Ithasbeenshownthatthereissomegoodevidencefortheexistenceofthissecondbodyapartfrompsychicreligion，buttothosewhohaveexaminedthatreligionitisthecentreofthewholesystem，sufficientlyrealtoberecognisedbyclairvoyants，tobeheardbyclairaudients，andeventomakeanexactimpressionuponaphotographicplate。Ofthelatterphenomenon，ofwhichIhavehadsomeveryparticularopportunitiesofjudging，IhavenomoredoubtthanIhaveoftheordinaryphotographyofcommerce。
Ithadalreadybeenshownbytheastronomersthatthesensitizedplateisamoredelicaterecordinginstrumentthanthehumanretina，andthatitcanshowstarsuponaPage59
longexposurewhichtheeyehasneverseen。Itwouldappearthatthespiritworldisreallysoneartousthataverylittleextrahelpundercorrectconditionsofmediumshipwillmakeallthedifference。Thustheplate，insteadoftheeye，maybringthelovedfacewithintherangeofvision，whilethetrumpet，actingasamegaphone，maybringbackthefamiliarvoicewherethespiritwhisperwithnomechanicalaidwasstillinaudible。
Soloudmaythelatterphenomenonbethatinonecase，ofwhichIhavetherecord，thedeadman’sdogwassoexcitedathearingoncemorehismaster’svoicethathebrokehischain，anddeeplyscarredtheoutsideoftheseanceroomdoorinhiseffortstoforceanentrance。
Now，havingsaidsomuchofthespiritbody，andhavingindicatedthatitspresenceisnotvouchedforbyonlyonelineofevidenceorschoolofthought，letusturntowhathappensatthetimeofdeath，accordingtotheobservationofclairvoyantsonthissideandtheposthumousaccountsofthedeadupontheother。Itisexactlywhatweshouldexpecttohappen，grantedthedoubleidentity。InapainlessandnaturalprocessPage60
thelighterdisengagesitselffromtheheavier，andslowlydrawsitselfoffuntilitstandswiththesamemind，thesameemotions，andanexactlysimilarbody，besidethecouchofdeath，awareofthosearoundandyetunabletomakethemawareofit，savewherethatfinerspiritualeyesightcalledclairvoyanceexists。How，wemaywellask，canitseewithoutthenaturalorgans？Howdidthehashishvictimseehisownunconsciousbody？
HowdidtheFloridadoctorseehisfriend？Thereisapowerofperceptioninthespiritualbodywhichdoesgivethepower。Wecansaynomore。Totheclairvoyantthenewspiritseemslikeafilmyoutline。Totheordinarymanitisinvisible。Toanotherspirititwould，nodoubt，seemasnormalandsubstantialasweappeartoeachother。Thereissomeevidencethatitrefineswithtime，andisthereforenearertothematerialatthemomentofdeathorcloselyafterit，thanafteralapseofmonthsoryears。Hence，itisthatapparitionsofthedeadaremostclearandmostcommonaboutthetimeofdeath，andhencealso，nodoubt，thefactthatthecatalepticphysicianalreadyquotedwasseenPage61
andrecognisedbyhisfriend。Themeshesofhisether，ifthephrasebepermitted，werestillheavywiththematterfromwhichtheyhadonlyjustbeendisentangled。
Havingdisengageditselffromgrossermatter，whathappenstothisspiritbody，thepreciousbarkwhichbearsourallinalluponthisvoyageintounknownseas？Verymanyaccountshavecomebacktous，verbalandwritten，detailingtheexperiencesofthosewhohavepassedon。Theverbalarebytrancemediums，whoseutterancesappeartobecontrolledbyoutsideintelligences。Thewrittenfromautomaticwriterswhosescriptisproducedinthesameway。Atthesewordsthecriticnaturallyandreasonablyshies，witha"Whatnonsense!Howcanyoucontrolthestatementofthismediumwhoisconsciouslyorunconsciouslypretendingtoinspiration？"
Thisisahealthyscepticism，andshouldanimateeveryexperimenterwhotestsanewmedium。Theproofsmustlieinthecommunicationitself。Iftheyarenotpresent，then，asalways，wemustacceptnaturalratherthanunknownexplanations。Buttheyarecontinuallypresent，andinsuchobviousformsthatnoPage62
onecandenythem。ThereisacertainprofessionalmediumtowhomI
havesentmany，motherswhowereinneedofconsolation。Ialwaysasktheapplicantstoreporttheresulttome，andIhavetheirlettersofsurpriseandgratitudebeforemeasIwrite。"Thankyouforthisbeautifulandinterestingexperience。Shedidnotmakeasinglemistakeabouttheirnames，andeverythingshesaidwascorrect。"Inthiscasetherewasariftbetweenhusbandandwifebeforedeath，butthemediumwasable，unaided，toexplainandclearupthewholematter，mentioningthecorrectcircumstances，andnamesofeveryoneconcerned，andshowingthereasonsforthenon—arrivalofcertainletters，whichhadbeenthecauseofthemisunderstanding。Thenextcasewasalsooneofhusbandandwife，butitisthehusbandwhoisthesurvivor。
Hesays："Itwasamostsuccessfulsitting。Amongotherthings，IaddressedaremarkinDanishtomywife（whoisaDanishgirl），andtheanswercamebackinEnglishwithouttheleasthesitation。"Thenextcasewasagainofamanwhohadlostaverydearmalefriend。"IhavehadthemostwonderfulresultswithPage63
Mrs。————to—day。Icannottellyouthejoyithasbeentome。Manygratefulthanksforyourhelp。"Thenextonesays："Mrs。————wassimplywonderful。Ifonlymorepeopleknew，whatagonytheywouldbespared。"
Inthiscasethewifegotintouchwiththehusband，andthemediummentionedcorrectlyfivedeadrelativeswhowereinhiscompany。Thenextisacaseofmotherandson。"IsawMrs。————to—day，andobtainedverywonderfulresults。Shetoldmenearlyeverythingquitecorrectly——averyfewmistakes。"
Thenextissimilar。"Wewerequitesuccessful。MyboyevenremindedmeofsomethingthatonlyheandIknew。"Saysanother："Myboyremindedmeofthedaywhenhesowedturnipseeduponthelawn。Onlyhecouldhaveknownofthis。"Thesearefairsamplesoftheletters，ofwhichIholdalargenumber。TheyarefrompeoplewhopresentthemselvesfromamongthemillionslivinginLondon，ortheprovinces，andaboutwhoseaffairsthemediumhadnopossiblenormalwayofknowing。OfalltheverynumerouscaseswhichIhavesenttothismediumIhaveonlyhadafewwhichhavebeencompletefailures。OnPage64
quotingmyresultstoSirOliverLodge，heremarkedthathisownexperiencewithanothermediumhadbeenalmostidentical。ItisnoexaggerationtosaythatourBritishtelephonesystemswouldprobablygivealargerproportionofuselesscalls。Howisanycritictogetbeyondthesefactssavebyignoringormisrepresentingthem？Healthy，scepticismisthebasisofallaccurateobservation，buttherecomesatimewhenincredulitymeanseitherculpableignoranceorelseimbecility，andthistimehasbeenlongpastinthematterofspiritintercourse。
Inmyowncase，thismediummentionedcorrectlythefirstnameofaladywhohaddiedinourhouse，gaveseveralverycharacteristicmessagesfromher，describedtheonlytwodogswhichwehaveeverkept，andendedbysayingthatayoungofficerwasholdingupagoldcoinbywhichIwouldrecognisehim。Ihadlostmybrother—in—law，anarmydoctor，inthewar，andIhadgivenhimaspadeguineaforhisfirstfee，whichhealwaysworeonhischain。Therewerenotmorethantwoorthreecloserelativeswhoknewaboutthisincident，sothatthetestwasaparticularlygoodone。ShePage65
