GHOSTS

 

"Ghosts are the uneasy spirits who have left some earth duty undone or some wrong unrighted, and they try to go back again. The spirit of one who has committed a crime, or who has wronged some one on earth, is never at rest until the wrong is made right. Let this be a lesson to evil-doers. There are uneasy souls here who never have peace because they cannot undo the wrong. Criminals learn the lesson too late, and if reincarnation were true they would gladly go into another earth life to profit by the lesson they have learned here. We wish we could make this plain to all evil-doers."

 

'Do you say they never have peace? Do you mean that literally?'

 

"We mean it in connection with mortal life. Of course the one who has suffered comes here sooner or later, and then the opportunity arrives for righting the wrong.

 

"We have many here who are making a study of these wandering spirits, and it is found that they sometimes seem to be seeking lost treasure which to them is of transcendent importance."

 

We had occasion to speak of some ghostly manifestations which were recorded in the newspapers.

 

"There are certain dark phases of spirit life, and there are spirits who do not leave their malicious propensities on earth. We teach and control them whenever possible, and lead them into higher life. There are no prisons here for evil ones. There are no chains to bind them or hinder their progress. All we can do is to control through thought influence. But such natures do not easily receive impressions for good. The evil ones on earth cannot always be reached by pure and kindly teaching either. Those who are hardened in sin are long in changing."

 

'There seem to be more ghosts in Europe than here, Why is this?'

 

"The old castles and houses have remained through many generations; have survived since the days of war, cruelty and oppression. They have given rise to many uneasy spirits, some working out their own evil propensities, and some trying to rise above their former state. America is newer; yet here are many who have committed crimes, and it is not impossible for them to appear. But you need not fear any interference."

 

'Do you see many of the murderers and criminals there?'

 

"No, we are not their guides; that work belongs to the missionary circles here. They try with unceasing efforts to bring them into an unselfish life. But the results are oftentimes slow and hard to see."

 

'There is still plenty of crime here.'

 

"That is the result of long waywardness and evasion of authority. Such things do not happen suddenly. The preparation ration of this wave of crime has been going on for a long time."