CHAPTER VIII

GUIDES

I do not think that it will be. out of place here, and it may even be of some interest to readers, to sketch briefly the part played by "Guides," (my own and others) in the communications received automatically during these two years.

I had read of the help given by spirit-guides to those in earth-life, but it did not at first occur to me to seek this help when writing automatically, and I did not in fact know how it was possible to get into touch with them.

During the summer of 1916, shortly after I had begun this writing, I had a series of puzzling messages connected with a very interesting case which I am not able to report here.

At a difficult point in these communications, I suggested to the communicator that he might ask help from his own guide, and he replied' "He has just come to the rescue must say my guide is a fine fellow."

We learnt from this guide that his name was Bennett; he had been a clergyman, and had died three years before. He asserted that he had been "very High Church," an undergraduate of Christ Church, Oxford; that his first curacy was at Holy Trinity, Ramsgate. He stated that his father was also a clergyman, and had lived at Ramsgate.

We had no idea whether any of these statements were true, but took considerable trouble in trying to verify them, as they would have been interesting evidentially, if correct.

We had, however, no success in establishing his identity, and were obliged to leave it, as more important work was in hand.

The communicator described Bennett as "a clear-headed man" and wiser than himself, able to advise him as to the best way of giving proof of identity.

Bennett was also useful in suggesting the best times for writing automatically, and telling me when to stop owing to fatigue; this kind of advice was afterwards taken in hand by my own guide, who made himself known to me some days later under the name of Hewett. He was described to me at another time by a medium, who gave the name as Hubert, and stated that he was a literary man.

Hewett explained the work of guides as follows:

"Guides are for helpful service to those on earth.... Guides are what you call disembodied spirits...theirs is this very special work."

Since he disclosed his personality, I have used his help constantly in tracing strangers (deceased) for whom I was to write, asking him to explain the method of communication to them if it were unfamiliar, and to keep away other personalities who might unconsciously confuse the messages.

On two occasions only, when I sought his help, I was told that he had "gone away"; one of these occasions was at Christmas-time, when I was informed that he had "gone home."

I once wrote for a Mr. Johns (deceased) whom I had known very slightly, and found that an overpowering feeling of distress and misery accompanied his attempts at communication, so that I was obliged to tell him that I could write no more; the next day Hewett explained that Mr. Johns was "in great trouble. He added," He can't write now, it is impossible...he is not able to bear much. I am very sorry for him."

On one occasion Hewett gave me beforehand a scrap of information which proved to be correct; it was in connection with an Atlantic liner, which he asserted would arrive on a certain Saturday, giving the date; it reached port on the following day, but a passenger told me that they had actually arrived on the Saturday, though they could not disembark. This was in 1917, when no news of the arrival of ships was allowed to be given.

Hewett has never taken up any of my time, or attempted to communicate on his own account; he has figured solely as a helper and director to me, and to those who have communicated through me. Only twice has he commented on the communicators, once in a case which I am not at liberty to report, and again when an old lady was writing, of whom he remarked: "The old lady flagged...she goes...was she a belle in her youth? She is strong and fine. My comment.

Hewett."

In both cases the comments were very much to the point, and correct.

Eight other "guides" have figured from time to time in the script, only two of them being women; each personality seemed quite distinct, and all showed great insight into the minds of those to whom they were attached as guides, summing up their characteristics, and giving suitable advice in each case

No evidential value can, however, be attached to the above, as in each case the individuals were known to me.

One of the guides described himself as having been an American engineer; another said that he was a private, killed in the Afghan War. A third, named Scott, said that he was a clergyman, and his remarks were characterised throughout by a breezy humour and optimism.

As in the case of my own guide, Hewett, the others were helpful at first in bringing those to whom they were attached as helpers into touch with me, but when direct touch was established, they seemed to stand aside, unless specially appealed to for help. One guide asserted that she was only intermittently attached to her earth-protégée, and declared that the help given was mutual. The idea of ministrations by guardian spirits to those on earth is a very familiar one, but the possibility of the help being reciprocal is at least unusual and suggestive.

Note.-All this matter concerning Guides is simply gathered from the script.

I have no means of knowing whether they are real entities, or merely creations of the subconscious mind.