The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-07-31
From the Voice of Truth.
Does Friendship Survive the
Grave?


Communication from Gen. Sam. Houston,
of Texas, to his old friend Col >. ID. Hay, OF
that State written through gentleman OF
Memphis, frequently alluded to In Dr. w at
sons Spiritual Magazine, as "our new
medium" In this communication the Iden-
tity of General Houston is fully established:
SPIRIT LAND, June -, 1878.
MY DEAR FRIEND: Your eager desire to
hear from me. touched reciprocal chord IN
nv soul, and brought me hither to render
Justice to thy character,and tender my soul
felt thanks for thy delicate solicltude III the
closing hours of my mortal career, though
the effort wildly recalls the bodily ailments
which released my soul from its confine-
ment and enabled il TO wing its way to a
higher, brighter and better world OF actlV-
ity and progress. / passed from earth life
in delicious slumber, and on awakening,
beheld with inexpressibe amazement, the
cold and motiOnless form L had inhabited
lying stretched upon the bed OF death, ard
cherished friends, with eyes moiStened by
the tears of frqternal affection, reverently
lowering over it. gaZed upon tins scene
with agOniZed feeling, tor clearly discern
ed that some of my bereaved friends mourn
ed me as lost to eternal felicity because l
gave no death-bed declaration of my con-
version to Christ prior TO my dissolution. l
exerted all my power to give expression to
my feelings, to assure them had solved the
great problem of life that caused me much
doubt and speculation while a pilgrim OF
earth: but my enfeebled condition rendered
it impossible for me to artlculate a single
word.
/ witnessed the sad and useless ceremony
over my exterior garment, and after its re-
turu TO mother earth to moulder il the dust,
I felt an inward desire To leave the storms
and priefs Of earth-lite, and partake OF the
reDose and happiness you so beautifully
pictured to me over five years before the
termi of my earthly sojourn; which
kind act only added new fuel to my preJu-
dices against the sublime truths you then
communicated to Inc, ana caused me,
through the want of thought and lnyestiga
tion TO do YOU an egregious wrong; for
which unfeeling behavior l now beg thy
pardon.
When the desire to go thither became ire
sistible the cloudy mists which obscured
my vision gradually faded away, disclosing
to nv view the bright forms of dearly loved
kindred and friends habited in robes of
whiteness. They thronged around me,gave
innumerable tokens of their love, and ac-
companied me TO my TEN pOFary habltatiOn.
we ascended from the earth with great
velocity, reaching my abode within five
minutes from our departure, being sixty
two and half miles from the earth-sphere,
Here my loved ones left me, with the as
surance that they would soon return and
accompany me to the sphere OF congenal
souls. After a sweet and refreshing SUM
ber strolled through the forests, and met
MANY old acquaintance, and some friends;
aiming them our esteemed but unfortunate
friend and associate, "A. j., whose suicidal
death, caused by the unrealiZatiOn of his
ambitious dreams of glory, bowed down the
hearts of his friends in deep sorrow. Poor.
misguided Ansoni l eommisserate thy
fate. and shall aid you out of the misery into
which your shortcomings have plunged
YOU into happier sphere.
Several of them anXiOuSly inquired after
their earth friends, and seemed Overwhelm-
ed with astonishment on my informing them
that they could revisit the earth and con-
verse with their embodied friends. So you
perceive, my friend, that we have unthink-
ing ones in this lie who disbeieve the
communion of spirits with mortals, which
/ hope will induce you to be more tolerant
aud charitable toward those who regard
spirit communion as the wild imaginingS OF
maniacs This sphere has certain reSem-
BIance In your earth. but appeared to me
more diversified and Respondent The early
return of nv loving kindred and friends
ended NV ramble, and after bidding all an
AAee:ionate adieu, and wishing them God
speed. we 9lided away from the scenes of
folly and misery with inconceivable rapid
ftY, The immense magnitude, grandeur
and instrinsic splendOP OF the sphere into
which [ entered is beyond comparison or
escription. Here | found my angel moth
er awaiting me, who caSped me to her bo-
som and shed tears OF i'm FASHIONED Joy over
nv deliVerance, whilst the voices of gloritied
spirits and golden feathGred birds sang
songs of welcome. This enchanting scene
filled INV soulSwith gratitude to the Infinite
and Incompsehensi6le Spirit. for the unde-
served and unexpected comfort ana happl-
ness 1. enjoyed, and inspired me with ami
mating aud consoling reflections. 1t is
particularly gratifying to me to know that
yau have cunseerated our life to the eeva-
ton of humanity. and are actively engaged
in the advocacy of the truths of Spiritual
ism. upon which rests the highest hopes of
man, aud which has done more practical
good in the reformation of mankind
than the com AHMED creeds of the universe.
Continue, nay friend, TO arouse the children
Ofearth from their indifference To the sub
lime fnculcations of the spiritual PhiloSo-
ply. through which they can alone be freed
from sectarian ignorance, and more readily
attained happiness for which they are ulti-
mately designed. Be true to your own
convictions, and strive. in spite of ridicule
and vexations, SO to live. that when your
earth labor is done, no dark cloud may how
er over your pathway To mar your happi-
ness.
| will say no more to you at this time, but
will communicate with you more fully
through the organism OF q medium devel-
oped by you. have such q one in contem-
plation.
Until then, farewell my friend.
SAM. HOUSTON.