Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1870-04-14
APRIL Ia, 1870.
spiritu.ffsm-No 9.

of information must of necessity be uncertain.
since # is claimed that we enter the spirit
world precisely SIS We leave this Then If
there is the same incongruity and uncertainty
there that we find here, and If disemoodied
spirits differ as widely in disposition and
judgment there. as they did when IN the
flesh here, it follows that even the most in
teiligent of spirit revelations viii be quite
incomprehensible TO Us SpirituaiIsts as well
as theolOgians, tell Us that God IS everywhere
that He flls all space. and that the soul or
spirit Of man can commune with the Infinite
in all places and under all circumstances
Il is not whether we dwell in Wisconsin or
in Palestine. whether We live in the spiritual
or the material sphere that determines our
proximity to God. Why then is Il unreason-
bic TO suppose that embodied spirits can tell
Us as much about the great truths of eternal
life and of our duties ard relations to each
other and to our God, as the less refined of
those who have gone TO the spirit-land II
death cannot usher Us any nearer TO the pres
ence of the Infinite than We here injoy, Of
how much more importance to Us is the testi-
mOny of those who have passed into the
spirit world, than that Of those who remain
in the present? And why should We belieEe
their record in preference to that of mortals,
or spirits in the flesh ?
So far as the history of Spiritualism goes,
1t has never vet appeared that the great liter
arr, scientific and spiritual teachers of this
world who have departed hence. have ever
mace any Improvement on their earthly rec.
ord. In fact it can hardly be clsimed that
the average of their supposed productions do
any credit to their supposed authors, and
very many are not in the slightest degree
worthy Of them. FDm the spirit-spksre.
then, we Cannot reasonably expect any very
valuable addition to the present wisdom of
the world and ve might better look to
science for successful explanation of spirit
phenomena. than TO the doctrine itself
It IS doubtless true that the minis,ration of
angels have been believed in among all So
called religious nations. Nor is there any,
thing particularly Objectionable in such a
belief. but. on the contrary it may inspire a
lively and wholesome faith. 1t may be true
that the lives of individuals ard the history
Of nations are, and have been guided By the
spirit-vorld. 1t may be that the success OF
our own nation, during the recent rebellion.
and the dark years which have followed it,
can be credited TO circle of spirits who
have presided over ITS destinies as sort of
American Olympus The existence as well
as prevalence Of such 4 belief is revealed both
in history and song. And in private as well
as public life. We hare all heard people grave
u assert that they were guided by something
more than human agency and foresight. 1t
may be true, as we all most earnestly wish.
and the deep heart of humanity has always
believed, that departed souls love TO linger
about the abOdes of friends here on earth to
aid. guide and protect them. The very
thought awakens in Us a sort of hallOwed
consciousness of our duties &c each other and
TO God. 1t impels US TO acts of justice aud
benevolence. aud inspires Us with feelings OF
love. gratitude and forgiveness To all tbs
see no Objectionable features. but it is only
theory. There is nothing really tangible
about these seeming vagaries--they are only
plausible. And yet they often amount 10
belief not only with Spiritualists. but, as
have before said With professors of religion
and eminent christians of different denomina-
tiUns.
1t was formerly. and | may say until quite
recently. the common belief in ChristenIem.
especially with orthodox Professionals, that
depzrted souls are either slumbering in un-
consciousness or dwelling in some distant
realm. far from all knowledge of human az
fairs. But more liberal christians Of the pres
ent day proclaim the doctrine of our near
ness 10 the spirit-world. and Of the entrance
upon our destinies in that world Immediate
" upon our exit from this. They also belle
in the p-ogressiveness Of the soul. not in 10
cality n rely, but of spiritual beauty. purity
and power; and many believe in a progress
iveneS that viii firall v result in the redenp-
ton OF all. This. too, is in accordance with
tie hope that is within Us, and
I'VE tr-st thst somehow good
Shall be the final goal OF ALL
mat nothing walks with aimless feet
That not one life shall be destroyed.
Or cast a. rubbish 70 the void.
When God hath made the pile complete"
SPiritualists generally, or perhaps univer-
sslly proclaim a belief in the existence of