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

222Mr. F.: We are people here who have friends in the spirit world, and we sit here for thepurpose of communicating with all our spirit friends. My sister who has died comes and talks to usjust the same as you are talking now, and this lady’s daughter comes also. We are what is calledspiritualists; I don’t know whether you ever heard of them before.S.: I have heard and seen a great deal of them, but I never saw a spirit go in and out of aperson like that.Mr. F.: We haven’t left the form yet; we haven’t made the change called death as you have;so, of course, we can’t see those things as you can. We can’t see you; we can only hear you speak.S.: Well, I am surprised that I have made the change, died, or whatever it is; but I amglad also, for I can’t have anything now that can possibly be as disagreeable and unpleasant as Ihave had; and I think there must he some change, because I begin to feel that there is.Mr. F.: Yes, you have been brought here to learn what has happened to you. This lady has adaughter who is a very bright, beautiful spirit, and who has been in spirit life a great many years;and it is her work to gather up poor, earth-bound souls, and bring them to her father’s house; andwe talk to them, and get them acquainted with what has happened to them.Tom: Well, now, did you see me?S.: I did see you. I think that is very strange indeed.Tom: Didn’t I tell you that I could prove to you anything that I said?S.: Well, you have kept your word so far.Tom: Your friends all love you, Mr. Blake.S.: Well, I hope so.Tom: You made many mistakes in your earth life.S.: I suppose that is a mild way of putting it, but I know I have done a great many badand wicked things.Tom: I am sorry for you.S.: I don’t suppose that will do me any good.Tom: Oh, yes, it will. Kindness, love, and sympathy do a great deal of good everywhere.There is a great deal of it on this side, but there is not near enough on the earth side.S.: Yes, I did a great many bad things; but I don’t believe that a man can help himself. Itis of no use at all. I don’t believe it is possible for anybody to do any different from what they do.God Almighty has put us in this world, and placed us in conditions where we are obliged to dothings; and then he demands of us repentance for that we can’t help. There is where it is hard. Ihave tried for my own sake, and I have tried for the sake of those who belong to me; but if youknow about those things that we spoke of first, you know that I could not help it—it was forcedright on me. 13 had to do it, and now what am I to do?Tom: Yes, I understand; and now your past experience must be your guide for the future.If you go out and plant a garden with seeds, and a great many weeds come up with the kind of seedsyou have sown, you are obliged to pull those weeds out if you want those seeds to thrive and grow.And so there were a great many weeds came up in your life, and now you must go to work and pullthem up. -S.: Well, I might as well be pulling up weeds as anything else. If I know how, I will do it.Tom: That is only a comparison.S.: Well, I know, and accept it.Tom: Yes, Bertha, I will help your papa all I can.S.: What did you say?Tom: I told Bertha I would help you all I could; she is so anxious.S.: You told her! Why can’t I see her?Tom: Because you are in a different condition, and one spirit can’t see another unless in thesame condition—that is, the lower spirits can’t see the higher spirits, only as they are able to takeup the conditions so that they can present themselves to you. Perhaps, if you call her to speak toyou, she might be able to; but, of course, I don’t know whether she will be able to speak to you ornot.S.: Bertha! Bertha! If you are here, Bertha, speak to papa.Bertha: Papa—papa