SPEAKING AND WRITING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGES

 

I have received in the past few years over two hundred specimens of writing in a peculiar scrawl, from persons as distant as British Columbia, Germany and Australia. They claim to be written by spirits, mostly of ancient date, mostly automatically. In comparing the specimens it is observable that although they cannot be deciphered, not only is there a well preserved regularity of characters, but there is a similarity, almost a system, consisting of a set form of curves, loops and straight lines. The subject furnishes an interesting study for those seeking to penetrate psychic mysteries.

 

They are usually the product of an effort by a spirit to gain control and in most cases this proves a failure, for the hand, as it were, falls into the habit of writing these characters and year after year does not improve. Translations have been made, ostensibly, but it would be far more profitable to write in a language understandable, and if this phase cannot be outgrown, better to discontinue the seances for a time.

 

UNKNOWN TONGUES.

 

Of similar character with the scrawl-like writing, is speaking in "unknown tongues." These are said to be foreign languages, or that of the fabled "Atlantians," but on close examination prove, with a few conspicuous exceptions, to be only jargon.

 

The reason why such must be the case is clear, for thoughts, not words, are impressed, which find expression through the mind of the recipient in words of his own. Only when under perfect control, when the spirit and the recipient are one, is it possible to transmit words, numbers, dates, arbitrary sounds and signs.

 

Perhaps the spirit uses this method as a practice, expecting to gain better control thereby. Do not, however, rest with this form of manifestation as a finality, but earnestly expect something more practical. Its only value is that of an exercise.

 

In ancient times this manifestation was recognized zed and known as speaking in tongues, and was not regarded as the most desirable.

 

Admitting that these are languages of long extinct peoples, their translation is beyond the capabilities of any scholar living. There can be no gain in any direction by talking in such tongues. Far better, desire and demand that the influences converse in a language which can be understood.

 

MESSAGES LIMITED BY THE CAPABILITIES OF THE MEDIUM.

 

They are always limited by the capacity and capabilities of the medium. Thus although the control be so perfect that the spirit is able to talk in a language the medium is unacquainted with, which would be a crucial test, the spirit could not as readily express its thoughts as though the medium knew the language in the normal condition. Only when the medium and spirit are in sympathetic accord, interested in the same, ideas, and morally and intellectually refined and equal, is the nearest approach made to perfect impressions.

 

As mediumship is directly dependent on organization, a spirit finding a medium sensitive to its thoughts, might communicate, correctly and truthfully. Yet, as a general experience the perfection of control and its character depends on the purity and morality of the medium, because he gathers around him spiritual beings like himself. As has been repeatedly stated, the highest moral excellence, purest motives, and educated faculties are demanded of those who would hold communion with the dead.

 

THE UNCULTIVATED MOST OFTEN COME.

 

If you should take a thousand people as they come and have them write messages, would their communications be superior to those received from spirits? Yet those from the latter source are not from an average, but usually inferior class. Engaged as they are, each in his or her own advancement, it is with greatest sacrifice that elevated spirits come to earth. They husband their time with care, improving every moment; and only when compelled by love of their erring brothers do they hold intercourse with man.

 

The lower circles make no such sacrifice. They retain strong affection for the places of their birth, and linger with regret and dissatisfaction. Ever near, they are ready to communicate at all times, and as the majority of communications are derived from this source, a ready and complete explanation is furnished of the superabundance of low and ridiculous communications.

 

OBSESSION—UNDESIRABLE CONTROLS.

 

Undesirable spirit influence, to that degree known as obsession, has perhaps caused more misgiving, doubt, and thrown a deeper shadow on the Cause than any other cause.

 

Obsession has been understood as meaning, the taking possession of the physical body of the subject by a spirit, and the expulsion of the subject's own spirit thereby. Even in the most extreme case this is not true, and the belief shows an entirely erroneous interpretation of the manifestation. The spirit of the subject cannot leave its physical body in possession of another, and were this possible, it could not return, and it would mean death to the body so left.

 

Obsession is hypnotic control, the operator being a spirit, and admits of the same variety of states, from partial to complete abeyance, as though induced by a mortal operator. Often mediums have unpleasant influences. They allow themselves to become mere instruments in the hands of those who impress them, become more and more passive, with less and less strength of will, and the danger of their falling under the continual influence of low controls constantly increases. Such sensitives may be affected by mortals as well as spirits, and become utterly bankrupt in character. Or it is possible, after the disaster of the low control, a high and beautiful one may come. The chief remedy is to make mediumship subject to harmonious and intelligent culture in connection with all other faculties.

 

The wandering fortune-teller represents passivity, while culture of this gift is represented in the sages of the past, as Socrates, Confucius, Mohammed, Lincoln, and hosts of others, who by the concentration of their training became responsive to the thoughts of superior beings.

 

As has been repeatedly stated, mediumship should be cultivated as a positive faculty and not as a passive yielding to a dominant influence. If this is done, then the medium has power to select the controlling spirits, as he would the objects seen by his eyes, and the sounds received by his organs of hearing. If unable to avoid unpleasant sights or hearing discordant sounds, he can force himself into that condition wherein he will not be disturbed by them. No spirit can control a medium against his will and inclination, if he understands the supreme power of his own selfhood.

 

It may still further be observed that there must be a similarity between the medium and control, like that between two musical instruments that chord. It is very difficult for a control to make a medium do by suggestion anything he would consider wrong in the normal state, though this is possible. The brute instincts slumber in the most pure and refined, and their stimulation supplies the means of approach. The highest moral and spiritual culture, the complete dominancy of the will over the instincts, combined with watchful guardianship of spirit friends, is the real safeguard.

 

In all the eases which have come under my personal observation in a long series of years, and they have been many, a deficiency of will power, induced by physical conditions, rather than mental, has been the immediate cause of what is called obsession, in varying degrees, from a slight inclination to complete loss of self-control. I do not make the statement as a ride, but it certainly is a prolific cause. Unless the gateway is open, such influences cannot enter. Known or unknown there is a weak point of attack, a physical state, more or less diseased, reflected on the mind, and making it plastic to impressions received through the lower nature.

 

It is consoling to excuse one's self by the scapegoat of obsession, and in some cases the excuse is valid because of ignorance of the cause. There is but one cure and that is the purification of the body from disease, and the firm conviction of the will to resist with the indomitable strength of higher thoughts and aspirations the influence of the lower nature.

 

It is full time that Spiritualism outgrew the pernicious doctrines that have been promulgated about obsession, hypnotism and the exemption from responsibility in these states.

 

No one was ever hypnotized by man or spirit to think or do that which was not already in his own organization. It should be most emphatically held in the mind that it is expected of every human being to retain absolute control of his individuality, and more—hold it to the highest— and that his responsibility reaches to that extent that any yielding to lower promptings, from his own mind or the suggestions of another, is degradation, and a crime for which inevitable retribution will be received; and this holds true whether the digression is through ignorance or with full knowledge.