PREFACE
Manymorephilosophicmindsthanminehavethoughtoverthereligioussideofthissubjectandmanymorescientificbrainshaveturnedtheirattentiontoitsphenomenalaspect。SofarasIknow，however，therehasbeennoformerattempttoshowtheexactrelationoftheonetotheother。IfeelthatifIshouldsucceedinmakingthisalittlemoreclearIshallhavehelpedinwhatIregardasfarthemostimportantquestionwithwhichthehumanraceisconcerned。
AcelebratedPsychic，Mrs。Piper，uttered，intheyear1899wordswhichwererecordedbyDr。Hodgsonatthetime。Shewasspeakingintranceuponthefutureofspiritualreligion，andshesaid："Inthenextcenturythiswillbeastonishinglyperceptibletothemindsofmen。
Iwillalsomakeastatementwhichyouwillsurelyseeverified。BeforetheclearrevelationofPageviiispiritcommunicationtherewillbeaterriblewarindifferentpartsoftheworld。Theentireworldmustbepurifiedandcleansedbeforemortalcansee，throughhisspiritualvision，hisfriendsonthissideanditwilltakejustthislineofactiontobringaboutastateofperfection。
Friend，kindlythinkofthis。"Wehavehad"theterriblewarindifferentpartsoftheworld。"Thesecondhalfremainstobefulfilled。
A。C。D。1918。
CONTENTSITHESEARCH……13IITHEREVELATION……47IIITHECOMINGLIFE……63IVPROBLEMSANDLIMITATIONS……82SUPPLEMENTARYDOCUMENTSITHENEXTPHASEOFLIFE……107IIAUTOMATICWRITING……112IIITHECHERITONDUGOUT……115
Page13Chapter1THESEARCHThesubjectofpsychicalresearchisoneuponwhichIhavethoughtmoreandaboutwhichIhavebeenslowertoformmyopinion，thanuponanyothersubjectwhatever。Everynowandthenasonejogsalongthroughlifesomesmallincidenthappenswhichveryforciblybringshomethefactthattimepassesandthatfirstyouthandthenmiddleageareslippingaway。Suchaoneoccurredtheotherday。Thereisacolumninthatexcellentlittlepaper，Light，whichisdevotedtowhatwasrecordedonthecorrespondingdateageneration——thatisthirtyyears——ago。AsIreadoverthiscolumnrecentlyIhadquiteastartasIsawmyownname，andreadthereprintofaletterPage14
whichIhadwrittenin1887，detailingsomeinterestingspiritualexperiencewhichhadoccurredinaseance。Thusitismanifestthatmyinterestinthesubjectisofsomestanding，andalso，sinceitisonlywithinthelastyearortwothatIhavefinallydeclaredmyselftobesatisfiedwiththeevidence，thatIhavenotbeenhastyinformingmyopinion。IfIsetdownsomeofmyexperiencesanddifficultiesmyreaderswillnot，Ihope，thinkitegotisticaluponmypart，butwillrealisethatitisthemostgraphicwayinwhichtosketchoutthepointswhicharelikelytooccurtoanyotherinquirer。WhenIhavepassedoverthisground，itwillbepossibletogetontosomethingmoregeneralandimpersonalinitsnature。
WhenIhadfinishedmymedicaleducationin1882，Ifoundmyself，likemanyyoungmedicalmen，aconvincedmaterialistasregardsourpersonaldestiny。Ihadneverceasedtobeanearnesttheist，becauseitseemedtomethatNapoleon’squestiontotheatheisticprofessorsonthestarrynightashevoyagedtoEgypt："Whowasit，gentlemen，Page15
whomadethesestars？"hasneverbeenanswered。TosaythattheUniversewasmadebyimmutablelawsonlyputthequestiononedegreefurtherbackastowhomadethelaws。Ididnot，ofcourse，believeinananthropomorphicGod，butIbelievedthen，asIbelievenow，inanintelligentForcebehindalltheoperationsofNature——aforcesoinfinitelycomplexandgreatthatmyfinitebraincouldgetnofurtherthanitsexistence。RightandwrongIsawalsoasgreatobviousfactswhichneedednodivinerevelation。
Butwhenitcametoaquestionofourlittlepersonalitiessurvivingdeath，itseemedtomethatthewholeanalogyofNaturewasagainstit。Whenthecandleburnsoutthelightdisappears。Whentheelectriccellisshatteredthecurrentstops。Whenthebodydissolvesthereisanendofthematter。
Eachmaninhisegotismmayfeelthatheoughttosurvive，butlethimlook，wewillsay，attheaverageloafer——ofhighorlowdegree——wouldanyonecontendthattherewasanyobviousreasonwhythatpersonalityshouldcarryon？Itseemedtobeadelusion，andIwasconvincedthatdeathdidindeedPage16
endall，thoughIsawnoreasonwhythatshouldaffectourdutytowardshumanityduringourtransitoryexistence。
ThiswasmyframeofmindwhenSpiritualphenomenafirstcamebeforemynotice。Ihadalwaysregardedthesubjectasthegreatestnonsenseuponearth，andIhadreadoftheconvictionoffraudulentmediumsandwonderedhowanysanemancouldbelievesuchthings。Imetsomefriends，however，whowereinterestedinthematter，andIsatwiththematsometable-movingseances。Wegotconnectedmessages。IamafraidtheonlyresultthattheyhadonmymindwasthatIregardedthesefriendswithsomesuspicion。
Theywerelongmessagesveryoften，spelledoutbytilts，anditwasquiteimpossiblethattheycamebychance。Someonethen，wasmovingthetable。
Ithoughtitwasthey。TheyprobablythoughtthatIdidit。Iwaspuzzledandworriedoverit，fortheywerenotpeoplewhomIcouldimagineascheating——andyetIcouldnotseehowthemessagescouldcomeexceptbyconsciouspressure。
Aboutthistime——itwouldbein1886——IPage17
cameacrossabookcalledTheReminiscencesofJudgeEdmunds。
HewasajudgeoftheU。S。HighCourtsandamanofhighstanding。Thebookgaveanaccountofhowhiswifehaddied，andhowhehadbeenableformanyyearstokeepintouchwithher。Allsortsofdetailsweregiven。
Ireadthebookwithinterest，andabsolutescepticism。Itseemedtomeanexampleofhowahardpracticalmanmighthaveaweaksidetohisbrain，asortofreaction，asitwere，againstthoseplainfactsoflifewithwhichhehadtodeal。Wherewasthisspiritofwhichhetalked？Supposeamanhadanaccidentandcrackedhisskull；hiswholecharacterwouldchange，andahighnaturemightbecomealowone。Withalcoholoropiumormanyotherdrugsonecouldapparentlyquitechangeaman’sspirit。Thespiritthendependeduponmatter。TheseweretheargumentswhichIusedinthosedays。Ididnotrealisethatitwasnotthespiritthatwaschangedinsuchcases，butthebodythroughwhichthespiritworked，justasitwouldbenoargumentagainsttheexistenceofamusicianifyoutamperedwithhisviolinsothatPage18
onlydiscordantnotescouldcomethrough。
Iwassufficientlyinterestedtocontinuetoreadsuchliteratureascameinmyway。Iwasamazedtofindwhatanumberofgreatmen——menwhosenamesweretotheforeinscience——thoroughlybelievedthatspiritwasindependentofmatterandcouldsurviveit。WhenIregardedSpiritualismasavulgardelusionoftheuneducated，Icouldaffordtolookdownuponit；butwhenitwasendorsedbymenlikeCrookes，whomI
