowly--who have a  
line of simple  life1 simple love1      
simple duty to follow than among the    
more complex  mental and moral states of
 the 8leaders40 ,the real state1        
spiritually1  determines the 8condition0
 of the spirit in spirit life4    ,nor  
were the 8clouded0 and 8shadowed0 scenes
 of ,earth life found alone  above the  
lines of battle4 ,there were sometimes  
deeper shadows among  the scenes of     
8pleasure0 and 8mirth10 mocking splendor
 of wealth and  its opposite of want1   
squalor1 misery1 the toll of human      
sacrifice  is not always in the 8death0 
of the body4 ,there are vortices more   
terrible than the volcano's fiery breath

 or earthquake's yawning mouth2  the    
palace often seemed more densely        
shadowed than the hovel2 while the      
dwelling1 though a cottage1 brightened  
with ,love shone out like a star  of    
splendor4    8,spiritual knowledge1 the 
unfoldment of the highest from within1  
this  alone can change the #8shadowed   
states' of ,earth into brightness4      
,every  life must be reached2 every mind
 touched and awakened by the spirit2    
the #8good' that is within each must be 
brought forth40      ,,turning ,,for    
,,respite    ,from the storm-scenes of  
contending forces1 from the darkness of 
,spiritual night1 from the uncertain    
states1 like dim twilight1 one  ever    
turns in spirit to the ,beloved1 to the 
groups of loved and  loving ones that   
constitute the 8,home of the ,spirit40  
8,spiritual rest  is change10 respite   
from witnessing the unhappy conditions1 
the  shadows of spiritual states that   
one cannot at once remedy4 8,rest0 is   
not idleness3 communion1 companionship1 

working together for those  who can be  
aided--this is rest4 ,the 8,home ,group0
 ever intent upon  ministering wherever 
and whenever needed1 afforded the       
respite sought4  ,such memories of      
,earth-experiences as had been kept     
alive in the sacred  altar-flame of true
 affection and home ties2 such          
interchange of ,ideals  and experiences 
as the later years had brought2 such    
knowledge of the  blending of the spirit
 and the mortal states1 the guardianship
 and  ministration of the loved arisen  
ones over those in ,earth-forms1 this   
was rest4 ,blessed respite2 blessed     
communion2 one would never be ready1  it
 would seem1 to part with such          
companionship4    ,nor do we ever 8part0
 with the truly loved4 ,whatever duties 
we must  perform for those in spirit or 
human states1 those most in accord1     
those nearest and dearest are ever with 
us 8whether in or out of the  body40    
,our human phrases1 and even our usual  
thoughts seem superficial1 weak  and    

puerile when endeavoring to describe the
 divine realities of the  ,spirit4 ,we  
never 8part02 we can never be 8absent0  
from the ,beloved4 ,yet  the shadows of 
human existence3 8time and sense10 and  
outward 8change0  and 8circumstances0   
are upon those who make 8the house of   
clay0 the  limit of their mental and    
spiritual possessions4      ,,reunion   
,,with ,,lovers ,,of 8,,peace0          
,returning again and often to the bright
 sphere composed of 8those  who love    
their fellow-beings02 from among them   
came those whom ,i  had known--with whom
 ,i had1 as a humble worker labored for 
some  cause--this time a few1 especially
 two or three last seen in ,earth  life 
at the ,hague ,peace ,conference        
7#aijg74 8,ah1 how well we then         
knew--as well as even now when the      
conflict rages--that the nations  7#dd  
in number7 were not all1 indeed but few 
of them1 seeking for  #8peace'2 the     
permanent establishment of a ,court of  
,arbitration for the  world6 ,each was  

there to #8test' the others2 nearly all 
endeavoring  to gain some concession    
from the others to aid in their own     
selfish  future aggressions06 ,such was 
the thought flashed from my friend of   
the brilliant mind and noble heart who  
came with others to greet me4  ,and the 
dear lady who took me in her arms and   
kissed me when we parted  there at the  
,hague even as she did now1 said3 8,we  
meet again1 and here  there is sweet    
,peace--but ,o1 the horrors of the war6 
,and you1 you will  return to ,earth for
 further work40 ,she gave me her        
blessing with such  love as her grand   
soul can give4    ,the other one1 he of 
the brilliant mind and facile pen1 he of
 the  awakened and illumined spirit1    
said3 8,yes1 you will return to ,earth  
for added work 7even after those many1  
many years of work already  performed71 
we will aid you1 we all must aid those  
who are working  to enlighten the minds1
 to awaken the spirits of those immured 
in the  materialism of ,earth4 ,how     

dense we all are until awakened6 ,sorrow
  smites us1 then the fountains of the  
,soul come forth2 our spiritual         
,guardians can help us then1 and we     
begin to know4 ,that was my case on     
,earth4 ,now ,i realize how little ,i   
did know1 but ,i am grateful that ,i    
was not an entire stranger to this realm
 of spirits1 and there is all  eternity 
in which to grow in knowledge40         
,,messages ,,from ,,friends    ,from    
those whom ,i met in their homes of     
peace and love and work were  many      
messages to be delivered in person by me
 to the dear ones on  ,earth--messages  
that might be of interest here to show  
that true  affection and personal       
watchfulness are more manifested from   
the  spirit side of life than people    
know2 even those accustomed to spirit   
communion and ministration do not       
realize all that they might of this     
nearness4    ,these messages are too    
intimate and sacred1 however1 to be     
given here1  and they breathe all the   

