Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-16
By H. ADDINGTON BRUCE

= ~ 5ez-ag T. as it seemed, reproach-
= IN ~ H. fully, even disdanfulv.
~ %-@T-TzL Il In vain he essaved to
~ rise, to lift his hand to
3 - speak. Invisible bonds
= L- held him in his chair an
IN mute mute" For T an instant nsRa Hi he
: ~ tancied that he must be
~ dreaming; but the noises
- from outdoors and the
sight of the table and food
before him brought
i viction that he in full
possession OF his senses
! Now his visitor spoke and spoke only four words,
which astonished no less than alarmed him. Eat
not SO much Only this-then utter silence Again
the envelOpng darkness frogs, toads, snakes faded
in its depths,-and with returning light Swedenborg
alone in the room.
Small wonder that the remaining hours of the
day were spent in frutless cogitaton of this weird
and disagreeable experience which far transcribed
metaphysican's normal ken. Nor is it surprising
to find him naIve1v admitting that this unex-
pected event fastened my return home Imagina-
ton can easily round out the pcture,-the rising in
terror, the Overturning of the chair the Selling of
cooked hat and gold headed cane the few explain
atory words the astonshed innkeeper the hurried
departure, and the progress, perchance at more
rapid gait than usual, to the sleeping quarters in
another section of the town. Arrived there safe in
the refuge of his commodious bed room, sage argu-
ment would follow in the effort to attain persuasion
that the terrifying vision had been but the effect
philosopher, dreading return of the specter if he
permitted food to pass his lips, would go hungry
to bed that night.
That nght-more visions. To the wakeful rest
less perturbed Swedenborg the same figure appeared,
this time without snakes or frogs toads and not
in darkness, but in the midst of great white light
that filled the bed chamber with wonderful
radiance. Then voice spoke:
Il am God the Lord the Creator and Redeemer
of the world. l have chosen thee to lay before
the spiritual sense of the Holy Word. l will teach
thee what thou art to write
An Astounded Investigator
GLOWLY the light faded the figure disappeared.
~ And the astounded philosopher, his amaze
growing with each passing moment, found him.
self transported it seemed to another world,-the
world of the dead. Men and of his acquaint-
ance greeted him as they had been wont to do when
earth pressed about him, eagerly questioned him.
Their faces still the familiar expressions of
kindness, anxiety, sincerity, i'll will, the
might be: In every way they appeared to be still
clothes they had been accustomed to they ate
and drank, they lived in houses and towns. The
philosophers among them continued to dispute, the
clergy to admOnSh, the authors to write.
But, his perception charging, SWedenborg pres
emily discovered that this in reality only
intermediate state of existence that beyond it at
the end was heaven and at the other hell to
the other of which the dead ultimately graVltated
according to their desires and conduct. For, he
to learn later, the spiritual world world
of law and order fully as much was the natural
world. Men were free to do as they chose but they
must bear the consequences. Ii they were evil
minded it would be their wish to consort with those
of like mind, and in time they must pass to the
abode of the wicked; if pure minded they would
seek out kindred spirits, and. when finally purged
of the dross of EARTH be translated to the realm of
bliss. 10 heaven, then, Voyaged SWedenborg, on a
Journey OF discovery; and to hell likewise. What he
saw he has set down IN many bulky volumes, than
which philosopher has written none more strange.
With the return of daylight it might seem that he
would be prompt to dismiss all memory OF these
peculiar experiences fantasies of sleep. But he
satisfied that he had not slept; that the
contrary he had been preternaturally conscious