knewtobethemostrisingBritishchemist，byWallace，whowastherivalofDarwin，andbyFlammarion，thebestknownofastronomers，Icouldnotaffordtodismissit。Itwasallverywelltothrowdownthebooksofthesemenwhichcontainedtheirmatureconclusionsandcarefulinvestigations，andtosay"Well，hehasoneweakspotinhisbrain，"butamanhastobeveryself-satisfiedifthedaydoesnotcomewhenhewondersiftheweakspotisnotinhisownbrain。ForsometimeIwassustainedinmyscepticismbytheconsiderationthatmanyfamousmen，suchasDarwinhimself，Huxley，TyndallandHerbertSpencer，deridedthisnewPage19
branchofknowledge；butwhenIlearnedthattheirderisionhadreachedsuchapointthattheywouldnotevenexamineit，andthatSpencerhaddeclaredinsomanywordsthathehaddecidedagainstitonapriorigrounds，whileHuxleyhadsaidthatitdidnotinteresthim，Iwasboundtoadmitthat，howevergreat，theywereinscience，theiractioninthisrespectwasmostunscientificanddogmatic，whiletheactionofthosewhostudiedthephenomenaandtriedtofindoutthelawsthatgovernedthem，wasfollowingthetruepathwhichhasgivenusallhumanadvanceandknowledge。
SofarIhadgotinmyreasoning，somyscepticalpositionwasnotsosolidasbefore。
Itwassomewhatreinforced，however，bymyownexperiences。
ItistoberememberedthatIwasworkingwithoutamedium，whichislikeanastronomerworkingwithoutatelescope。Ihavenopsychicalpowersmyself，andthosewhoworkedwithmehadlittlemore。Amonguswecouldjustmusterenoughofthemagneticforce，orwhateveryouwillcallit，togetthetablemovementswiththeirsuspiciousandoftenstupidmessages。Page20
Istillhavenotesofthosesittingsandcopiesofsome，atleast，ofthemessages。Theywerenotalwaysabsolutelystupid。Forexample，Ifindthatononeoccasion，onmyaskingsometestquestion，suchashowmanycoinsIhadinmypocket，thetablespeltout："Weareheretoeducateandtoelevate，nottoguessriddles。"Andthen："Thereligiousframeofmind，notthecritical，iswhatwewishtoinculcate。"Now，noonecouldsaythatthatwasapuerilemessage。Ontheotherhand，Iwasalwayshauntedbythefearofinvoluntarypressurefromthehandsofthesitters。Thentherecameanincidentwhichpuzzledanddisgustedmeverymuch。Wehadverygoodconditionsoneevening，andanamountofmovementwhichseemedquiteindependentofourpressure。Longanddetailedmessagescamethrough，whichpurportedtobefromaspiritwhogavehisnameandsaidhewasacommercialtravellerwhobadlosthislifeinarecentfireatatheatreatExeter。Allthedetailswereexact，andheimploredustowritetohisfamily，wholived，hesaid，ataplacecalledSlattenmere，inCumberPage21
land。Ididso，butmylettercameback，appropriatelyenough，throughthedeadletteroffice。TothisdayIdonotknowwhetherweweredeceived，orwhethertherewassomemistakeinthenameoftheplace；buttherearethefacts，andIwassodisgustedthatforsometimemyinterestinthewholesubjectwaned。Itwasonethingtostudyasubject，butwhenthesubjectbegantoplayelaboratepracticaljokesitseemedtimetocallahalt。IfthereissuchaplaceasSlattenmereintheworldIshouldevennowbegladtoknowit。
IwasinpracticeinSouthseaatthistime，anddwellingtherewasGeneralDrayson，amanofveryremarkablecharacter，andoneofthepioneersofSpiritualisminthiscountry。TohimIwentwithmydifficulties，andhelistenedtothemverypatiently。Hemadelightofmycriticismofthefoolishnatureofmanyofthesemessages，andoftheabsolutefalsenessofsome。"Youhavenotgotthefundamentaltruthintoyourhead，"saidhe。"Thattruthis，thateveryspiritinthefleshpassesovertothenextworldexactlyasitis，withnochangewhatPage22
ever。Thisworldisfullofweakorfoolishpeople。Soisthenext。
Youneednotmixwiththem，anymorethanyoudointhisworld。Onechoosesone’scompanions。Butsupposeamaninthisworld，whohadlivedinhishousealoneandnevermixedwithhisfellows，wasatlasttoputhisheadoutofthewindowtoseewhatsortofplaceitwas，whatwouldhappen？
Somenaughtyboywouldprobablysaysomethingrude。Anyhow，hewouldseenothingofthewisdomorgreatnessoftheworld。Hewoulddrawhisheadinthinkingitwasaverypoorplace。Thatisjustwhatyouhavedone。
Inamixedseance，withnodefiniteaim，youhavethrustyourheadintothenextworldandyouhavemetsomenaughtyboys。Goforwardandtrytoreachsomethingbetter。"ThatwasGeneralDrayson’sexplanation，andthoughitdidnotsatisfymeatthetime，Ithinknowthatitwasaroughapproximationtothetruth。TheseweremyfirststepsinSpiritualism。Iwasstillasceptic，butatleastIwasaninquirer，andwhenIheardsomeold-fashionedcriticsayingthattherewasnothingtoexplain，andthatitwasallPage23
fraud，orthataconjurorwasneededtoshowitup，Iknewatleastthatthatwasallnonsense。Itistruethatmyownevidenceuptothenwasnotenoughtoconvinceme，butmyreading，whichwascontinuous，showedmehowdeeplyothermenhadgoneintoit，andIrecognisedthatthetestimonywassostrongthatnootherreligiousmovementintheworldcouldputforwardanythingtocomparewithit。Thatdidnotproveittobetrue，butatleastitprovedthatitmustbetreatedwithrespectandcouldnotbebrushedaside。TakeasingleincidentofwhatWallacehastrulycalledamodernmiracle。Ichooseitbecauseitisthemostincredible。IalludetotheassertionthatD。D。Home——who，bytheway，wasnot，asisusuallysupposed，apaidadventurer，butwasthenephewoftheEarlofHome——theassertion，Isay，thathefloatedoutofonewindowandintoanotherattheheightofseventyfeetabovetheground。Icouldnotbelieveit。Andyet，whenIknewthatthefactwasattestedbythreeeye-witnesses，whowereLordDunraven，LordLindsay，andCaptainWynne，allmenofhonourandrepute，whoPage24
werewillingafterwardstotaketheiroathuponit，Icouldnotbutadmitthattheevidenceforthiswasmoredirectthanforanyofthosefar-offeventswhichthewholeworldhasagreedtoacceptastrue。
Istillcontinuedduringtheseyearstoholdtableseances，whichsometimesgavenoresults，sometimestrivialones，andsometimesrathersurprisingones。Ihavestillthenotesofthesesittings，andI
extractheretheresultsofonewhichweredefinite，andwhichweresounlikeanyconceptionswhichIheldoflifebeyondthegravethattheyamusedratherthanedifiedmeatthetime。Ifindnow，however，thattheyagreeveryclosely，withtherevelationsinRaymondandinotherlateraccounts，sothatIviewthemwithdifferenteyes。Iamawarethatalltheseaccountsoflifebeyondthegravedifferindetail——Isupposeanyofouraccountsofthepresentlifewoulddifferindetail——butinthemainthereisaverygreatresemblance，whichinthisinstancewasveryfarfromtheconceptioneitherofmyselforofeitherofthetwoladieswhomadeupthecircle。Twocommunicatorssentmessages，thefirstofPage25