fervor of the real life and love of the 
,spirit4 ,i shall communicate them to   
those to whom they were sent4      ,,the
 ,,spirit-,,home ,,of ,,the ,,children  
,but ,o1 the ,children6 the ,children6  
,what can one write or say8 ,what  words
 adapted to tongue or pen can convey an 
adequate idea of the  spheres in which  
my spirit has often met those darlings  
of both worlds8  ,my own baby girl1 who 
passed on many1 many years ago and who  
has grown  to womanhood in her spirit   
state1 has ever been my constant        
companion1  as a guardian spirit1 during
 my busy hours of ,earth life1 as a     
pilot  and gentle helper when through   
sleep or trance-control my spirit was   
set free to join her and visit the realm
 of the children4    ,these 8little     
ones0 are often wiser in knowledge of   
the spirit than  mortals of more mature 
years4    ,blessings ever attend the    
presence of a babe in the home of love  
on  ,earth and1 in the highest sense1   
doubly blessed are those who having     

possessed such a treasure know that if  
the babe passes from mortal  sight the  
treasure is still theirs1 a             
babe--growing among the flowers  of the 
gardens of spiritual life is as      8,a
 light within a light1    ,a joy        
ensphered in joy40    ,such a child     
becomes a sacred guardian unto the      
household4    ,it was indeed an         
enchanted realm into which we now       
entered4 ,although  visited many times  
during many years it now seemed more    
real1 more  beautiful1 more perfect4    
,as far as vision 7perception7 could    
reach--as vast as the mind could        
compass or conceive there were children1
 children everywhere6 ,sporting  in the 
light of their own brightness and joy2  
they were embodied  sunbeams1 weaving   
rainbow tinted thoughts into forms of   
beauty2  flowers1 flowers everywhere2   
songs of birds and child voices mingling
  with murmuring waters amid scenes of  
rarest beauty4 ,ah1 the spirit  realm of
 childhood2 the playgrounds of the      

skies6    ,not only children1 but 8those
 of larger growth10 parents1 teachers1  
friends were there to teach1 to aid1 and
 to grow in greater knowledge  and      
usefulness4 ,sometimes the children are 
the teachers to those older  in ,earth  
years4    ,isles of light1 radiant with 
flowers and verdure and surrounded by   
iridescent waters6 ,could one ever      
picture the thought-forms of these      
lovely ones8    8,let us make rainbows10
 exclaimed one fairylike child among a  
group  of playmates1 some of whom were  
new in that realm4 ,a questioning look  
came into the eyes of those addressed3  
8,how can we make rainbows80 ,a         
child-teacher drew near and said3 8,i   
will show you2 come with me40    ,the   
five or six eagerly responded4    8,take
 hold of hands10 the ,teacher said1 8and
 have no fear1 there can be  no rainbows
 without clouds and light40    ,i was   
permitted to follow1 with sight or ken1 
as the ,teacher led them  away1 away    
from those enchanting scenes to where   

the clouds and shadows  hung dark       
beneath and around them4    ,they had   
drawn near a large city of ,earth4      
8,o let's not go here10 said one1 8it   
seems so dark40 ,but the others  urged  
her on4    ,soon one little boy among   
them said1 8,see1 there is a little     
girl4 ,she  is cold and is crying on the
 street2 she is hungry too1 let us help 
her40 ,they drew near1 and the child1   
feeling comforted 7she knew not  why71  
sobbed more softly and prayed3    8,o1  
my mamma in heaven1 can you hear me and 
send help to brother and  baby--you     
loved us so80 ,then the spirit children 
saw a man approaching2  they fairly     
pushed him toward the weeping child to  
whom he spoke  kindly asking3    8,what 
is the matter my little girl80    8,o1  
sir1 my mother is dead1 and my brother  
is sick and the baby has  nothing to    
eat4 ,we're so cold in that room40      
8,can you take me there80 asked the man1
 and he held out his hand for  her to   
lead him4 ,she clasped two of his       

fingers with her tiny hand and  led him 
through the dark streets to a narrow    
alley and up some dark1  creaking       
stairs4 ,yes1 there was little brother  
crying for 8mamma10 for  8sister10 and  
the baby asleep but sobbing4    ,the    
kind-hearted man saw everything at a    
glance4    8,don't cry1 my little man4  
,i'll be back in a few minutes4 ,take   
care of  them1 little lady1 until ,i    
come40    ,the spirit children had      
helped1 and helped2 they saw the spirit 
mother  looking very sad1 bending above 
the baby1 and then above 8little        
brother40 ,they also tried to comfort   
him and help the little girl4  ,they saw
 the man go to a telephone and talk with
 some one and they  could see and feel  
the light of kindness with which he     
spoke and in  which the answers came4   
,how quick he was6 ,he found a place to 
buy food4  ,he came back soon1 built a  
fire1 warmed some milk1 gave the other  
children something to ease the worst    
pangs of hunger4 ,presently a woman     

came--such a kind heart6 ,she too worked
 fast4 ,she gave the baby some  food    
prepared in the milk1 helped the little 
sick boy1 who was more in  need of      
bodily comfort than anything else1      
soothed and fed the little  girl who1   
little mother that she was1 at once     
aided in caring for the  baby4    ,how  
the spirit children worked too6 ,they   
had made the man see and hear  the      
little girl1 had aided in guiding her to
 the dismal room called  8home01 had    
helped him find the telephone and the   
place to buy the  food1 had helped the  
woman to find the place1 had helped take
 care of  the children and comfort them 
and the spirit mother4    8,now10 said  
the ,teacher1 8we will return to our    
beautiful home40    ,one little boy     
whispered to the ,teacher3 8,i know     
there are more  children and people who 
need help down there4 ,can we go again  
and help80    8,whenever you choose to  
make rainbows or flowers or other       
beautiful  things we will go40 ,and they