madenoincorrectstatements，thoughsomewerevague。AfterIhadrevealedtheidentityofthismediumseveralpressmenattemptedtohavetestseanceswithher——atestseancebeing，inmostcases，aseancewhichbeginsbybreakingeverypsychicconditionandmakingsuccessmostimprobable。Oneofthesegentlemen，Mr。UlyssRogers，hadveryfairresults。Anothersentfrom"Truth"hadcompletefailure。Itmustbeunderstoodthatthesepowersdonotworkfromthemedium，butthroughthemedium，andthattheforcesinthebeyondhavenottheleastsympathywithasmartyoungpressmaninsearchofclevercopy，whiletheyhaveaverydifferentfeelingtoabereavedmotherwhoprayswithallherbrokenheartthatsomeassurancemaybegivenherthatthechildofherloveisnotgonefromherforever。Whenthisfactismastered，anditisunderstoodthat"Standanddeliver"methodsonlyexcitegentlederisionontheotherside，weshallfindsomemoreintelligentmannerofputtingthingsofthespirittotheproof。
Note：SeeAppendixD。
Ihavedweltupontheseresults，whichPage66
couldbematchedbyothermediums，toshowthatwehavesolidandcertainreasonstosaythattheverbalreportsarenotfromthemediumsthemselves。
ReadersofArthurHill’s"PsychicalInvestigations"willfindmanyevenmoreconvincingcases。Sointhewrittencommunications，Ihaveinapreviouspaperpointedtothe"GateofRemembrance"case，butthereisagreatmassofmaterialwhichprovesthat，inspiteofmistakesandfailures，therereallyisachannelofcommunication，fitfulandevasivesometimes，butentirelybeyondcoincidenceorfraud。These，then，aretheusualmeansbywhichwereceivepsychicmessages，thoughtabletilting，ouijaboards，glassesuponasmoothsurface，oranythingwhichcanbemovedbythevitalanimal—magneticforcealreadydiscussedwillequallyservethepurpose。
Ofteninformationisconveyedorallyorbywritingwhichcouldnothavebeenknowntoanyoneconcerned。Mr。Wilkinsonhasgivendetailsofthecasewherehisdeadsondrewattentiontothefactthatacurio（acoinbentbyabullet）hadbeenoverlookedamonghiseffects。SirWilliamBarretthasnarratedhowayoungPage67
officersentamessageleavingapearltie—pintoafriend。Nooneknewthatsuchapinexisted，butitwasfoundamonghisthings。ThedeathofSirHughLanewasgivenataprivateseanceinDublinbeforethedetailsoftheLusitaniadisasterhadbeenpublished。
Note：Thedetailsofboththeselattercasesaretobefoundin"VoicesfromtheVoid"byMrs。TraversSmith，abookcontainingsomewellweighedevidence。Onthatmorningweourselves，inasmallseance，gotthemessage"Itisterrible，terrible，andwillgreatlyaffectthewar，"atatimewhenwewereconvincedthatnogreatlossoflifecouldhaveoccurred。
Suchexamplesareverynumerous，andareonlyquotedheretoshowhowimpossibleitistoinvoketelepathyastheoriginofsuchmessages。Thereisonlyoneexplanationwhichcoversthefacts。Theyarewhattheysaytheyare，messagesfromthosewhohavepassedon，fromthespiritualbodywhichwasseentorisefromthedeathbed，whichhasbeensooftenphotographed，whichpervadesallreligionineveryage，andwhichhasbeenable，underpropercircumstances，tomaterialisebackintoatemporarysoliditysothatitcouldwalkandtalklikeamortal，whetherinJerusalemtwothousandyearsPage68
ago，orinthelaboratoryofMr。Crookes，inMorningtonRoad，London。
LetusforamomentexaminethefactsinthisCrookes’
episode。Asmallbookexistswhichdescribesthem，thoughitisnotasaccessibleasitshouldbe。Inthesewonderfulexperiments，whichextendedoverseveralyears，MissFlorrieCook，whowasayoungladyoffrom16
to18yearsofage，wasrepeatedlyconfinedinProf。Crookes’study，thedoorbeinglockedontheinside。Hereshelayunconsciousuponacouch。
Thespectatorsassembledinthelaboratory，whichwasseparatedbyacurtainedopeningfromthestudy。Afterashortinterval，throughthisopeningthereemergedaladywhowasinallwaysdifferentfromMissCook。ShegaveherearthnameasKatieKing，andsheproclaimedherselftobeamaterialisedspirit，whosemissionitwas"tocarrytheknowledgeofimmortalitytomortals。Shewasofgreatbeautyofface，figure，andmanner。ShewasfourandahalfinchestallerthanMissCook，fair，whereasthelatterwasdark，andasdifferentfromherasonewomancouldbefromanother。Herpulseratewasmarkedlyslower。ShebecameforPage69
thetimeentirelyoneofthecompany，walkingabout，addressingeachpersonpresent，andtakingdelightinthechildren。Shemadenoobjectiontophotographyoranyothertest。Forty—eightphotographsofdifferentdegreesofexcellenceweremadeofher。Shewasseenatthesametimeasthemediumonseveraloccasions。Finallyshedeparted，sayingthathermissionwasoverandthatshehadotherworktodo。Whenshevanishedmaterialismshouldhavevanishedalso，ifmankindhadtakenadequatenoticeofthefacts。
Now，whatcanthefair—mindedinquirersaytosuchastoryasthat——oneofmany，butforthemomentweareconcentratinguponit？
WasMr。Crookesablasphemousliar？Buttherewereverymanywitnesses，asmanysometimesaseightatasinglesitting。AndtherearethephotographswhichincludeMissCookandshowthatthetwowomenwerequitedifferent。
Washehonestlymistaken？Butthatisinconceivable。Readtheoriginalnarrativeandseeifyoucanfindanysolutionsavethatitistrue。Ifamancanreadthatsober，cautiousstatementandnotbeconvinced，thenPage70
assuredlyhisbrain，isoutofgear。Finally，askyourselfwhetheranyreligiousmanifestationintheworldhashadanythingliketheabsoluteproofwhichliesinthisone。Cannottheorthodoxseethatinsteadofcombatingsuchastory，ortalkingnonsenseaboutdevils，theyshouldhailthatwhichisindeedthefinalanswertothatmaterialismwhichistheirreallydangerousenemy。EvenasIwrite，myeyefallsuponaletteronmydeskfromanofficerwhohadlostallfaithinimmortalityandbecomeanabsolutematerialist。
"Icametodreadmyreturnhome，forIcannotstandhypocrisy，andIknewwellmyattitudewouldcausesomemembersofmyfamilydeepgrief。Yourbookhasnowbroughtmeuntoldcomfort，andIcanfacethefuturecheerfully。"
ArethesefruitsfromtheDevil’stree，youtimidorthodoxcritic？
Havingthengotintouchwithourdead，weproceed，naturally，toaskthemhowitiswiththem，andunderwhatconditionstheyexist。
Itisaveryvitalquestion，sincewhathasbefallenthemyesterdaywillsurelybefallusto—morrow。Buttheansweristidingsofgreatjoy。OfthenewvitalmesPage71
sagetohumanitynothingismoreimportantthanthat。Itrollsawayallthosehorribleman—bredfearsandfancies，foundeduponmorbidimaginationsandthewildphrasesoftheoriental。Wecomeuponwhatissane，whatismoderate，whatisreasonable，whatisconsistentwithgradualevolutionandwiththebenevolenceofGod。WerethereeveranyconsciousblasphemersuponearthwhohaveinsultedtheDeitysodeeplyasthoseextremists，betheyCalvinist，RomanCatholic，Anglican，orJew，whopicturedwiththeirdistortedmindsanimplacabletorturerastheRuleroftheUniverse!
