Chapter II - Imposition and Demonstration
68:1
between the so-called dead and living, as the sick have
between the so-called dead and living, as the sick have
of their positions relative to disease, which science
decides an error, for it denies all identity or reality to
discord. The entire phenomena of mediumship are
deceptions or delusions; what is capable of error is not
science, but destitute of Principle. When the so-called
medium understands even in part the science of being,
his belief of mediumship is gone, and the result is, he
no longer produces the manifestations said to originate
with departed "spirits," but which are really contingent
on the beliefs of the living, instead of the dead.
68:12
The phenomena of science based on a demonstrable
The phenomena of science based on a demonstrable
Principle, are explainable, but personal interpreters
may create an 'ism in which phenomena are not under-
stood, and subject to gross misjudgings. Thus error is
engrafted into their net-work, and error is not linked to
Truth, hence the gulf impassable that separates the so‑
called Life in matter, from Life not subject to death,
and the mischance and mischief that characterize the
so-called spirit-returns; the natural result of the
attempt to unite such opposites as Spirit and matter is
discord; as soon might fire and frost mingle, for in
either case one would destroy the other. That matter
communes with Spirit, or that Spirit communes by
means of electricity or personality with Spirit or mat-
ter, is impossible, and would destroy the order and har-
mony of progress. If communion is possible between
the so-called dead and living, the departed go back-
ward in the scale of being, even as the oak holding on
to its primitive acorn, or the so-called medium advances
to Life independent of matter, like an acorn, becom-
ing instantaneously an oak. Again, if the medium is
69:1
on communicable terms with Life, Spirit, independent
on communicable terms with Life, Spirit, independent
of matter, there can be no appearance of Life in the
body, no action, animal or organic, and to restore this
former condition of so-called Life, would be as impossi-
ble as to restore an acorn absorbed into a germ risen
above soil, and seed. The seed that has propagated is
gone, a new germination having taken place, and until
the belief of Life in matter is destroyed, the real Life
that is Spirit, is not won; no correspondence or com-
munion exists between these two opposites.
69:11
There is but one possible moment when the so-called
There is but one possible moment when the so-called
dead and living commune; the moment called death
when the link between them is clasped. In this vesti-
bule more awake to the welcome of those gone before,
than to present pains of personal sense; the departing
sometimes breathe aloud their vision, naming the face
that smiles upon them, and the hand beckoning them;
even as a man standing at the falls of Niagara with eyes
only for that wonder, whispers aloud his rapture, forget
ful of other scenes. The recognition of spiritual Life –
and all Life is Spirit – comes not at once; even be-
yond the grave existence is but a belief of personal
sense until the science of being is reached, for error
brings its own outer darkness and self-destruction,
both now and then.
69:26
There is but one spiritual communication, and this
There is but one spiritual communication, and this
proceeds from Soul; personal sense takes no cognizance
of it; what are termed "spirits," are mere personali-
ties. A shock would not be felt, or sensation held for
a moment in the body, if in reality we communed with
Intelligence, Spirit, outside of matter. The only living
Principle of man speaks through immortal sense, and if