 rejoiced4    ,lo6 ,as they passed      
through the encompassing clouds circles 
of  rainbows o'er-spanned them and paths
 of rainbows guided them to their       
spirit-home4 ,when the other children   
saw them approaching they sang1  8,o1   
the rainbows6 ,o1 the rainbows6 ,when   
you dry the tears of sorrow and  help   
those in need you make rainbows40       
,all spirit children are taught to visit
 the scenes of ,earth life4 ,the  home  
and its loved ones1 where they are      
missed1 ever attracts them and  they are
 taught to minister1 to aid1 to guard4  
,if they had no home on  ,earth they try
 to aid those who still remain in the   
8orphan0 realm of  human life4          
,,there ,,are ,,no ,,orphans ,,in ,,the 
,,spirit ,,realm3    ,mothers whose     
babes are in the ,earth life help to    
care for those  8little waifs0 thrust   
out of human existence--and for spirit  
children  that pine for ,mother love4   
,children whose parents are in ,earth   
life are taught to aid and comfort      

those in the home as well as those who  
have no home4 ,especially  cared for are
 the little 8waifs0 who were not welcome
 in the  ,earth-forms--even those who   
have not seen the light of earthly      
day--not  always from among the poor of 
earth were they driven1 especially those
  abandoned by the unfortunate or       
misguided mothers4 ,these and all are   
8mothered0 by the spirits whose hearts  
are filled with mother love4  ,and here 
it is well to note that not all who are 
earthly parents are  real fathers and   
mothers1 and many who are               
childless--work night and  day in the   
8asylums0 on earth to save some         
neglected1 forsaken1 child4  ,these are 
real parents4    ,what greater          
8punishment0 could there be than when   
the human mother  has turned away from  
the sacred gift of motherhood1 she      
meets1 on  entering spirit life1 her own
 neglected babe who welcomes her there8 
8,coals of fire60    ,it is not always  
to visit scenes of sorrow and want that 

the spirit  children are led to the     
earth3 ,houses1 schools1 playgrounds1   
8,lyceums10 where the little ones of    
earth are taught1 places of             
entertainment and amusement where they  
play1 and sing1 and grow2 there  also   
are the playmates of the spirit-home    
mingling with them and  endeavoring to  
impress them with thoughts and deeds of 
loving kindness  with things of beauty4 
,returning to the ,realm of ,spirit     
,children one finds such respite from   
care1 such constant sources of          
happiness1 such fashioning of forms of  
beauty4 ,oh1 that all could know6       
,knowledge of all this has reached but  
few on ,earth2 yet more and more will   
human minds be pervaded by the  methods 
of the ,skies4    ,those who have given 
new methods of 8,education0 to the      
people of ,earth  have been inspired    
somewhat by these ,teachers in spirit   
states4  ,froebel1 whose 8,kindergarden0
 system was intended for 8children0 of  
all  ages2 ,a4 ,j4 ,davis1 whose        

8,progressive ,lyceum0 system was not   
intended  exclusively for ,sunday       
training of children but in its         
inception  was a reproduction of the    
8teaching0 in spirit states 7as far as  
his  mind and inspiration could         
reproduce such beautiful methods47 ,even
 if  one could give in human language   
the form of teaching 7or methods7 of    
the spirit states1 the law of adaptation
 prevailing in the higher  realms might 
not always be available in human life4  
,how beautiful to know that growth--and 
the best opportunity for the  highest   
unfoldment with most loving teachers and
 ,guardians surround the  darlings who  
have passed from the households of      
,earth4    ,here then1 ,o human parents1
 ,o sisters and brothers1 you who miss  
the  bodily presence of the one who     
occupied the 8vacant chair10 you who    
feel the pervading sense of the absence 
of the loved children3 here  they are2  
bringing to your very homes and hearts1 
could you but realize  it1 the love1 the

 knowledge1 the wisdom1 the beauty of   
the skies4      ,,beauty ,,and ,,harmony
    ,ever from childhood through all the
 years of ,earth life beautiful         
scenery1 tints of earth and sky1 music1 
in fact all beautiful sights  and       
sounds1 strongly appealed to me4 ,in the
 spirit states ,i noted  that harmonious
 colors1 beautiful scenes1 and often    
exquisite music  greeted me as we       
approached groups of radiant            
atmospheres1 encircling  spheres of     
light2 such exquisite sounds of harmony 
as one dreams must  be the 8,music of   
the ,spheres40 ,on approaching nearer ,i
 would perceive  that the tints and     
sounds1 as they reached me1 were the    
radiations  of thought1 the spirit      
activities of these thus ensphered who  
have  attained real harmony4 ,they were 
not ,,making beautiful colors and music1
  but ,,living them4      ,,the         
8,,artists0    ,perhaps ,i have         
elsewhere written that music in spirit  
states does not  always accompany the   