Thetruthofwhatistoldusastothelifebeyondcaninitsverynatureneverbeabsolutelyestablished。Itisfarnearertocompleteproof，however，thananyreligiousrevelationwhichhaseverprecededit。Wehavethefactthattheseaccountsaremixedupwithothersconcerningourpresentlifewhichareoftenabsolutelytrue。Ifaspiritcantellthetruthaboutoursphere，itisdifficulttosupposethatheisentirelyfalseabouthisown。Then，again，thereisaverygreatsimilarityaboutsuchaccounts，thoughtheiroriginmaybefrompeopleveryfarapart。Page72
Thusthough"non—veridical，"tousethemodernjargon，theydoconformtoallourcanonsofevidence。Aseriesofbookswhichhaveattractedfarlessattentionthantheydeservehavedrawnthecominglifeinveryclosedetail。Thesebooksarenotfoundonrailwaybookstallsorinpopularlibraries，butthesuccessiveeditionsthroughwhichtheypassshowthatthereisadeeperpublicwhichgetswhatitwantsinspiteofartificialobstacles。
LookingoverthelistofmyreadingIfind，besidesnearlyadozenveryinterestinganddetailedmanuscriptaccounts，suchpublishednarrativesas"Claude’sBook，"purportingtocomefromayoungBritishaviator；"ThySonLiveth，"fromanAmericansoldier，"PrivateDowding"；
"Raymond，"fromaBritishsoldier；"DoThoughtsPerish？"whichcontainsaccountsfromseveralBritishsoldiersandothers；"IHeardaVoice，"whereawell—knownK。C。，throughthemediumshipofhistwoyoungdaughters，hasaveryfullrevelationofthelifebeyond；"AfterDeath，"withtheallegedexperiencesofthefamousMissJuliaAmes；"TheSevenPurposes，"fromanAmericanPage73
pressman，andmanyothers。Theydiffermuchinliteraryskillandarenotallequallyimpressive，butthepointwhichmuststrikeanyimpartialmindisthegeneralagreementofthesevariousaccountsastotheconditionsofspiritlife。Anexaminationwouldshowthatsomeofthemmusthavebeeninthepressatthesametime，sothattheycouldnothaveeachinspiredtheother。"Claude’sBook"and"ThySonLiveth"appearedatnearlythesametimeondifferentsidesoftheAtlantic，buttheyagreeveryclosely。
"Raymond"and"DoThoughtsPerish？"mustalsohavebeeninthepresstogether，buttheschemeofthingsisexactlythesame。Surelytheagreementofwitnessesmusthere，asinallcases，beaccountedasatestoftruth。Theydiffermainly，asitseemstome，whentheydealwiththeirownfutureincludingspeculationsastoreincarnation，etc。，whichmaywellbeasfoggytothemasitistous，orsystemsofphilosophywhereagainindividualopinionisapparent。
Ofalltheseaccountstheonewhichismostdeservingofstudyis"Raymond。"ThisissobecauseithasbeencompiledfromseveralfamousmediumsworkingindependentPage74
lyofeachother，andhasbeencheckedandchronicledbyamanwhoisnotonlyoneoftheforemostscientistsoftheworld，andprobablytheleadingintellectualforceinEurope，butonewhohasalsohadauniqueexperienceoftheprecautionsnecessaryfortheobservationofpsychicphenomena。Thebrightandsweetnatureoftheyoungsoldierupontheotherside，andhiseagernesstotellofhisexperienceisalsoafactorwhichwillappealtothosewhoarealreadysatisfiedastothetruthofthecommunications。
Forallthesereasonsitisamostimportantdocument——indeeditwouldbenoexaggerationtosaythatitisoneofthemostimportantinrecentliterature。Itis，asIbelieve，anauthenticaccountofthelifeinthebeyond，anditisoftenmoreinterestingfromitssidelightsandreservationsthanforitsactualassertions，thoughthelatterbearthestampofabsolutefranknessandsincerity。Thecompilationisinsomewaysfaulty。SirOliverhasnotalwaystheartofwritingsoastobeunderstandedofthepeople，andhisdeeperandmoreweightythoughtsgetinthewayoftheclearutterancesofhisson。Thenagain，inhisanxietytobeabsolutelyPage75
accurate，SirOliverhasreproducedthefactthatsometimesRaymondisspeakingdirect，andsometimesthecontrolisreportingwhatRaymondissaying，sothatthesameparagraphmayturnseveraltimesfromthefirstpersontothethirdinamannerwhichmustbeutterlyunintelligibletothosewhoarenotversedinthesubject。SirOliverwill，Iamsure，notbeoffendedifIsaythat，havingsatisfiedhisconsciencebythepresentedition，heshouldnowleaveitforreference，andputforthanewonewhichshouldcontainnothingbutthewordsofRaymondandhisspiritfriends。
Suchabook，publishedatalowprice，would，Ithink，haveanamazingeffect，andgetallthisnewteachingtothespotthatGodhasmarkedforit——themindsandheartsofthepeople。
Somuchhasbeensaidhereaboutmediumshipthatperhapsitwouldbewelltoconsiderthiscuriousconditionalittlemoreclosely。
Thequestionofmediumship，whatitisandhowitacts，isoneofthemostmysteriousinthewholerangeofscience。ItisacommonobjectiontosayifourdeadaretherewhyshouldweonlyhearofthemthroughpeoplebynomeansremarkableforPage76
moralormentalgifts，whoareoftenpaidfortheirministration。Itisaplausibleargument，andyetwhenwereceiveatelegramfromabrotherinAustraliawedonotsay："ItisstrangethatTomshouldnotcommunicatewithmedirect，butthatthepresenceofthathalf—educatedfellowinthetelegraphofficeshouldbenecessary。"Themediumisintruthamerepassivemachine，clerkandtelegraphinone。Nothingcomesfromhim。Everymessageisthroughhim。Whyheorsheshouldhavethepowermorethananyoneelseisaveryinterestingproblem。Thispowermaybestbedefinedasthecapacityforallowingthebodilypowers，physicalormental，tobeusedbyanoutsideinfluence。Initshigherformsthereistemporaryextinctionofpersonalityandthesubstitutionofsomeothercontrollingspirit。Atsuchtimesthemediummayentirelyloseconsciousness，orhemayretainitandbeawareofsomeexternalexperiencewhichhasbeenenjoyedbyhisownentitywhilehisbodilyhousehasbeenfilledbythetemporarytenant。Orthemediummayretainconsciousness，andwitheyesandearsattunedtoahigherkeythanthenormalmancanatPage77
tain，hemayseeandhearwhatisbeyondoursenses。Orinwritingmediumship，amotorcentreofthebrainregulatingthenervesandmusclesofthearmmaybecontrolledwhileallelseseemstobenormal。Oritmaytakethemorematerialformoftheexudationofastrangewhiteevanescentdough—likesubstancecalledtheectoplasm，whichhasbeenfrequentlyphotographedbyscientificenquirersindifferentstagesofitsevolution，andwhichseemstopossessaninherentqualityofshapingitselfintopartsorthewholeofabody，beginninginaputty—likemouldandendinginaresemblancetoperfecthumanmembers。Ortheectoplasm，whichseemstobeanemanationofthemediumtotheextentthatwhateveritmayweighissomuchsubtractedfromhissubstance，maybeusedasprojectionsorrodswhichcanconveyobjectsorliftweights。Afriend，inwhosejudgmentandveracityIhaveabsoluteconfidence，waspresentatoneofDr。Crawford’sexperimentswithKathleenGoligher，whois，itmayberemarked，anunpaidmedium。Myfriendtouchedthecolumnofforce，andfounditcouldbefeltbythehandthoughinvisibletotheeye。Page78
Itisclearthatweareintouchwithsomeentirelynewformbothofmatterandofenergy。Weknowlittleofthepropertiesofthisextraordinarysubstancesavethatinitsmaterialisingformitseemsextremelysensitivetotheactionoflight。Afigurebuiltupinitanddetachedfromthemediumdissolvesinlightquickerthanasnowimageunderatropicalsun，sothattwosuccessiveflash—lightphotographswouldshowtheoneaperfectfigure，andthenextanamorphousmass。Whenstillattachedtothemediumtheectoplasmfliesbackwithgreatforceonexposuretolight，and，inspiteofthelaughterofthescoffers，thereisnonethelessgoodevidencethatseveralmediumshavebeenbadlyinjuredbytherecoilafteralighthassuddenlybeenstruckbysomeamateurdetective。ProfessorGeleyhas，inhisrecentexperiments，describedtheectoplasmasappearingoutsidetheblackdressofhismediumasifahoarfrosthaddescendeduponher，thencoalescingintoacontinuoussheetofwhitesubstance，andoozingdownuntilitformedasortofaproninfrontofher。
Note：ForGeley’sExperiments，AppendixA。Page79
Thisprocesshehasillustratedbyaverycompleteseriesofphotographs。
