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had anything like the absolute proof which lies in this one。 Cannot the
orthodox see that instead of combating such a story； or talking nonsense
about devils； they should hail that which is indeed the final answer to that
materialism which is their really dangerous enemy。 Even as I write； my
eye falls upon a letter on my desk from an officer who had lost all faith in
immortality and become an absolute materialist。 〃I came to dread my
return home； for I cannot stand hypocrisy； and I knew well my attitude
would cause some members of my family deep grief。 Your book has now
brought me untold comfort； and I can face the future cheerfully。〃 Are these
fruits from the Devil's tree； you timid orthodox critic？ Having then got in
touch with our dead； we proceed； naturally； to ask them how it is with
them； and under what conditions they exist。 It is a very vital question；
since what has befallen them yesterday will surely befall us to…morrow。
But the answer is tidings of great joy。 Of the new vital message to
humanity nothing is more important than that。 It rolls away all those
horrible man…bred fears and fancies； founded upon morbid imaginations
and the wild phrases of the oriental。 We come upon what is sane； what is
moderate； what is reasonable； what is consistent with gradual evolution
and with the benevolence of God。 Were there ever any conscious
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blasphemers upon earth who have insulted the Deity so deeply as those
extremists； be they Calvinist； Roman Catholic； Anglican； or Jew； who
pictured with their distorted minds an implacable torturer as the Ruler of
the Universe！ The truth of what is told us as to the life beyond can in its
very nature never be absolutely established。 It is far nearer to complete
proof； however； than any religious revelation which has ever preceded it。
We have the fact that these accounts are mixed up with others concerning
our present life which are often absolutely true。 If a spirit can tell the truth
about our sphere； it is difficult to suppose that he is entirely false about his
own。 Then； again； there is a very great similarity about such accounts；
though their origin may be from people very far apart。 Thus though 〃non…
veridical；〃 to use the modern jargon； they do conform to all our canons of
evidence。 A series of books which have attracted far less attention than
they deserve have drawn the coming life in very close detail。 These books
are not found on railway bookstalls or in popular libraries； but the
successive editions through which they pass show that there is a deeper
public which gets what it wants in spite of artificial obstacles。 Looking
over the list of my reading I find； besides nearly a dozen very interesting
and detailed manuscript accounts； such published narratives as 〃Claude's
Book；〃 purporting to come from a young British aviator； 〃Thy Son
Liveth；〃 from an American soldier； 〃Private Dowding〃； 〃Raymond；〃 from
a British soldier； 〃Do Thoughts Perish？〃 which contains accounts from
several British soldiers and others； 〃I Heard a Voice；〃 where a well…
known K。C。； through the mediumship of his two young daughters； has a
very full revelation of the life beyond； 〃After Death；〃 with the alleged
experiences of the famous Miss Julia Ames； 〃The Seven Purposes；〃 from
an American pressman； and many others。 They differ much in literary skill
and are not all equally impressive； but the point which must strike any
impartial mind is the general agreement of these various accounts as to the
conditions of spirit life。 An examination would show that some of them
must have been in the press at the same time； so that they could not have
each inspired the other。 〃Claude's Book〃 and 〃Thy Son Liveth〃 appeared
at nearly the same time on different sides of the Atlantic； but they agree
very closely。 〃Raymond〃 and 〃Do Thoughts Perish？〃 must also have been
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in the press together； but the scheme of things is exactly the same。 Surely
the agreement of witnesses must here； as in all cases； be accounted as a
test of truth。 They differ mainly； as it seems to me； when they deal with
their own future including speculations as to reincarnation； etc。； which
may well be as foggy to them as it is to us； or systems of philosophy
where again individual opinion is apparent。 Of all these accounts the one
which is most deserving of study is 〃Raymond。〃 This is so because it has
been compiled from several famous mediums working independently of
each other； and has been checked and chronicled by a man who is not only
one of the foremost scientists of the world； and probably the leading
intellectual force in Europe； but one who has also had a unique experience
of the precautions necessary for the observation of psychic phenomena。
The bright and sweet nature of the young soldier upon the other side； and
his eagerness to tell of his experience is also a factor which will appeal to
those who are already satisfied as to the truth of the communications。 For
all these reasons it is a most important documentindeed it would be no
exaggeration to say that it is one of the most important in recent literature。
It is； as I believe； an authentic account of the life in the beyond； and it is
often more interesting from its sidelights and reservations than for its
actual assertions； though the latter bear the stamp of absolute frankness
and sincerity。 The compilation is in some ways faulty。 Sir Oliver has not
always the art of writing so as to be understanded of the people； and his
deeper and more weighty thoughts get in the way of the clear utterances of
his son。 Then again； in his anxiety to be absolutely accurate； Sir Oliver has
reproduced the fact that sometimes Raymond is speaking direct； and
sometimes the control is reporting what Raymond is saying； so that the
same paragraph may turn several times from the first person to the third in
a manner which must be utterly unintelligible to those who are not versed
in the subject。 Sir Oliver will； I am sure； not be offended if I say that；
having satisfied his conscience by the present edition； he should now leave
it for reference； and put forth a new one which should contain nothing but
the words of Raymond and his spirit friends。 Such a book； published at a
low price； would； I think； have an amazing effect； and get all this new
teaching to the spot that God has marked for itthe minds and hearts of
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the people。 So much has been said here about mediumship that perhaps it
would be well to consider this curious condition a little more closely。 The
question of mediumship； what it is and how it acts； is one of the most
mysterious in the whole range of science。 It is a common objection to say
if our dead are there why should we only hear of them through people by
no means remarkable for moral or mental gifts； who are often paid for
their ministration。 It is a plausible argument； and yet when we receive a
telegram from a brother in Australia we do not say： 〃It is strange that Tom
should not communicate with me direct； but that the presence of that half…
educated fellow in the telegraph office should be necessary。〃 The medium
is in truth a mere passive machine； clerk and telegraph in one。 Nothing
comes FROM him。 Every message is THROUGH him。 Why he or she
should have the power more than anyone else is a very interesting problem。
This power may best be defined as the capacity for allowing the bodily
powers； physical or mental； to be used by an outside influence。 In its
higher forms there is temporary extinction of personality and the
substit