one who was a 8musician0 on ,earth2 and 
harmony  of color1 beautiful            
surroundings may ensphere one who never 
thought  of being an 8artist40 ,their   
lives have been interwoven with sweet   
and  loving thoughts and deeds4    ,that
 which would have been a source of      
surprise had ,i not previously  known it
 was that 8artists10 8painters10        
8sculptors10 8musicians10  and even some
 of the 8poets10 known by those names on
 ,earth1 are not  fashioning landscapes1
 portraits1 or carving from stone the   
images of  lovely forms1 nor are they   
fashioning or weaving into music or     
verse  some classical or other theme3   
,all of those who were 8geniuses10 all  
who were ,idealists1 true lovers of     
their kind1 find here 7in spirit  life7 
their highest happiness in ministering  
to others1 in moving  upon the minds1   
hearts1 spirits of those to whom they   
are adapted1  until they perceive the   
,soul of ,beauty and fashion it into    
their  lives4 ,the 8,masters0 of art3   

painters1 sculptors1 builders1 construct
  their temples and adorn them with     
lives--the true images of beauty in     
thought1 feeling1 aspiration1           
achievement4    ,music is perfect       
,harmony1 of one life with itself and   
others1 of many  lives in all their     
highest purposes4 ,such are the creators
 of the  8,symphonies of the ,skies40   
,those who had 8,talent10 hoping to     
achieve the works of 8,genius0--        
sometime1 somewhere1 are still intent on
 fashioning reproductions or  imitations
 of natural objects and scenes1 or      
impressing art students of  ,earth to   
produce such effects4 ,but these are not
 the creators--8every  #8creation' is   
from within and must live10 said my     
,teacher4    ,one wishes for a magic    
pen1 or for a perfect ,gift of          
,expression1 to  convey in language the 
subtle consciousness of the ,beauty and 
,harmony  that meet one as one is led to
 the 8,atmospheres0 of some of the      
8,,creators ,,of ,,beauty40    ,more    

wonderful than all else was the         
knowledge that many who had never       
painted1 carved1 builded1 or traced the 
8score0 of musical composition  were    
surrounded and pervaded by such         
ineffable loveliness that one  could    
weep for very joy on perceiving it4     
8,art is ,great1 but the perception of  
the ,soul of ,beauty is ,life6  ,love60 
said the ,guide4    ,one perceives in   
such states as were there revealed that 
the true  8artist0 has not always been  
known among his fellow human beings1    
moving upon the world of thought1       
influencing other lives by the beauty   
and harmony of their own natures1 these 
seem1 when viewed from the  spirit1 to  
constitute the real artists4    8,is not
 the ,temple of the ,soul a ,living     
,temple1 is not the art of  molding the 
mind to perform the mandates of the     
spirit more to be  sought for and       
greater when attained80 8,eternal in the
 ,heavens0 are the  ,temples 8not made  
with hands10 so said the ,guide and so  

,i perceived  more and more clearly4    
,in marked contrast to the foregoing    
were the thought-forms surrounding  some
 of those who had been 8artists0 on     
,earth3 broken lines1  inharmonious     
colors1 discords1 sharp and jagged      
corners--all portraying  disturbed      
conditions of the unruly thoughts and   
impulses that had  possessed them in    
,earth life4    ,i had interesting      
glimpses of those who were 8working with
  themselves40 ,one who was considered  
8eminent0 in art on ,earth was  cutting1
 carving1 breathing upon an image of    
himself4    8,what is he doing80 ,i     
exclaimed1 now really surprised4        
8,removing the angularities and errors  
of his own nature3 jealousy of  other   
artists1 the deepest scar2 selfish love 
of human praise--that  overweening      
desire for adulation2 unwillingness to  
accord to others  appreciation of their 
true merits10 replied the ,guide4       
,later1 ,i saw that artist              
self-renovated1 and one whom he had     

envied  derided and scorned1 when both  
were in ,earth life1 working together1  
producing1 through artist minds on      
earth1 works that possess the merits  of
 both with the added tone of harmony2   
the strength of one being  merged in    
perfect accord with the grace and       
loveliness of the other1  blending in   
wondrous works of ,beauty4    ,this was 
a wonderful lesson1 serving to          
illustrate that at first1  and possibly 
for some time after entering spirit life
 one's chief  occupation is--or should  
be--removing one's own limitations2 but 
this  cannot begin until one is aware   
that one has the imperfections2 to  be  
conscious of one's faults is half the   
remedy4    ,bodily imperfections1       
infirmities and disease1 unless retained
  psychologically by having constantly  
encroached upon the mind1 or            
deformities that are dwelt upon         
mentally1 are dropped with the body2    
but such infirmities of mind as are born
 of an undue 8egotism10 undue  self     

love1 7the capital 8,i0 around which the
 universe revolves71  must be removed   
before the spirit can enter upon real   
work4 ,as  with artists so with those   
eminent in science or any department of 
human thought and endeavor2 the truly   
,great are ever the most humble2        
realizing that however much they know1  
and however clearly they can  think 8the
 universe is full of things we do not   
know02 as one of the  great ones aptly  
said4    ,i had met one--a brilliant    
mind--who in ,earth life was gifted in  
many  ways1 chiefly mathematics4 ,he had
 breakfasted on billions1 dined on      
duodecillions1 supped on sepdecillions1 
he wrote to the rythm of  8logarithms10 
and worshiped at the shrine of the      
calculus6 ,i tried  to imagine what he  
might be doing4 ,perhaps he was         
measuring the  immeasurable or          
calculating the uncalculable6 ,i saw    
him6 ,where was his  ,observatory8      
,where his maps1 charts1 instruments8   
,the answer swept over  and through me  

