Experimental investigation of the spirit manifestations, [electronic ...

lOG COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE SPIRIT AVORLD.513. I saw many persons whom I knew in the rudimcntal state. I meta spirit yesterday whom I have seen in your company before he left theform.* I felt attracted to him. On approaching^ him, he smilingly said,^' Why do you take such an interest in me, fair being? I know you not/'" True,'' I replied, " but I saw you in my father's company before you leftthe earth, and was present once when my brother gave you a communication,which, by the way, you received with much incredulity; therefore, I feelconstrained to speak to you." He thanked me, saying, *' I never believedin the immortality of the soul; consequently, it was not strange that Ishould doubt the spirits." ''Your skepticism," I replied, "was honest;therefore you will rise much sooner in the scale of progression. A sincereunbelief is better than false professions." Here I left him, and followeda multitude who were just entering a magnificent temple, where a teacherwas to address them. This structure is immensely large and exquisitelysymmetrical in its proportions. Many stately columns support its roof,each surmounted by a cap of chaste design. The material of this templeis similar in appearance to alabaster, but transparent. The seats are semicircular,forming an amphitheatre, in the centre of which stood the speaker,Channing. With uplifted hands he invoked God's blessing on all mankind.With what breathless attention all listened to the glowing wordsof eloquence which fell from his lips ! This is the true worship of thesoul. Ilis text was :" The light that is within you." He dwelt at somelength on the importance of self-elevation, as a means of progressingothers. He spoke of the moral bond of union which binds the race together.''When one individual," said he, "is degraded, all must suffer."His discourse abounded with clear and energetic thought.514. As we passed from this temple, I met my friend of yesterday.He remarked that he had learned much from the speaker who had justaddressed us. He said that his mind, before entering the spheres, hadbeen much troubled about the future, although light had begun to dawnon his mental horizon. "Hope," said he, "with her cheering countenance,had almostdeserted me, and the world appeared like a dreary wilderness.Sick and disheartened, I laid me down to recruit my exhaustedenergies. An unconscious period intervened, and then burst on my enrapturedvision the glorious morning of the resurrection in all its loveliness;and with it came a bright messenger of light to bear me onwardand upward to the boundless regions of progressive wisdom, where my* This spirit, I have ascertained, was the hitc Mr. Mcllhenny, treasurer to the Athentcum,who died in August, 1854. I took the more interest in this as he was my classmate,and Avas present at some of the investigations which led to my conversion. I took leaveof him one evening in July, 1854, after a walk in Walnut street. He then appeared tobe nearly a convert to Spiritualism, though he did not deem it prudent to acknowledgehis opinions publicly. His remarks coincided with those ascribed to him by the trulyangelic Maria. Within the last month Maria brought him to communicate with me.