Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-18

seriousness. To set IN motion any influence
calculated to waken or draw the conscious
ness of the individual downward while this
| transitory state of astral dissolution is going
on is then a positive injury to the advanc-
ing soul, insomuch SIS it retards his progress
| upward. Such retardation may indeed be
done, but, very happily, is rarely possible,
| spiritualistic facts to the contrary, notwith-
standing In a word, gravitation rules as
inexorably in the spiritual world as it does
in the natural
The departure of the real Ego to higher
planes of consciousness, therefore, leaves
behind it an empty tenement-an astral
''shell, " the which, being of more perma-
nent grade of matter than the physical, dis
integrates only after long periods of time.
There also remains around it the as
tral sphere, or personal book of life OF its old
time occupant, SO that he who runs there
may read. An empty house left to the mercy
OF the astral elements, it Is now not unoften
taken possession of magnetically or bodily,
by various other denizens of the astral plane,
the prin nciple of which are macrocosmio
creatures, nature spirits or elementals, not
yet strictly human but on the way of becom-
ing so creatures wise in Rosnlic laws, and
who are not always friendly in their attitude
to man. 1t is they principly who answer the
mediumistically expressed wish of man to
communicate with the spiritual world, and
VINO work most of the
such as table tipping, raps, bell sounds, slate
writing, levitation, flower materializations
etc. Observe that the thought and memory
Of the astral dead as we'll as those of the sit
tiers present, are patent to them in the astral
light, so that any amount of 'proof" as to
Identity is easily forthcoming
or the two things that may happen to the
defunot individual, the other is in case Of
gross materialism whether OF the intel
lectual or bestial stamp. when the individual
remains an earth-bound astral entity of the
most unhappy and degraded kind. Such
beings constituted the evil spirits of the
medieval theology, and, as q matter Of fact,
they are the real instigators of much of the
crime and evil prevalent. Drawn earthward
by the torment of unsatisfled desire, they
not unoften become living vampires upon
the vital forces Of men and women with
whom they are in sympathetic accord, i'm
pellfng them to acts characteristic of their
ist1cally the various vices and deeds to
which they themselves were habituated.
Needless to say that their part in the
most hurtful and degrading character
AS to the materialiZations of the human
form, out of the mouths Of the spirits"
themselves do they stand convicted of de-
given in the Religio-P Philosophical Journal
during the fall of lSS7, commencing October
%. A series Of interviews are therein re-,
ported as held with the well-known and re-
liable medium. Mrs. M. J. Hollis Billing,
under the control of one "Jim Nolan" who
describes in detail the
PROCESS OF MATERIALIzING FORMS
and of giving them the personal identity de-
sired, which process is a gathering together
of the electrical and magnetic particles in
the atmosphere, and building up Herewith
by chemical means-for as has been said,
the astral entities who contribute most to
the production Of spiritualistic phenomena,
rrvir -, IL 1a.r
upon 1t the likeness of any individual de-
sired; into this form the "controP steps.
manipulating it according to the character
& o1 1ne e1IS na11us, No Person1nen tS Agaa, TINS
seldom that moro than one or two such
forms were used to personify the various in
dividuals called for, and that they utilize the
empty astral shells floating round the astral
belt, giving them the desired material coat
ingor envelope. ----i7-
Another way, aud q common one, is to
make use of the astral body of the medium
himself. Occultly defined, the word medium
signifies one who is a natural magician; or
one whose astral body has by evolutionary
process required working knowledge Of
physical body, as is possible during the
trance state, it may, after the manner de-
scribed above, be used to simulate any form
desired; or, If itself of strong positive
manifestations. Nor do spfritualists deny
that the astral body of tho medium is SO
used at times, explaining thereby the fact
that when this astral naturalization is
seized, marked or injured in any way, cor
responding marks or injuries always appear
on the physical body Of the medium.
WHERE THEY DIFFER
The point Of contention between the oc-
cultist and spiritualist here, as elsewhere, is
the character of the entity pulling the wires
"behind the scenes" The latter believes his
dead are thus actually making themselves
manifest; the former admits the "dead''
character Of the manifesting form, but
recognizes only the manipulation of psychic
entities masquerading for the nonce, in bor-
rowed earthly clothes.
But, it may be asked, Of what use is all
this7 Why should suoh q tremendous
scheme for universal deception be per-
mitted? Granted an over-ruling Provi-
and deludedP These questions may be an
swered, though it is impossible to do 1t here
in detail. For one thing, the unfolding of
mans fifth or mental principle has now
reached that point where he begins to sense
the finer psychic forces in nature and the
astral plane, and as these forces are in many
cases more or less intelligent and human, the
sensing is mutual, the door admitting inter-
opened. Higher forces still are at work, to
which are due all Of mans spiritual and
scientific progress during the last few de-
cades. Desiring, as he most naturally does,
some evidence of immortality beyond the
grave, this desire operates on the psychic
plane, to the invitation and material intro
duction of whomsoever or whatsoever may
there respond. Ignorant as yet of the true
nature and laws of that plane, this igno-
rance is taken advantage OF by its denizens,
who by their very nature are only too eager
human and material objectivity, or as in the
case Of earth-bound souls, to taste again the
delights of earthly experience.
sPIRIrUAhIsTs ARE MISTAKEN.
In a word, modern spiritualism, granting
the material genuineness of its facts, is yet
a'gigantic delusion, based on ignorance of
psychic law. By encouraging mental pas
sivity in special, is it hurtful alike to medium
and sitter. As a passive agent, man is at
the mercy Of any and all astral influences
that may be drawn his way. Instead of
being controlled by these unseen forces, he
ought to control them; and this he
will be able to do only as he comes into
knowledge of their true source md nature.
But do the dead never returnP In rare
cases they may, and that Immediately after
death, where the individuals desires move
also, as has been said in the case of those
earth bound souls who act ctvampire-like upon
their still incarnated affinities. To the latter
class belong with difference all suicides;
the law being that they SO remain until the
term of years which would have been theirs
on earth is lived out in the astral belt.
To the average reader the foregoing outline
of occult teaching may seem cumbersome
and fmprobabfe but personal experience
persuades- me that the more deeply it is
studied, and the more closely spirftistic
phenomena are observed, the greater grows
its reasonableness, and the more genuine its
character As it is, every student must fill
up the outline for himself with details to be
obtained only from occult literature, or from
his own individual development on the sub
jective or astral plane of consciousness-a
DEVELOPMENT that does away with the need
of material proof. seeing that all such