Glimpses Of The Next State.Pdf - Spiritualists' National Union

102psychics seeing them, I laid out five under the cover of a card, face downwards. May Bangssaid : “Not the little one” (there was one taken at a very early age). The one nearest to me is aprofile picture.” (Correct.) “She rather objects to the old-fashioned style of the hair, but selectsthat as she sees you like it best.” (Correct.)During the sitting we communicated occasionally with the spirits by raps. I understoodthat the invisibles used Morse code.(68) January 19, 1909. 10 to 12 (noon). Atmospheric conditions good. I took the Bangssisters a letter containing two sheets (four pages) of questions. In the envelope I put four blanksheets of hotel paper marked with a private mark. The envelope which contained these six sheetswas gummed and sealed with my signet ring. I had written twenty-three questions to my guide. Iwas received by May Bangs in the same small room, and, as before, the room was flooded withlight. I put the letter between her two slates, which are covered with woollen at the edges so as toexclude the faintest ray of light. She took hold of the double slate ends with one hand while I putfour rubber bands round the slates, as I had done two days previously. The slates were then puton the table, The same little vessel of ink was placed on top, and over all the bristol-board beforementioned. From this moment May Bangs had nothing to do with the slated ; they were in myown possession under my hands. The psychic and I sat opposite to one another, she was leaningback in her chair, writing on a pad of paper.After we had been sitting, talking, for a quarter of an hour, May Bangs began telling mewhat my questions were, and answering some of them. Presently she said : “Tear off the corner ofone of your visiting cards, so that you can identify it again ; put it on the slates, and we will see whathappens to it.” About fifteen minutes later she said : “Why do you write to your relative in such aformal style ? Write a postscript on a piece of paper, naming your wife in the same familiar wayas you would if writing to this spirit in life.” This I did without her seeing what I had written, andput the piece of paper, doubled up, also on the slates. She then went on as before, repeating myquestions within the sealed envelope. At 11.10 the psychic said : “Your card has gone into theletter.” When an hour and three-quarters had elapsed from the time we began the sitting, threeknocks on the table announced that the writing was finished.I now opened the slates. Inside I found my packet intact, with seal untouched. On theoutside of the envelope was written : “The little slip” (my postscript) has been arranged to your hatin the other room.” This was signed by an initial—The Christian name of my guide. I slit openthe envelope at the top and found inside it (a) my questions, contained in four pages ; (b) eightpages of reply from the spirit, in ink, as if written with a steel pen ; (c) my visiting card. I thenwent into the drawing-room, where I had left my hat, found that it had been moved, and that insidethe lining was my postscript.Before I left, May Bangs read out to me the questions in my letter, which she had written onher pad as she saw them in the “astral light.” They were all correct in sense, though not in actualphrasing ; and the curious thing was that she read them out in precisely the proper consecutiveorder—(1), (2), up to (23). With some reluctance, she later eventually surrendered the pages ofthe pad to me ; it is one of the most curious documents in my possession.The following is the letter of reply to my questions :—My Dear ——,I am with you once again and, as ever, delighted to manifest my presence in ever soslight a manner. Now……you are trying me again—trying my memory of earthly things, places,and persons and how I do wish I could tear asunder the little barrier preventing me from givingfree and full expression, but do you know……in all these matters my memory is perfectly clearwhen I stand free and unhampered in the spiritual atmosphere but somehow when I return intoearth’s atmosphere, so many things become hazy and incomplete ; in other words, it is not designedthat mortals shall know it all. If it were so research would be of the past, and spiritual matters ofearth be at a standstill. These little indifficiencies (sic) lead the mind to further inquiry, and littleby little the returns bringing reassurance is given.I am not familiar with all the laws governing spirit return in outward demonstration. I amconstantly learning and in time know I shall bring the beautiful trust into your own home. I am