IMPERSONATING DEATH CONDITIONS

 

The sensitive often impersonates the last scenes of the death of the spirit communicating, and it has been said that this is necessary for their advancement, but when it is considered to how few the opportunity is given, this theory cannot be entertained. A spirit can receive no benefit by coming under the influence of the earth sphere. Often a spirit has a desire to communicate some special information, or confess some wrong, and is relieved by successfully performing the task. The contact with physical life is of itself not advantageous. That life has passed like a dream, and the new existence broadens in infinite vistas. When a spirit influences a medium it is not a one-sided affair, the medium receiving the thoughts and controlled by the will of the former. There is a mutual relation, the spirit takes on the condition of the medium and yet more by association the last experiences of its earth-life. In the subtle and obscurely understood relations between the two, their thoughts and feelings become common and the medium is identified with the spirit. This is not confined to the first time the spirit controls, and is specially produced for identification.

 

It is difficult, perhaps impossible, for a spirit passing from earth-life by a violent or painful death, not to have the sensations of its last earthly experience revived in itself and reflected on the medium when it thus comes in direct relation with the earth-sphere. This is quite distinct from that form of impersonation which causes the medium to imitate the death scene as a test of identity. One is under the direct control of the spirit, and in the other the spirit is controlled by preceding conditions.

 

WHAT OF THE "BANDS" OF SPIRITS SAID TO CONTROL CERTAIN MEDIUMS?

 

No man has a patent on the assistance of the spirit world. There has never been, nor is there now, a "spirit congress," for the purpose of pushing the claims of a successor to Christ. Whenever any scheme is brought forward, running in the ruts of theories of the past, attempting to extend and fulfill doctrines and prophecies, it may be set down as false, with absolute certainty. For those old beliefs were erroneous, the prophecies were false, and nothing is to be as the past generation expected.

 

There has been a constant succession of Christs, and repeated prophecies of his second coming, yet have they all proved false, and because no man could represent in his life the Christ Ideal, which never has been so represented.

 

The spirit world come in the individual capacity of friends, and there is no high priest, or especial favorite, through whom the masses must receive spiritual enlightenment.

 

We see in such claims the outgrown ideas of Christ, his mission and second coming; we see the old conception that the world is not controlled by law, but by tinkering spirits, and hence we may know that they are false, even if made from the highest source. All claims to "superior mediumship," "being born with a veil," "seventh son (or daughter) of a seventh son (or daughter)," are to be taken in inverse ratio to their advertised value. The really true and superior medium does not extol his own merits, for knowing the possibilities of mediumship, he is abashed at his limited powers of reception and expression. The half century of Spiritualism has seen many attempts at leadership. Many have been inflated with the idea that they were called to great missions, and were the reincarnation of Christ, or some sage or philosopher, to direct the spiritual tide. They have gone into the obscurity of inane things. The day of mediators, intercessors, leaders with power from the supernatural, of church priests or spiritual priests, has gone forever, and the only credentials which give the right to ask a hearing, is the plain, common sense speaking of the truth.