Theseareafewofthepropertiesofmediumship。Therearealsothebeautifulphenomenaoftheproductionoflights，andtherarer，butforevidentialpurposesevenmorevaluable，manifestationsofspiritphotography。Thefactthatthephotographdoesnotcorrespondinmanycaseswithanywhichexistedinlife，mustsurelysilencethescoffer，thoughthereisaclassofbigotedscepticwhowouldstillbesneeringifanArchangelalightedinTrafalgarSquare。Mr。HopeandMrs。Buxton，ofCrewe，havebroughtthisphaseofmediumshiptogreatperfection，thoughothershavepowersinthatdirection。Indeed，insomecasesitisdifficulttosaywhothemediummayhavebeen，forinonecollectivefamilygroupwhichwastakenintheordinaryway，andwassentmebyamasterinawellknownpublicschool，theyoungsonwhodiedhasappearedintheplateseatedbetweenhistwolittlebrothers。
Astothepersonalityofmediums，theyhaveseemedtometobeveryaveragespecimensofthecommunity，neithermarkedlybetternormarkedlyworse。Iknowmany，Page80
andIhavenevermetanythingintheleastlike"Sludge，"apoemwhichBrowningmightbeexcusedforwritinginsomecrisisofdomesticdisagreement，butwhichitwasinexcusabletorepublishsinceitisadmittedtobeaconcoction，andtheexposuredescribedtohavebeenimaginary。Thecriticoftenusesthetermmediumasifitnecessarilymeantaprofessional，whereaseveryinvestigatorhasfoundsomeofhisbestresultsamongamateurs。InthetwofinestseancesIeverattended，thepsychic，ineachcaseamanofmoderatemeans，wasresolutelydeterminedneverdirectlyorindirectlytoprofitbyhisgift，thoughitentailedveryexhaustingphysicalconditions。
Ihavenotheardofaclergymanofanydenominationwhohasattainedsuchapitchofaltruism——norisitreasonabletoexpectit。Astoprofessionalmediums，Mr。VoutPeters，oneofthemostfamous，isadiligentcollectorofoldbooksandanauthorityupontheElizabethandrama；whileMr。Dickinson，anotherveryremarkablediscernerofspirits，whonamedtwenty—fourcorrectlyduringtwomeetingsheldonthesameday，isemployedinloadingcanalbarges。ThismanisonePage81
giftedclairvoyantsinEngland，thoughTomTyrrelltheweaver，AaronWilkinson，andothersareverymarvellous。Tyrrell，whoisamanoftheAnthonyofPaduatype，awalkingsaint，belovedofanimalsandchildren，isafigurewhomighthavesteppedoutofsomelegendofthechurch。Thomas，thepowerfulphysicalmedium，isaworkingcoalminer。Mostmediumstaketheirresponsibilitiesveryseriouslyandviewtheirworkinareligiouslight。Thereisnodenyingthattheyareexposedtoveryparticulartemptations，forthegiftis，asIhaveexplainedelsewhere，anintermittentone，andtoadmititstemporaryabsence，andsodiscourageone’sclients，needsgreatermoralprinciplethanallmenpossess。Anothertemptationtowhichseveralgreatmediumshavesuccumbedisthatofdrink。Thiscomesaboutinaverynaturalway，foroverworkingthepowerleavestheminastateofphysicalprostration，andthestimulusofalcoholaffordsawelcomerelief，andmaytendatlasttobecomeacustomandfinallyacurse。Alcoholismalwaysweakensthemoralsense，sothatthesedegeneratemediumsyieldthemselvesmorereadilytofraud，withtheresultPage82
thatseveralwhohaddeservedlywonhonourednamesandmetallhostilecriticismhave，intheirlateryears，beendetectedinthemostcontemptibletricks。Itisathousandpitiesthatitshouldbeso，butiftheCourtofArchesweretogiveupitssecrets，itwouldbefoundthattipplingandmoraldegenerationwerebynomeansconfinedtopsychics。Atthesametime，apsychicissopeculiarlysensitivethatIthinkheorshewouldalwaysbewelladvisedtobealifelongabstainer——asmanyactuallyare。
Astothemethodbywhichtheyattaintheirresultstheyhave，wheninthetrancestate，norecollection。Inthecaseofnormalclairvoyantsandclairaudients，theinformationcomesindifferentways。
Sometimesitisnomorethanastrongmentalimpressionwhichgivesanameoranaddress。Sometimestheysaythattheyseeitwrittenupbeforethem。
Sometimesthespiritfiguresseemtocallittothem。"Theyyellitatme，"saidone。Weneedmorefirst—handaccountsofthesemattersbeforewecanformulatelaws。
Ithasbeenstatedinapreviousbookbytheauthor，butitwillbearrepetition，thatPage83
theuseoftheseanceshould，inhisopinion，becarefullyregulatedaswellasreverentlyconducted。Havingoncesatisfiedhimselfoftheabsoluteexistenceoftheunseenworld，andofitsproximitytoourown，theinquirerhasgotthegreatgiftwhichpsychicalinvestigationcangivehim，andthenceforthhecanregulatehislifeuponthelineswhichtheteachingfrombeyondhasshowntobethebest。Thereismuchforceinthecriticismthattooconstantintercoursewiththeaffairsofanotherworldmaydistractourattentionandweakenourpowersindealingwithourobviousdutiesinthisone。Aseance，withtheobjectofsatisfyingcuriosityorofrousinginterest，cannotbeanelevatinginfluence，andthemeresensation—mongercanmakethisholyandwonderfulthingasbaseastheover—indulgenceinastimulant。Ontheotherhand，wheretheseanceisusedforthepurposeofsatisfyingourselvesastotheconditionofthosewhomwehavelost，orofgivingcomforttootherswhocraveforawordfrombeyond，thenitis，indeed，ablessedgiftfromGodtobeusedwithmoderationandwiththankfulness。OurlovedoneshavetheirownpleasanttasksinPage84
theirnewsurroundings，andthoughtheyassureusthattheylovetoclaspthehandswhichwestretchouttothem，weshouldstillhavesomehesitationinintrudingtoanunreasonableextentupontheroutineoftheirlives。
Awordshouldbesaidastothatfearoffiendsandevilspiritswhichappearstohavesomuchweightwithsomeofthecriticsofthissubject。Whenonelooksmorecloselyatthisemotionitseemssomewhatselfishandcowardly。Thesecreaturesareintruthourownbackwardbrothers，boundforthesameultimatedestinationasourselves，butretardedbycausesforwhichourearthconditionsmayhavebeenpartlyresponsible。Ourpityandsympathyshouldgoouttothem，andiftheydoindeedmanifestataseance，theproperChristianattitudeis，asitseemstome，thatweshouldreasonwiththemandprayfortheminordertohelpthemupontheirdifficultway。Thosewhohavetreatedtheminthiswayhavefoundaverymarkeddifferenceinthesubsequentcommunications。InAdmiralUsborneMoore’s"GlimpsesoftheNextState"therePage85
willbefoundsomerecordsofanAmericancirclewhichdevoteditselfentirelytomissionaryworkofthissort。Thereissomereasontobelievethatthereareformsofimperfectdevelopmentwhichcanbehelpedmorebyearthlythanbypurelyspiritualinfluences，forthereason，perhaps，thattheyareclosertothematerial。
InarecentcaseIwascalledintoendeavourtocheckaverynoisyentitywhichfrequentedanoldhouseinwhichtherewerestrongreasonstobelievethatcrimehadbeencommitted，andalsothatthecriminalwasearth—bound。Namesweregivenbytheunhappyspiritwhichprovedtobecorrect，andacupboardwasdescribed，whichwasdulyfound，thoughithadneverbeforebeensuspected。OngettingintotouchwiththespiritIendeavouredtoreasonwithitandtoexplainhowselfishitwastocausemiserytoothersinordertosatisfyanyfeelingsofrevengewhichitmighthavecarriedoverfromearthlife。Wethenprayedforitswelfare，exhortedittorisehigher，andreceivedaverysolemnassurance，tiltedoutatthetable，thatitwouldmenditsways。IPage86
haveverygratifyingreportsthatithasdoneso，andthatallisnowquietintheoldhouse。
LetusnowconsiderthelifeintheBeyondasitisshowntousbythenewrevelation。
Page87Chapter4THECOMINGWORLDWecomefirsttothemessageswhichtellusofthelifebeyondthegrave，sentbythosewhoareactuallylivingit。Ihavealreadyinsisteduponthefactthattheyhavethreeweightyclaimstoourbelief。Theoneis，thattheyareaccompaniedby"signs，"intheBiblicalsense，intheshapeof"miracles"orphenomena。Thesecondis，thatinmanycasestheyareaccompaniedbyassertionsaboutthislifeofourswhichprovetobecorrect，andwhicharebeyondthepossibleknowledgeofthemediumaftereverydeductionhasbeenmadefortelepathyorforunconsciousmemory。
Thethirdis，thattheyhavearemarkable，thoughnotacomplete，similarityfromwhateversourcetheycome。Itmaybenotedthatthedifferencesofopinionbecomemostmarkedwhentheydealwiththeirownfuture，whichmaywellbeamatterPage88
ofspeculationtothemastous。Thus，uponthequestionofreincarnationthereisadistinctcleavage，andthoughIammyselfofopinionthatthegeneralevidenceisagainstthisorientaldoctrine，itisnonethelessanundeniablefactthatithasbeenmaintainedbysomemessageswhichappearinotherwaystobeauthentic，and，therefore，itisnecessarytokeepone’smindopenonthesubject。
BeforeenteringuponthesubstanceofthemessagesIshouldwishtoemphasizethesecondofthesetwopoints，soastoreinforcethereader’sconfidenceintheauthenticityoftheseassertions。TothisendIwillgiveadetailedexample，withnamesalmostexact。ThemediumwasMr。Phoenix，ofGlasgow，withwhomIhavemyselfhadsomeremarkableexperiences。