with a great thrill4    ,the knowledge  
that comes to the spirit is             
instantaneous--if one is  ready--how can
 one use even the most perfect          
instrumentalities and  methods when time
 and space are eliminated8 ,truth is    
perceived3 in  homely phrase 8,no ladder
 for the air men10 8no mathematics for  
the  soul60 ,i never could have imagined
 how quickly he would 8perceive40 ,he   
had attained the real knowledge of      
wisdom and love4    ,the poet-prophets  
of the world1 those who have sung in    
immortal verse  the ,truths of the      
,skies3 ,truths of ,freedom1 ,justice1  
,love1 ,spiritual  ,exaltation1 moved by
 the theme of their songs1 using their  
art as a  setting to the ,jewel of      
,truth1 these endowed ones knew that    
without  the inspiring theme1 the words1
 the rythm would be empty bubbles1      
glittering nothings4      ,,all ,,are   
,,teachers    ,all exalted lives        
7spiritually7 moving and living in      
similar planes of  thought--born of     

their spiritual states--are attracted to
 each other  in spirit life for the     
interchange of perceptions of ,truth and
 bearing  forward the work of           
illuminating such minds on ,earth as are
 ready to  receive along the lines of   
human progress and unfoldment1 imparting
  8the things they are ready to know40  
,spirits1 the wise ones1 do not make the
 mistake1 as many do in human  life1 of 
trying to force upon the minds of those 
whom they teach the  truths or knowledge
 for which those minds are not prepared3
 8,arithmetic  first1 after that        
geometry and higher mathematics10 is the
 rule in  ,earth schools4 ,so in the    
instruction by spirit ,teachers there is
  adaptation to the pupil not only of   
the ,teacher but of that which  is to be
 taught4 ,there are 8ministering        
spirits0 adapted to every  condition4   
,i could but marvel at the wonderful    
workings of these principles that       
govern the influence of 8mind upon      
mind0--really spirit upon spirit2  so   

much more complex yet more potent than  
the 8forces0 and operation  of the      
8laws0 of the material universe--8laws0 
so little understood1  8forces0 so dimly
 perceived4    8,most of the people on  
the ,earth-plane know so little even    
concerning  the things and forces most  
intimately connected with their bodily  
existence3 the sunshine1 the air they   
breathe1 the earth beneath them1  the   
sea1 and the heavens of ,stars2 we must 
not wonder over-much that  they know    
little or nothing of this inner1 though 
more real1 realm of  ,spirit40    ,this 
was from the ,guide4 ,anticipating the  
question that was welling up  from the  
mind3 8,why do not those on ,earth know 
more of these spirit  states1 more of   
their own conditions spiritually80 ,the 
answer had  already been given1 and as  
we passed on the ,teacher said3         
8,growth1 unfoldment1 waiting1 working40
      ,,co-,,workers    ,among the      
groups and assemblages whom ,i met and  
with whom ,i was most  frequently in    

communication during this surpassing    
sojourn were the  arisen co-workers in  
the 8,movement0 with which my life-work 
has been  most identified3              
8,,spiritualism0    ,in the work of a   
life-time as a chosen 8instrument0 to   
bear 8glad  tidings10 to promote the    
knowledge of spirit existence here and  
beyond  the change called death1 and the
 ministration from and communion with   
the arisen ones1 ,i had met in outward  
existence every leading mind and  every 
worker 7medium7 known in the            
,spiritualistic movement4    ,we were   
always friends1 always co-workers1      
sisters and brothers bearing  forward a 
great ,truth4 ,very frequently during   
this wonderful visit in  the realm of   
spirit ,i saw them--either alone or in  
smaller or larger  groups1 renewing the 
companionship that had been so beautiful
 and  delightful when we had worked side
 by side in human forms4    ,in your    
memory1 dear reader1 or in your reading 
scan the list of names  who were first  

known as 8,investigators0 then as       
8,spiritualists10 and  the names of     
those known as ,,mediums 7there were no 
8,psychics0 in those  days47 ,i knew and
 loved them all4 ,i met them all4 ,each 
one in spirit  life is still engaged in 
imparting this knowledge--most important
  of all that human beings can          
receive--concerning ,spiritual ,truth4  
,existence1 life1 love1 work beyond the 
change called death2      ,,spiritualism
 ,,as ,a ,,movement1    ,i had ever been
 instructed by my ,guides1 was given to 
the world when  needed1 and when there  
were those upon the ,earth who were     
ready1 when  the 8ages were ripe0 for   
its coming4    ,in spirit states of     
,earth and in the realms far beyond were
 those who  knew the 8day and hour0 had 
come for 8moving upon the minds of      
,earth  with this new illumination40    
,there was from the 8smallest0 to the   
8greatest10 from the seemingly  8least0 
to the 8most important0 of the          
manifestations a concerted  action4 ,the

