aroundworldortra00peebiala-1

46 AROUND THE WOELD.
Public speaking on the ocean is more novel than pleasant.
Invited by a committee, tlirough
the purser James V. Lavery,
to address the officers and passengers upon the divine
principles of the spiritual philosophy in their relation to
immortality, we so did, Dr. Dunn following in a most
interesting manner. In accordance with an arrangement
between the doctor, his attending spirit-guides, and ourself,
previous to saihng, we held semi-weekly seances for spiritcommunications.
In answer to several inquiries, Mr. Knight
said, —
" We can not well draw the line of demarkation between physical matter
and spirit-substance, tljey so interblend and over-lap. There are
atoms, and molecular particles of physical matter, in their highly subUmated
state, more ethereal perhaps than some portions of spirit-substance.
This unsteady upward-reaching is seen in every direction.
There possibly may be gorillas with reason flaming up to a higher point
than in some of the lowest tribes of men. But mark, they, the gorillas,
have reached their acme ;
while these lower tribes have but just started
in the Ime of human possibilities.
" All insects, all venomous reptiles, and brutes, are tottering and imperfect
structures ; and it is illogical to predicate immortality of imperfection.
The arch can not stand without- the keystone. . . .
"By your request, I have inquired of John who was meant by
the ' elect lady,' in his second epistle ; and the gist of the response was,
the phrase elect lady, a symbolical expression, referred to the Christian
rehgion in its purity. This lady elect was the lady of his faith, the
most spiritual religion of that age. Spirituality pertains to the feminine,
intellectuality to the masculine."
A strange controlling intelligence
now comes, making the
medium exceedingly spasmodic. Listen! It is a weird,
unknown tongue. What does it mean ? . . . He has gone,
and Mr. Knight comes to explain —
:
" This spirit was a chief of the Oahu Island, who lived in a mortal
body over a centuiy since. He desired to inform you that himself and
his people believed in spirit-intercourse when on earth, though it was
connected with much superstition. Since his transition, he has progTessed
rapidly ;
and still he cherishes a deep interest in the remnants
of his race. He is very desirous to have you remain on the islands you