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THE VITAL MESSAGE
Dublin before the details of the Lusitania disaster had been published。＇4＇
On that morning we ourselves； in a small seance； got the message 〃It is
terrible； terrible； and will greatly affect the war；〃 at a time when we were
convinced that no great loss of life could have occurred。 Such examples
are very numerous； and are only quoted here to show how impossible it is
to invoke telepathy as the origin of such messages。 There is only one
explanation which covers the facts。 They are what they say they are；
messages from those who have passed on； from the spiritual body which
was seen to rise from the deathbed； which has been so often photographed；
which pervades all religion in every age； and which has been able； under
proper circumstances； to materialise back into a temporary solidity so that
it could walk and talk like a mortal； whether in Jerusalem two thousand
years ago； or in the laboratory of Mr。 Crookes； in Mornington Road；
London。
＇4＇ The details of both these latter cases are to be found in 〃Voices
from the Void〃 by Mrs。 Travers Smith； a book containing some well
weighed evidence。
Let us for a moment examine the facts in this Crookes' episode。 A
small book exists which describes them； though it is not as accessible as it
should be。 In these wonderful experiments； which extended over several
years； Miss Florrie Cook； who was a young lady of from 16 to 18 years of
age； was repeatedly confined in Prof。 Crookes' study； the door being
locked on the inside。 Here she lay unconscious upon a couch。 The
spectators assembled in the laboratory； which was separated by a curtained
opening from the study。 After a short interval； through this opening there
emerged a lady who was in all ways different from Miss Cook。 She gave
her earth name as Katie King； and she proclaimed herself to be a
materialised spirit； whose mission it was 〃to carry the knowledge of
immortality to mortals。
She was of great beauty of face； figure； and manner。 She was four and
a half inches taller than Miss Cook； fair； whereas the latter was dark； and
as different from her as one woman could be from another。 Her pulse rate
was markedly slower。 She became for the time entirely one of the
company； walking about； addressing each person present； and taking
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THE VITAL MESSAGE
delight in the children。 She made no objection to photography or any other
test。 Forty…eight photographs of different degrees of excellence were made
of her。 She was seen at the same time as the medium on several occasions。
Finally she departed； saying that her mission was over and that she had
other work to do。 When she vanished materialism should have vanished
also； if mankind had taken adequate notice of the facts。 Now； what can the
fair…minded inquirer say to such a story as thatone of many； but for the
moment we are concentrating upon it？ Was Mr。 Crookes a blasphemous
liar？ But there were very many witnesses； as many sometimes as eight at a
single sitting。 And there are the photographs which include Miss Cook and
show that the two women were quite different。 Was he honestly mistaken？
But that is inconceivable。 Read the original narrative and see if you can
find any solution save that it is true。 If a man can read that sober； cautious
statement and not be convinced； then assuredly his brain； is out of gear。
Finally； ask yourself whether any religious manifestation in the world has
had anything like the absolute proof which lies in this one。 Cannot the
orthodox see that instead of combating such a story； or talking nonsense
about devils； they should hail that which is indeed the final answer to that
materialism which is their really dangerous enemy。 Even as I write； my
eye falls upon a letter on my desk from an officer who had lost all faith in
immortality and become an absolute materialist。 〃I came to dread my
return home； for I cannot stand hypocrisy； and I knew well my attitude
would cause some members of my family deep grief。 Your book has now
brought me untold comfort； and I can face the future cheerfully。〃 Are these
fruits from the Devil's tree； you timid orthodox critic？ Having then got in
touch with our dead； we proceed； naturally； to ask them how it is with
them； and under what conditions they exist。 It is a very vital question；
since what has befallen them yesterday will surely befall us to…morrow。
But the answer is tidings of great joy。 Of the new vital message to
humanity nothing is more important than that。 It rolls away all those
horrible man…bred fears and fancies； founded upon morbid imaginations
and the wild phrases of the oriental。 We come upon what is sane； what is
moderate； what is reasonable； what is consistent with gradual evolution
and with the benevolence of God。 Were there ever any conscious
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THE VITAL MESSAGE
blasphemers upon earth who have insulted the Deity so deeply as those
extremists； be they Calvinist； Roman Catholic； Anglican； or Jew； who
pictured with their distorted minds an implacable torturer as the Ruler of
the Universe！ The truth of what is told us as to the life beyond can in its
very nature never be absolutely established。 It is far nearer to complete
proof； however； than any religious revelation which has ever preceded it。
We have the fact that these accounts are mixed up with others concerning
our present life which are often absolutely true。 If a spirit can tell the truth
about our sphere； it is difficult to suppose that he is entirely false about his
own。 Then； again； there is a very great similarity about such accounts；
though their origin may be from people very far apart。 Thus though 〃non…
veridical；〃 to use the modern jargon； they do conform to all our canons of
evidence。 A series of books which have attracted far less attention than
they deserve have drawn the coming life in very close detail。 These books
are not found on railway bookstalls or in popular libraries； but the
successive editions