ThesitterwasMr。ErnestOaten，thePresidentoftheNorthernSpiritualUnion，amanoftheutmostveracityandprecisionofstatement。Thedialogue，whichcamebythedirectvoice，atrumpetactingasmegaphone，ranlikethis：——
TheVoice：Goodevening，Mr。Oaten。Page89
Mr。O。：Goodevening。Whoareyou？
TheVoice：MynameisMill。Youknowmyfather。
Mr。O。：No，Idon’trememberanyoneofthename。
TheVoice：Yes，youwerespeakingtohimtheotherday。
Mr。O。：Tobesure。Iremembernow。Ionlymethimcasually。
TheVoice：Iwantyoutogivehimamessagefromme。
Mr。O。：Whatisit？
TheVoice：TellhimthathewasnotmistakenatmidnightonTuesdaylast。
Mr。O。：Verygood。Iwillsayso。Haveyoupassedlong？
TheVoice：Sometime。Butourtimeisdifferentfromyours。
Mr。O。：Whatwereyou？
TheVoice：ASurgeon。
Mr。O。：Howdidyoupass？
TheVoice：Blownupinabattleshipduringthewar。
Mr。O。：Anythingmore？Page90
TheanswerwastheGipsysongfrom"IlTrovatore，"veryaccuratelywhistled，andthenaquick—step。Afterthelatter，thevoicesaid："Thatisatestforfather。"
Thisreproductionofconversationisnotquiteverbatim，butgivesthecondensedessence。Mr。OatenatoncevisitedMr。Mill，whowasnotaSpiritualist，andfoundthateverydetailwascorrect。YoungMillhadlosthislifeasnarrated。Mr。Mill，senior，explainedthatwhilesittinginhisstudyatmidnightonthedatenamedhehadheardtheGipsysongfrom"IlTrovatore，"whichhadbeenafavouriteofhisboy’s，andbeingunabletotracetheoriginofthemusic，hadfinallythoughtthatitwasafreakofhisimagination。Thetestconnectedwiththequick—stephadreferencetoatunewhichtheyoungmanusedtoplayuponthepiccolo，butwhichwassorapidthathenevercouldgetitright，forwhichhewaschaffedbythefamily。
ItellthisstoryatlengthtomakethereaderrealisethatwhenyoungMill，andotherslikehim，givesuchproofsofaccuracy，whichwecantestforourselves，weareboundtotaketheirassertionsveryseriouslyPage91
whentheydealwiththelifetheyareactuallyleading，thoughintheirverynaturewecanonlychecktheiraccountsbycomparisonwithothers。
Nowletmeepitomisewhattheseassertionsare。Theysaythattheyareexceedinglyhappy，andthattheydonotwishtoreturn。Theyareamongthefriendswhomtheyhadlovedandlost，whomeetthemwhentheydieandcontinuetheircareerstogether。Theyareverybusyonallformsofcongenialwork。Theworldinwhichtheyfindthemselvesisverymuchlikethatwhichtheyhavequitted，buteverythingkeyedtoahigheroctave。Asinahigheroctavetherhythmisthesame，andtherelationofnotestoeachotherthesame，butthetotaleffectdifferent，soitishere。Everyearthlythinghasitsequivalent。Scoffershaveguffawedoveralcoholandtobacco，butifallthingsarereproduceditwouldbeaflawifthesewerenotreproducedalso。Thattheyshouldbeabused，astheyarehere，would，indeed，beeviltidings，butnothingofthesorthasbeensaid，andinthemuchdiscussedpassagein"Raymond，"theirproductionwasalludedtoasthoughitwereanunusual，andinawayaPage92
humorous，instanceoftheresourcesofthebeyond。Iwonderhowmanyofthepreachers，whohavetakenadvantageofthispassageinordertoattackthewholenewrevelation，haverememberedthattheonlyothermessagewhicheverassociatedalcoholwiththelifebeyondisthatofChristHimself，whenHesaid："IwillnotdrinkhenceforthofthisfruitofthevineuntilthatdaywhenIdrinkitnewwithyouinmyFather’skingdom。"
Thismatterisadetail，however，anditisalwaysdangeroustodiscussdetailsinasubjectwhichissoenormous，sodimlyseen。AsthewisestwomanIhaveknownremarkedtome："Thingsmaywellbesurprisingoverthere，forifwehadbeentoldthefactsofthislifebeforeweenteredit，weshouldneverhavebelievedit。"Initslargerissuesthishappylifetocomeconsistsinthedevelopmentofthosegiftswhichwepossess。
Thereisactionforthemanofaction，intellectualworkforthethinker，artistic，literary，dramaticandreligiousforthosewhoseGod—givenpowersliethatway。Whatwehavebothinbrainandcharacterwecarryoverwithus。Nomanistoooldtolearn，Page93
forwhathelearnshekeeps。Thereisnophysicalsidetoloveandnochild—birth，thoughthereiscloseunionbetweenthosemarriedpeoplewhoreallyloveeachother，and，generally，thereisdeepsympatheticfriendshipandcomradeshipbetweenthesexes。Everymanorwomanfindsasoulmatesoonerorlater。Thechildgrowsuptothenormal，sothatthemotherwholostababeoftwoyearsold，anddiesherselftwentyyearslaterfindsagrown—updaughteroftwenty—twoawaitinghercoming。Age，whichisproducedchieflybythemechanicalpresenceoflimeinourarteries，disappears，andtheindividualrevertstothefullnormalgrowthandappearanceofcompletedman——orwomanhood。Letnowomanmournherlostbeauty，andnomanhisloststrengthorweakeningbrain。Itallawaitsthemoncemoreupontheotherside。Norisanydeformityorbodilyweaknessthere，forallisnormalandatitsbest。
Beforeleavingthissectionofthesubject，Ishouldsayafewmorewordsupontheevidenceasitaffectstheethericbody。Thisbodyisaperfectthing。ThisisamatterofconsequenceinthesedayswhensomanyPage94
ofourheroeshavebeenmutilatedinthewars。Onecannotmutilatetheethericbody，anditremainsalwaysintact。ThefirstwordsutteredbyareturningspiritintherecentexperienceofDr。AbrahamWallacewere"Ihavegotmyleftarmagain。"Thesameappliestoallbirthmarks，deformities，blindness，andotherimperfections。Noneofthemarepermanent，andallwillvanishinthathappierlifethatawaitsus。Suchistheteachingfromthebeyond——thataperfectbodywaitsforeach。
"But，"saysthecritic，"whatthenoftheclairvoyantdescriptions，orthevisionswheretheagedfatherisseen，cladintheold—fashionedgarmentsofanotherage，orthegrandmotherwithcrinolineandchignon？
Arethesethehabilimentsofheaven？"Suchvisionsarenotspirits，buttheyarepictureswhicharebuiltupbeforeusorshotbyspiritsintoourbrainsorthoseoftheseerforthepurposesofrecognition。Hencethegreyhairandhencetheancientgarb。Whenarealspiritisindeedseenitcomesinanotherformtothis，wheretheflowingrobe，suchashasalwaysbeentraditionallyascribedtotheangels，isavitalthingwhich，Page95
byitsverycolourandtexture，proclaimsthespiritualconditionofthewearer，andisprobablyacondensationofthataurawhichsurroundsusuponearth。
Itisaworldofsympathy。Onlythosewhohavethistieforegather。Thesullenhusband，theflightywife，isnolongertheretoplaguetheinnocentspouse。Allissweetandpeaceful。Itisthelongrestcureafterthenervestrainoflife，andbeforenewexperiencesinthefuture。Thecircumstancesarehomelyandfamiliar。Happycirclesliveinpleasanthomesteadswitheveryamenityofbeautyandofmusic。Beautifulgardens，lovelyflowers，greenwoods，pleasantlakes，domesticpets——
allofthesethingsarefullydescribedinthemessagesofthepioneertravellerswhohaveatlastgotnewsbacktothosewholoiterintheolddingyhome。Therearenopoorandnorich。Thecraftsmanmaystillpursuehiscraft，buthedoesitforthejoyofhiswork。Eachservesthecommunityasbesthecan，whilefromabovecomehigherministersofgrace，the"Angels"
ofholywrit，todirectandhelp。Aboveall，sheddingdownHisatmosphereuponall，broodsthatgreatChristspirit，Page96
theverysoulofreason，ofjustice，andofsympatheticunderstanding，whohastheearthsphere，withallitscircles，underHisveryspecialcare。Itisaplaceofjoyandlaughter。Therearegamesandsportsofallsorts，thoughnonewhichcausepaintolowerlife。Foodanddrinkinthegrossersensedonotexist，butthereseemtobepleasuresoftaste，andthisdistinctioncausessomeconfusioninthemessagesuponthepoint。
Butaboveall，brain，energy，character，drivingpower，ifexertedforgood，makesamanaleaderthereashere，whileunselfishness，patienceandspiritualitythere，ashere，qualifythesoulforthehigherplaces，whichhaveoftenbeenwonbythoseverytribulationsdownherewhichseemsopurposelessandsocruel，andareintruthourchancesofspiritualquickeningandpromotion，withoutwhichlifewouldhavebeenbarrenandwithoutprofit。
Therevelationabolishestheideaofagrotesquehellandofafantasticheaven，whileitsubstitutestheconceptionofagradualriseinthescaleofexistencewithoutanymonstrouschangewhichwouldturnusinaninstantfrommantoangelordevil。Page97
