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

13GMORAL INFLUENCE OF SPIRITUALISM.no sucli a state of future existence, I shall never icake uj) to feel my dUappointment.It loill only he a prolongation of a state of oblivion analogous,to that icJiich loc enter ujyon transiently, every night.709. The incentives which have acted upon you, act also upon'me, andI have seen some of the manifestations on which you rely ; but not sosatisfactorily. The answers which I have received have not been worthyof the other world.710. A message from my own father, amounted to this : ^'Oh, my son,listen to reason;" and there it ended. Several similar nugatory sentenceshave been manifested through the alphabet.711. I have, however, constructed an instrument to put the questionof independency of intelligence to the test. It works independently ofany control of the medium, as the letters, which must be seen to bringthem correctly under the index, are concealed by a screen. (Plate 1.)712. The sentence above quoted was communicated in this way.713. I am about, by this contrivance, to test the manifestations farther.Robert Hare.MORAL INFLUENCE OF SPIRITUALISM.714. Among the best precepts afforded by the gospel is that of layingup treasure in heaven, in preference to seeking to become rich in thisworld. To pursue the last-mentioned course has been alleged to disqualifyus more or less for entering heaven.Certainly, however, honest exertionfor the acquisition of wealth is the corner-stone of human prosperity, andmoney seems in most instances necessary to the effectual exercise of thatfellow-feeling in the cultivation of which human virtue pre-eminentlyconsists.(See Influence of Mundane wealth on Celestial Happiness.)715. How can a man display charity, hospitality, or contribute hismeans and time to objects of philanthropy, unless he beforehand lay upwealth ? How could the Samaritan have assisted the traveller who hadbeen maltreated by thieves, had he not taken care to have something beforehand,not only for himself, but for the needy ? But still the precept.Lay up treasure for thyself in heaven, is precisely the course which Spiritualismindicates. Precepts may lead, but examples will draw. Thosewho have gone before us to eternal life, furnish us not only precepts, butexamples also. They furnish exemplifications of the consequences of their•conduct, if followed. With few exceptions, my intercourse has been withthose only, who did lay up treasure in heaven, by doing on earth as theywould have others to do unto them. Of the spirits with whom I haveOf.communicated, only two alleged or indicated that they were unhappy..these, I was informed, one bore an ill character upon earth.