Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-05-19


the death of the body. But it can
not prove the immortality of Mind. Spir-
itualism consequently cannot oppose any
| evidence TO the occult doctrine that the
possibility of the appearance of the spirit
after death applies only to temporary
condition. 1t may be that the appearances
of the seance.rooms are for the most part
"shells." It may be that the spirit passes,
soon after death, into the state called
Devachan, subjective condition in which
it is apparently gratiied by what may be
called the realization of its highest imagin-
ings. 1t is said that in Devachan the
Imagination peoples the atmosphere OF
each spirit that there is no communion
between them, but yet that their sur
roundings appear real that this state may
last many centuries but that ultimately
it ceases, and the spirit is then introduced
to new form of existence in a world Of
cause. And nothing of this can be posi-
lively, or least aushoritatively, denied by
Spiritualists, because they have no other
knowledge of the after-life than that
which comes to them through mediums.
and because these sources are notoriously
uncertain and liable to error.
On the other hand the cautious investi-
gator may hesitate to accept the teach
ings OF the Mahatmas or Adopts. He
may reflect that even if they do possess
many of the powers claimed for them,
nevertheless they are subject to educational
bias. He may consider that they are the
expositories OF very ancient lore. which
has always been closely associated with
systematic theology. He may suspect that
some or much of this systematic theology
has unconsciously tinged and influenced
their beliefs. Or he may question the ca
pacity of the human mind to grasp or re-
ceive knowledge which concerns states Of
being altogether transcending human ex-
perienoe. He may think it probable that
every effort to penetrate the deeper mys-
teries of the after life is liable to result in
self-delusion and hallucination. Indeed the
phenomena of Clairvoyance tend to sug-
gest just such doubt as this. The rational
Spiritualists have long sincs discovered
that whatever else death does, it does not
destroy falgehoood and illusion. Their
efforts to obtain clear and truthful state
ments as 70 the next world have been
continually bsfiied by the conflict of testi-
mony, while very suspicious fact has
been the tendency of the information
received to take the color and shape Of the
irouirers own views and specu.ations.
Nor have even tie higher spirits with
whom communication has been had thus
far appeared to bring much Few light to
the investigation. II is remarkable that
none Of these intelligeuces have ever pre-
tended to have solved the mysteries OF the
Cosmos. When, therefore, il is asserted
that certain men have succeeded in this, it
may very pertinently be asked where they
obtained their knowledge, and it may be
as pertinently objected that they could not
have obtained it altogether or even
mostly through personal experience.
Their answer to this class of objections is
that they have succeeded in placing them
selves in communication with very high
order OF intelligences. This may be true,
but it is perhaps too much to expect that
the world will accept it, or that the Spir'
itualists will abandon the theories they
have built upon the facts of their expert
euce, in favor of an Eastern doctrine which
at first sight has little to recommend it,
and much to render it repulsive to the
Western mind.
The Occultists deprecate mediumship as
at present conducted, and there is much
force in their structures upon it, Certainly
the promiscuoua circle is utterly incompat-
IDLE with progress in any useful direc.
ton. The physical phenomena which are
there exhibited may very well employ the
groaser order Of spirits, but all such nlani-
featations cease to possess significance for
| the serious student the moment he has
satisfied himself that there really is, to use
the language of Professor Crookes, "an L.
telligent Operator at the other end of the
| Iine." Thenceforward the investigator
desires to obtain higher evidence. Ee
seeks proofs of identity. He desires to
| bring himself in communication with more
highly developed intelligences. The Circle
is opposed to al higher forms Of inquiry,
and as rule uediums are illustrations of
special faculties perverted and degraded.
It is as though the posseseor of
rare and lovely voice should be
cond emned to spend her life singing
vulgar street Songs in pot.house. Yet.
when ell Just allowance is made for con-
scious and unconscious deception, both on
the part of mediums and on the part of
their /" controls -; and when the frivolity
and vulgarity and folly of very much that
emanates from the so.calied Esprit.
world +" is eliminated /; there remains a
| 6OllQ anu DOuJ Vi
which has unquestionably exercised not
only powerful but wholesome influence
upon society. Scores of thousands, hun
dreds of thousands, of bereaved men and
women have through these means obtained
what to them is the most conclusive proof
of the existence and proximity of those
whom they have loved and lost. And for
all who have reached this belief the effect
must be salutary, for who can contemplate
the possibility OF constant supervision
by the desd, without being raised to a
higher plane of existence? 1t demands,
indeed, much courage to realize this posssi.
bility. For, as Tennyson puts it in his
NOBLE poem "In Memoriam y:
| Do we indeed desire the dead
| Should still be near US at our sdet
Is there no baseness we would hide
No inner yilenes5 that we dread?
Bat perhaps most affectionate natures
would reach the poets conclusion also:
81 wrong the grave with fears untrue
| Shall love be blamed for want OF faith?
There must be wisdom with great Death;
The dead shall look me thrO' and thro.
Re near 1ls 1vhan we climb or fail.