whomspeltoutasaname"DorothyPostlethwaite，"anameunknowntoanyofus。ShesaidshediedatMelbournefiveyearsbefore，attheageofsixteen，thatshewasnowhappy，thatshehadworktodo，andthatshehadbeenatthesameschoolasoneoftheladies。Onmyaskingthatladytoraiseherhandsandgiveasuccessionofnames，thetabletiltedatthecorrectnameoftheheadmistressoftheschool。Thisseemedinthenatureofatest。Shewentontosaythatthespheresheinhabitedwasallroundtheearth；thatsheknewabouttheplanets；thatMarswasinhabitedbyaracemoreadvancedthanus，andthatthecanalswereartificial；therewasnobodilypaininhersphere，buttherecouldbementalanxiety；theyweregoverned；theytooknourishment；shehadbeenaCatholicandwasstillaCatholic，buthadnotfaredbetterthantheProtestants；therewereBuddhistsandMohammedansinhersphere，butallfaredalike；shehadneverseenChristandknewnomoreaboutHimthanonearth，butbelievedinHisinfluence；
spiritsprayedandtheydiedintheirnewspherebeforeenteringanother；
theyhadPage26
pleasures——musicwasamongthem。Itwasaplaceoflightandoflaughter。
Sheaddedthattheyhadnorichorpoor，andthatthegeneralconditionswerefarhappierthanonearth。
Thisladybadeusgood-night，andimmediatelythetablewasseizedbyamuchmorerobustinfluence，whichdasheditaboutveryviolently。InanswertomyquestionsitclaimedtobethespiritofonewhomIwillcallDodd，whowasafamouscricketer，andwithwhomIhadsomeseriousconversationinCairobeforehewentuptheNile，wherehemethisdeathintheDongoleseExpedition。Wehavenow，Imayremark，cometotheyear1896inmyexperiences。Doddwasnotknowntoeitherlady。
Ibegantoaskhimquestionsexactlyasifhewereseatedbeforeme，andhesenthisanswersbackwithgreatspeedanddecision。TheanswerswereoftenquiteopposedtowhatIexpected，sothatIcouldnotbelievethatIwasinfluencingthem。Hesaidthathewashappy，thathedidnotwishtoreturntoearth。Hehadbeenafree-thinker，buthadnotsufferedinthenextlifeforthatreason。Prayer，howPage27
ever，wasagoodthing，askeepingusintouchwiththespiritualworld。
Ifhehadprayedmorehewouldhavebeenhigherinthespiritworld。
This，Imayremark，seemedratherinconflictwithhisassertionthathehadnotsufferedthroughbeingafree-thinker，andyet，ofcourse，manymenneglectprayerwhoarenotfree-thinkers。
Hisdeathwaspainless。HerememberedthedeathofPolwhele，ayoungofficerwhodiedbeforehim。Whenhe（Dodd）diedhehadfoundpeopletowelcomehim，butPolwhelehadnotbeenamongthem。
Hehadworktodo。HewasawareoftheFallofDongola，buthadnotbeenpresentinspiritatthebanquetatCairoafterwards。
Heknewmorethanhedidinlife。HerememberedourconversationinCairo。
Durationoflifeinthenextspherewasshorterthanonearth。HehadnotseenGeneralGordon，noranyotherfamousspirit。Spiritslivedinfamiliesandincommunities。Marriedpeopledidnotnecessarilymeetagain，butthosewholovedeachotherdidmeetagain。Page28
Ihavegiventhissynopsisofacommunicationtoshowthekindofthingwegot——thoughthiswasaveryfavourablespecimen，bothforlengthandforcoherence。Itshowsthatitisnotjusttosay，asmanycriticssay，thatnothingbutfollycomesthrough。Therewasnofollyhereunlesswecalleverythingfollywhichdoesnotagreewithpreconceivedideas。Ontheotherhand，whatproofwastherethatthesestatementsweretrue？Icouldseenosuchproof，andtheysimplyleftmebewildered。Now，withalargerexperience，inwhichIfindthatthesamesortofinformationhascometovery，manypeopleindependentlyinmanylands，Ithinkthattheagreementofthewitnessesdoes，asinallcasesofevidence，constitutesomeargumentfortheirtruth。AtthetimeIcouldnotfitsuchaconceptionofthefutureworldintomyownschemeofphilosophy，andImerelynoteditandpassedon。
Icontinuedtoreadmanybooksuponthesubjectandtoappreciatemoreandmorewhatacloudofwitnessesexisted，andhowcarefultheirobservationshadbeen。ThisimpressedmymindverymuchmorethanthePage29
limitedphenomenawhichcamewithinthereachofourcircle。ThenorafterwardsIreadabookbyMonsieurJacolliotuponoccultphenomenainIndia。JacolliotwasChiefJudgeoftheFrenchColonyofCrandenagur，withaveryjudicialmind，butratherbiassedagainstspiritualism。Heconductedaseriesofexperimentswithnativefakirs，whogavehimtheirconfidencebecausehewasasympatheticmanandspoketheirlanguage。Hedescribesthepainshetooktoeliminatefraud。TocutalongstoryshorthefoundamongthemeveryphenomenonofadvancedEuropeanmediumship，everythingwhichHome，forexample，hadeverdone。Hegotlevitationofthebody，thehandlingoffire，movementofarticlesatadistance，rapidgrowthofplants，raisingoftables。TheirexplanationofthesephenomenawasthattheyweredonebythePitrisorspirits，andtheironlydifferenceinprocedurefromoursseemedtobethattheymademoreuseofdirectevocation。
TheyclaimedthatthesepowerswerehandeddownfromtimeimmemorialandtracedbacktotheChaldees。AllthisimpressedmeveryPage30
much，ashere，independently，wehadexactlythesameresults，withoutanyquestionofAmericanfrauds，ormodernvulgarity，whichweresooftenraisedagainstsimilarphenomenainEurope。
MymindwasalsoinfluencedaboutthistimebythereportoftheDialecticalSociety，althoughthisReporthadbeenpresentedasfarbackas1869。Itisaverycogentpaper，andthoughitwasreceivedwithachorusofridiculebytheignorantandmaterialisticpapersofthosedays，itwasadocumentofgreatvalue。TheSocietywasformedbyanumberofpeopleofgoodstandingandopenmindtoenquireintothephysicalphenomenaofSpiritualism。Afullaccountoftheirexperiencesandoftheirelaborateprecautionsagainstfraudaregiven。Afterreadingtheevidence，onefailstoseehowtheycouldhavecometoanyotherconclusionthantheoneattained，namely，thatthephenomenawereundoubtedlygenuine，andthattheypointedtolawsandforceswhichhadnotbeenexploredbyScience。Itisamostsingularfactthatiftheverdicthadbeenagainstspiritualism，itwouldcertainlyhavebeenhailedPage31
asthedeathblowofthemovement，whereasbeinganendorsementofthephenomenaitmetwithnothingbyridicule。ThishasbeenthefateofanumberofinquiriessincethoseconductedlocallyatHydesvillein1848，orthatwhichfollowedwhenProfessorHareofPhiladelphia，likeSaintPaul，startedforthtoopposebutwasforcedtoyieldtothetruth。
