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mutilated in the wars。 One cannot mutilate the etheric body； and it remains
always intact。 The first words uttered by a returning spirit in the recent
experience of Dr。 Abraham Wallace were 〃I have got my left arm again。〃
The same applies to all birth marks； deformities； blindness； and other
imperfections。 None of them are permanent； and all will vanish in that
happier life that awaits us。 Such is the teaching from the beyondthat a
perfect body waits for each。 〃But；〃 says the critic； 〃what then of the
clairvoyant descriptions； or the visions where the aged father is seen； clad
in the old…fashioned garments of another age； or the grandmother with
crinoline and chignon？ Are these the habiliments of heaven？〃 Such visions
are not spirits； but they are pictures which are built up before us or shot by
spirits into our brains or those of the seer for the purposes of recognition。
Hence the grey hair and hence the ancient garb。 When a real spirit is
indeed seen it comes in another form to this； where the flowing robe； such
as has always been traditionally ascribed to the angels； is a vital thing
which； by its very colour and texture； proclaims the spiritual condition of
the wearer； and is probably a condensation of that aura which surrounds us
upon earth。 It is a world of sympathy。 Only those who have this tie
foregather。 The sullen husband； the flighty wife； is no longer there to
plague the innocent spouse。 All is sweet and peaceful。 It is the long rest
cure after the nerve strain of life； and before new experiences in the future。
The circumstances are homely and familiar。 Happy circles live in pleasant
homesteads with every amenity of beauty and of music。 Beautiful gardens；
lovely flowers； green woods； pleasant lakes； domestic petsall of these
things are fully described in the messages of the pioneer travellers who
have at last got news back to those who loiter in the old dingy home。
There are no poor and no rich。 The craftsman may still pursue his craft；
but he does it for the joy of his work。 Each serves the community as best
he can； while from above come higher ministers of grace； the 〃Angels〃 of
holy writ； to direct and help。 Above all； shedding down His atmosphere
upon all； broods that great Christ spirit； the very soul of reason； of justice；
and of sympathetic understanding； who has the earth sphere； with all its
circles； under His very special care。 It is a place of joy and laughter。 There
are games and sports of all sorts； though none which cause pain to lower
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THE VITAL MESSAGE
life。 Food and drink in the grosser sense do not exist； but there seem to be
pleasures of taste； and this distinction causes some confusion in the
messages upon the point。
But above all； brain； energy； character； driving power； if exerted for
good； makes a man a leader there as here； while unselfishness； patience
and spirituality there； as here； qualify the soul for the higher places； which
have often been won by those very tribulations down here which seem so
purposeless and so cruel； and are in truth our chances of spiritual
quickening and promotion； without which life would have been barren and
without profit。 The revelation abolishes the idea of a grotesque hell and of
a fantastic heaven； while it substitutes the conception of a gradual rise in
the scale of existence without any monstrous change which would turn us
in an instant from man to angel or devil。 The system； though different
from previous ideas； does not； as it seems to me； run counter in any radical
fashion to the old beliefs。 In ancient maps it was usual for the cartographer
to mark blank spaces for the unexplored regions； with some such legend as
〃here are anthropophagi；〃 or 〃here are mandrakes；〃 scrawled across them。
So in our theology there have been ill…defined areas which have
admittedly been left unfilled； for what sane man has ever believed in such
a heaven as is depicted in our hymn books； a land of musical idleness and
barren monotonous adoration！ Thus in furnishing a clearer conception this
new system has nothing to supplant。 It paints upon a blank sheet。 One may
well ask； however； granting that there is evidence for such a life and such
a world as has been described； what about those who have not merited
such a destination？ What do the messages from beyond say about these？
And here one cannot be too definite； for there is no use exchanging one
dogma for another。 One can but give the general purport of such
information as has been vouchsafed to us。 It is natural that those with
whom we come in contact are those whom we may truly call the blessed；
for if the thing be approached in a reverent and religious spirit it is those
whom we should naturally attract。 That there are many less fortunate than
themselves is evident from their own constant allusions to that
regenerating and elevating missionary work which is among their own
functions。 They descend apparently and help others to gain that degree of
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spirituality which fits them for this upper sphere； as a higher student might
descend to a lower class in order to bring forward a backward pupil。 Such
a conception gives point to Christ's remark that there was more joy in
heaven over saving one sinner than over ninety…nine just； for if He had
spoken of an earthly sinner he would surely have had to become just in
this life and so ceased to be a sinner before he had reached Paradise。 It
would apply very exactly； however； to a sinner rescued from a lower
sphere and brought to a higher one。 When we view sin in the light of
modern science； with the tenderness of the modern conscience and with a
sense of justice and proportion； it ceases to be that monstrous cloud which
darkened the whole vision of the mediaeval theologian。 Man has been
more harsh with himself than an all…merciful God will ever be。 It is true
that with all deductions ther