 8rappings0 at ,hydesville were no      
8accident10 the visions of  ,clairvoyant
 and seer1 the writings and trance      
utterances 7phenomenal7  were all a part
 of this ,stupendous ,movement4 ,all1   
all1 under guidance  of those wise      
,spirits who knew what the people of the
 world needed and  gave it to them      
according to their needs4               
,necessarily many extremists and        
8imitators0 would be attracted to the   
subject--like driftwood following or    
borne upon every new current of         
thought--but it is safe to say that     
,spiritualism during the sixty-seven    
years since the 8,rochester ,knockings0 
has attracted the attention  of more    
eminent minds in every department of    
human research 7and  convinced them too7
 and given knowledge and consolation to 
a greater  number of people than any    
movement or system of knowledge in      
ancient  or modern times4 ,with those   
who are willing and anxious to be       
classed  as ,spiritualists it is        

knowledge of life beyond death--and of  
the  presence and ministration of the   
beloved arisen ones4    ,so spoke my    
,guide to me and to the group of        
co-workers who had come  forward to meet
 and greet me4 ,how young and beautiful 
they were4 ,always  ,i had noted in     
earth life how beautiful the dear ones  
are when one has  been for a time absent
 from them--and here1 in this realm of  
perpetual  youth1 with the freedom from 
human pain and cares that some of them  
had  so bravely borne1 ,i could but note
 the beauty that is theirs4    ,in the  
interchange of thought and experiences  
with these arisen  co-workers ,i could  
readily understand that being brought   
into direct  personal relationship with 
their 8,guides10 8,inspirers10          
8,teachers10  8helpers0 and with each   
other1 they had become more and more    
aware of  the true meaning and nature of
 the gifts 7mediumship7 that were theirs
  when in the form1 and they realized   
that even those 8,inspirers0 and        

8,teachers0 were also the instruments of
 higher and wiser ,spirits4    ,one     
sister worker said to me 8,i always     
wanted to see my ,guides1 as  you did1  
but ,i could not1 for the gift of spirit
 vision was not mine4  ,now ,i          
understand what it means to #8see with  
the eyes of the ,spirit' and  ,i am     
satisfied40    ,those who had been my   
most intimate co-workers had many things
 to tell  me of their 8awakening0 into  
added perception of spiritual things and
  of the work assigned them in their new
 state of existence2 still  ministering1
 still trying to lift the veil1 mostly  
of ignorance1 that  divides mortals from
 their arisen ones4 ,many were the      
loving messages  sent to friends and    
loved ,companions still in ,earth life4 
8,tell them you saw me here in spirit   
life1 and ,i am ever near them1  in     
response to a thought1 or wish or       
especially a need1 guiding1  guarding1  
aiding40    ,it seems better to receive 
a message from one who has 8been there10

 who  has actually seen and conversed   
with one's friends 8face to face0  and  
8spirit to spirit40 ,so1 in the treasure
 house of my spirit are  stored those   
messages to be given whenever ,i meet   
any of those loved  ones in human life  
to whom ,i was so fortunate as to bear a
 message4 ,it  is to them alone that the
 message for them can be given4    ,the 
transcendent brightness and spiritual   
beauty of that assemblage of            
spirits--from guardian spirits of       
relatives and friends to the wisest  and
 most advanced that one could see1 are  
beyond my power of language  to express4
    ,there is no formal taking of one's 
8place0 or 8position10 no  ceremonious  
8assigning0 of 8duty0 or 8work10 but in 
groups and larger  companies1 as well as
 in personal ministrations1 a mutual    
understanding  of purpose1 according to 
adaptation4 ,if a united or concerted   
action  upon earth-minds for any given  
purpose is needed it is readily         
perceived and entered upon by all who   

are in accord1 and is performed  by such
 methods as enlightened spirits readily 
understand4    ,human minds are better  
prepared to comprehend the methods of   
spirit  communicating with spirit since 
8wireless telegraphy0 and other recent  
scientific wonders have been achieved1  
not that the process is  similar in any 
degree1 but being prepared for the new  
revealments in  science also prepares   
impartial minds to know of the more     
subtle powers  of the spirit4           
8,volition0 in its highest analysis is  
the one attribute  of the spirit by     
which other spirits know--through       
perception1 what  is being imparted1 but
 there must ever be accord1 sympathy1   
adaptation4    ,from some of those who  
had been my friends in my early life and
 who  were 8leading minds0 in this      
cause1 and in other subjects of human   
interest1 ,i received many thoughts and 
suggestions concerning  the present     
status of the 8movement0 7,spiritualism7
 and what  they now think of the        

possible and desirable results of       
8united  action10--8organization0 for   
the work and the workers4 ,these and    
many  other themes must be left for     
opportunity1 time and strength to       
reveal1  as my work goes on in human    
life4    ,one notes the same minds and  
spirits in many assemblages of the      
different branches of all purposes for  
aiding humanity4 ,even as when on  earth
 the 8,pioneers0 in 8,anti-slavery10    
8,equal ,suffrage10 8,temperance10  were
 the same staunch body of men and women1
 ready now as then to  respond to the   
call to give a voice to ,truth4 ,in the 
assemblies for  promoting 8peace0 by    
8those who love their fellow men10 there
 was the  universal sentiment3 8,peace  
must be born of ,justice and ,justice   
can  only come by true ,fraternity40    
8,my country is the world2    ,my       
countrymen all mankind40    ,this is the
 standard extending to include 8,all    
,souls40    8,it seems to inhere in the 
very nature of human life that men will 

fight for3 7#a7 ,personal liberty3      
freedom from physical bondage and       
involuntary servitude2 7#b7 ,for defence
 of those nearest and dearest  enshrined
 in the #8home'2 7#c7 ,for country when 
it represents the #8home'  and those    
#8,ideals' to which the heart ever      
clings40    ,to 8remove the ,causes of  
,war0 all selfish seeking1 all          
aggression by  any nation upon the      
rights of others must cease1 8and this  
must come by  growth1 by enlightenment  
in the cardinal principles of justice1  
love  and truth40 ,these and many other 
thoughts were given forth in that       
assembly4    ,a,a great wave of uprising
 among the women of all nations was     
predicted in favor of conditions that   
would 8make for peace0 leading  to      
united efforts between the most         
enlightened men and women of all        
nations to the establishment of 8,peace 
born of ,right--,not ,might40 ,the      
,peace foretold by poets and sages of   
all time4 ,yet all agree in that        