About1891，IhadjoinedthePsychicalResearchSocietyandhadtheadvantageofreadingalltheirreports。TheworldowesagreatdealtotheunwearieddiligenceoftheSociety，andtoitssobrietyofstatement，thoughIwilladmitthatthelattermakesoneimpatientattimes，andonefeelsthatintheirdesiretoavoidsensationalismtheydiscouragetheworldfromknowingandusingthesplendidworkwhichtheyaredoing。
Theirsemi-scientificterminologyalsochokesofftheordinaryreader，andonemightsaysometimesafterreadingtheirarticleswhatanAmericantrapperintheRockyMountainssaidtomeaboutsomeUniversitymanwhomhehadbeenescortingfortheseason。"Hewasthatclever，"hesaid，"thatyouPage32
couldnotunderstandwhathesaid。"Butinspiteoftheselittlepeculiaritiesallofuswhohavewantedlightinthedarknesshavefounditbythemethodical，never-tiringworkoftheSociety。Itsinfluencewasoneofthepowerswhichnowhelpedmetoshapemythoughts。Therewasanother，however，whichmadeadeepimpressionuponme。UptonowIhadreadallthewonderfulexperiencesofgreatexperimenters，butIhadnevercomeacrossanyeffortupontheirparttobuildupsomesystemwhichwouldcoverandcontainthemall。NowIreadthatmonumentalbook，Myers’HumanPersonality，agreatrootbookfromwhichawholetreeofknowledgewillgrow。InthisbookMyerswasunabletogetanyformulawhichcoveredallthephenomenacalled"spiritual，"
butindiscussingthatactionofminduponmindwhichhehashimselfcalledtelepathyhecompletelyprovedhispoint，andheworkeditoutsothoroughlywithsomanyexamples，that，saveforthosewhowerewilfullyblindtotheevidence，ittookitsplacehenceforthasascientificfact。ButthiswasPage33
anenormousadvance。Ifmindcouldactuponmindatadistance，thenthereweresomehumanpowerswhichwerequitedifferenttomatteraswehadalwaysunderstoodit。Thegroundwascutfromunderthefeetofthematerialist，andmyoldpositionhadbeendestroyed。Ihadsaidthattheflamecouldnotexistwhenthecandlewasgone。Butherewastheflamealongwayoffthecandle，actinguponitsown。Theanalogywasclearlyafalseanalogy。Ifthemind，thespirit，theintelligenceofmancouldoperateatadistancefromthebody，thenitwasathingtothatextentseparatefromthebody。Whythenshoulditnotexistonitsownwhenthebodywasdestroyed？Notonlydidimpressionscomefromadistanceinthecaseofthosewhowerejustdead，butthesameevidenceprovedthatactualappearancesofthedeadpersoncamewiththem，showingthattheimpressionswerecarriedbysomethingwhichwasexactlylikethebody，andyetactedindependentlyandsurvivedthedeathofthebody。ThechainofevidencebetweenthesimplestPage34
casesofthought-readingatoneend，andtheactualmanifestationofthespiritindependentlyofthebodyattheother，wasoneunbrokenchain，eachphaseleadingtotheother，andthisfactseemedtometobringthefirstsignsofsystematicscienceandorderintowhathadbeenamerecollectionofbewilderingandmoreorlessunrelatedfacts。
AboutthistimeIhadaninterestingexperience，forI
wasoneofthreedelegatessentbythePsychicalSocietytositupinahauntedhouse。Itwasoneofthesepoltergeistcases，wherenoisesandfoolishtrickshadgoneonforsomeyears，verymuchliketheclassicalcaseofJohnWesley’sfamilyatEpworthin1726，orthecaseoftheFoxfamilyatHydesvillenearRochesterin1848，whichwasthestarting-pointofmodernspiritualism。Nothingsensationalcameofourjourney，andyetitwasnotentirelybarren。Onthefirstnightnothingoccurred。Onthesecond，thereweretremendousnoises，soundslikesomeonebeatingatablewithastick。Wehad，ofcourse，takeneveryprecaution，andwecouldnotexplainthenoises；butatthesametimewecouldnotswearthatPage35
someingeniouspracticaljokehadnotbeenplayeduponus。Therethematterendedforthetime。Someyearsafterwards，however，Imetamemberofthefamilywhooccupiedthehouse，andhetoldmethatafterourvisitthebonesofachild，evidentlylongburied，hadbeendugupinthegarden。
Youmustadmitthatthiswasveryremarkable。Hauntedhousesarerare，andhouseswithburiedhumanbeingsintheirgardensarealso，wewillhope，rare。Thattheyshouldhavebothunitedinonehouseissurelysomeargumentforthetruthofthephenomena。ItisinterestingtorememberthatinthecaseoftheFoxfamilytherewasalsosomewordofhumanbonesandevidenceofmurderbeingfoundinthecellar，thoughanactualcrimewasneverestablished。IhavelittledoubtthatiftheWesleyfamilycouldhavegotuponspeakingtermswiththeirpersecutor，theywouldalsohavecomeuponsomemotiveforthepersecution。Italmostseemsasifalifecutsuddenlyandviolentlyshorthadsomestoreofunspentvitalitywhichcouldstillmanifestitselfinastrange，mischievousfashion。LaterI
hadanothersingularPage36
personalexperienceofthissortwhichImaydescribeattheendofthisargument。
Note：VideAppendixIII。
FromthisperioduntilthetimeoftheWarIcontinuedintheleisurehoursofaverybusylifetodevoteattentiontothissubject。
Ihadexperienceofoneseriesofseanceswithveryamazingresults，includingseveralmaterializationsseenindimlight。AsthemediumwasdetectedintrickeryshortlyafterwardsIwipedtheseoffentirelyasevidence。
AtthesametimeIthinkthatthepresumptionisveryclear，thatinthecaseofsomemediumslikeEusapiaPalladinotheymaybeguiltyoftrickerywhentheirpowersfailthem，andyetatothertimeshaveverygenuinegifts。
Mediumshipinitslowestformsisapurelyphysicalgiftwithnorelationtomoralityandinmanycasesitisintermittentandcannotbecontrolledatwill。Eusapiawasatleasttwiceconvictedofveryclumsyandfoolishfraud，whereassheseveraltimessustainedlongexaminationsundereverypossibletestconditionatthehandsofscientificcommitteeswhichcontainedsomeofthebestnamesofPage37
France，Italy，andEngland。However，Ipersonallyprefertocutmyexperiencewithadiscreditedmediumoutofmyrecord，andIthinkthatallphysicalphenomenaproducedinthedarkmustnecessarilylosemuchoftheirvalue，unlesstheyareaccompaniedbyevidentialmessagesaswell。Itisthecustomofourcriticstoassumethatifyoucutoutthemediumswhogotintotroubleyouwouldhavetocutoutnearlyallyourevidence。Thatisnotsoatall。
UptothetimeofthisincidentIhadneversatwithaprofessionalmediumatall，andyetIhadcertainlyaccumulatedsomeevidence。Thegreatestmediumofall，Mr。D。D。Home，showedhisphenomenainbroaddaylight，andwasreadytosubmittoeverytestandnochargeoftrickerywaseversubstantiatedagainsthim。Soitwaswithmanyothers。Itisonlyfairtostateinadditionthatwhenapublicmediumisafairmarkfornotorietyhunters，foramateurdetectivesandforsensationalreporters，andwhenheisdealingwithobscureelusivephenomenaandhastodefendhimselfbeforejuriesandjudgeswho，asarule，knownothingabouttheconditionsPage38