Thesystem，thoughdifferentfrompreviousideas，doesnot，asitseemstome，runcounterinanyradicalfashiontotheoldbeliefs。Inancientmapsitwasusualforthecartographertomarkblankspacesfortheunexploredregions，withsomesuchlegendas"hereareanthropophagi，"or"herearemandrakes，"scrawledacrossthem。Soinourtheologytherehavebeenill—definedareaswhichhaveadmittedlybeenleftunfilled，forwhatsanemanhaseverbelievedinsuchaheavenasisdepictedinourhymnbooks，alandofmusicalidlenessandbarrenmonotonousadoration!Thusinfurnishingaclearerconceptionthisnewsystemhasnothingtosupplant。Itpaintsuponablanksheet。
Onemaywellask，however，grantingthatthereisevidenceforsuchalifeandsuchaworldashasbeendescribed，whataboutthosewhohavenotmeritedsuchadestination？Whatdothemessagesfrombeyondsayaboutthese？Andhereonecannotbetoodefinite，forthereisnouseexchangingonedogmaforanother。Onecanbutgivethegeneralpurportofsuchinformationashasbeenvouchsafedtous。ItisnaturalPage98
thatthosewithwhomwecomeincontactarethosewhomwemaytrulycalltheblessed，forifthethingbeapproachedinareverentandreligiousspirititisthosewhomweshouldnaturallyattract。Thattherearemanylessfortunatethanthemselvesisevidentfromtheirownconstantallusionstothatregeneratingandelevatingmissionaryworkwhichisamongtheirownfunctions。Theydescendapparentlyandhelpotherstogainthatdegreeofspiritualitywhichfitsthemforthisuppersphere，asahigherstudentmightdescendtoalowerclassinordertobringforwardabackwardpupil。
SuchaconceptiongivespointtoChrist’sremarkthattherewasmorejoyinheavenoversavingonesinnerthanoverninety—ninejust，forifHehadspokenofanearthlysinnerhewouldsurelyhavehadtobecomejustinthislifeandsoceasedtobeasinnerbeforehehadreachedParadise。
Itwouldapplyveryexactly，however，toasinnerrescuedfromalowersphereandbroughttoahigherone。
Whenweviewsininthelightofmodernscience，withthetendernessofthemodernconscienceandwithasenseofjusticeandPage99
proportion，itceasestobethatmonstrouscloudwhichdarkenedthewholevisionofthemediaevaltheologian。Manhasbeenmoreharshwithhimselfthananall—mercifulGodwilleverbe。Itistruethatwithalldeductionsthereremainsagreatresiduumwhichmeanswantofindividualeffort，consciousweaknessofwill，andculpablefailureofcharacterwhenthesinner，likeHorace，seesandapplaudsthehigherwhilehefollowsthelower。Butwhen，ontheotherhand，onehasmadeallowances——andcanourhumanallowancebeasgenerousasGod’s？——forthesinswhicharetheinevitableproductofearlyenvironment，forthesinswhichareduetohereditaryandinborntaint，andtothesinswhichareduetoclearphysicalcauses，thenthetotalofactivesinisgreatlyreduced。Couldone，forexample，imaginethatProvidence，all—wiseandall—merciful，aseverycreedproclaims，couldpunishtheunfortunatewretchwhohatchescriminalthoughtsbehindtheslantingbrowsofacriminalhead？Adoctorhasbuttoglanceatthecraniumtopredicatethecrime。Initsworstformsallcrime，formNerotoJacktheRipper，istheproductofabsolutePage100
lunacy，andthosegrossnationalsinstowhichallusionhasbeenmadeseemtopointtocollectivenationalinsanity。Surely，then，thereishopethatnoveryterribleinfernoisneededtofurtherpunishthosewhohavebeensoafflicteduponearth。Someofourdeadhaveremarkedthatnothinghassurprisedthemsomuchastofindwhohavebeenchosenforhonour，andcertainly，withoutinanywaycondoningsin，onecouldwellimaginethatthemanwhoseorganicmakeuppredisposedhimwithirresistibleforceinthatdirectionshould，injustice，receivecondolenceandsympathy。
Possiblysuchasinner，ifhehadnotsinnedsodeeplyashemighthavedone，standshigherthanthemanwhowasborngood，andremainedso，butwasnobetterattheendofhislife。Theonehasmadesomeprogressandtheotherhasnot。Butthecommonestfailing，theonewhichfillsthespiritualhospitalsoftheotherworld，andisatemporarybartothenormalhappinessoftheafter—life，isthesinofTomlinsoninKipling’spoem，thecommonestofallsinsinrespectableBritishcircles，thesinofconventionality，ofwantofconsciouseffortanddevelopment，ofaPage101
sluggishspirituality，fattedoverbyacomplacentmindandbythecomfortsoflife。Itisthemanwhoissatisfied，themanwhorefershissalvationtosomechurchorhigherpowerwithoutsteadytravailofhisownsoul，whoisindeadlydanger。Allchurchesaregood，Christianornon—Christian，solongastheypromotetheactualspiritlifeoftheindividual，butallarenoxioustheinstantthattheyallowhimtothinkthatbyanyformofceremony，orbyanyfashionofcreed，heobtainstheleastadvantageoverhisneighbour，orcaninanywaydispensewiththatpersonaleffortwhichistheonlyroadtothehigherplaces。Thisis，ofcourse，asapplicabletobelieversinSpiritualismastoanyotherbelief。Ifitdoesnotshowinpracticethenitisvain。Onecangetthroughthislifeverycomfortablyfollowingwithoutquestioninsomeprocessionwithavenerableleader。
Butonedoesnotdieinaprocession。Onediesalone。Anditisthenthatonehasalonetoacceptthelevelgainedbytheworkoflife。
Andwhatisthepunishmentoftheundevelopedsoul？Itisthatitshouldbeplacedwhereitwilldevelop，andsorrowwouldPage102
seemalwaystobetheforcinggroundofsouls。Thatsurelyisourownexperienceinlifewheretheinsufferablycomplacentandunsympatheticpersonsoftensandmellowsintobeautyofcharacterandcharityofthought，whentriedlongenoughandhighenoughinthefiresoflife。TheBiblehastalkedaboutthe"Outerdarknesswherethereisweepingandgnashingofteeth。"TheinfluenceoftheBiblehassometimesbeenanevilonethroughourownhabitofreadingabookofOrientalpoetryandtreatingitasliterallyasifitwereOccidentalprose。WhenanEasterndescribesaherdofathousandcamelshetalksofcamelswhicharemorenumerousthanthehairsofyourheadorthestarsinthesky。InthisspiritofallowanceforEasternexpression，onemustapproachthoseluridandterribledescriptionswhichhavedarkenedthelivesofsomanyimaginativechildrenandsentsomanyearnestadultsintoasylums。Fromallthatwelearnthereareindeedplacesofouterdarkness，butdimastheseuncomfortablewaiting—roomsmaybe，theyalladmittoheavenintheend。Thatisthefinaldestinationofthehumanrace，anditwouldPage103
indeedbeareproachtotheAlmightyifitwerenotso。Wecannotdogmatiseuponthissubjectofthepenalspheres，andyetwehaveveryclearteachingthattheyarethereandthattheno—man’s—landwhichseparatesusfromthenormalheaven，thatthirdheaventowhichSt。Paulseemstohavebeenwaftedinoneshortstrangeexperienceofhislifetime，isaplacewhichcorrespondswiththeAstralplaneofthemysticsandwiththe"outerdarkness"
oftheBible。Herelingerthoseearth—boundspiritswhoseworldlyinterestshavecloggedthemandweighedthemdown，untileveryspiritualimpulsehadvanished；themanwhoselifehasbeencentredonmoney，onworldlyambition，oronsensualindulgence。Theone—idea’dmanwillsurelybethere，ifhisoneideawasnotaspiritualone。Norisitnecessarythatheshouldbeanevilman，ifdearoldbrotherJohnofGlastonbury，wholovedthegreatAbbeysothathecouldneverdetachhimselffromit，istobeclassedamongearth—boundspirits。InthemostmaterialandpronouncedclassesofthesearetheghostswhoimpingeverycloselyuponmatterandhavebeenseensooftenbythosewhoPage104
havenostrongpsychicsense。Itisprobable，fromwhatweknowofthemateriallawswhichgovernsuchmatters，thataghostcouldnevermanifestitselfifitwerealone，thatthesubstanceforthemanifestationisdrawnfromthespectator，andthatthecoldness，raisingofhair，andothersymptomsofwhichhecomplainsarecausedlargelybythesuddendrainuponhisownvitality。This，however，istowanderintospeculation，andfarfromthatcorrelationofpsychicknowledgewithreligion，whichhasbeentheaimofthesechapters。
Byoneofthosestrangecoincidences，whichseemtomesometimestobemorethancoincidences，Ihadreachedthispointinmyexplanationofthedifficultquestionoftheintermediatestate，andwasmyselfdesiringfurtherenlightenment，whenanoldbookreachedmethroughthepost，sentbysomeonewhomIhavenevermet，andinitisthefollowingpassage，writtenbyanautomaticwriter，andinexistencesince1880。Itmakesthematterplain，endorsingwhathasbeensaidandaddingnewpoints。
"Somecannotadvancefurtherthantheborderland——suchasneverthoughtofspiritlifeandhavelivedPage105