wonderful assemblage1 that 8treaties of 
,peace0 are without avail unless  the   
moral force of the nations--among their 
leaders1 rulers and a  majority of their
 people--is sufficient to dominate2 and 
make just  treaties binding4    ,as     
individuals are now expected to adjust  
their difference in ,courts  of ,law    
7often misnamed justice71 and it is the 
aim of a majority of  citizens not to   
encroach upon the real rights of others1
 so the time  must come when nations    
will agree to a similar method in       
adjusting  possible differences that may
 arise2 and this much can come even     
before the real millenium of 8,peace on 
,earth and ,love to all ,mankind40      
,there must be some other ,international
 ,tribunal than the battlefield6        
,earth1 sea1 and air1 must not be held  
in bondage for physical carnage6    ,in 
the final 8,day of ,peace0 even ,peace  
,tribunals will not be needed1  but     
now--8may ,angels speed the ,day of     
,peace born of ,justice40    ,in most   

instances ,i could tell the personality1
 or human name1 of each  one giving     
forth a particular thought1 and all were
 in accord4 ,alas1 ,i  could also       
perceive that they saw1 in viewing the  
conditions of ,earth  that 8the end is  
not yet40    ,i cannot mar this         
wonderful visit--this respite from pain 
and cares of  ,earth by dwelling too    
long among the shadows1 warclouds and   
darkened  states of ,earth life4 ,as    
beyond the storm clouds of ,earth's     
nearest  material atmosphere the sun    
always shines glorious and with         
resplendent  brightness1 so beyond the  
horrors of war the desolation and       
ravagement  of nations incident thereto1
 beyond the storms1 earthquakes1 and    
cataclysmic throes of nature1 the ,sun  
of ,spiritual ,hope and ,love ever      
shines surpassing fair1 and all the     
,angelic and ,spiritual ,hosts are      
ready to aid1 strengthen1 succor the    
spirits enshrouded in time and  earth   
conditions4      ,,the ,,return    ,more

 and more frequent were the summons and 
the visits to my mortal  body1 to       
reimbue1 as it was now found possible1  
with my spirit1 to  restore with the    
personal presence1 the body within which
 the vital  spark had been kept alive by
 blessed ,guardian ,spirits and devoted 
friends on ,earth4    ,more and more the
 spirit 8,home friends10 the ,best      
,beloved1 and the  ,guides encouraged   
the thought of my return to fulfill the 
appointed  work on ,earth4 ,i had prayed
 to be allowed to remain1 to let the    
body  pass2 but now1 gradually it is    
true1 the idea of resuming the human    
habiliments1 the garb of the material   
body1 became less repugnant1 and  ,i    
finally freely said3 8,yes1 ,i will go  
as that is the appointed way40    ,have 
you1 dear friend1 who may be reading    
these imperfect fragments  of a perfect 
experience1 7as any narrative must be7  
ever visited  some fair garden1 some    
sequestered home of dearest friends1 a  
place  radiant with beauty and          

enchantment2 where there were flowers   
massed  in rarest combinations of color 
and fragrance1 fountains murmuring  in  
answer to the summer winds1 music1 such 
as seemed a part of the  enrapturing    
scene2 have you enjoyed this with the   
chosen friends that  alone could make   
the scene sacred1 the ,best ,beloved8   
,and have you known  the reluctance to  
return to the 8outer world0 of daily    
routine of care1  perhaps of pain8 ,ah1 
then you know in the smallest degree    
what it  meant to me to return to my    
bodily form6    ,yet even now the soul  
of all that was mine in that wonderful1 
surpassing state is ever with me2 nor   
will it again be absent from  me--since 
it is enfolded in my very being4 ,i am  
more complete now1 even  in the body    
which ever divides us from the ,soul of 
,life4    8,you will be with us again   
and often10 they said2 the ,guide said  
no  formal 8farewells10 no              
8leavetaking10 but everywhere from every
 ,dear  and ,blessed one 8,blessings1   

,peace1 ,joy1 and ,love go with you into
 added  ,strength and ,work40    ,and   
here ,i am3 ready to help the body to   
grow stronger1 and to  willingly1       
joyfully1 in the future as in the past1 
perform the work  assigned              
me--until--they--call--me--,home4       
,,cora ,l4 ,v4 ,,richmond4          ,an 
,added ,word or ,two      ,the          
possibility of the spirit 8leaving the  
body0 for a time and then  returning and
 resuming its usual activities has been 
demonstrated  many times4 ,in some      
instances the temporary separation was  
caused by  accident1 illness1 states of 
coma induced by anesthetics1 trance1    
either of spirit control or hypnosis1   
and sometimes a voluntary  absence or   
activity not suspending the vital       
functions of the body4 ,it  is also     
undoubtedly true that during            
sleep--especially that restful1         
dreamless sleep that betokens a normal  
state of mind and body1 the  spirit     
avails itself of the opportunity of     