whichinfluencethephenomena，itwouldbewonderfulifamancouldgetthroughwithoutanoccasionalscandal。Atthesametimethewholesystemofpayingbyresults，whichispracticallythepresentsystem，sinceifamediumnevergetsresultshewouldsoongetnopayments，isaviciousone。Itisonlywhentheprofessionalmediumcanbeguaranteedanannuitywhichwillbeindependentofresults，thatwecaneliminatethestrongtemptation，tosubstitutepretendedphenomenawhentherealonesarewanting。
IhavenowtracedmyownevolutionofthoughtuptothetimeoftheWar。Icanclaim，Ihope，thatitwasdeliberateandshowednotracesofthatcredulitywithwhichouropponentschargeus。Itwastoodeliberate，forIwasculpablyslowinthrowinganysmallinfluenceImaypossessintothescaleoftruth。ImighthavedriftedonformywholelifeasapsychicalResearcher，showingasympathetic，butmoreorlessdilettanteattitudetowardsthewholesubject，asifwewerearguingaboutsomeimpersonalthingsuchastheexistenceofAtlantisortheBaconiancontroversy。ButtheWarPage39
came，andwhentheWarcameitbroughtearnestnessintoalloursoulsandmadeuslookmorecloselyatourownbeliefsandreassesstheirvalues。
Inthepresenceofanagonizedworld，hearingeverydayofthedeathsoftheflowerofourraceinthefirstpromiseoftheirunfulfilledyouth，seeingaroundonethewivesandmotherswhohadnoclearconceptionwhithertheirlovedoneshadgoneto，IseemedsuddenlytoseethatthissubjectwithwhichIhadsolongdalliedwasnotmerelyastudyofaforceoutsidetherulesofscience，butthatitwasreallysomethingtremendous，abreakingdownofthewallsbetweentwoworlds，adirectundeniablemessagefrombeyond，acallofhopeandofguidancetothehumanraceatthetimeofitsdeepestaffliction。Theobjectivesideofitceasedtointerestforhavingmadeupone’smindthatitwastruetherewasanendofthematter。
Thereligioussideofitwasclearlyofinfinitelygreaterimportance。
Thetelephonebellisinitselfaverychildishaffair，butitmaybethesignalforaveryvitalmessage。Itseemedthatallthesephenomena，largeandsmall，hadbeenthetelephonePage40
bellswhich，senselessinthemselves，hadsignalledtothehumanrace：
"Rouseyourselves！Standby！Beatattention！Herearesignsforyou。TheywillleaduptothemessagewhichGodwishestosend。"Itwasthemessagenotthesignswhichreallycounted。Anewrevelationseemedtobeinthecourseofdeliverytothehumanrace，thoughhowfaritwasstillinwhatmaybecalledtheJohn-the-Baptiststage，andhowfarsomegreaterfulnessandclearnessmightbeexpectedhereafter，wasmorethananymancansay。
Mypointis，thatthephysicalphenomenawhichhavebeenproveduptothehiltforallwhocaretoexaminetheevidence，arereallyofnoaccount，andthattheirrealvalueconsistsinthefactthattheysupportandgiveobjectiverealitytoanimmensebodyofknowledgewhichmustdeeplymodifyourpreviousreligiousviews，andmust，whenproperlyunderstoodanddigested，makereligionaveryrealthing，nolongeramatteroffaith，butamatterofactualexperienceandfact。ItistothissideofthequestionthatIwillnowturn，butImustaddtomypreviousremarksaboutpersonalexperiencePage41
that，sincetheWar，IhavehadsomeveryexceptionalopportunitiesofconfirmingalltheviewswhichIhadalreadyformedastothetruthofthegeneralfactsuponwhichmyviewsarefounded。
Theseopportunitiescamethroughthefactthataladywholivedwithus，aMissL。S。，developedthepowerofautomaticwriting。
Ofallformsofmediumship，thisseemstometobetheonewhichshouldbetestedmostrigidly，asitlendsitselfveryeasilynotsomuchtodeceptionastoself-deception，whichisamoresubtleanddangerousthing。Istheladyherselfwriting，oristhere，assheavers，apowerthatcontrolsher，evenasthechronicleroftheJewsintheBibleaverredthathewascontrolled？InthecaseofL。S。thereisnodenyingthatsomemessagesprovedtobenottrue——especiallyinthematteroftimetheywerequiteunreliable。Butontheotherhand，thenumberswhichdidcometruewerefarbeyondwhatanyguessingorcoincidencecouldaccountfor。Thus，whentheLusitaniawassunkandthemorningpapershereannouncedthatsofarasknowntherewasnolossoflife，themediumPage42
atoncewrote："Itisterrible，terrible——andwillhaveagreatinfluenceonthewar。"SinceitwasthefirststrongimpulsewhichturnedAmericatowardsthewar，themessagewastrueinbothrespects。Again，sheforetoldthearrivalofanimportanttelegramuponacertainday，andevengavethenameofthedelivererofit——amostunlikelyperson。Altogether，noonecoulddoubttherealityofherinspiration，thoughthelapseswerenotable。Itwaslikegettingagoodmessagethroughaveryimperfecttelephone。
Oneotherincidentoftheearlywardaysstandsoutinmymemory。AladyinwhomIwasinterestedhaddiedinaprovincialtown。
Shewasachronicinvalidandmorphiawasfoundbyherbedside。Therewasaninquestwithanopenverdict。EightdayslaterIwenttohaveasittingwithMr。VoutPeters。Aftergivingmeagooddealwhichwasvagueandirrelevant，hesuddenlysaid："Thereisaladyhere。Sheisleaninguponanolderwoman。
Shekeepssaying`Morphia。’Threetimesshehassaidit。Hermindwasclouded。
Shedidnotmeanit。Morphia！"ThosewerealmosthisexactPage43
words。Telepathywasoutofthequestion，forIhadentirelyotherthoughtsinmymindatthetimeandwasexpectingnosuchmessage。
Apartfrompersonalexperiences，thismovementmustgaingreatadditionalsolidityfromthewonderfulliteraturewhichhassprunguparounditduringthelastfewyears。Ifnootherspiritualbookswereinexistencethanfivewhichhaveappearedinthelastyearorso——I
alludetoProfessorLodge’sRaymond，ArthurHill’sPsychicalInvestigations，ProfessorCrawford’sRealityofPsychicalPhenomena，ProfessorBarrett’sThresholdoftheUnseen，andGeraldBalfour’sEarofDionysius——thosefivealonewould，inmyopinion，besufficienttoestablishthefactsforanyreasonableenquirer。
Beforegoingintothisquestionofanewreligiousrevelation，howitisreached，andwhatitconsistsof，Iwouldsayawordupononeothersubject。Therehavealwaysbeentwolinesofattackbyouropponents。
Theoneisthatourfactsarenottrue。ThisIhavedealtwith。TheotheristhatweareuponforbiddengroundandshouldcomeoffPage44
itandleaveitalone。AsIstartedfromapositionofcomparativematerialism，thisobjectionhasneverhadanymeaningforme，buttoothersIwouldsubmitoneortwoconsiderations。ThechiefisthatGodhasgivenusnopoweratallwhichisundernocircumstancestobeused。Thefactthatwepossessitisinitselfproofthatitisourboundendutytostudyandtodevelopit。Itistruethatthis，likeeveryotherpower，maybeabusedifweloseourgeneralsenseofproportionandofreason。ButIrepeatthatitsmerepossessionisastrongreasonwhyitislawfulandbindingthatitbeused。