entirelyfortheearth，itscaresandpleasures——evenclevermenandwomen，whohavelivedsimplyintellectualliveswithoutspirituality。Therearemanywhohavemisusedtheiropportunities，andarenowlongingforthetimemisspentandwishingtorecalltheearth—life。Theywilllearnthatonthissidethetimecanberedeemed，thoughatmuchcost。Theborderlandhasmanyamongtherestlessmoney—gettersofearth，whostillhaunttheplaceswheretheyhadtheirhopesandjoys。Theseareoftenthelongesttoremain……manyarenotunhappy。Theyfeeltherelieftobesufficienttobewithouttheirearthbodies。Allpassthroughtheborderland，butsomehardlyperceiveit。Itissoimmediate，andthereisnorestingthereforthem。Theypassonatoncetotherefreshmentplaceofwhichwetellyou。"Theanonymousauthor，afterrecordingthisspiritmessage，mentionstheinterestingfactthatthereisaChristianinscriptionintheCatacombswhichruns：NICEFORUSANIMADULCISINREFRIGERIO，"Nicephorus，asweetsoulintherefreshmentplace。"OnemorescrapofevidencePage106
thattheearlyChristianschemeofthingswasverylikethatofthemodernpsychic。
Somuchfortheborderland，theintermediatecondition。
ThepresentChristiandogmahasnonameforit，unlessitbethatnebulouslimbowhichisoccasionallymentioned，andisusuallydefinedastheplacewherethesoulsofthejustwhodiedbeforeChristweredetained。Theideaofcrossingaspacebeforereachingapermanentstateontheothersideiscommontomanyreligions，andtooktheallegoricalformofariverwithaferry—boatamongtheRomansandGreeks。Continually，onecomesonpointswhichmakeonerealisethatfarbackintheworld’shistorytherehasbeenatruerevelation，whichhasbeenblurredandtwistedintime。ThusinDr。Muir’ssummaryoftheRIG。VEDA，hesays，epitomisingthebeliefsofthefirstAryanconquerorsofIndia："Before，however，theunbornpart"
（thatis，theethericbody）"cancompleteitscoursetothethirdheavenithastotraverseavastgulfofdarkness，leavingbehindonearthallthatisevil，andproceedingbythepathsthefatherstrod，thespiritsoarstotherealmsofeternallight，recoversPage107
therehisbodyinaglorifiedform，andobtainsfromGodadelectableabodeandentersuponamoreperfectlife，whichiscrownedwiththefulfilmentofalldesires，ispassedinthepresenceoftheGodsandemployedinthefulfilmentoftheirpleasure。"Ifwesubstitute"angels"for"Gods"wemustadmitthatthenewrevelationfrommodernspiritsourceshasmuchincommonwiththebeliefofourAryanfathers。
Such，inverycondensedform，istheworldwhichisrevealedtousbythesewonderfulmessagesfromthebeyond。Isitanunreasonablevision？Isitinanywayopposedtojustprinciples？Isitnotrathersoreasonablethathavinggotthecluewecouldnowseethat，givenanylifeatall，thisisexactlythelineuponwhichweshouldexpecttomove？Natureandevolutionareaversefromsuddendisconnecteddevelopments。Ifahumanbeinghastechnical，literary，musical，orothertendencies，theyareanessentialpartofhischaracter，andtosurvivewithoutthemwouldbetolosehisidentityandtobecomeanentirelydifferentman。Theymustthereforesurvivedeathifpersonalityistobemaintained。ButitisPage108
nousetheirsurvivingunlesstheycanfindmeansofexpression，andmeansofexpressionseemtorequirecertainmaterialagents，andalsoadiscriminatingaudience。Soalsothesenseofmodestyamongcivilisedraceshasbecomepartofourveryselves，andimpliessomecoveringofourformsifpersonalityistocontinue。Ourdesiresandsympathieswouldpromptustolivewiththosewelove，whichimpliessomethinginthenatureofahouse，whilethehumanneedformentalrestandprivacywouldpredicatetheexistenceofseparaterooms。Thus，merelystartingfromthebasisofthecontinuityofpersonalityonemight，evenwithouttherevelationfromthebeyond，havebuiltupsomesuchsytsembytheuseofpurereasonanddeduction。
Sofarastheexistenceofthislandofhappinessgoes，itwouldseemtohavebeenmorefullyprovedthananyotherreligiousconceptionwithinourknowledge。
Itmayveryreasonablybeasked，howfarthisprecisedescriptionoflifebeyondthegraveismyownconception，andhowfarithasbeenacceptedbythegreatermindswhohavestudiedthissubject？Iwouldanswer，Page109
thatitismyownconclusionasgatheredfromaverylargeamountofexistingtestimony，andthatinitsmainlinesithasformanyyearsbeenacceptedbythosegreatnumbersofsilentactiveworkersallovertheworld，wholookuponthismatterfromastrictlyreligiouspointofview。Ithinkthattheevidenceamplyjustifiesusinthisbelief。Ontheotherhand，thosewhohaveapproachedthissubjectwithcoldandcautiousscientificbrains，endowed，inmanycases，withthestrongestprejudicesagainstdogmaticcreedsandwithverynaturalfearsaboutthepossiblere—growthoftheologicalquarrels，haveinmostcasesstoppedshortofacompleteacceptance，declaringthattherecanbenopositiveproofuponsuchmatters，andthatwemaydeceiveourselveseitherbyareflectionofourownthoughtsorbyreceivingtheimpressionsofthemedium。ProfessorZollner，forexample，says："Sciencecanmakenouseofthesubstanceofintellectualrevelations，butmustbeguidedbyobservedfactsandbytheconclusionslogicallyandmathematicallyunitingthem"——apassagewhichisquotedwithapprovalbyProfessorReichel，andwouldseemtobePage110
endorsedbythesilenceconcerningthereligioussideofthequestionwhichisobservedbymostofourgreatscientificsupporters。Itisapointofviewwhichcanwellbeunderstood，andyet，closelyexamined，itwouldappeartobeaspeciesofenlargedmaterialism。Toadmit，astheseobserversdo，thatspiritsdoreturn，thattheygiveeveryproofofbeingtheactualfriendswhomwehavelost，andyettoturnadeafeartothemessageswhichtheysendwouldseemtobepushingcautiontothevergeofunreason。Togetsofar，andyetnottogofurther，isimpossibleasapermanentposition。
If，forexample，inRaymond’scasewefindsomanyallusionstothesmalldetailsofhishomeuponearth，whichprovetobesurprisinglycorrect，isitreasonabletoputabluepencilthroughallhesaysofthehomewhichheactuallyinhabits？LongbeforeIhadconvincedmymindofthetruthofthingswhichappearedsogrotesqueandincredible，Ihadalongaccountsentbytabletiltingabouttheconditionsoflifebeyond。ThedetailsseemedtomeimpossibleandIsetthemaside，andyettheyharmonise，asInowdiscover，withotherrevelations。So，too，withPage111
theautomaticscriptofMr。HubertWales，whichhasbeendescribedinmypreviousbook。Hehadtosseditasideintoadrawerasbeingunworthyofseriousconsideration，andyetitalsoprovedtobeinharmony。Inneitherofthesecaseswastelepathyortheprepossessionofthemediumapossibleexplanation。Onthewhole，Iaminclinedtothinkthatthesedoubtfulordissentientscientificmen，havingtheirownweightystudiestoattendto，haveconfinedtheirreadingandthoughttothemoreobjectivesideofthequestion，andarenotawareofthevastamountofconcurrentevidencewhichappearstogiveusanexactpictureofthelifebeyond。Theydespisedocumentswhichcannotbeproved，andtheydonot，inmyopinion，sufficientlyrealisethatageneralagreementoftestimony，andthealreadyestablishedcharacterofawitness，arethemselvesargumentsfortruth。Somecomplicatethequestionbypredicatingtheexistenceofafourthdimensioninthatworld，butthetermisanabsurdity，asarealltermswhichfindnocorrespondingimpressioninthehumanbrain。WehavemysteriesenoughtosolvewithoutgratuitouslyintroPage112
ducingfreshones。Whensolidpassesthroughsolid，itis，surely，simplertoassumethatitisdonebyadematerialisation，andsubsequentreassembly——aprocesswhichcan，atleast，beimaginedbythehumanmind——thantoinvokeanexplanationwhichitselfneedstobeexplained。
InthenextandfinalchapterIwillaskthereadertoaccompanymeinanexaminationoftheNewTestamentbythelightofthispsychicknowledge，andtojudgehowfaritmakesclearandreasonablemuchwhichwasobscureandconfused。
Page113Chapter5ISITTHESECONDDAWN？TherearemanyincidentsintheNewTestamentwhichmightbetakenasstartingpointsintracingacloseanalogybetweenthephenomenaleventswhichareassociatedwiththeearlydaysofChristianity，andthosewhichhaveperplexedtheworldinconnectionwithmodernSpiritualism。
MostofusarepreparedtoadmitthatthelastingclaimsofChristianityuponthehumanraceareduetoitsownintrinsicteachings，whicharequiteindependentofthosewonderswhichcanonlyhavehadauseinstartlingthesolidcomplacenceofanunspiritualrace，andsodirectingtheirattentionviolentlytothisnewsystemofthought。Exactlythesamemaybesaidofthenewrevelation。Theexhibitionsofaforcewhichisbeyondhumanexperienceandhumanguidanceisbutamethodofcallingattention。TorepeatPage114
