own native language, of prior golden ages, putting to shame. the boasted civilizations of Greece and Rome. Newton, on a summer's afternoon, saw an apple drop to the earth. It was an effect. Investigating, studying inductively, the great law of gravitation flashed upon his mind. Arkwright, carefully watching the vibratory motions of a cog in a wheel, was repaid by discovering the principles of a new mechanical law, resulting in the saving of labor and life. Franklin, with kite and string, called subtle electric firefluids from the storm-clouds above him, and chaining them to machinery, threw an eternal truth into the face of all the sere-mantled ages. Now telegraphic wires girdle the globe, and words from Americans to Asians, outfly the winds and sunbeams. Joshua, Grecianized into Jesus, awoke to outer conscious life in a Judean "manger." Humble and unpropitious the advent! But there lay concealed causes destined to shake kingdoms, and give practical force to a higher civilization. Few attend the birth of genius. All newlyconceived truths are cradled in mangers. No age appreciates the martyr souls that take advanced positions. The riveting-then the engine whose motive force lies. behind the gracefully folding sails that whiten oceans; the kite and silken strings-then telegraphic communications belting the planet with burning thoughts; the vacated manger adjoining Bethlehem-then nations and swarming empires bowing to the "cross of Christ;" the "rappings" near Rochester, the heavens opened-then overjoyed multitudes, shouting-See!-behold! a tangible demonstration of a future existence ! This has ever been the divine formula for inaugurating new dispensations. God was not in the whirlwind bending Lebanon's cedars; but in the "still small voice." To inductive plodders, however, the more potent causes employed in the establishment of these tidal eras, pass unnoticed, because spiritual. Scientists deal only with phenomena and forms of substance. They see mountains; but not the hidden volcanic fires that rend them. They discern oaks in the distance; but not the electricity that shivers them to atoms. They behold parlor tables move without visible contact; yet are blind to those potential spirit-forces connected with the motions. Science needs spiritualizing. The gods playing upon the harp-strings of unseen causes, ever conquer. In spirit-life, wisely to plan is to perfect. The mediative heralds of higher, brighter cycles-the standard-bearers of newly-conceived truths, bathing their pale foreheads in the first pearling sprays from celestial fountains, unappreciated, persecuted, pronounced “mad,” banished from aristocratic circles-generally suffer social martyrdom, or are put to slow torturous deaths by the prevailing "respectable" conservatism of the times. Reformers of all ages, whose mystic words startled the world, and whose inspired thoughts streamed like pearls down the future, unrecognized by Church or State, were branded "infidels!" But the future did-will do justice to such, erecting over their lifeless remains splendid monuments, where millions each spring morning shall delight to scatter flowers and evergreens, beautiful emblems of a fadeless immortality. When the philosophically inclined heard of these phenomena, starting almost simultaneously in different portions of the world, they earnestly sought the producing cause. This, natural to cultured Germans, was especially praiseworthy in Americans. Truly great men are not only critical reasoners, but rigid investigators of newly-announced subjects or sciences. Theologic darkness trembles at every flash of advancing light. Bigots and moss-wreathed clergymen, fearing, heard in those gentle tappings from loved ones, only ghostly mutterings of the devil. Sectarists religiously canned, sealed and creed-encrusted, cried in tones fearful and sepulchral-" humbug!" an exclamation distinguishable for ponderous lungs and liliputian mentality. A parrot can assume grave platitudes and mouth the word with pious grace! 66 Progress daily invites to fresh feasts. "Let the church take care," says Carlyle "when God lets loose a great thought." Inspiration, art, science, theories, discoveries, knockings!" each, all, the results of hidden spirit forces, exert their legitimate influences. Nebula-then through methods formative and systematic-worlds. Cells, combinations then orderly systems. Rappings-then acknowledged angel ministries whispered in millions of homecircles -This is not a matter of to-day Or yesterday, but hath been from all time And none hath told us whence it comes, or how." Egypt had its wierd augural staves from which were elicited meaning sounds rhythmic with melodies of immortality. The spirit-pendulum, mysterious to the masses, was employed in the ancient services of Hydromantia. The alphabet was successfully employed by the initiated few in the times of the Emperor Valens. Melancthon mentions rappings occurring in Germany in his day. Though mysterious sounds and voices of deep import had been heard in the palmier periods of the Orient, and at brightning intervals for hundreds of years, in different European countries, as historic testimonies and the older British reviews abundantly prove; yet it remained for impulsive, inspirational Americans to translate (March, 1848) those disturbing forces and noises, into intelligible communications. The genius of our institutions, tending to the widest individual freedom, had ripened the intellectual soil of the continent for a rich spiritual seeding. Spirits were to be the sowers. John's prophetic angel was already in the overarching heavens, waiting to preach the "everlasting gospel." The seventh trumpet had sounded. The time had come for "loosening of the seals of the book of life," that a future existence might no longer be considered a matter of faith; but of absolute knowledge. As the Maries-"holy women of Syria, mediumistic and intuitive-were first at the Nazarenean tomb to triumphantly announce- -"he is not here, but risen;" so women in the initiatory hour of the spiritual dispensation, were the first to construct the key, and devise the method, for understandingly interpreting the fact, that a blissful converse in harmony with natural law, had been established between the two worlds of conscious existence. "Tongues broke out in unknown strains The gates of heavenly courts ajar, angels, white-robed, and baptized in the silvery dews of paradise, re-appeared, opening again the song that anciently thrilled the watching shepherd-souls of Syria-"Peace on earth and good will to men." Sunlight through the ether of space-electricity through the telegraphic wire-steamers through the waves of myriad waters-rivers through valleys-blood through veins and arteries-mind through brain! All principles, indeed, all forces, are mediative. Our organs, our senses, our faculties, are media of life, of love, of thought. Mediumship interpermeates and interlines all phases, all attributes, all motions of being. It is universal. What nature is to spirit, what body is to its soul, phenomenon is to Spiritualism the sign and seal, the portal and initiation of this new religion. As substance precedes forms, so spirit, in the divine order, precedes these "modern manifestations." Phenomena, therefore, are necessary to discoveries of spiritual truth, as facts are to inductive science. All objective knowledge of a future existence is obtained through the gradations of spiritual mediumship. Some writers on the Spiritual Philosophy enumerates seven, others twenty-four phases of mediumship; as well * Aside from book references, we are indebted for many of the ideas in this volume, to ancient spirits, or inspiring influences. These, frequently entrancing Dr. E. C. Dunn, our traveling companion for several years, in the capacity of a healer, gave us valuable suggestions and precious truths, coined from the mint of supernal life. The spirit teacher to whom this book is dedicated, though a member of our circle, is the spirit-guide of Bro. Dunn, phases of whose mediumship we have never seen excelled. In the field of progress, ho is a successful healer and eloquent speaker. |