restoration by spiritual  methods and   
activities not possible while urging the
 body to do its  bidding4 ,not only     
,spiritualists1 ,psychologists and      
,psychic ,research  students have well  
authenticated cases of the undoubted    
activity of the  ,spirit apart from the 
body1 but many prominent physicians have
 recorded  their experiences with       
patients whose bodily functions were    
suspended1  even to seeming dissolution1
 and upon the unexpected resuscitation  
of  the subject there would be a vivid  
account of active experiences in        
spirit--usually pleasant scenes and     
meetings with friends long passed  into 
spirit life4 ,these visits to 8heaven0  
would be sometimes tinged  with the     
religious bias of the subject1 but this 
is not strange in view  of the fact that
 spirit states are conditions of the    
mind and spirit  experiencing them4     
,among the most familiar popular        
illustrations are those narrated  by    
,elizabeth ,stuart ,phelps1 especially  

by 8,gail ,hamilton0 who1  being thought
 8dead0 returned to her body1 narrated  
to her pastor  the experiences she had  
during that period of suspended         
animation  and resumed her pen1         
remaining in mortal life a considerable 
time  thereafter4    ,although not      
usual1 this class of experiences is not 
so unusual as  many imagine or assert4  
,and the writer having been from        
childhood  accustomed to the 8other     
state0 78,inner10 8higher071 of         
consciousness  can distinctly trace her 
experiences in that inner realm as      
forming  fully a third if not one-half  
of her life-experiences4    ,the 8realm 
of spirit0 in which she has so often    
found herself a  participant is1        
therefore1 no unfamiliar realm2 in fact 
if called  upon to decide which state is
 the reality--the life1 she would       
unhesitatingly say3 the inner state1 the
 super-mundane realm4    ,of the many   
eminent men of ,science in both ,europe 
and ,america who have  come to a        

knowledge of the truths of ,spirit      
existence1 continuance of  life after   
transition1--and the writer has known   
them all personally1  except the one she
 is about to mention1--probably ,sir    
,oliver ,lodge  has approached the      
subject of 8psychic ,research0          
7,spiritualism7 with  a mind the best   
prepared to receive 7perceive7          
,spiritual ,truth4 ,i  say this with the
 utmost reverence and admiration for the
 long list  of names--eminent alike in  
their personal qualities and scientific 
attainments1 whose lives have been made 
brighter by a knowledge of  demonstrated
 future existence and a belief in the   
,immortality of the  ,soul4 ,shall ,i   
name some of them8 ,hare1 ,mapes1       
,denton1 ,wallace1 ,crookes1  ,varley1  
,zollner1 ,flammarion--the list is      
almost endless4    ,sir ,oliver ,lodge  
has not only recently1 and very         
publicly1 announced  his full belief    
7knowledge7 of continued personal       
existence beyond the  change called     

death1 but the possibility of communion 
with those 8gone  before0 and the       
certainty that he had personal evidence 
beyond cavil  or doubt1 proofs          
indubitable1 of the presence of and     
communication  with his particular      
friends1 but--and this is the point ,i  
wish  to emphasize--in his earlier      
utterances on this subject he said  in  
effect3 8,when ,i become aware that the 
human spirit while still  animating the 
body1 or not released by death1 has such
 surpassing  powers1 #8telepathy1'      
#8voluntary action' apart from the body1
 showing  conclusively that the         
activities of the mind are not dependent
  upon the physical organism--,i        
concluded there must be evidence to     
show that the spirit can and does       
survive the body40 ,this and much  more 
was in his published statements         
concerning his investigations  in       
connection with ,psychic                
,research--showing that he approached   
the  subject not only from the 8effect  

to cause0 line of usual scientific      
investigation1 but had already in his   
quickened perception the  vivification  
of a-priori knowledge leading from      
8cause to effect40    ,one would like to
 accumulate and set down in condensed   
manner all the  available evidences of  
8absence from the body0--of which the   
writer has  a large and increasing      
store1 but this writing is more         
distinctly in  the form of a message for
 this particular time4    ,with our own 
8other world0 within and about us1      
moving 8like wings of  light on dark and
 stormy air10 with such unused1         
wonderful powers1 what  wonder that one 
having partaken of the bounties of that 
inner realm  longs to awaken the        
8sleeping0 spirits of those in human    
life--or1 more  correctly speaking1 tear
 aside the veil and show how wonderful  
are the  dormant powers within each     
person3 ,soul-powers more active1       
perhaps1  than any are aware6 ,who can  
tell1 until the film of mental blindness

 is  removed1 how great may be the works
 accomplished by the spirit when the    
body sleeps1 when one is 8absent        
minded10 or when thinking intently  of a
 particular friend1 one finds at that   
very day and hour the friend  had       
8passed away08    ,it is of the         
8,substance that dreams are made0 that  
we shall ultimately  find our divinest  
realities1 our very lives are fashioned4
    ,this narrative of 8experiences     
while out of my body0 is only a prelude 
to those vaster heights1 those more     
inner scenes1 that ,i hope sometime  to 
be able to record3 ,the ,symphony is    
,life itself whose theme of ,love  is   
,endless1 ,endless1 ,endless4           
--,the ,author4    ,illustration        
,,footnote3    ,a ,this was before the  
,woman's 8,peace ,congress0 had been    
thought of by  ,earth minds4            
,,transcriber',s ,,notes3               
,italicized text is surrounded by       
underscores3 italics4      ,obvious     
typographical errors have been          

corrected4      ,inconsistencies in     
hyphenation have been standardized4     
,archaic or variant spelling has been   
retained4