asimilewhichhasbeenusedelsewhere，itisthehumbletelephonebellwhichheraldstheall—importantmessage。InthecaseofChrist，theSermonontheMountwasmorethanmanymiracles。Inthecaseofthisnewdevelopment，themessagesfrombeyondaremorethananyphenomena。AvulgarmindmightmakeChrist’sstoryseemvulgar，ifitinsisteduponloavesofbreadandthebodiesoffish。So，also，avulgarmindmaymakepsychicreligionvulgarbyinsistinguponmovingfurnitureortambourinesintheair。Ineachcasetheyarecrudesignsofpower，andtheessenceofthematterliesuponhigherplanes。
ItisstatedinthesecondchapteroftheActsoftheApostles，thatthey，theChristianleaders，wereall"withoneaccord"inoneplace。
"Withoneaccord"expressesadmirablythosesympatheticconditionswhichhavealwaysbeenfound，inpsychiccircles，tobeconduciveofthebestresults，andwhicharesopersistentlyignoredbyacertainclassofinvestigators。
Thentherecame"amightyrushingwind，"andafterwards"thereappearedcloventongueslikeuntofireanditsatuponeachofthem。"Page115
Hereisaverydefiniteandclearaccountofaremarkablesequenceofphenomena。Now，letuscomparewiththistheresultswhichwereobtainedbyProfessorCrookesinhisinvestigationin1873，afterhehadtakeneverypossibleprecautionagainstfraudwhichhisexperience，asanaccurateobserverandexperimenter，couldsuggest。Hesaysinhispublishednotes：
"Ihaveseenluminouspointsoflightdartingabout，sittingontheheadsofdifferentpersons"andthenagain："Thesemovements，and，indeed，I
maysaythesameofeveryclassofphenomena，aregenerallyprecededbyapeculiarcoldair，sometimesamountingtoadecidedwind。Ihavehadsheetsofpaperblownaboutbyit……"Now，isitnotsingular，notmerelythatthephenomenashouldbeofthesameorder，butthattheyshouldcomeinexactlythesamesequence，thewindfirstandthelightsafterwards？
Inourignoranceofethericphysics，anignorancewhichisnowslowlyclearing，onecanonlysaythatthereissomeindicationhereofagenerallawwhichlinksthosetwoepisodestogetherinspiteofthenineteencenturieswhichdividethem。Alittlelater，itisstatedthat"thePage116
placewasshakenwheretheywereassembledtogether。"Manymodernobserversofpsychicphenomenahavetestifiedtovibrationofthewallsofanapartment，asifaheavylorrywerepassing。Itis，evidently，tosuchexperiencesthatPaulalludeswhenhesays："Ourgospelcameuntoyounotinwordonly，butalsoinpower。"ThepreacheroftheNewRevelationcanmosttrulysaythesamewords。Inconnectionwiththesignsofthepentecost，IcanmosttrulysaythatIhavemyselfexperiencedthemall，thecoldsuddenwind，thelambentmistyflames，allunderthemediumshipofMr。Phoenix，anamateurpsychicofGlasgow。Thefifteensitterswereofoneaccorduponthatoccasion，and，byacoincidence，itwasinanupperroom，attheverytopofthehouse。
Inaprevioussectionofthisessay，Ihaveremarkedthatnophilosophicalexplanationofthesephenomena，knownasspiritual，couldbeconceivedwhichdidnotshowthatall，howeverdifferentintheirworking，camefromthesamecentralsource。St。Paulseemstostatethisinsomanywordswhenhesays："ButalltheseworkeththatonePage117
andtheselfsamespirit，dividingtoeverymanseverallyashewill。"
Couldourmodernspeculation，forceduponusbythefacts，bemoreterselystated？Hehasjustenumeratedthevariousgifts，andwefindthemveryclosetothoseofwhichwehaveexperience。Thereisfirst"thewordofwisdom，""thewordofknowledge"and"faith。"AllthesetakeninconnectionwiththeSpiritwouldseemtomeanthehighercommunicationsfromtheotherside。Thencomeshealing，whichisstillpractisedincertainconditionsbyahighlyvirilemedium，whohasthepowerofdischargingstrength，losingjustasmuchastheweaklinggains，asinstancedbyChristwhenHesaid：
"Whohastouchedme？Muchvirtue"（orpower）"hasgoneoutofme。"Thenwecomeupontheworkingofmiracles，whichweshouldcalltheproductionofphenomena，andwhichwouldcovermanydifferenttypes，suchasapports，whereobjectsarebroughtfromadistance，levitationofobjectsorofthehumanframeintotheair，theproductionoflightsandotherwonders。
Thencomesprophecy，whichisarealandyetafitfulandoftendelusiveformofmediumPage118
ship——neversodelusiveasamongtheearlyChristians，whoseemalltohavemistakentheapproachingfallofJerusalemandthedestructionoftheTemple，whichtheycoulddimlysee，asbeingtheendoftheworld。
Thismistakeisrepeatedsooftenandsoclearlythatitisreallynothonesttoignoreordenyit。Thenwecometothepowerof"discerningthespirits，"whichcorrespondstoourclairvoyance，andfinallythatcuriousandusuallyuselessgiftoftongues，whichisalsoamodernphenomenon。
IcanrememberthatsometimeagoIreadthebook，"IHeardaVoice，"byaneminentbarrister，inwhichhedescribeshowhisyoungdaughterbegantowriteGreekfluentlywithallthecomplexaccentsintheircorrectplaces。
JustafterIreaditIreceivedaletterfromanolessfamousphysician，whoaskedmyopinionaboutoneofhischildrenwhohadwrittenaconsiderableamountofscriptinmediaevalFrench。Thesetworecentcasesarebeyondalldoubt，butIhavenothadconvincingevidenceofthecasewheresomeunintelligiblesignsdrawnbyanunletteredmanwerepronouncedbyanexperttobeintheOghamorearlyCelticcharacter。AsPage119
theOghamscriptisreallyacombinationofstraightlines，thelattercasemaybetakenwithconsiderablereserve。
ThusthephenomenaassociatedwiththeriseofChristianityandthosewhichhaveappearedduringthepresentspiritualfermentareveryanalogous。Inexaminingthegiftsofthedisciples，asmentionedbyMatthewandMark，theonlyadditionalpointistheraisingofthedead。
Ifanyofthembesidestheirgreatleaderdidintruthrisetothisheightofpower，wherelifewasactuallyextinct，thenhe，undoubtedly，fartranscendedanythingwhichisrecordedofmodernmediumship。Itisclear，however，thatsuchapowermusthavebeenveryrare，sinceitwouldotherwisehavebeenusedtorevivethebodiesoftheirownmartyrs，whichdoesnotseemtohavebeenattempted。ForChristthepowerisclearlyadmitted，andtherearelittletouchesinthedescriptionofhowitwasexercisedbyHimwhichareextremelyconvincingtoapsychicstudent。IntheaccountofhowHeraisedLazarusfromthegraveafterhehadbeenfourdaysdead——farthemostwonderfulofallChrist’smiracles——itisrecordedthatPage120
asHewentdowntothegravesideHewas"groaning。"WhywasHegroaning？
NoBiblicalstudentseemstohavegivenasatisfactoryreason。Butanyonewhohasheardamediumgroaningbeforeanygreatmanifestationofpowerwillreadintothispassagejustthattouchofpracticalknowledge，whichwillconvincehimofitstruth。Themiracle，Imayadd，isnonethelesswonderfulorbeyondourhumanpowers，becauseitwaswroughtbyanextensionofnaturallaw，differingonlyindegreewiththatwhichwecanourselvestestandevendo。
AlthoughourmodernmanifestationshaveneverattainedthepowermentionedintheBiblicalrecords，theypresentsomefeatureswhicharenotrelatedintheNewTestament。Clairaudience，thatisthehearingofaspiritvoice，iscommontoboth，butthedirectvoice，thatisthehearingofavoicewhichallcandiscernwiththeirmaterialears，isawell—authenticatedphenomenonnowwhichismorerarelymentionedofold。So，too，Spirit—photography，wherethecamerarecordswhatthehumaneyecannotsee，isnecessarilyanewtestimony。NothingisevidencetothosewhodonotexamineeviPage121
dence，butIcanattestmostsolemnlythatIpersonallyknowofseveralcaseswheretheimageupontheplateafterdeathhasnotonlybeenunmistakable，butalsohasdifferedentirelyfromanypre—existingphotograph。
AstothemethodsbywhichtheearlyChristianscommunicatedwiththespirits，orwiththe"Saints"astheycalledtheirdeadbrethren，wehave，sofarasIknow，norecord，thoughthewordsofJohn："Brothers，believenoteveryspirit，buttrythespiritswhethertheyareofGod，"
showveryclearlythatspiritcommunionwasafamiliaridea，andalsothattheywereplagued，asweare，bytheintrusionofunwelcomespiritualelementsintheirintercourse。Somehaveconjecturedthatthe"AngeloftheChurch，"
whoisalludedtointermswhichsuggestthathewasahumanbeing，wasreallyamediumsanctifiedtotheuseofthatparticularcongregation。