Itmustalsoberememberedthatthiscryofillicitknowledge，backedbymoreorlessappropriatetexts，hasbeenusedagainsteveryadvanceofhumanknowledge。Itwasusedagainstthenewastronomy，andGalileohadactuallytorecant。ItwasusedagainstGalvaniandelectricity。ItwasusedagainstDarwin，whowouldcertainlyhavebeenburnedhadhelivedafewcenturiesbefore。ItwasevenusedagainstSimpson’suseofchloroforminchild-birth，onthegroundthattheBibledeclared"inpainshallyebringPage45
themforth。"Surelyapleawhichhasbeenmadesooften，andsooftenabandoned，cannotberegardedveryseriously。
Tothose，however，towhomthetheologicalaspectisstillastumblingblock，Iwouldrecommendthereadingoftwoshortbooks，eachofthembyclergymen。TheoneistheRev。FieldingOuld’sIsSpiritualismoftheDevil，purchasablefortwopence；theotheristheRev。ArthurChambers’OurSelfAfterDeath。IcanalsorecommendtheRev。CharlesTweedale’swritingsuponthesubject。ImayaddthatwhenIfirstbegantomakepublicmyownviews，oneofthefirstlettersofsympathywhichIreceivedwasfromthelateArchdeaconWilberforce。
Therearesometheologianswhoarenotonlyopposedtosuchacult，butwhogothelengthofsayingthatthephenomenaandmessagescomefromfiendswhopersonateourdead，orpretendtobeheavenlyteachers。
Itisdifficulttothinkthatthosewhoholdthisviewhaveeverhadanypersonalexperienceoftheconsolingandupliftingeffectofsuchcommunicationsupontherecipient。RuskinhasleftitonrecordthathisconvictionPage46
ofafuturelifecamefromSpiritualism，thoughhesomewhatungratefullyandillogicallyaddedthathavinggotthat，hewishedtohavenomoretodowithit。Therearemany，however——quorumparsparvasum——
whowithoutanyreservecandeclarethattheywereturnedfrommaterialismtoabeliefinfuturelife，withallthatthatimplies，bythestudyofthissubject。Ifthisbethedevil’sworkonecanonlysaythatthedevilseemstobeaverybunglingworkmanandtogetresultsveryfarfromwhathemightbeexpectedtodesire。
Page47Chapter2THEREVELATIONIcannowturnwithsomerelieftoamoreimpersonalviewofthisgreatsubject。Allusionhasbeenmadetoabodyoffreshdoctrine。
Whencedoesthiscome？Itcomesinthemainthroughautomaticwritingwherethehandofthehumanmediumiscontrolled，eitherbyanallegeddeadhumanbeing，asinthecaseofMissJuliaAmes，orbyanallegedhigherteacher，asinthatofMr。StaintonMoses。Thesewrittencommunicationsaresupplementedbyavastnumberoftranceutterances，andbytheverbalmessagesofspirits，giventhroughthelipsofmediums。Sometimesithasevencomebydirectvoices，asinthenumerouscasesdetailedbyAdmiralUsborneMooreinhisbookTheVoices。Occasionallyithascomethroughthefamilycircleandtable-tilting，as，forexample，inthetwocasesIhavepreviouslyPage48
detailedwithinmyownexperience。Sometimes，asinacaserecordedbyMrs。deMorgan，ithascomethroughthehandofachild。
Now，ofcourse，weareatonceconfrontedwiththeobviousobjection——howdoweknowthatthesemessagesarereallyfrombeyond？
Howdoweknowthatthemediumisnotconsciouslywriting，orifthatbeimprobable，thatheorsheisunconsciouslywritingthembyhisorherownhigherself？Thisisaperfectlyjustcriticism，anditisonewhichwemustrigorouslyapplyineverycase，sinceifthewholeworldistobecomefullofminorprophets，eachofthemstatingtheirownviewsofthereligiousstatewithnoproofsavetheirownassertion，weshould，indeed，bebackinthedarkagesofimplicitfaith。Theanswermustbethatwerequiresignswhichwecantestbeforeweacceptassertionswhichwecannottest。Inolddaystheydemandedasignfromaprophet，anditwasaperfectlyreasonablerequest，andstillholdsgood。Ifapersoncomestomewithanaccountoflifeinsomefurtherworld，andhasnocredentialssavehisownassertion，IPage49
wouldratherhaveitinmywaste-paperbasketthanonmystudytable。
Lifeistooshorttoweighthemeritsofsuchproductions。Butif，asinthecaseofStaintonMoses，withhisSpiritTeachings，thedoctrineswhicharesaidtocomefrombeyondareaccompaniedwithagreatnumberofabnormalgifts——andStaintonMoseswasoneofthegreatestmediumsinallwaysthatEnglandhaseverproduced——thenIlookuponthematterinamoreseriouslight。Again，ifMissJuliaAmescantellMr。Steadthingsinherownearthlifeofwhichhecouldnothavecognisance，andifthosethingsareshown，whentested，tobetrue，thenoneismoreinclinedtothinkthatthosethingswhichcannotbetestedaretruealso。Oronceagain，ifRaymondcantellusofaphotographnocopyofwhichhadreachedEngland，andwhichprovedtobeexactlyashedescribedit，andifhecangiveus，throughthelipsofstrangers，allsortsofdetailsofhishomelife，whichhisownrelativeshadtoverifybeforetheyfoundthemtobetrue，isitunreasonabletosupposethatheisfairlyaccurateinhisdescriptionofhisownexperiencesPage50
andstateoflifeattheverymomentatwhichheiscommunicating？OrwhenMr。ArthurHillreceivesmessagesfromfolkofwhomheneverheard，andafterwardsverifiesthattheyaretrueineverydetail，isitnotafairinferencethattheyarespeakingtruthsalsowhentheygiveanylightupontheirpresentcondition？Thecasesaremanifold，andImentiononlyafewofthem，butmypointisthatthewholeofthissystem，fromthelowestphysicalphenomenonofatable-rapuptothemostinspiredutteranceofaprophet，isonecompletewhole，eachattachedtothenextone，andthatwhenthehumblerendofthatchainwasplacedinthehandofhumanity，itwasinorderthattheymight，bydiligenceandreason，feeltheirwayupituntiltheyreachedtherevelationwhichwaitedintheend。Donotsneeratthehumblebeginnings，theheavingtableortheflyingtambourine，howevermuchsuchphenomenamayhavebeenabusedorsimulated，butrememberthatafallingappletaughtusgravity，aboilingkettlebroughtusthesteamengine，andthetwitchinglegofafrogopenedPage51
upthetrainofthoughtandexperimentwhichgaveuselectricity。SothelowlymanifestationsofHydesvillehaveripenedintoresultswhichhaveengagedthefinestgroupofintellectsinthiscountryduringthelasttwentyyears，andwhicharedestined，inmyopinion，tobringaboutfarthegreatestdevelopmentofhumanexperiencewhichtheworldhaseverseen。
IthasbeenassertedbymenforwhoseopinionIhaveadeepregard——notablybySirWilliamBarratt——thatpsychicalresearchisquitedistinctfromreligion。Certainlyitisso，inthesensethatamanmightbeaverygoodpsychicalresearcherbutaverybadman。Buttheresultsofpsychicalresearch，thedeductionswhichwemaydraw，andthelessonswemaylearn，teachusofthecontinuedlifeofthesoul，ofthenatureofthatlife，andofhowitisinfluencedbyourconducthere。
