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

201women who lead strenuous lives, to engage in it; but I repudiate the doctrine that spiritism is initself evil, or opposed to the will of God.Personating spirits there are, undoubtedly, and they are frequently a great nuisance; butthey can be tested and got rid of without much trouble. Many adopt the r6le of distinguished publiccharacters, and keep up the part very cleverly. I do not see why we should resent this. Imagine abody of people in the next state looking into this one, and indignantly exclaiming: “Look at thatimpostor Irving; he is calling himself Macbeth. Does he think he is going to take us in like that?Look at his gait; hear his voice. That Macbeth? Not a bit of it! That is Henry Irving, and no oneelse.” When a spirit, at a public seance, gives a name well known in history, it is easy to test him byputting some sudden questions which he will not be able to answer if he be a personating spirit. Thesame plan can be adopted in private circles.The belief in ministering spirits, hovering around and directing the footsteps of mortals, istoo deeply imbedded in the hearts of men to be cast aside at this time of day. Our investigationsconfirm what has hitherto been but a pious intuition. The late Dr. Elliott, Bishop of Gloucester, towhom Protestant Christendom owes so much, told me not long before his death that he knew therelative who was thus attending him, and he added that he required no proof from spiritisticresearches that such was the fact. This prelate was, on one occasion, riding down a hill at Bristolwith his groom behind him when he passed a heavy traction engine toiling up, towing some verylarge and heavy wheels. On reaching the bottom of the hill he was impressed to turn down an alleyto the right. His groom had barely entered the alley when one of these heavy wheels, beingaccidentally detached from the engine, flew past the mouth of the alley and over the very spot onthe high road where he had been riding a few seconds before. The Bishop attributed this suddenimpression, which to onlookers would appear nothing but absent-mindedness, to the intervention ofhis “guardian angel’s or ministering spirit.It is not, I believe, generally known that the incarnate spirits can often give discarnate spiritsa start in progression by holding intercourse with them, and especially by the forgiveness of injury.On many occasions it has been known for spirits to materialise in the seance-room and obtainpardon from those they have wronged. I once saw a case of this kind in New York. Is it no good toknow that the sinner has not gone beyond recall, that he is where the forgiveness of a mortal canreach him and aid in his development?Another good in spiritism is that it induces a calm and equable frame of mind, devoid ofdogma, devoid of excessive ambition, or worry of any sort. A man acquires an inward convictionthat nothing matters very much; this life is only a short disciplinary journey, which will assuredlylead to a better if he does his best where he finds himself placed, and exercises sympathy andcharity. His creed is that of James, the relative and disciple of Jesus: “Pure religion and undefiledbefore our God and Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keephimself unspotted from the world-” No Commination Services or other cursings for him: noAthanasian Creeds. Again with James he says: “But the tongue can no man tame; it is a restlessevil, it is full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we the Lord and Father; and therewith curse wemen, which are made after the likeness of God: out of the same mouth cometh forth blessing andcursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.”To the spiritist death is no evil and is not feared, for he knows if he keeps himself in order hewill be much better off on the other side. It is astonishing what unanimity there is among the spiritswho are interrogated on this point. None wish to return; all I have seen or heard declare that theironly cause for sorrow is the grief of those they have left behind.Cruelty and dogma are great barriers to intercourse with good spirits, and ministers of theCatholic Churches are usually unsuccessful in their seances. People whose profession demandstheir damning others who do not think exactly as they do, cannot expect to derive any benefit fromthese very delicate phenomena, where sympathy is the prime factor of success. It goes withoutsaying that materialists, who, of course, enter the seance-room as hostile critics, are hardly everfavoured with any personal manifestations; but the honest sceptic, who keeps an open mind and’remains passive, does no harm to a circle.