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let me epitomise what these assertions are。 They say that they are
exceedingly happy； and that they do not wish to return。 They are among
the friends whom they had loved and lost； who meet them when they die
and continue their careers together。 They are very busy on all forms of
congenial work。 The world in which they find themselves is very much
like that which they have quitted； but everything keyed to a higher octave。
As in a higher octave the rhythm is the same； and the relation of notes to
each other the same； but the total effect different； so it is here。 Every
earthly thing has its equivalent。 Scoffers have guffawed over alcohol and
tobacco； but if all things are reproduced it would be a flaw if these were
not reproduced also。 That they should be abused； as they are here； would；
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indeed； be evil tidings； but nothing of the sort has been said； and in the
much discussed passage in 〃Raymond；〃 their production was alluded to as
though it were an unusual； and in a way a humorous； instance of the
resources of the beyond。 I wonder how many of the preachers； who have
taken advantage of this passage in order to attack the whole new revelation；
have remembered that the only other message which ever associated
alcohol with the life beyond is that of Christ Himself； when He said： 〃I
will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine until that day when I
drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom。〃 This matter is a detail；
however； and it is always dangerous to discuss details in a subject which is
so enormous； so dimly seen。 As the wisest woman I have known remarked
to me： 〃Things may well be surprising over there； for if we had been told
the facts of this life before we entered it； we should never have believed
it。〃 In its larger issues this happy life to come consists in the development
of those gifts which we possess。 There is action for the man of action；
intellectual work for the thinker； artistic； literary； dramatic and religious
for those whose God…given powers lie that way。 What we have both in
brain and character we carry over with us。 No man is too old to learn； for
what he learns he keeps。 There is no physical side to love and no child…
birth； though there is close union between those married people who really
love each other； and； generally； there is deep sympathetic friendship and
comradeship between the sexes。 Every man or woman finds a soul mate
sooner or later。 The child grows up to the normal； so that the mother who
lost a babe of two years old； and dies herself twenty years later finds a
grown…up daughter of twenty…two awaiting her coming。 Age； which is
produced chiefly by the mechanical presence of lime in our arteries；
disappears； and the individual reverts to the full normal growth and
appearance of completed manor womanhood。 Let no woman mourn her
lost beauty； and no man his lost strength or weakening brain。 It all awaits
them once more upon the other side。 Nor is any deformity or bodily
weakness there； for all is normal and at its best。 Before leaving this section
of the subject； I should say a few more words upon the evidence as it
affects the etheric body。 This body is a perfect thing。 This is a matter of
consequence in these days when so many of our heroes have been
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mutilated in the wars。 One cannot mutilate the etheric body； and it remains
always intact。 The first words uttered by a returning spirit in the recent
experience of Dr。 Abraham Wallace were 〃I have got my left arm again。〃
The same applies to all birth marks； deformities； blindness； and other
imperfections。 None of them are permanent； and all will vanish in that
happier life that awaits us。 Such is the teaching from the beyondthat a
perfect body waits for each。 〃But；〃 says the critic； 〃what then of the
clairvoyant descriptions； or the visions where the aged father is seen； clad
in the old…fashioned garments of another age； or the grandmother with
crinoline and chignon？ Are these the habiliments of heaven？〃 Such visions
are not spirits； but they are pictures which are built up before us or shot by
spirits into our brains or those of the seer for the purposes of recognition。
Hence the grey hair and hence the ancient garb。 When a real spirit is
indeed seen it comes in another form to this； where the flowing robe； such
as has always been traditionally ascribed to the angels； is a vital thing
which； by its very colour and texture； proclaims the spiritual condition of
the wearer； and is probably a condensation of that aura which surrounds us
upon earth。 It is a world of sympathy。 Only those who have this tie
foregather。 The sullen husband； the flighty wife； is no longer there to
plague the innocent spouse。 All is sweet and peaceful。 It is the long rest
cure after the nerve strain of life； and before new experiences in the future。
The circumstances are homely and familiar。 Happy circles live in pleasant
homesteads with every amenity of beauty and of music。 Beautiful gardens；
lovely flowers； green woods； pleasant lakes； domestic petsall of these
things are fully described in the messages of the pioneer travellers who
have at last got news back to those who loiter in the old dingy home。
There are no poor and no rich。 The craftsman may still pursue his craft；
but he does it for the joy of his work。 Each serves the community as best
he can； while from above come higher ministers of grace； the 〃Angels〃 of
holy writ； to direct and help。 Above all； shedding down His atmosphere
upon all； broods that great Christ spirit； the very soul of reason； of justice；
and of sympathetic understanding； who has the earth sphere； with all its
circles； under His very special care。 It is a place of joy and laughter。 There
are games and sports of all sorts； though none which cause pain to lower
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life。 Food and drink in the grosser sense do not exist； but there seem to be
pleasures of taste； and this distinction causes some confusion in the
messages upon the point。
But above all； brain； energy； character； driving power； if exerted for
good； makes a man a leader there as here； while unselfishness； patience
and spirituality there； as here； qualify the soul for the higher places； which
have often been won by those very tribulations down here which seem so
purposeless and so cruel； and are in truth our chances of spiritual
quickening and promotion； without which life would have been barren and
without profit。 The revelation abolishes the idea of a grotesque hell and of
a fantastic heaven； while it substitutes the conception of a gradual rise in
the scale of existence without any monstrous change which would turn us
in an instant from man to angel or devil。 The system； though different
from previous ideas； does not； as it seems to me； run counter in any radical
fashion to the old beliefs。 In ancient maps it was usual for the cartographer
to mark blank spaces for the unexplored regions； with some such legend as
〃here are anthropophagi；〃 or 〃here are mandrakes；〃 scrawled across them。
So in our theology there have been ill…defined areas which have
admittedly been left unfilled； for what sane man has ever believed in such
a heaven as is depicted in our hymn books； a land of musical idleness and
barren monotonous adoration！ Thus in furnishing a clearer conception this
new system has nothing to supplant。 It paints upon a blank sheet。 One may
well ask； however； granting that there is evidence for such a life and such
a world as has been described； what about those who have not merited
such a destination？ What do the messages from beyond say about these？