Ifthisisdistinctfromreligion，ImustconfessthatIdonotunderstandthedistinction。Tomeitisreligion——theveryessenceofit。
Butthatdoesnotmeanthatitwillnecessarilycrystalliseintoanewreligion。PersonallyItrustPage52
thatitwillnotdoso。Surelywearedisunitedenoughalready？RatherwouldIseeitthegreatunifyingforce，theoneprovablethingconnectedwitheveryreligion，Christianornon-Christian，formingthecommonsolidbasisuponwhicheachraises，ifitmustneedsraise，thatseparatesystemwhichappealstothevariedtypesofmind。TheSouthernraceswillalwaysdemandwhatislessausterethantheNorth，theWestwillalwaysbemorecriticalthantheEast。Onecannotshapealltoalevelconformity。Butifthebroadpremiseswhichareguaranteedbythisteachingfrombeyondareaccepted，thenthehumanracehasmadeagreatstridetowardsreligiouspeaceandunity。Thequestionwhichfacesus，then，ishowwillthisinfluencebearupontheolderorganisedreligionsandphilosophieswhichhaveinfluencedtheactionsofmen。
Theansweris，thattoonlyoneofthesereligionsorphilosophiesisthisnewrevelationabsolutelyfatal。ThatistoMaterialism。IdonotsaythisinanyspiritofhostilitytoMaterialists，who，sofarastheyareanorganizedbody，are，Ithink，asearnestandPage53
moralasanyotherclass。Butthefactismanifestthatifspiritcanlivewithoutmatter，thenthefoundationofMaterialismisgone，andthewholeschemeofthoughtcrashestotheground。
Astoothercreeds，itmustbeadmittedthatanacceptanceoftheteachingbroughttousfrombeyondwoulddeeplymodifyconventionalChristianity。Butthesemodificationswouldberatherinthedirectionofexplanationanddevelopmentthanofcontradiction。Itwouldsetrightgravemisunderstandingswhichhavealwaysoffendedthereasonofeverythoughtfulman，butitwouldalsoconfirmandmakeabsolutelycertainthefactoflifeafterdeath，thebaseofallreligion。Itwouldconfirmtheunhappyresultsofsin，thoughitwouldshowthatthoseresultsareneverabsolutelypermanent。Itwouldconfirmtheexistenceofhigherbeings，whomwehavecalledangels，andofanever-ascendinghierarchyaboveus，inwhichtheChristspiritfindsitsplace，culminatinginheightsoftheinfinitewithwhichweassociatetheideaofall-powerorofGod。ItwouldconfirmtheideaofheavenandofaPage54
temporarypenalstatewhichcorrespondstopurgatoryratherthantohell。Thusthisnewrevelation，onsomeofthemostvitalpoints，isnotdestructiveofthebeliefs，anditshouldbehailedbyreallyearnestmenofallcreedsasamostpowerfulallyratherthanadangerousdevil-begottenenemy。
Ontheotherhand，letusturntothepointsinwhichChristianitymustbemodifiedbythisnewrevelation。
FirstofallIwouldsaythis，whichmustbeobvioustomany，howevermuchtheydeploreit：Christianitymustchangeormustperish。
Thatisthelawoflife——thatthingsmustadaptthemselvesorperish。
Christianityhasdeferredthechangeverylong，shehasdeferredituntilherchurchesarehalfempty，untilwomenareherchiefsupporters，anduntilboththelearnedpartofthecommunityononeside，andthepoorestclassontheother，bothintownandcountry，arelargelyalienatedfromher。Letustryandtracethereasonforthis。Itisapparentinallsects，andcomes，therefore，fromsomedeepcommoncause。Page55
Peoplearealienatedbecausetheyfranklydonotbelievethefactsaspresentedtothemtobetrue。Theirreasonandtheirsenseofjusticeareequallyoffended。Onecanseenojusticeinavicarioussacrifice，norintheGodwhocouldbeplacatedbysuchmeans。Aboveall，manycannotunderstandsuchexpressionsasthe"redemptionfromsin，""cleansedbythebloodoftheLamb，"andsoforth。Solongastherewasanyquestionofthefallofmantherewasatleastsomesortofexplanationofsuchphrases；butwhenitbecamecertainthatmanhadneverfallen——whenwitheverfullerknowledgewecouldtraceourancestralcoursedownthroughthecave-manandthedrift-man，backtothatshadowyandfar-offtimewhentheman-likeapeslowlyevolvedintotheapelikeman——lookingbackonallthisvastsuccessionoflife，weknewthatithadalwaysbeenrisingfromsteptostep。Neverwasthereanyevidenceofafall。Butiftherewerenofall，thenwhatbecameoftheatonement，oftheredemption，oforiginalsin，ofalargepartofChristianmysticalphilosophy？Page56
Evenifitwereasreasonableinitselfasitisactuallyunreasonable，itwouldstillbequitedivorcedfromthefacts。
Again，toomuchseemedtobemadeofChrist’sdeath。Itisnouncommonthingtodieforanidea。Everyreligionhasequallyhaditsmartyrs。Mendiecontinuallyfortheirconvictions。ThousandsofourladsaredoingitatthisinstantinFrance。ThereforethedeathofChrist，beautifulasitisintheGospelnarrative，hasseemedtoassumeanundueimportance，asthoughitwereanisolatedphenomenonforamantodieinpursuitofareform。Inmyopinion，fartoomuchstresshasbeenlaiduponChrist’sdeath，andfartoolittleuponHislife。Thatwaswherethetruegrandeurandthetruelessonlay。Itwasalifewhicheveninthoselimitedrecordsshowsusnotraitwhichisnotbeautiful——alifefullofeasytoleranceforothers，ofkindlycharity，ofbroad-mindedmoderation，ofgentlecourage，alwaysprogressiveandopentonewideas，andyetneverbittertothoseideaswhichHewasreallysupplanting，thoughHedidoccasionallyloseHistemperwiththeirmorePage57
bigotedandnarrowsupporters。EspeciallyonelovesHisreadinesstogetatthespiritofreligion，sweepingasidethetextsandtheforms。
Neverhadanyonesucharobustcommonsense，orsuchasympathyforweakness。
Itwasthismostwonderfulanduncommonlife，andnothisdeath，whichisthetruecentreoftheChristianreligion。
Now，letuslookatthelightwhichwegetfromthespiritguidesuponthisquestionofChristianity。Opinionisnotabsolutelyuniformyonder，anymorethanitishere；butreadinganumberofmessagesuponthissubject，theyamounttothis：Therearemanyhigherspiritswithourdeparted。Theyvaryindegree。Callthem"angels，"andyouareintouchwitholdreligiousthought。Highabovealltheseisthegreatestspiritofwhomtheyhavecognizance——notGod，sinceGodissoinfinitethatHeisnotwithintheirken——butonewhoisnearerGodandtothatextentrepresentsGod。ThisistheChristSpirit。Hisspecialcareistheearth。
Hecamedownuponitatatimeofgreatearthlydepravity——atimewhentheworldwasalmostaswickedasitisnow，inordertogivePage58
thepeoplethelessonofanideallife。Thenhereturnedtohisownhighstation，havingleftanexamplewhichisstilloccasionallyfollowed。
ThatisthestoryofChristasspiritshavedescribedit。ThereisnothinghereofAtonementorRedemption。Butthereisaperfectlyfeasibleandreasonablescheme，whichI，forone，couldreadilybelieve。
IfsuchaviewofChristianityweregenerallyaccepted，andifitwereenforcedbyassuranceanddemonstrationfromtheNewRevelationwhichiscomingtousfromtheotherside，thenweshouldhaveacreedwhichmightunitethechurches，whichmightbereconciledtoscience，whichmightdefyallattacks，andwhichmightcarrytheChristianFaithonforanindefiniteperiod。ReasonandFaithwouldatlastbereconciled，anightmarewouldbeliftedfromourminds，andspiritualpeacewouldprevail。Idonotseesuchresultscomingasasuddenconquestoraviolentrevolution。
Ratherwillitcomeasapeacefulpenetration，assomecrudeideas，suchastheEternalHellidea，havealreadygentlyfadedawaywithinourownPage59
lifetime。Itis，however，whenthehumansoulisploughedandharrowedbysufferingthattheseedsoftruthmaybeplanted，andsosomefuturespiritualharvestwillsurelyrisefromthedaysinwhichwelive。
WhenIreadtheNewTestamentwiththeknowledgewhichIhaveofSpiritualism，IamleftwithadeepconvictionthattheteachingofChristwasinmanymostimportantrespectslostbytheearlyChurch，andhasnotcomedowntous。Alltheseallusionstoaconquestoverdeathhave，asitseemstome，littlemeaninginthepresentChristianphilosophy，whereasforthosewhohaveseen，howeverdimly，throughtheveil，andtouched，howeverslightly，theoutstretchedhandsbeyond，deathhasindeedbeenconquered。Whenwereadsomanyreferencestothephenomenawithwhichwearefamiliar，thelevitations，thetonguesoffire，therushingwind，thespiritualgifts，theworkingofwonders，wefeelthatthecentralfactofall，thecontinuityoflifeandthecommunicationwiththedead，wasmostcertainlyknown。Ourattentionisarrestedbysuchasayingas："HereheworkednowondersPage60
becausethepeoplewerewantinginfaith。"Isthisnotabsolutelyinaccordancewithpsychiclawasweknowit？OrwhenChrist，onbeingtouchedbythesickwoman，said："Whohastouchedme？Muchvirtuehaspassedoutofme。"CouldHesaymoreclearlywhatahealingmediumwouldsaynow，savethatHewouldusetheword"Power"insteadof"virtue"；orwhenweread："TrythespiritswhethertheybeofGod，"isitnotthevery，advicewhichwouldnowbegiventoanoviceapproachingaseance？Itistoolargeaquestionformetodomorethanindicate，butIbelievethatthissubject，whichthemorerigidChristianchurchesnowattacksobitterly，isreallythecentralteachingofChristianityitself。Tothosewhowouldreadmoreuponthislineofthought，IstronglyrecommendDr。AbrahamWallace’sJesusofNazareth，ifthisvaluablelittleworkisnotoutofprint。HedemonstratesinitmostconvincinglythatChrist’smiracleswereallwithinthepowersofpsychiclawaswenowunderstandit，andwereontheexactlinesofsuchlaweveninsmalldetails。TwoexampleshavealreadyPage61
beengiven。Manyareworkedoutinthatpamphlet。Onewhichconvincedmeasatruthwasthethesisthatthestoryofthematerializationofthetwoprophetsuponthemountainwasextraordinarilyaccuratewhenjudgedbypsychiclaw。ThereisthefactthatPeter，JamesandJohn（whoformedthepsychiccirclewhenthedeadwasrestoredtolife，andwerepresumablythemosthelpfulofthegroup）weretaken。Thenthereisthechoiceofthehighpureairofthemountain，thedrowsinessoftheattendantmediums，thetransfiguring，theshiningrobes，thecloud，thewords："Letusmakethreetabernacles，"withitsalternatereading："Letusmakethreeboothsorcabinets"（theidealwayofcondensingpowerandproducingmaterializations）
——allthesemakeaveryconsistenttheoryofthenatureoftheproceedings。
Fortherest，thelistofgiftswhichSt。PaulgivesasbeingnecessaryfortheChristianDisciple，issimplythelistofgiftsofaverypowerfulmedium，includingprophecy，healing，causingmiracles（orphysicalphenomena），clairvoyance，andotherpowers（ICorinth，xii，8，11）。ThePage62
earlyChristianChurchwassaturatedwithspiritualism，andtheyseemtohavepaidnoattentiontothoseOldTestamentprohibitionswhichweremeanttokeepthesepowersonlyfortheuseandprofitofthepriesthood。
Page63Chapter3THECOMINGLIFENow，leavingthislargeandpossiblycontentioussubjectofthemodificationswhichsuchnewrevelationsmustproduceinChristianity，letustrytofollowwhatoccurstomanafterdeath。Theevidenceonthispointisfairlyfullandconsistent。Messagesfromthedeadhavebeenreceivedinmanylandsatvarioustimes，mixedupwithagooddealaboutthisworld，whichwecouldverify。Whenmessagescomethus，itisonlyfair，Ithink，tosupposethatifwhatwecantestistrue，thenwhatwecannottestistruealso。Wheninadditionwefindaverygreatuniformityinthemessagesandanagreementastodetailswhicharenotatallinaccordancewithanypre-existingschemeofthought，thenIthinkthepresumptionoftruthisverystrong。ItisdifficulttothinkthatsomefifteenortwentymessagesfromPage64
varioussourcesofwhichIhavepersonalnotes，allagree，andyetareallwrong，norisiteasytosupposethatspiritscantellthetruthaboutourworldbutuntruthabouttheirown。
Ireceivedlately，inthesameweek，twoaccountsoflifeinthenextworld，onereceivedthroughthehandofthenearrelativeofahighdignitaryoftheChurch，whiletheothercamethroughthewifeofaworkingmechanicianinScotland。Neithercouldhavebeenawareoftheexistenceoftheother，andyetthetwoaccountsaresoalikeastobepracticallythesame。
Note：VideAppendixII。
Themessageuponthesepointsseemstometobeinfinitelyreassuring，whetherweregardourownfateorthatofourfriends。Thedepartedallagreethatpassingisusuallybotheasyandpainless，andfollowedbyanenormousreactionofpeaceandease。Theindividualfindshimselfinaspiritbody，whichistheexactcounterpartofhisoldone，savethatalldisease，weakness，ordeformityhaspassedfromit。Thisbodyisstandingorfloatingbesidetheoldbody，andconsciousPage65
bothofitandofthesurroundingpeople。Atthismomentthedeadmanisnearertomatterthanhewilleverbeagain，andhenceitisthatatthatmomentthegreaterpartofthosecasesoccurwhere，histhoughtshavingturnedtosomeoneinthedistance，thespiritbodywentwiththethoughtsandwasmanifesttotheperson。Outofsome250casescarefullyexaminedbyMr。Gurney，134ofsuchapparitionswereactuallyatthismomentofdissolution，whenonecouldimaginethatthenewspiritbodywaspossiblysofarmaterialastobemorevisibletoasympathetichumaneyethanitwouldlaterbecome。